Search Results (1,094)

The transition towards circular economy is now a key strategy to address the environmental issues we are facing. Within this framework, biochar, a carbon-rich material derived from residual agricultural pyrolysis, can represent a sustainable and circular solution. This paper aims at evaluating the possibility of implementing a local biochar-production system as part of an economic and social strategy of the redevelopment of an abandoned rural site, Borgo di Perolla, in Tuscany, Italy. A cost–benefits analysis (CBA) was conducted to evaluate the economic feasibility of three different scenarios of production and strategies: Scenario 1 considers revenues solely from the production and sale of biochar and wood vinegar; Scenario 2 additionally includes potential income from the sale of voluntary carbon credits; and Scenario 3 incorporates biochar credits within the European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS). For each scenario, three indicators were calculated: Net-Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), and Breakeven point (BEP). The most evident result that emerged is that the sale of biochar and its by-products alone is not sufficient to ensure the project’s economic sustainability, mainly due to high production costs. Only through carbon-credit-trading markets biochar becomes not only an environmentally strategic tool but also an economically rewarding one. In this sense, market infrastructures, such as the ETS, are essential for the dissemination of circular models, like biochar, that generate both environmental and economic benefits. Previous studies on biochar have largely focused on its application and associated benefits, while cost–benefit analyses have primarily examined its economic feasibility through the commercialization of biochar as a soil amendment, particularly within the United States context. The present work contributes to this literature in three main ways. First, it provides a site-specific and replicable CBA framework applied to a real territorial regeneration project (Borgo di Perolla), grounded in primary data collected through field surveys, stakeholder interviews, and expert validation. Second, the study explicitly compares multiple market-access scenarios within the same analytical framework, ranging from biochar-only sales to voluntary carbon markets, allowing for a clear identification of the economic thresholds at which biochar becomes financially sustainable. Third, and most importantly, the main contribution of this work lies in the explicit modeling of biochar integration into the EU Emissions Trading System. This paper extends the analysis to a regulated carbon market scenario, assuming the recognition of biochar-based carbon removals within the EU ETS framework. From a methodological perspective, the study quantitatively assesses how ETS price dynamics affect the profitability, internal rate of return, and break-even point of a biochar project over a long-term horizon. From a policy perspective, the analysis anticipates recent regulatory developments, such as the EU Regulation 2024/3012, on establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products, by showing how biochar could function as a fully market-integrated climate technology. Full article

The undegradable characteristics of heavy metals on environmental quality have become a serious human health concern. A study was conducted in a potato field to investigate the impact of soil amended with animal manure or biochar on the transport of toxic heavy metals and nitrates to runoff and seepage water. The soil in 18 field plots was separated, and each of 3 plots was mixed with biochar, chicken manure, vermicompost, sewage sludge, or cow manure, with 3 plots used as the control. Following a natural rainfall event, the impact of soil treatments on the runoff and infiltration water volume was monitored. Runoff water from the soil amended with biochar exhibited 10.6 L plot⁻¹, whereas cow manure exhibited 4.1 L plot⁻¹, indicating about 61% reduction in runoff water volume. The vermicompost-amended soil increased the seepage water volume from 1.6 L plot⁻¹ in the control treatment to 4.4 L plot⁻¹, indicating a 175% increase in percolating water, a desirable attribute to direct rainfall water towards the plant roots. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Mn, Cr, Mg, Cu, and K in infiltration water were greater in runoff sediments, highlighting the need for runoff sediment remediation technology. Full article

