Participation of urea-N absorbed on biochar granules among soil and tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacumL.) and its potential environmental impact

•New types of biochar-based fertilizer, biochar-NPK-straw, powders-granule, were developed and applied at low rate of 1.3 t ha−1 to two tobacco fields.•The fertilizer increased the middle leaves yield of tobacco and the income of the tobacco planting.•The fertilizer retained more root-zone soil liable N, improved soil N uptake by tobacco, and had potentially less environmental impact.