Use of biochar to manage soil salts and water: Effects and mechanisms

Soil salinization is a widespread land degredation, especially in water-stressed regions, jeopardizing agriculture sustainability. Current desalinization methodology involves excessive water consumption. Biochar has the potential to mitigate soil while increasing holding capacity. As saline and sodic material, however, how it works whether can be used sustain at reduced resource remain studied. Here, by monitoring transport of water, salts nutrients profile irrigation-silt during watering evaporation both laboratory field Kashgar oasis, Xinjiang, China, we find biochar exacerbates upon application. This changed, after several cycles irrigation-evaporation due strengthened salt leaching irrigation removal out depth through intensified top accumulation evaporation, resulting from increased capillary effect thereby enhanced movement despite competing electrical adsorption cations. The resulted distribution facilitates removing 2 cm soil. also promotes inceased content suction. reversed once cracks, common phemomenon irrigated land. counteracts cracking alleviation compaction, saving tillage lowering e.g., 43% 10% biochar. Our findings indicate that application changes distribution, enabling with little Together anti-fracturing leaching, lowers demand substantially, providing novel solution for agricultural sustainability salt-affected regions.