In agriculture, soil amendments like compost, manure, superabsorbent polymers (SAP) and biochar (BC) are already in use to mitigate the effects of water shortage and to obtain a higher yield and survivability. The present study focuses on the impact of BC and SAP under moderate and reduced soil water content (SWC) on the physiological and biochemical response of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. (cv. UDEC-5), a naturally drought-resistant and strategic crop in arid regions, with the aim of further improving its resilience and biomass production. Plants were grown in the presence or absence (control) of SAP (1% or 0.1% g/100 g SAP) or BC (3% g/100 g BC) by taking into account the smallest possible amount of irrigation necessary for optimal growth of the control. Sixty-five days after sowing, the reduced watering approaches started. The irrigation amount was reduced slowly until plants without any amendment showed a significant reduction in CO₂/H₂O gas exchange and further significant changes in 23 morphological, physiological and biochemical symptoms of water shortage. Each amendment already caused individual plant response in wet conditions: The soil amendments of SAP (1% and 0.1%) and BC had no significant effect on biomass production but caused changes in PS I (portion of oxidized and open centers in PS I), the C/N ratio and N content. The addition of SAP (0.1% and 1%) led to a decrease in gH⁺, ECStmAu ^× gH⁺, R_D, R_L, the C_i/C_atm ratio and ETR/A_gross ratio and to an increase in water use efficiency (WUE), especially in the 0.1% SAP treatment. In moderate conditions, 0.1% SAP and 3% BC caused a significant increase in both the LOP and C/N ratio. In the moderate treatments, the application of 0.1% SAP promoted an increased A_net, while 3% BC promoted a significant reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA). The results of the present quinoa experiment indicate the drought avoidance mechanism of the control under low SWC. The reduced transpiration led to increased WUE due to the efficient use of the substomatal CO₂ reservoir under low C_s and low E. It could also be confirmed that quinoa plants balanced low soil water potential by the accumulation of compatible solutes to lower the LWP and LOP. Drought led, especially in leaves in the 1% SAP treatment, to significant reductions in CO₂/H₂O gas exchange (A_net, R_D), decreases in Y (II) and ETR in PS II, and an increase in the ETR/A ratio and over-reduced centers in PS I, pointing to an increased appearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the chloroplasts. The latter change was indicated by higher levels of lipid peroxidation (MDA). It could be shown that the response of the test species Chenopodium quinoa to the addition of BC and SAP proved to be highly adaptable. The plant reacted in a very coordinated and specific way to both the danger of oversupply of SAP soil amendments under water shortage conditions and an effective adaptation to a limited water supply with 3% BC and 0.1% SAP by increasing WUE and proline content. However, BC also had a mitigating effect on the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It can be assumed that this effect is based on a more plant-compatible, less one-sided ion composition of BC. The results presented indicate that SAP and BC can have an impact on the water and nutrient accessibility for plants. Therefore, optimal biomass production and plant response can only be reached if plant soil interactions and competition between SAP, BC and the plant roots are taken into account when planning for climate-resilient, water-saving agriculture. Full article

Soil salinization is a major constraint on global crop production. While organic amendments are used in mildly saline soils, their seasonal effects require further study. This research applied biochar (BC) and humic acid (HA) annually in 2022 and 2023 separately, with an unamended control (CK), to assess impacts on soil quality and wheat yield. BC significantly reduced soil salt content by 28.1% and 17.5% in 2022 and 2023 at a rate of 7.5 Mg·ha⁻¹, while increasing organic matter and total phosphorus. In contrast, HA lowered soil pH by 3.1% in 2022 and enhanced available nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Both BC and HA increased alkaline phosphatase activity by 7.6% and 6.9% in 2023, respectively. Notably, grain yield showed no direct link to soil nutrients but was positively correlated with phosphatase activity in 2023. Consequently, BC did not improve the soil quality index but raised grain yield by 12.9% and 20.7% over two years, primarily via increased 1000-grain weight. In contrast, HA both improved the soil quality index by 16.1% in 2023 and increased grain yield by 17.2%, driven by enhanced aboveground biomass. In conclusion, soil chemical properties and crop productivity were decoupled in these mildly saline–alkaline soils, highlighting the potential for site-specific application of organic amendments. Full article

