Khalifa University researchers have found a way to convert sandy soil into fertile land
Abu Dhabi, 3 February / WAM / Khalifa University of Science and Technology announced today that a group of its researchers has developed a sustainable, low-cost technology that contributes to improving the properties of sandy soil using cellulose nanofibers extracted from pineapple peels, with the aim of addressing major challenges that include water scarcity, poor soil fertility, and enhancing food security in dry areas.
The study, titled “Evaluating nanocellulose from food waste as a functional amendment for sandy soils: linking fiber structure, water dynamics, soil mechanics, and plant-microbial interactions,” was published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, which is in the top 1% of journals in the field of materials and bioresources.
The study demonstrates the ability of nano-cellulose fibers to transform sandy soil into fertile land, by improving the properties of this soil in terms of its ability to retain water, its mechanical strength, and the abundance of nutrients in it.
The researchers also studied the ability of integrating cellulose nanofibers with soil to stabilize and resist disintegration over time and their ability to retain the nutrients necessary for plant growth.
His Excellency Professor Ibrahim Al-Hajri, President of Khalifa University, said that the university’s researchers developed this new approach that can transform dry areas into green spaces, which reflects the nature of the university’s research related to the needs of the region, and is in line with the goals of the UAE in achieving food security and addressing the problem of water scarcity.
He added that these solutions could constitute a strong boost to the Middle East and North Africa region, which faces difficult challenges related to soil fertility and water scarcity, noting that this technology is characterized by scalability and low cost, and also relies on utilizing local waste to restore degraded soil and enable sustainable agriculture, which greatly benefits the environment and promotes sustainable development goals.
The Khalifa University research team that conducted this study included Haider Ali Daly, Dr. Muhammad Hamid Salem, Malak Abu Zaid, Maryam Omar Sobhi Qasim, Dr. Faisal Al Marzouqi, Dr. Andrea Sirianni, Alessandro DeCarlis, Ludvic Française Daume, and Blaise Léopold Tardi, who are from the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, the Food Technology and Security Center, the Khalifa University Center for Research and Innovation in Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide, and the Membranes Center. And advanced water technology.
- For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter
