Lignin Applications in Soil Rehabilitation

With the changes predicted through global warming and a growing population, depletion ofsoil and encroaching desertification are problems of increasing relevance. This work provides an overview of the problem of erosion and desertification. After a brief review of current fertilzer technologies itoffers solutions in the form of soil rehabilitation and the creation of artificial humus through nitrogen-enriched ligneous materials from wood, straw pulp, and sorghum. This innovative application for lignin, an important by-product of the pulping process, will be of interest to those working in wood as well as soil science.