Abstract
Biochar, a solid carbon rich material and by-product of pyrolysis, has been identified as an amendment to improve soil fertility as well as sequester carbon (C). A growing number of studies have been conducted to test the effect of biochar in soil environment within the past ten years requiring frequent updated reviews and mini-reviews to summarize this rapidly growing body of literature. In this paper, we will summarize and review possible mechanisms of biochar effects on soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) transformations, nutrient leaching, and crop yield, providing an outlook of biochar implementation in soil environment for future research.