Abstract: Biochar is a carbon-rich product produced by pyrolysis of crop residues and other organic material under oxygen-limited conditions. The study on biochar is still in the starting stage. Different approaches were adopted in different research and areas, and leading to variable conclusions.This paper outlined the research progress in domestic and foreign on the effects of biochar application on soil structure, soil pollution, the process of transformation of soil carbon and nitrogen and the research in aspect of soil microbial communities and enzyme activity. It summed up the problems of the application of biochar on soil fertility and soil amendment. This work would be expected to provide a theoretical direction for the future study.