To address freshwater scarcity in agriculture, the use of brackish and reclaimed water for alternate irrigation has emerged as a viable alternative. This study evaluated four biochars (rice husk, peanut shell, rice straw, and wheat straw, applied at 2%) and three silicon fertilizers (Lang-Si (S1), Nayou-Si (S2), and sodium metasilicate pentahydrate (S3)) as amendments for sandy loam soil (Lang-Si, Nayou-Si, foliar spray at 1000× dilution; sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, foliar spray at 150 mg∙L⁻¹). Their effects on soil salinity, physicochemical properties, and microbial community structure were assessed under alternate irrigation with brackish and reclaimed water. Alternate irrigation reduced soil electrical conductivity and increased total phosphorus (TP) content compared to single-source irrigation. The effects of amendments varied by type. Biochars improved soil fertility and reduced salinity: peanut shell biochar decreased EC by 15.5%; rice husk biochar increased total nitrogen (TN), TP, and organic matter (OM) by 11.8%, 8.2%, and 10.1%, respectively; and wheat straw biochar elevated subsurface soil TN and OM by 14.1% and 40.0%. Straw-derived biochars and sodium metasilicate pentahydrate maintained higher bacterial α-diversity (Shannon index ≥ 6.67). These effects corresponded with the nutrient adsorption capacity of biochars and the ionic stress alleviation by soluble silicon. The correlation analysis identified OM, TN, TP, and EC as the key drivers shifting the microbial community. Straw-derived biochars and sodium metasilicate pentahydrate are suitable amendments for alternate irrigation systems. These materials balance salinity control, fertility improvement, and microbial conservation, offering practical options for sustainable use of brackish and reclaimed water in agriculture. Full article

In this research, the effects of organic amendments and planting methods on the grain yields, enzyme activity, soil quality, and the structures of fungal populations in the rhizosphere of rice were evaluated. In comparison to the control group with direct seeding, the transplanting method resulted in a 23.5% higher grain yield. Furthermore, rice straw addition significantly improved fungal diversity indices (i.e., Chao1, ACE, Shannon, and Simpson). Dissimilarity distances and principal coordinate analysis revealed substantial variations in the compositions of root-associated fungal communities across the experimental groups with different planting methods. When the transplanting method was used, the Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Olpidiomycota, Aphelidiomycota, Monoblepharomycota, and Calcarisporiellomycota phyla became dominant. Biochar and rice straw applications caused substantial increases in the abundance of the Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, Rozellomycota, Mucoromycota, Olpidiomycota, Aphelidiomycota, and Gammaproteobacteria phyla. Changes in enzyme activity and the physicochemical properties of the soil were also observed across the treatment groups with different planting methods and organic amendments. Direct seeding enhanced cellulase activity, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, available nitrogen, available potassium, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen, whereas transplanting boosted the activity of sucrase and urease enzymes. Rice straw application enhanced cellulase activity and the concentrations of available nitrogen, available phosphorus, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen in the soil. Biochar addition resulted in increased urease activity, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, soil pH, and available potassium. The Ascomycota abundance and grain yield exhibited a positive connection, while unclassified_Fungi exhibited negative correlations with the soil pH, organic carbon, available phosphorus, grain yield, and activity of sucrase and urease. Mortierellomycota was positively correlated with microbial biomass nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. Overall, both the organic additives and planting methods influenced the soil properties, enzyme activity, rhizosphere fungal populations, and grain yield. These results provide new insights and a theoretical basis for studying the changes in soil fungal diversity and richness with different planting methods and organic amendments in Northeastern China. Full article

Soil salinization remains a major global challenge, and rice cultivation has been widely practiced in saline–alkali soils of the black soil region in Northeast China as an effective strategy for soil improvement. However, this practice is often slow to produce benefits and is prone to secondary salinization, limiting rapid gains in soil fertility and crop productivity. To address these limitations, this study evaluated the effects of four soil amendment strategies (microbial inoculant, organic fertilizer, biochar, and their combined application) on bacterial and fungal communities, as assessed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and the ITS region, respectively. The application of microbial inoculants significantly increased bacterial diversity and richness, while all amendment treatments promoted the enrichment of key microbial groups. Organic inputs strongly influenced microbial community assembly, with microbial inoculant and combined treatments shifting assembly toward more deterministic processes. In addition, the amendments altered microbial interaction networks, leading to widespread cooperative relationships dominated by positive associations and strong interactions across taxonomic groups. Notably, the combined treatment reshaped bacterial functional profiles and reduced the predicted abundance of pathogenic fungi. Overall, these results demonstrate that organic amelioration strategies can improve the ecological functioning of saline–alkali soils by regulating microbial community assembly and interactions. This study provides a robust theoretical framework and scalable practical solutions for the integrated management and sustainable development of saline–alkali agriculture. Full article

