Sulan Qaboos University (Professor), and University of Al Dhaid (Professor)Environmental Soil Microbiology; Water and Nutrients in Soil-Plant Environment,
Management of Salt affected Soils,
Waste management for soil applications;
Advanced Topics in SoilPlant Environment
Summary:
This Special Issue focuses on recent advances in modified and functionalized biochar for soil, water, wastewater, environmental remediation, and soil conditioning for agricultural systems. Emphasis is placed on chemical, physical, and biological modification strategies that enhance biochar effect on soil quality, as well as bioremediation efficiency as conditioned by adsorption capacity, selectivity, catalytic activity, and stability. Contributions addressing removal of heavy metals, nutrients, dyes, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, PFAS, and other emerging contaminants are encouraged. Studies integrating biochar with membrane, biological, electrochemical, or catalytic systems are welcome. Research exploring biomass valorization, circular economy approaches, life-cycle assessment, and techno-economic evaluation is also within scope. Additionally, manuscripts addressing soil–water interactions, amendment strategies for alkaline or saline soils, nutrient management, long-term performance, regeneration, environmental risk, and field-scale applications will be considered.
Encouraged Topics of Research:
- Biomass modification of different feedstock types for enhanced biochar properties
- Biochar-coated or biochar-based fertilizers
- Biochar as a co-amendment with organic or mineral fertilizers
- Agricultural applications of modified biochar in alkaline, saline, or degraded soils
- Chemical, thermal, and biological functionalization of biochar
- Mechanisms of adsorption, redox reactions, and catalytic degradation of contaminants
- Removal of heavy metals, nutrients, dyes, pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microplastics
- Engineered biochar composites (metal-oxide, magnetic, nano-enabled materials)
- Biochar in hybrid systems (membrane filtration, advanced oxidation, microbial systems, electrochemical treatment)
- Biochar for non-point source pollution control
- Life-cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of modified biochar
- Regeneration, reuse, aging, and long-term stability of modified biochar
- Environmental safety, ecotoxicology, and risk assessment of modified biochar
- Effects of modified biochar on nutrient availability, phosphorus dynamics, and leaching losses
- Soil–water interactions and lab-to-field-scale validation studies