Rapid decomposition of traditionally produced biochar in an Oxisol under savannah in Northeastern Brazil

• Locally produced biochar is slightly thermally altered.
• Biochar decomposes rapidly under savannah conditions.
• The decay constant of biochar is higher than the one from native SOM.
• Locally produced biochar has a limited potential to mitigate climate change.

Soil amendment with biochar has been claimed as an option for carbon (C) sequestration in agricultural soils. Most studies on biochar/soil organic carbon (SOC) interactions were executed under laboratory conditions. Here we tested the stability of biochar produced in a traditional kiln and its effects on the stocks of native SOC under field conditions. The biochar was characterized using pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and then added to an Oxisol under savannah climate. This soil was amended with 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 Mg ha− 1 of biochar in a randomized complete block design with four replications and cultivated with soybean over four cropping seasons (CSs; 120 days each). Soil samples from the 0–10 cm top layer were collected at the end of the first and fourth CSs and analyzed for CO2 emissions, isotopic C abundance (13C/12C ratio) and enzymatic activity (fluorescein diacetate and dehydrogenase). The biochar showed a low degree of thermal modification. Its relative decomposition rate was higher (k = 0.32–1.00 year− 1) than generally claimed (k = 0.005–0.0005 year− 1), and higher than the decomposition of native SOC (k = 0.22 year− 1). Addition of biochar did not affect the stocks of native SOC. Our findings highlight the need for critically reviewing the potential of locally produced biochar to sequester C.