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

Fanfan Shao; Senlin Zeng; Quanjiu Wang; Wanghai Tao; Junhu Wu; Lijun Su; Haokui Yan; Yibo Zhang; Shudong Lin

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117305

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

J Environ Manage. 2023 Apr 1:331:117305. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117305. Epub 2023 Jan 19.

Authors

Fanfan Shao¹, Senlin Zeng¹, Quanjiu Wang², Wanghai Tao³, Junhu Wu⁴, Lijun Su⁵, Haokui Yan¹, Yibo Zhang¹, Shudong Lin¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China. Electronic address: wquanjiu@163.com.
³ State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China. Electronic address: xautsoilwater@163.com.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China. Electronic address: wujunhu@126.com.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710048, China; School of Sciences, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, 710054, China.

PMID: 36681030
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117305

Abstract

Making improvements to the water-holding characteristics and water-erosion resistance of desert soils, particularly in inland extremely arid areas, is vital for achieving both sustainable water resource utilisation and food security. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the co-application of biochar and carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) on the physical properties of sandy desert soil, including infiltration rate, saturated water conductivity, field water-holding capacity and aggregate stability. Sandy desert soil samples were collected from jujube plantations on the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert in the Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, China. Five CMC application ratios (C0:0, C1:0.01 g/kg, C2:0.02 g/kg, C3:0.04 g/kg and C4:0.08 g/kg) and five biochar application ratios (B0:0, B1:1.0 g/kg, B2:2.0 g/kg, B3:4.0 g/kg and B4:8.0 g/kg) were designed and a total of 11 experimental treatments were performed, which were labelled as CK (control group), B2C0, B2C1, B2C2, B2C3, B2C4, B4C4, B0C2, B1C2, B3C2 and B4C2. Compared with CK, the combined application of biochar and CMC reduced the soil bulk density (BD) by 1.29-9.41% and the saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) by 29.64-94.98%, and increased the soil saturated water content (SSWC) by 8.81-30.74% and the water holding capacity (WHC) by 13.91-36.87%. Similarly, the water-stable aggregates that were co-applied with biochar and CMC increased by 29.10-256.86%. This resulted in significant improvement in the stability of sandy desert soil against water erosion. The principal component analysis (PCA) results found B4C4 to have the best comprehensive improvement effect. Therefore, 0.08 g/kg of CMC and 8.0 g/kg of biochar were used as recommended for improving the hydraulic properties of desert soils. Generally, CMC and biochar have a mutually complementary effect on improving sandy desert soil, providing new ideas and approaches for the improvement of soil and the sustainable development of agriculture in desert areas.

Keywords: Biochar; Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium; Desert soil; Soil aggregate stability; Soil hydraulic conductivity; Water infiltration.

MeSH terms

Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium*
Charcoal
Sodium
Soil*
Water

Substances

Soil
biochar
Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium
Charcoal
Water
Sodium