The effects of biochar, wood vinegar and plants on glyphosate leaching and degradation

•Leaching of glyphosate is enhanced in the presence of plants.•Biochar decreases glyphosate leaching from the soil.•Biochar decreases the loss of total nitrogen from the soil.

Although glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide, its impacts on ecosystems are not well understood. A pot experiment, was established to explore the potential impacts of biochar, wood vinegar, and plants on the environmental fate of glyphosate. In the presence of plants (Lolium perenne), and irrespective of the presence of biochar or wood vinegar, leaching of glyphosate through the soil was multiple compared to the plant free systems. However, the addition of biochar to the soil decreased the leaching of glyphosate irrespective of plants. Soils treated with biochar–wood vinegar mixture showed the lowest glyphosate leaching, both with and without plants. Biochar, wood vinegar or plants, alone, had no effect on the degradation of glyphosate in soil. When the plants were present the degradation of glyphosate was highest in soils treated with biochar–wood vinegar mixture. Our results imply that biochar in particular can be applied as a soil improving agent to reduce the potential environmental risks to aquatic environments caused by glyphosate