Biochar for Reclamation of Saline Soils

Salinity is one of the important environmental factors, which influence fertility and quality of the soil. In semiarid and arid regions of the world, salinity is the main constraint that is affecting productivity and yield of the crop plants. Many crop plants are very sensitive to high concentration of salinity. A recent concept of biochar application to soil is enhancing various physicochemical properties under acidic and saline conditions. Biochar is a carbonaceous compound and can be utilized as a better soil ameliorant in comparison to other organic amendments for improving the fertility of soil for an elongated time period. The present review chapter is based on the results of many research papers, showing that the application of biochar to soil is potentially suitable for highly weathered soils as it enhances physicochemical properties and reduces soil loss. Although the information on biochar for enhancing the soil chemical properties is well-known, information on physical properties’ enhancement is scarce. Therefore, the main aim of the current chapter is to provide all the available literature and information on the role of biochar for the reclamation of soil by enhancing their physicochemical properties under saline conditions. Further, the present review examines and deliberates the investigations on the effect of biochar in reclamation and enhancing the properties of salt-affected soils.