Circular use of waste materials for the manufacturing of innovative soil additives: A field study in temperate climate conditions

Soil additives are widely used in environmental applications. However, most of them are made of synthetic materials, which puts a lot of pressure on the environment. At the same time, the effectiveness of sustainable technologies designed to support vegetation is low. Also the impact of biodegradable soil additives on the environment is not sufficiently studied, which affects the limited scope of their use. The paper describes a new biodegradable composite that was developed, consisting only of waste materials, i.e. waste fibres and biochar. The effectiveness of the solution and its impact on the environment were assessed based on a field experiment and the analysis of the physical and chemical properties of plants and soil. The tests revealed that biodegradable waste has high potential for the manufacture of sustainable technologies. The fresh biomass of grass increased by 65–226 % in comparison to the control sites. The composites also fostered intensive development of the root systems, which was confirmed by a 72–122 % increase in the dry weight. Composites help develop practices that support plant growth and resist climate changes. Biochar in the composites reduces water stress, increasing relative water content by up to 25 %. The composites released N, P and K into the soil. The research results presented here provide a promising outlook for the implementation of a new technology that will allow for the sustainable use of resources and cleaner production. • It is necessary to reduce the application of artificial materials in the environment. • Biodegradable waste may become the basis for sustainable plant production. • Waste-based composites promote sustainable production of crops and water management. • Biodegradable composites were used as a source of water and nutrients for plants. • The application of waste-based composite resulted in an increase in the biomass even by up to 226 %.