High Water Absorbents from Lignocelluloses. II. Novel Soil Conditioners for Sandy Soil from Lignocellulosic Wastes

Abstract

Investigations have continued for economical utilization of lignocellulosic wastes, which represents one of the environmental problems facing the third world countries. The use of sugar-cane bagasse, rice straw, and waste paper as cellulose-containing waste stuff for obtaining soil conditioners is the basic aim of this work. The grafted lignocellulosic wastes were evaluated as soil conditioner in comparison with conventional conditioners (organic fertilizers and bentonite). The benefit of such materials as soil conditioners were evaluated by studying their effect on volume distribution of pores in sandy soil (drainable pores, water holding pores, and fine capillary pores), available moisture, air-filled porosity, and water-stable structural units.

Keywords:

• Hydrogel
• Lignocellulosic wastes
• Grafted lignocelluloses
• Soil conditioners
• Sandy soil

Acknowledgment

The authors wish to thank the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology for financing this work.