Mitigation of Soil Salinity using Biochar Derived from Lignocellulosic Biomass

Abstract

Soil salinisation is recognised as a serious form of soil degradation, affecting crop production and compromising food security. It is crucial to remediate the negative impacts of soil salinisation to improve the associated soil functions. This paper review the various role of biochar, derived through the pyrolysis of fibrous biomass, to improve the physical properties (soil porosity, soil aggregation, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity and organic carbon content) and chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, exchangeable sodium percentage and sodium adsorption ratio) of saline soil. Physical adsorption and ion exchange are found to be the most common remediation mechanisms of saline soil by biochar.