Nutrients recovered from municipal and dairy wastewaters in a bioelectrochemical system constructed with terracotta and biochar were used in different soil amendments. These amendments included addition of terracotta (TS), biochar (BS), terracotta and biochar nutrient-rich mixtures from bioelectrochemical systems, DWW (dairy wastewater), and SWW (synthetic wastewater), respectively. Corn growth affected by these amendments was compared with control, termed straight soil (SS). The first experimental setup consisted of 60 plants, four replications per group, and nutrient loadings (0%, 50%, and 100% Hoagland Nutrient Solution, HNS) in the fall season. After harvesting, the plants and soil were analyzed for agro-physical characteristics by various methods. At the 100% nutrient treatment, the TS soil had the best yielding plants. Overall, plants grown in DWW and SWW soil amendments with 0% and 50% nutrient treatments had the best results in plant height, total plant dry weight, the average number of leaves per plant, leaf surface area, shoot dry weight, root/shoot ratio, root surface area, and NBI when compared to the control group. Another test was carried out with 80 corn plants grown using five different soil mediums and using four different nutrient treatments in the spring season. Twenty of the plants were put through a simulated drought to evaluate drought resistance (as measured by plant growth) in different soil amendments. In this test, the SWW soil amendment had a negative effect at 0% HNS and in warm weather. The SWW soil medium had large retention in soil moisture, which had a negative growth effect. It is recommended that the irrigation be monitored closely when applying the SWW soil amendment to avoid overwatering. This research provides critical insights into nutrient reuse in crop production. Full article

Soil contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represents a pressing environmental and public health concern due to the exceptional persistence of carbon–fluorine bonds, which prevent natural attenuation and limit the effectiveness of conventional remediation. Agricultural and industrial soils serve as long-term sinks for PFAS, continuously releasing these pollutants into groundwater and facilitating their transfer through the food chain. Conventional chemical and physical remediation methods are often costly, energy-intensive, and yield incomplete removal, underscoring the need for sustainable and biologically driven alternatives. Microbial consortia have emerged as a promising solution due to their metabolic complementarities, cross-feeding interactions, and ecological resilience, which together enable PFAS transformation and partial defluorination under complex soil and subsurface conditions. Key enzymes such as oxygenases, reductive dehalogenases, and hydrolases are often operating within co-metabolic networks, which play central roles in these processes. Advances in metagenomics, CRISPR-based functional screening, and metabolic modelling are rapidly uncovering novel PFAS-degrading microbes and pathways. Integration of machine learning with multi-omics and environmental datasets further enables the prediction of degradation mechanisms, identification of keystone degraders, and rational design of synthetic consortia. Emerging sustainable strategies, including biochar- and nutrient-amended soil microcosms, plant–microbe partnerships for coupled soil–groundwater phytoremediation, and bioelectrochemical systems that offer new avenues for enhancing PFAS biodegradation in situ. This review synthesises recent research progress and provides critical perspectives on the mechanistic, ecological, and engineering dimensions of PFAS bioremediation, proposing an integrated conceptual framework linking microbial consortia dynamics, enzymatic pathways, and environmental engineering interventions to guide scalable field applications and sustainable management of PFAS-contaminated soil–groundwater ecosystems. Full article

Ultramafic soils, particularly those affected by mining, often contain toxic nickel (Ni) levels that hinder plant growth and ecosystem recovery. This study assessed engineered biochar–nanocomposite amendments to improve vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) growth, biomass, and Ni phytoextraction in Ni-rich ultramafic soils from Santa Cruz, Zambales, the Philippines. Seven samples were tested: T₁—control (no application); T₂—biochar; T₃—nanocomposite; T₄—biochar + nano-silica; T₅—biochar + nano-calcium; T₆—biochar + nano-chitosan; and T₇—biochar + nanocomposite. Biochar combined with nano-silica (T4) significantly enhanced vetiver growth, producing the highest root, shoot, and total biomass (469.97 g plant⁻¹), indicating improved plant tolerance under Ni stress. The highest shoot Ni concentration (24.52 mg kg⁻¹) and translocation factor (0.56) were observed in the biochar + nano-chitosan treatment (T6), suggesting increased Ni bioavailability and uptake. However, translocation factor values remained below unity across all treatments, indicating limited Ni transfer from roots to shoots and a dominant phytostabilization behavior. Overall, nano-silica-engineered + biochar primarily enhanced biomass production, while nano-chitosan influenced Ni uptake dynamics, highlighting the potential of engineered biochar–nanomaterial amendments for sustainable rehabilitation of Ni-contaminated ultramafic soils. Full article

