Synergistic effects of biochar and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) applications on improving water retention and aggregate stability in desert soils

Shao, Fanfan; Zeng, Senlin; Wang, Quanjiu; Tao, Wanghai; Wu, Jiaping; Su, Lijun; Yan, Haokui; Zhang, Hongjie; Lin, Shudong

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117305

Cited by 16 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…The co-application of biochar and CMC in desert soils was found to have significant positive effects on soil hydraulic properties, water retention capacity, and water-stable aggregate formation. 82 The combination of biochar and CMC significantly reduced the infiltration rate, and increased cumulative infiltration, field water holding capacity, and number of water-stable aggregates. The application of biochar at 8.0 g/kg and CMC at 0.08 g/kg was shown to have the most comprehensive improvement.…”

Section: Polymer Selection For Agricultural Sapsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Application of superabsorbent natural polymers in agriculture

Dingley,

Cass,

Adhikari

et al. 2024

Polymers from Renewable Resources

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To meet global food demand, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact, the agricultural sector must improve its current practices on soil amendment, fertiliser encapsulation, and seed and crop protection. Super absorbent polymers (SAPs) are a class of polymeric materials that can absorb and retain large quantities of liquids/aqueous solutions compared to their own mass. Typically, SAPs are cross-linked to form three-dimensional hydrophilic networks, commonly known as hydrogels. Although SAPs can be synthesised from both synthetic and naturally sourced materials, for agricultural applications they are generally composed of synthetic polymers, due to their advantageous properties. These include higher water absorption rate and capacity, low cost, availability, durability, and mechanical performance. However, many of these systems utilise polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyacrylamide (PAM) monomers which may have toxic effects on the nervous and respiratory systems of humans and animals. To ensure sustainable agricultural practices and maintain healthy long-term crop output, synthetic SAP usage must be greatly reduced. This review article aims to investigate alternative natural SAPs for agriculture and critically rationalise their adoption into the industry. Specific applications investigated include (i) soil amendment, (ii) fertiliser encapsulation, (iii) seed coating, and (iv) crop protection.

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Section: Polymer Selection For Agricultural Sapsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Application of superabsorbent natural polymers in agriculture

Dingley,

Cass,

Adhikari

et al. 2024

Polymers from Renewable Resources

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“…Simultaneously, the extensive cultivation of jujube trees has proven effective in curbing desertification and improving the local ecological environment [6]. However, this region is susceptible to extreme aridity due to its continental desert climate, which leads to land aridification and desertification issues [7]. The annual average rainfall in this area is a mere 35 mm, while evaporation exceeds 2480 mm (http: //data.cma.cn/, accessed on 20 May 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, MOF enhances the organic matter content in the soil, promoting the formation of water-stable aggregates in the soil [7,20,21]. The substantial presence of mycelium and organic binding substances within MOF enhances the adhesion of soil particles, thereby increasing the curvature of soil pores and the number of capillary pores [7]. Consequently, this improves the soil water retention and nutrient-holding capacity, reducing surface runoff and deep percolation losses, and consequently enhancing the effectiveness of irrigation water [22][23][24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Soil, as a reservoir and supplier of essential water and nutrients required for plant growth, plays a pivotal role in fostering healthy plant development due to its excellent hydraulic and physical characteristics [7,20,25,26]. Especially in desert soils, the presence of an abundance of sand particles and a scarcity of clay particles results in soil porosity predominantly consisting of numerous interconnected macro-pores, rendering desert soils with extremely poor water-holding capacity [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Microbial Organic Fertilizer (MOF) Application on Desert Soil Enzyme Activity and Jujube Yield and Quality

Shao,

Tao,

Yan

et al. 2023

Agronomy

Self Cite

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Developing effective regulatory strategies to enhance irrigation water and fertilizer efficiency in the southern Xinjiang region of China, while simultaneously combatting desertification, is of paramount significance. This study focuses on Chinese jujube in Xinjiang and presents findings from a two-year field experiment aimed at investigating the optimal application strategy of microbial organic fertilizer (MOF). The research aims to provide a scientific foundation for achieving high-quality jujube production. The experiment involved a control group (utilizing only freshwater, referred to as CK) and various combinations of MOF treatments. In 2021, these treatments included M1 (0.6 t/ha), M2 (1.2 t/ha), M3 (1.8 t/ha), and M4 (2.4 t/ha), while in 2022, they encompassed M1 (0.6 t/ha), M2 (1.2 t/ha), M4 (2.4 t/ha), and M5 (4.8 t/ha). Over the two-year trial period, we assessed various indices, including the soil’s physical properties, hydraulic characteristics, soil enzyme activities, and relative chlorophyll content. Additionally, we evaluated jujube yield, quality, and economic benefits. The results indicate that MOF application led to significant improvements in soil conditions. Specifically, the average moisture content and profile water storage of the 0–50 cm soil layer increased by 10.98% to 36.42% and 1.8% to 26.8%, respectively. Moreover, in both the 2021 and 2022 experiments, soil saturated water content (SSWC) and water-holding capacity (WHC) increased by 6.25% to 15.98%, while soil hydraulic conductivity (Ks) and bulk density (BD) decreased by 2.91% to 9.88% and 0.63% to 8.08%, respectively. In 2021, MOF application resulted in significant enhancements in soil enzyme activities, with urease activity increasing by approximately 22.5% to 100.5%, peroxidase activity rising by around 24.2% to 148.5%, and invertase activity augmenting by about 5.4% to 32.9%. Notably, the M4 treatment in 2021 demonstrated a substantial jujube yield increase of approximately 19.22%, elevating from 7.65 t/ha to 9.12 t/ha. Based on comprehensive analysis, this study recommends an optimal MOF application rate of approximately 2.4 t/ha. This approach not only provides robust support for the sustainable development of the jujube industry but also serves as a valuable reference for enhancing local soil resilience against desertification.

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