Challenges of Biochar Usages in Arid Soils: A Case Study in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced from the pyrolysis of organic biomasses in the absence of oxygen or under low-oxygen conditions. Biochar has received a great interest during the last few decades due to its beneficial roles for carbon dioxide capturing and soil fertility improvement. However, applications of biochar in arid soils are very limited, and there is a lack of knowledge on practical aspects of adding biochar to arid soils. In this chapter, we will focus on biochar applications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia soils as an example of arid soils. These soils are characterized by several marks, i.e., high soil pH, sand structures, high CaCO 3 contents, and low soil fertility. In addition, the unsuccessful recycling practices of agricultural and food wastes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are also discussed. This chapter provides an overview of current biochar knowledge pertinent to its application to arid soils, summarizes what is known so far about biochar and its applications in arid regions, and demonstrates the possible strategies that can be used for enhancing the practices of biochar addition to these soils.

Toward a Greener Future: Applying Circular Economy Principles to Saudi Arabia’s Food Sector for Environmental Sustainability

“…Sustainable and economical methods can be employed to recover, recycle, and reuse food. For example, Elkhalifa et al [108] and Alaboudi [109] proposed using biochar and biofertilizers to improve the soil and showed how a variety of techniques can be employed to collect, recycle, and utilize wasted food. Another increasingly common method of processing and managing food waste is recycling waste cooking oil (WCO), which is an appealing option due to its reasonable price and environmental friendliness [81,110,111].…”