The Role of Biochar in the Remediation of Salt-Affected Soils

Salts accumulation in soil is a major threat to agricultural production and ecosystem sustainability. The cost imposed on agricultural productivity due to salinity and sodicity is very high and is expected to increase in the future with the expansion of salt-affected areas. In the last decade, a great focus has been made on the application of biochar in farming systems with the primary aim of organic carbon sequestration in soil and subsequently reducing greenhouse gases emission to air and also reclaim soils, and increasing soil fertility. But these studies often were in non-saline soils and it is needed to study the biochar effect in salt-affected soils.

Due to the lack of research on the role of biochar in salt-affected soils, this paper first provides an overview of the extent and problems of these soils. Then, the researches on the effect of biochar on soil properties, carbon sequestration, and remeduatuib if sakt-affected soils were reviewed and study and research gaps in this field were investigated.

The application of biochar in the soil causes the sequestration of carbon in the soil and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In the salt-affected soils, biochar, as an organic soil amendment, improves the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil, thereby mitigating the effects of salt on soil and plants.

Carbon sequestration and improvement of soil quality are the two reported general benefits of biochar application in soil. The results of researches in this field are different depending on the source and method of biochar preparation, soil properties, and experiment conditions. Therefore, various studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms of biochar effect on the properties of salt-affected soils and their remediation. It is not possible to provide a practical solution by doing some research, but developing scientific findings in this field can guide future policies.