Biochar from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) residues—a critical review

Biochar, a carbon rich organic amendment, derived from organic biomass by pyrolysis under high-temperature and zero oxygen condition, is a soil amendment to enrich soil with essential nutrients. Biochar is multidimensional in its benefits, including increase in soil carbon sequestration, reduction in green house emission, improved soil fertility, and prolonged soil moisture retention capability to overcome drought. Biochar can be produced from a wide array of biological residues, contributed by plants as well as animals. Date palm a common plant in Gulf region, leave enormous quantity of residues, which are disposed or burnt as waste in farms, that acts as a source of pollution in date-producing nations. The residual biomass from dates is utilized in cattle feed production in some countries. Disposing these residues without harming the environment is a challenge and the perfect solution is biochar. Based on the unique abatement potential of biochar and its functions to improve soil health and soil carbon sequestration, biochar can be considered as long-term agriculture adaptation strategy. This comprehensive review highlights the production of biochar from date palm biomass, the influence of different date palm parts in biochar production, and their potential benefits to the community. It is realized that the knowledge of biochar from date palm residues is still in its infancy which requires concerted efforts to educate the date palm farming community to utilize the valuable biomass from date palm for transformation to a nutritious and eco-friendly product, biochar.