Valorization of waste lignocellulosic biomass for soil amendment: A critical assessment and strategic framework

Usama Shakeel; Ying Zeng; Muhammad Rizwan Khan; Junlong Song

doi:10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100230

Volume 11 Issue 2

May 2026

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts > 2026 > 11(2): 100230

Usama Shakeel, Ying Zeng, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Junlong Song. Valorization of waste lignocellulosic biomass for soil amendment: A critical assessment and strategic framework[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(2): 100230. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100230

Citation:

Usama Shakeel, Ying Zeng, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Junlong Song. Valorization of waste lignocellulosic biomass for soil amendment: A critical assessment and strategic framework[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(2): 100230. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100230

Citation:

Usama Shakeel, Ying Zeng, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Junlong Song. Valorization of waste lignocellulosic biomass for soil amendment: A critical assessment and strategic framework[J]. Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, 2026, 11(2): 100230. doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100230

PDF( 677 KB)

Valorization of waste lignocellulosic biomass for soil amendment: A critical assessment and strategic framework

doi: 10.1016/j.jobab.2026.100230

a Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources and Joint International Research Lab of Lignocellulosic Functional Materials, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
b Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Funds:

This project was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22478196) and the Ongoing Research Funding Program (ORF-2026-138), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Received Date: 2025-10-30
Accepted Date: 2025-12-26
Rev Recd Date: 2025-12-24

Available Online: 2026-05-07

Publish Date: 2026-01-21

Abstract

Abstract

Global agriculture faces a dual crisis: accelerating soil degradation, which depletes soil organic carbon (SOC) and water-holding capacity (WHC), coupled with the buildup of unutilized (waste) lignocellulosic biomass (LCB). Valorizing this waste LCB into sustainable soil amendments offers a key solution to improve soil water retention and crop yields. However, a thorough review of current conversion pathways, including pyrolysis, torrefaction, solid-state fermentation (SSF), and deep eutectic solvents (DES), highlights significant technological and economic challenges. These issues include high energy requirements, low product stability, slow processing speeds, and poor economic viability. Despite these practical obstacles, meta-analyses strongly support the fundamental effectiveness of LCB-derived amendments in restoring SOC, boosting crop production, and remediating contaminants. Therefore, the main challenge has shifted from proving agronomic effectiveness to developing cost-effective production methods that enhance energy efficiency and stability. Scaling these technologies for industrial applications requires an integrated approach that combines technical optimization, economic feasibility, and data-driven management to restore degraded lands and ensure food security.
- Lignocellulosic biomass,
- Waste valorization,
- Soil amendment,
- Water holding capacity,
- Circular bioeconomy

FullText(HTML)

References(22)

