Biochar as an amendment material for improvement of expansive soil properties in Central Asia

Ankit Garg a*, Sai Krishna Akash Ramineni b, Neelima Satyam b, Askar Zhussupbekov c


a Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Department of Health and Environmental Science, 11 Ren’ai Road, Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, 21512 China
b Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Madhya Pradesh, 453552, India
c L.N Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev Street, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan

Email: ankitshantou1988@gmail.com

Sai Krishna Akash Ramineni: ce210004041@iiti.ac.in: Neelima Satyam: neelima.satyam@iiti.ac.in; Askar Zhussupbekov: astana-geostroi@mail.ru

https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJSCR/2025-R1.v4-1/1-12.eng

Thematic cluster: Environmental Science, Landscape/Agriculture

Type of paper: Research paper

February 10, 2025

Abstract

Soil salinity in Central Asia negatively impacts soil structure, leading to degradation and reduced water infiltration. This not only hampers agricultural productivity but also makes the land less suitable for construction due to its high susceptibility to deformation. Environmentally friendly materials like biochar, a carbon-rich substance, show promise in reducing the deformation of saline soils. However, the mechanisms behind its effectiveness are not yet fully understood. This study aims to analyse saline clays’ dispersion and sedimentation behaviour under varying pore water salinity levels (0 % to 10%). A biochar content of 5 % was selected as it is found to be optimum for plant growth and erosion resistance. It was found from the study that the biochar increases the aggregation of soil particles and enhances flocculation, improving soil dispersion characteristics. Biochar facilitates soil particle aggregation by increasing the cation exchange capacity. At higher pore water salinity levels (5% and 10%), the sedimentation behaviour of biochar-treated soil particles deviates from expectations, showing slower sedimentation rates and lower sedimentation heights. This is because the sodium ions are adsorbed by biochar, reducing salt’s effect on dispersion and sedimentation. The results demonstrate that biochar effectively enhances the stability of saline soils and, hence, has a potential use for ground improvement in the Central Asian region.

Download the Paper

Available in English

For citation: Garg, A., Ramineni, S., Satyam, N., Zhussupbekov, A. (2025). Biochar as an amendment material for improvement of expansive soil properties in Central Asia. Central Asian Journal of Sustainability and Climate Research, 4(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJSCR/2025-R1.v4-1/1-12.eng

Rerefences

Abdullaeva, Y., Dr, S., & Mankasingh, U. (2014). Biochar effects on fertility of saline and alkaline soils (Navoiy Region, Uzbekistan). United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme: Reykjavik, Iceland

Amini, S., Ghadiri, H., Chen, C., & Marschner, P. (2016). Salt-affected soils, reclamation, carbon dynamics, and biochar: a review. Journal of Soils and Sediments16, 939-953

Artiola, J. F., Rasmussen, C., & Freitas, R. (2012). Effects of a biochar-amended alkaline soil on romaine lettuce and bermudagrass growth. Soil Science177(9), 561-570

ASTM D6572–21(2020) Standard Test Methods for Determining Dispersive Characteristics of Clayey Soils by the Crumb Test. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, United  States. https://doi.org/10.1520/D6572-21

Au, P. I., & Leong, Y. K. (2013). Rheological and zeta potential behaviour of kaolin and bentonite composite slurries. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects436, 530-541

Cheng, C. H., Lehmann, J., Thies, J. E., Burton, S. D., & Engelhard, M. H. (2006). Oxidation of black carbon by biotic and abiotic processes. Organic geochemistry37(11), 1477-1488

dos Santos, W. M., Gonzaga, M. I. S., da Silva, J. A., de Almeida, A. Q., de Jesus Santos, J. C., Gonzaga, T. A. S., … & Araújo, E. M. (2021). Effectiveness of different biochars in remediating a salt-affected Luvisol in Northeast Brazil. Biochar3, 149-159

Garg, A., Rattan, B., & Sekharan, S. (2023). Comparison of various sustainable amendments on soil cracking in semi-arid regions. Central Asian Journal of Sustainability and Climate Research, 2(2):85-97. https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJSCR/2023-R1.v2-2/85-97.eng

Ghezzehei, T. A., Sarkhot, D. V., & Berhe, A. A. (2014). Biochar can capture essential nutrients from dairy wastewater and improve soil physico-chemical properties. Solid Earth5(2), 953-962

Głodowska, M., Schwinghamer, T., Husk, B., & Smith, D. (2017). Biochar-based inoculants improve soybean growth and nodulation. Agricultural Sciences8(9), 1048-1064

Goodarzi, A. R., Fateh, S. N., & Shekary, H. (2016). Impact of organic pollutants on the macro and microstructure responses of Na-bentonite. Applied Clay Science121, 17-28

Gorbunov, A. P., Yamnova, I. A., & Skvortsova, I. N. (2020). Salt composition of irrigated soils in the Aral Sea basin. Eurasian Soil Science, 53(8), 1089-1098. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229320080054

Gunarathne, V., Senadeera, A., Gunarathne, U., Biswas, J. K., Almaroai, Y. A., & Vithanage, M. (2020). The potential of biochar and organic amendments for reclamation of coastal acidic-salt affected soil. Biochar2, 107-120

