•There is a disconnect between biochar preparation and its returning.•Return biochar from directional function for soil to directional preparation.•Returning biochar can improve the soil physical and chemical properties.•Returning biochar can improve the activity of soil microbes.•Returning biochar can reduce the emission of greenhouse gas. Biochar generated from thermochemical conversion of biomass reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is useful for improving ecological systems in agriculture. However, certain biochars function well in improving soil, and other biochars do not. Why? Because it is not clear how to prepare the best biochar for soil. There is a disconnect between biochar preparation and returning the biochar to the soil. To elucidate this relationship, this paper reviews (i) technologies for preparing biochar, (ii) how preparation conditions affect biochar properties, and (iii) the effects on soil physical and chemical properties. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, biochar improves the physicochemical and microbial properties of soil and absorbs poisonous and pernicious substances. Therefore, as biochar is produced by pyrolysis, optimizing processing conditions to improve its properties for agricultural use is a key issue explored in this article.