Evaluating Salt Sequestration in the Biochar of Halophytes.

Managing desalination concentrates and brackish water is challenging in arid ecosystems. One of the options is the land application of these saline concentrates. Land application of brackish water renders the soil incapable of producing cultural crops sustainably. Halophytes, which are plants that can tolerate high level of salinity have been proposed as possible crops to cultivate where brackish water is been disposed on land. Some halophytes species, for example, the genus Atriplex can accumulate salts into their tissues, thereby effectively relieving the soil from some of the slats that would otherwise stay resident in the soil system. Several utilities have been proposed for halophytes after they are harvested from the field. Utility of halophytes include provision of firewood and timber, creating shade and shelter, and producing industrial crops and animal fodder. However, in cases where the halophytes are to be land applied as biomass, is it possible to alter the amount of soluble salts in halophyte’s tissue by converting it first to biochar before land application? This is a preliminary study that focuses on characterization of the state of salts in biochar made from halophytes, to evaluate if some of the salts have been altered into forms that cannot be readily leached out. The ability to sequester salt in biochar would decrease the negative impacts of land application of high-salinity materials, including those used in desalination concentrate management systems.