Jabborova, D., Abdrakhmanov, T., Jabbarov, Z., Abdullaev, S., Azimov, A., Mohamed, I., … & Elkelish, A. (2023). Biochar improves the growth and physiological traits of alfalfa, amaranth and maise grown under salt stress: PeerJ, 11, e15684

Jien, S. H., & Wang, C. S. (2013). Effects of biochar on soil properties and erosion potential in a highly weathered soil. Catena110, 225-233

Kim, J. G., Kim, H. B., & Baek, K. (2023). A novel electrochemical method to activate biochar is derived from spent coffee grounds for enhanced adsorption of lead (Pb). Science of The Total Environment886, 163891

Leogrande, R., & Vitti, C. (2019). Use of organic amendments to reclaim saline and sodic soils: a review. Arid Land Research and Management33(1), 1-21

Lina, X., Weiling, C., Neelima, S., & Ankit, G. (2023). Effect of biochar produced from peach pit biomass on sedimentation, water retention, and volumetric shrinkage behaviour of saline kaolin clay. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 1-15

Liu, X., Zhang, X., Kong, L., Wang, G., & Lu, J. (2022). Disintegration of granite residual soils with varying degrees of weathering. Engineering Geology305, 106723

Ma, S., Wang, X., Wang, S., & Feng, K. (2022). Effects of temperature on physicochemical properties of rice straw biochar and its passivation ability to Cu2+ in soil. Journal of Soils and Sediments22(5), 1418-1430

Mandal, S., Pu, S., Adhikari, S., Ma, H., Kim, D. H., Bai, Y., & Hou, D. (2021). Progress and prospects in biochar composites: Application and reflection in the soil environment. Critical reviews in environmental science and technology51(3), 219-271

Mitchell, J. K. (2001). The Fabric of Natural Clays and Its Relation to Engineering Properties. American Society of Civil Engineers.https://trid.trb.org/view/121606

Palomino, A. M., & Santamarina, J. C. (2005). Fabric map for kaolinite: Effects of pH and ionic concentration on behaviour. Clays and Clay Minerals53(3), 211-223

Rengasamy, P. (2010). Osmotic and ionic effects of various electrolytes on the growth of wheat. Soil Research, 48(2), 120-124

Qadir, M., Noble, A. D., Qureshi, A. S., Gupta, R. K., Yuldashev, T., & Karimov, A. (2009, May). Salt‐induced land and water degradation in the Aral Sea basin: A challenge to sustainable agriculture in Central Asia. In Natural resources forum (Vol. 33, No. 2, pp. 134-149). Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Qadir, M., Quillérou, E., Nangia, V., Murtaza, G., Singh, M., Thomas, R. J., … & Noble, A. D. (2021). Economics of salt-induced land degradation and restoration. Natural Resources Forum, 45(1), 3-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12222

Rattan, B., Garg, A., Sekharan, S., & Sahoo, L. (2023). Developing an environmentally friendly approach for enhancing water retention with the amendment of water-absorbing polymer and fertilisers. Central Asian Journal of Water Research, 9(1), 113-129. https://doi.org/10.29258/CAJWR/2023-R1.v9-1/113-129.eng

Reddy, N. G., Rao, B. H., & Reddy, K. R. (2018). Biopolymer amendment is needed to mitigate the dispersive characteristics of red mud waste. Géotechnique Letters8(3), 201-207

Sansalvador, M. E., & Brotons, J. M. (2020). How environmental certification can affect the value of organizations? The case of Forest Stewardship Council certification. International Forestry Review22(4), 531-543

Sides, G., & Barden, L. (1971). The microstructure of dispersed and flocculated samples of kaolinite, illite, and montmorillonite. Canadian Geotechnical Journal8(3), 391-399

Yan, C., Xiao, L., Garg, A., & Sushkova, S. (2024). Effect of Pyrolyzed Peach Pit Biomass on Dispersion and Sedimentation Characteristics of Saline Clay. Indian Geotechnical Journal, 1-12

Wang, H., She, D., Fei, Y., & Tang, S. (2019). Synergic effects of biochar and polyacrylamide amendments on the mechanical properties of silt loam soil under coastal reclamation in China. Catena182, 104152

Wani, I., Sharma, A., Kushvaha, V., Madhushri, P., & Peng, L. (2020). Effect of pH, volatile content, and pyrolysis conditions on surface area and O/C and H/C ratios of biochar: towards understanding performance of biochar using simplified approach. Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste24(4), 04020048

Zhang, T., Deng, Y., Cui, Y., Lan, H., Zhang, F., & Zhang, H. (2019). Porewater salinity effect on flocculation and desiccation cracking behaviour of kaolin and bentonite considering working condition. Engineering Geology251, 11-23

Zhou, Y., Huang, M., Deng, Q., & Cai, T. (2017). Combination and performance of forward osmosis and membrane distillation (FO-MD) for treatment of high salinity landfill leachate. Desalination420, 99-105

This post is also available in: Русский (Russian)

biochar, carbon sink material, Central Asia, salinity, sedimentation

Publication Alerts: