Biochar Treatment Restores DDT-Contaminated Agricultural Land

A cost-effective soil treatment offers new hope for rehabilitating farmland.

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Swedish researchers have introduced a biochar soil treatment that could transform the management of DDT-contaminated agricultural land. A team at Chalmers University of Technology has demonstrated that biochar, a cost-effective and eco-friendly material, can significantly reduce the environmental risks associated with DDT contamination, unlocking the potential for thousands of hectares of previously unusable farmland.

Cost-Effective In-Situ Soil Remediation

Traditional DDT contamination management typically involves costly excavation and transportation to hazardous waste facilities, disrupting ecosystems and depleting valuable topsoil.

The new biochar soil treatment method, tested at a former tree nursery in southern Sweden, provides a more sustainable land remediation approach. By integrating biochar directly into contaminated soil, landowners can lower remediation costs while preserving soil quality.

Field experiments revealed that biochar treatment reduced DDT absorption in earthworms by approximately 50%, significantly decreasing the risk of bioaccumulation in the food chain. This promising development could enable landowners to safely cultivate select crops, including forestry seedlings, bioenergy crops like willow trees, and animal feed, while awaiting regulatory updates on contaminated land rehabilitation.

Environmental Benefits and Long-Term Potential

Beyond agricultural land recovery, this innovative in-situ soil remediation method offers broader soil health restoration benefits. Since biochar is produced through pyrolysis of organic waste materials, it enhances water retention, nutrient cycling, and soil structure. With the EU Soil Monitoring Law set to enforce stricter sustainable land management practices, biochar treatment aligns with key environmental goals.

Researchers expect the method’s effects to last for decades due to biochar’s slow decomposition rate. While still uncommon in contaminated soil treatment, this approach shows promise for mitigating various soil pollutants, including heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. With an estimated 2.8 million contaminated sites across Europe alone, biochar-based remediation could become a widely adopted strategy for environmental risk reduction and sustainable agriculture.

Environment + Energy Leader