The Valorization of Biolignin from Esparto Grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) Produced by Green Process CIMV (Compagnie Industrielle de la Matière Végétale) for Fertilization of Algerian Degraded Soil: Impact on the Physicochemical and Biological Properties

Abstract

This study proposes a new use for a paper industry waste material, lignin, in agriculture and agronomy as a fertilizer for arid soils, while following a strategy aiming to both increase the amount of organic matter in these soils and decrease the impact of pollution caused by industrial discharges that contain organic and/or inorganic pollutants generated by the paper industry. In fact, this method works to improve soil quality through a new carbon-rich bioorganic fertilizer (biolignin) that results from a green method called CIMV, a targeted depollution objective of the paper industry. Over the course of 180 days, we monitored the physicochemical and biological characteristics of degraded soils treated with three different biolignin treatments of 0 (D0), 2 (D1), and 4 (D2) g/kg. The humification was then evaluated by the equation E4/E6. A remarkable variation of the physicochemical and biological parameters was observed in D1 and D2: temperature 12–38 °C, humidity 9–29%, and pH 7.06–8.73. The C/N ratio decreased from 266 to 49. After 180 days, the improvement in soil carbon content for the three treatments D0, D1, and D2 was 14%, 19%, and 24%, respectively. A maximum bacterial biomass of 152 (CFU/g soil) was observed on the 30th day for D1. Maximum laccase activity for D2 was observed on the 120th day. D1 and D2 recorded a significant degree of humification compared to D0. The best indicator of humification E4/E6 was observed in D1, where the value reached 2.66 at the end of the treatment period. The D2 treatment showed a remarkable effect improving the fertility of the degraded soil, which confirms that biolignin is a good fertilizer.