The global shortage of freshwater, especially in agriculture, has become a serious threat to food security and safety; therefore, using brackish water with soil amendments in facility-grown vegetable production has drawn more attention recently. In this study, the effects of the combined use of peat or biochar at different rates (1%, 3%, and 5%) on soil properties, plant growth, and physiological responses were investigated in cherry belle radish (Raphanus sativus L.) irrigated with brackish water (5 g/L). The results revealed that peat significantly cut soil electrical conductivity (EC) by 42.61% and the pH value by 0.29, while biochar reduced soil EC by 32.44% but increased the pH value slightly. Both peat and biochar significantly increased the chlorophyll content and photosynthetic characteristics in cherry belle radish leaves and effectively promoted the accumulation of plant biomass. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of cherry belle radish in the soil amended with 5% peat or with 3% biochar increased by 89.06% and 85.94%, respectively, compared with CK, while the fresh weight of fleshy roots rose by 74.40% and 50.27%, respectively. This study further found that peat and biochar had effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation in plants. The plasma membrane permeability was reduced by 41.18% and 39.90%, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased by 49.66% and 41.90%, respectively. In addition, peat and biochar significantly improved ion homeostasis in plants by increasing the ratios of K⁺/Na⁺ and Ca²⁺/Na⁺ in leaves, with the increment amplitudes reaching 90.21%/81.45% and 60.47%/79.15%, respectively. Nevertheless, biochar exhibited a superior effect compared to peat on balancing plant ions. In conclusion, a proper application of peat or biochar under brackish water irrigation has a significant potential to ameliorate soil properties and alleviate salt stress in plants, providing a safe approach for using brackish water with soil amendments in facility vegetable production in arid and semi-arid regions. Full article

Purple rice contains beneficial bioactive compounds, but the concentrations can be influenced by the growing conditions. This study investigated the interactive effects of water regime, biochar amendment, and nitrogen (N) sources on the yield and grain quality of purple rice. Purple rice grown under flooded conditions combined with biochar and urea or ammonium demonstrated significant increases in grain yield and yield components such as plant height, number of spikelets per panicle, and the percentage of filled grains compared to non-flooded conditions. Nitrate consistently resulted in the lowest yields and grain quality, especially under non-flooded conditions and with no added biochar. Grain anthocyanin concentration was highest under flooded conditions, with the maximum observed with biochar and nitrate application and with ammonium application without biochar. In contrast, the grain phenol content and antioxidant capacity were maximized by the biochar and water applications. The findings indicate that rice husk biochar can improve productivity without altering the color shade of purple rice. Combining flooding, biochar, and ammonium or urea improves the agronomic performance of purple rice, though the impact on nutritional qualities is more complex. Full article

Biochar obtained from digestate is a promising material in the context of digestate management. However, it is important to note that the properties of the resulting material are largely dependent on the parameters of the pyrolysis process, with temperature being a particularly significant factor. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of the digestate pyrolysis temperature on the chemical structure, thermal stability, and thermal decomposition characteristics of biochar produced at temperatures of 400, 500, 600, and 800 °C in an inert nitrogen atmosphere. Material characterization was performed using a range of analytical techniques, including elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), and coupled TGA–FTIR analysis, in order to identify volatile products released during the heating process. The results demonstrated that elevating the pyrolysis temperature results in progressive carbonization and aromatization of the carbon structure. Concurrently, functional groups containing oxygen and hydrogen were eliminated, as evidenced by declines in the H/C and O/C atomic ratios. FTIR analysis confirmed the disappearance of aliphatic and hydroxyl bands, as well as the dominance of aromatic structures and mineral components in biochar subjected to high-temperature treatment. The TGA results demonstrated an enhancement in thermal stability with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Concurrently, the TGA–FTIR analysis revealed a substantial decline in the emission of volatile decomposition products from biochar obtained at temperatures ≥600 °C. Overall, the pyrolysis temperature of digestate determines the utilization potential of the resulting biochar; in particular, low-temperature biochar can be used as a soil amendment and methane fermentation stimulant, while high-temperature biochar can be used for contaminant immobilization in soil and long-term carbon sequestration. Full article