References

[1]	Agrawal, S., Jain, V.K., Agarwal, S., 2025. Circular bioeconomy: a comprehensive approach to planetary health and sustainability. Circ. Econ. Sustain. 5, 1483–1508.
[2]	Agung, M., Rahim, I., Amir, F., 2023. Microwave torrefaction technology in biochar production: a review. Proceeding of International Conference on Energy, Manufacture, Advanced Material and Mechatronics 2021 Gowa, Indonesia. AIP Publishing, 020011.
[3]	Andlar, M., Rezić, T., Marđetko, N., Kracher, D., Ludwig, R., Šantek, B., 2018. Lignocellulose degradation: an overview of fungi and fungal enzymes involved in lignocellulose degradation. Eng. Life Sci. 18, 768–778.
[4]	Backer, R.G.M., Schwinghamer, T.D., Whalen, J.K., Seguin, P., Smith, D.L., 2016. Crop yield and SOC responses to biochar application were dependent on soil texture and crop type in southern Quebec, Canada. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 179, 399–408.
[5]	Beillouin, D., Corbeels, M., Demenois, J., Berre, D., Boyer, A., Fallot, A., Feder, F., Cardinael, R., 2023. A global meta-analysis of soil organic carbon in the Anthropocene. Nat. Commun. 14, 3700.
[6]	Butler, J.W., Skrivan, W., Lotfi, S., 2023. Identification of optimal binders for torrefied biomass pellets. Energies 16, 3390.
[7]	da Costa, W.A., de França, V.F., da Silva Souza, L.S., de Andrade, A.S.A., de Araújo, D.A.M., Moreira, E.D.T., Pontes, L.F.B.L., 2023. Physical-chemical and ecotoxic evaluation of different deep eutectic solvents for green analytical applications. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. Int. 30, 70701–70712.
[8]	Feng, L.W., Wang, Y.M., Fensholt, R., Tong, X.Y., Tagesson, T., Zhang, X.X., Ardö, J., Zhou, J., Shao, W.X., Dou, Y.J., Sang, Y.R., Tian, F., 2025. Globally increased cropland soil exposure to climate extremes in recent decades. Nat. Commun. 16, 4354.
[9]	Glaser, B., Lehr, V.I., 2019. Biochar effects on phosphorus availability in agricultural soils: a meta-analysis. Sci. Rep. 9, 9338.
[10]	Herawati, A., Mujiyo, Syamsiyah, J., Baldan, S.K., Arifin, I., 2021. Application of soil amendments as a strategy for water holding capacity in sandy soils. IOP Conf. Ser. Earth Environ. Sci. 724(1), 012014.
[11]	Huong Huynh, T.T., Tongkhao, K., Hengniran, P., Vangnai, K., 2023. Assessment of high-temperature refined charcoal to improve the safety of grilled meat through the reduction of carcinogenic PAHs. J. Food Prot. 86, 100179.
[12]	Leite, P., Sousa, D., Fernandes, H., Ferreira, M., Costa, A.R., Filipe, D., Gonçalves, M., Peres, H., Belo, I., Salgado, J.M., 2021. Recent advances in production of lignocellulolytic enzymes by solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial wastes. Curr. Opin. Green Sustain. Chem. 27, 100407.
[13]	Lévesque, V., Gagnon, B., Ziadi, N., 2022. Soil Mehlich-3-extractable elements as affected by the addition of biochars to a clay soil co-amended with or without a compost. Can. J. Soil. Sci. 102, 97–107.
[14]	Mujtaba, M., Fernandes Fraceto, L., Fazeli, M., Mukherjee, S., Savassa, S.M., Araujo de Medeiros, G., do Espírito S., Pereira, A., Mancini, S.D., Lipponen, J., Vilaplana, F., 2023. Lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural waste to the circular economy: a review with focus on biofuels, biocomposites and bioplastics. J. Clean. Prod. 402, 136815.
[15]	Olszyk, D., Shiroyama, T., Novak, J., Cantrell, K., Sigua, G., Watts, D., Johnson, M.G., 2020. Biochar affects growth and shoot nitrogen in four crops for two soils. Agrosyst. Geosci. Environ. 3, e20067.
[16]	Osman, A.I., Fawzy, S., Farghali, M., El-Azazy, M., Elgarahy, A.M., Fahim, R.A., Abdel Maksoud, M.I.A., Ajlan, A.A., Yousry, M., Saleem, Y., Rooney, D.W., 2022. Biochar for agronomy, animal farming, anaerobic digestion, composting, water treatment, soil remediation, construction, energy storage, and carbon sequestration: a review. Environ. Chem. Lett. 20, 2385–2485.
[17]	Schwingel Henn, G., Schmitz, C., Fontana, L.B., Corrêa, H.V.N., Lehn, D.N., Volken de Souza, C.F., 2025. Water absorption capacity and agricultural utility of biopolymer-based hydrogels: a systematic review and meta-analysis. ACS Polym. Au 5, 325–342.
[18]	Suresh Babu, K.K.B., Nataraj, M., Tayappa, M., Vyas, Y., Mishra, R.K., Acharya, B., 2024. Production of biochar from waste biomass using slow pyrolysis: studies of the effect of pyrolysis temperature and holding time on biochar yield and properties. Mater. Sci. Energy Technol. 7, 318–334.
[19]	Wang, M.H., Fu, X.S., Chang, Y.Y., Wei, J.N., Cui, H.Y., 2025. Recent advancements in Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) pretreatment: applications, mechanisms, and integration with emerging technologies for biorefinery. Ind. Crops Prod. 229, 121028.
[20]	Xu, J.M., Ren, C.C., Zhang, X.M., Wang, C., Wang, S.T., Ma, B., He, Y., Hu, L.F., Liu, X.M., Zhang, F.Z., Lu, L.T., Li, S.Y., Zhang, J.B., Zhu, Y.G., Vitousek, P., Gu, B.J., 2025. Soil health contributes to variations in crop production and nitrogen use efficiency. Nat. Food 6, 597–609.
[21]	Yu, Y., Wu, J., Ren, X.Y., Lau, A., Rezaei, H., Takada, M., Bi, X.T., Sokhansanj, S., 2022. Steam explosion of lignocellulosic biomass for multiple advanced bioenergy processes: a review. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 154, 111871.
[22]	Zhang, Z.B., Fu, H., Li, Z., Huang, J.Y., Xu, Z.W., Lai, Y.K., Qian, X.M., Zhang, S.N., 2022. Hydrogel materials for sustainable water resources harvesting & treatment: synthesis, mechanism and applications. Chem. Eng. J. 439, 135756.