Effect of Nano-Carbon on Water Holding Capacity in a Sandy Soil of the Loess Plateau

Abstract

The poor water retention capacity of sandy soils commonly aggregate soil erosion and ecological environment on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Due to its strong capacity for absorption and large specific surface area, the use of nanocarbon made of coconut shell as a soil amendment that could improve water retention was investigated. Soil column experiments were conducted in which a layer of nanocarbon mixed well with the soil was formed at a depth of 20 cm below the soil surface. Four different nanocarbon contents by weight (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%) and five thicknesses of the nanocarbon- soil mixture layer ranging from 1 to 5 cm were considered. Cumulative infiltration and soil water content distributions were determined when water was added to soil columns. Soil Water Characteristic Curves (SWCC) were obtained using the centrifuge method. The principal results showed that the infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration increased with the increases of nanocarbon contents, to the thicknesses of the nano carbon-soil mixture layer. Soil water contents that below the soil-nano carbon layer decreased sharply. Both the Brooks-Corey and van Genuchten models could describe well the SWCC of the disturbed sandy soil with various nano carbon contents. Both the saturated water content (θs), residual water content (θr) and empirical parameter (α) increased with increasing nano carbon content, while the pore-size distribution parameter (n) decreased. The available soil water contents were efficiently increased with the increase in nanocarbon contents.

An investigation into the use of Australian native plants and designer metal-binding particles for remediation of metal-contaminated landscapes

“…Chapters 5 also demonstrated that X3 was able to greatly increase water holding capacity of waste rock and tailings. The finding is also in agreement with previous studies (Rossato et al, 2011, Jatav et al, 2013, Zhou and Chen, 2017. Although waste rock and tailings were extremely saline, the effectiveness of X3 for increasing water holding capacity was not affected by salinity.…”

The potential contribution of nanocarbon to fostering sustainable agriculture for future generations

“…This is especially important in arid and semi-arid regions where water availability is limited. Improved water retention reduces irrigation frequency and enhances plant survival [13] .…”

Exploring the Soil-water Retention Characteristics for Unsaturated Soil Using Coconut Shell Waste for Subgrade Improvement

“…In addition, the utilisation of charcoal and biochar as means to enhance soil water capacity has proven to be successful. Nevertheless, it is crucial to acknowledge that the regular requirement for specialised modifications in order to use this strategy may make it impracticable [9].…”

“…Crushed coconut shell, classified as a nano-carbon substance, is derived from agricultural processes, and is considered a byproduct. A study was conducted to investigate the impact of soil water penetration on nanocarbon content levels [9]. The study observed that the cumulative infiltration curves for all nanocarbon concentrations exhibited a smooth pattern, resembling that of homogenous soils without nanocarbon.…”

“…Consequently, the soil containing nanocarbons exhibits a reduced rate of water outflow compared to the homogeneous soil lacking nanocarbons. Consequently, the incorporation of nanocarbons has the potential to slightly augment the soil's capacity for water retention [9].…”