Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth

This study aims to establish whether lignin-treated soils could result in greater soil strength and stimulate seed germination and growth, which can be essential for slope bioengineering. Three different soil types with a range of plasticity were treated with lignin solutions of 1% and 3%. The chang...

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Main Authors: Ivan Gratchev, Qianhao Tang, Stephen Akosah, Jun Sugawara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4173
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author Ivan Gratchev
Qianhao Tang
Stephen Akosah
Jun Sugawara
author_facet Ivan Gratchev
Qianhao Tang
Stephen Akosah
Jun Sugawara
author_sort Ivan Gratchev
collection DOAJ
description This study aims to establish whether lignin-treated soils could result in greater soil strength and stimulate seed germination and growth, which can be essential for slope bioengineering. Three different soil types with a range of plasticity were treated with lignin solutions of 1% and 3%. The changes in soil strength and seed growth were observed for 40 days to simulate the long-term field performance. Two methods to treat the soils were employed: Method 1 involved mixing lignin solutions with the whole soil sample, while Method 2 involved spraying the lignin solutions on the already-prepared soil sample. The results indicated that the lignin concentration and the soil treatment method could affect soil strength, whereas soils treated with 3% lignin solution using Method 1 consistently produced greater soil strength values. The lignin-treated soils were able to retain more moisture at the end of the experiment than the untreated soils. Both lignin-treated and untreated soils produced similar results on seed germination and growth, suggesting that lignin does not have a negative effect on slope bioengineering.
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issn 2076-3417
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publisher MDPI AG
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series Applied Sciences
spelling doaj-art-36f89f41058d4edd9ed8a5b6eda73e652025-08-20T02:17:19ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01158417310.3390/app15084173Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant GrowthIvan Gratchev0Qianhao Tang1Stephen Akosah2Jun Sugawara3Griffith School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland 4222, AustraliaGriffith School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland 4222, AustraliaGriffith School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland 4222, AustraliaGriffith School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland 4222, AustraliaThis study aims to establish whether lignin-treated soils could result in greater soil strength and stimulate seed germination and growth, which can be essential for slope bioengineering. Three different soil types with a range of plasticity were treated with lignin solutions of 1% and 3%. The changes in soil strength and seed growth were observed for 40 days to simulate the long-term field performance. Two methods to treat the soils were employed: Method 1 involved mixing lignin solutions with the whole soil sample, while Method 2 involved spraying the lignin solutions on the already-prepared soil sample. The results indicated that the lignin concentration and the soil treatment method could affect soil strength, whereas soils treated with 3% lignin solution using Method 1 consistently produced greater soil strength values. The lignin-treated soils were able to retain more moisture at the end of the experiment than the untreated soils. Both lignin-treated and untreated soils produced similar results on seed germination and growth, suggesting that lignin does not have a negative effect on slope bioengineering.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4173biopolymerstabilizationvegetationligninsoil strength
spellingShingle Ivan Gratchev
Qianhao Tang
Stephen Akosah
Jun Sugawara
Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth
Applied Sciences
biopolymer
stabilization
vegetation
lignin
soil strength
title Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth
title_full Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth
title_fullStr Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth
title_full_unstemmed Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth
title_short Application of Lignin for Slope Bioengineering: Effect on Soil Improvement and Plant Growth
title_sort application of lignin for slope bioengineering effect on soil improvement and plant growth
topic biopolymer
stabilization
vegetation
lignin
soil strength
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/8/4173
work_keys_str_mv AT ivangratchev applicationofligninforslopebioengineeringeffectonsoilimprovementandplantgrowth
AT qianhaotang applicationofligninforslopebioengineeringeffectonsoilimprovementandplantgrowth
AT stephenakosah applicationofligninforslopebioengineeringeffectonsoilimprovementandplantgrowth
AT junsugawara applicationofligninforslopebioengineeringeffectonsoilimprovementandplantgrowth