Pyrolysis conditions directly influence biochar properties and, consequently, influence the potential use of biochar. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different pyrolysis temperatures (450, 550, 650, 750, 850, and 950 °C) on the hydrogen potential, electrical conductivity, ash content, yield, volatile matter content, elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results, X-ray diffraction results, scanning electron microscopy results, specific surface area, and micropore volume of eucalyptus wood-derived biochar. The degree of linear association between pyrolysis temperatures and biochar properties was examined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed a positive correlation of the pyrolysis temperature with the hydrogen potential value, electrical conductivity, and elemental carbon. There was a negative correlation of the pyrolysis temperature with the yield, volatile matter content, elemental oxygen, elemental hydrogen, surface area, aromaticity, hydrophilicity, and polarity indexes. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy data indicated an increase in aromaticity and a decrease in the polarity of high-temperature biochar. The increased pyrolysis temperature caused the loss of cellulose and crystalline mineral components, as indicated by X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy images. These results indicated that changing the pyrolysis temperature enables the production of biochar from the same raw material with a wide range of physicochemical properties, which allows its use in various types of agricultural and environmental activities.

With extensive use of herbicides in agricultural areas, the risk of contamination of groundwater and surface water by these products has become a worldwide concern. Practices of application or maintenance of soil organic residues that have begun to be used in agriculture for soil nutrition have demonstrated other benefits besides nutrient supplementation, such as reduced mobility and increased soil degradation of herbicides. Because it is the final destination of herbicides, soil and its constituents, especially organic matter in tropical soils, play a prominent role in processes that encompass the dynamics of herbicide molecules. In this context, it is necessary to know the influence of the organic matter and its constituents on the behavior of the herbicides. This review discusses the main relationships of organic matter in the retention, transport, and transformation processes of herbicides in the soil, as well as the interference in the weed control effectiveness of these products. Because of this, knowing the influence of organic matter in the various processes related to the behavior of herbicides in the soil allows us to adopt more appropriate management practices regarding both weed control and remediation of contaminated areas. However, despite the wide range of information on the subject in the literature, each situation is distinct due to the wide variation in the behavioral response of the products to the different types of organic material present in the soil.

Quinclorac and tebuthiuron are residual herbicides that may remain in the soil longer than for the cropping season. The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of green manure plants to remediate soils treated with quinclorac and tebuthiuron. Soils were separately treated with(14)C-quinclorac and(14)C-tebuthiuron at 266.4 and 132 g ha(-1), respectively. After 21 days, four green manure plants, namelyCrotalaria spectabilis,Canavalia ensiformis,Stizolobium aterrimum, andLupinus albus, were separately sown in the treated soils. Overall, all four species absorbed more(14)C-tebuthiuron [C. ensiformes(22.49%),S. aterrimum(16.71%),L. albus(15%), andC. spectabilis(4.48%)] than(14)C-quinclorac [C. ensiformis(13.44%),L. albus(10.02%),S. aterrimum(6.2%), andC. spectabilis(1.75%)]. Quinclorac translocation in all four plants was greater in young leaves compared to old leaves, cotyledons, or roots, and(14)C-tebuthiuron translocation in all four plant species was greater in old leaves and cotyledons compared to young leaves or roots. Regardless of the differences in translocation between the two herbicides, the four green manure plants are capable to remediate soils that have been treated with quinclorac and tebuthiuron. However,C. ensiformisis more efficient for the remediation of tebuthiuron-treated soil compared to the other plants.