Saline–alkali soils significantly hinder agricultural productivity in China’s coastal areas. Although both plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and biochar have individually demonstrated the capacity to boost crop yield and soil fertility, their synergistic effects on seawater rice and soil ecosystems remain uncertain. In this study, we examined the individual and interactive influences of lychee biochar (2.5% and 5% w/w) and PGPR inoculation on soil physicochemical properties and bacterial community assembly along a soil–root continuum, encompassing bulk soil, rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane, and root endosphere, in a controlled pot experiment with seawater rice. The application of biochar significantly altered soil pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient availability in both bulk and rhizosphere soils, resulting in pronounced changes in bacterial community composition. The effects generated by biochar were partially mitigated when PGPR was co-applied. The relative abundances of Bacillota and Bacteroidota grew progressively from bulk soil to the root endosphere across all treatments, indicating a significant compartment-dependent selection. Co-occurrence network analysis and FAPROTAX-based functional predictions revealed several taxa and functions that were progressively enriched toward the root, including the halotolerant genera Exiguobacterium and Chryseobacterium, highlighting a significant host-mediated filtration process that functioned independently of the inoculated strains. Multivariate analyses further demonstrated that soil pH was the primary driver of bacterial community structure in bulk and rhizosphere soils, whereas plant-root selection dominated in the rhizoplane and endosphere. Overall, our results demonstrate that, within a seawater-rice and soil ecosystem, the selective influence of the host plant on root-associated microbiomes exceeds that of either biochar amendment or PGPR inoculation. This work improves our understanding of biochar–PGPR–plant interactions in saline–alkali soils and provides insight into sustainable strategies for enhancing rice production under salinity stress. Full article

Saline–alkali soil salinization is a global ecological crisis affecting 932 million hectares of land worldwide, posing a severe threat to food security and ecological sustainability. Traditional improvement methods, such as chemical amendments and hydraulic engineering, are limited by high costs and environmental risks, whereas microbial amendments have emerged as eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives due to their ability to regulate soil microenvironments and enhance plant stress resistance. However, a comprehensive synthesis of their core mechanisms, global application progress, and regional adaptation characteristics is still lacking, hindering the standardization and promotion of related technologies. This review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, systematically synthesizes 112 core studies (1990–2025) retrieved from Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI databases, focusing on three core research objects: salt-tolerant microbial communities in saline–alkali soils (dominant taxa, functional genes, metabolic characteristics), development and optimization of microbial amendments (strain screening, composite formulation, carrier selection), and mechanisms and application effects of microbial remediation (soil–plant–microbe interactions, physicochemical improvement, crop growth promotion). Key findings include the following. (1) Dominant microbial taxa (e.g., Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria) exhibit region-specific adaptation strategies, with salt tolerance thresholds and functional characteristics varying by soil type (coastal vs. inland saline–alkali soils). (2) Composite microbial amendments, especially those combined with biochar or organic fertilizers, achieve synergistic effects in desalination, alkali reduction, and fertility improvement. (3) Core mechanisms involve organic acid-mediated pH regulation, EPS-driven ion adsorption, and plant hormone-induced stress tolerance. (4) Microbial remediation technologies have been successfully applied globally (e.g., China, Africa, Americas), resulting in average crop yield increases of 15–42% and soil salinity reductions of 30–50%. This review provides a standardized technical framework for the development and application of microbial amendments, offers theoretical support for region-specific remediation strategies, identifies key challenges (e.g., strain stability, cost control) and future research directions (e.g., gene-edited strains, smart monitoring integration), and thus facilitates the industrialization and large-scale promotion of microbial remediation technologies to address global saline–alkali soil issues. Full article