Low-temperature
biochar, which has a less-condensed ‘C’ structure and
higher nutrients content, is expected to have a greater
reactivity in soils than higher-temperature biochar and
a better contribution to soil fertility (Steinbeiss et al.,
2009). The aging of biochar, after incorporation into
soil, is partly governed by conditions of moisture and
temperature prevailing in soil (Nguyen and Lehmann,
2009). Water has a major role in processes such as dissolution,
hydrolysis, carbonation and decarbonation,
hydration, and redox reactions, affecting biochar decomposition
in soil, as well as interactions with soil
biota. The rates at which these reactions occur depend
on the nature of the reactions, type of biochar, and
pedoclimatic conditions.