Project Period : 2022-2024
Projet Description
This project seeks to reduce soil salinity by replacing gypsum with phosphogypsum, a by-product of phosphoric acid production. The initiative, titled “Phosphogypsum Amendments: A Promising Solution to Mitigate Salt Stress in Citrus Orchards,” focuses on leveraging phosphogypsum as an effective soil amendment to combat salinity issues in citrus orchards. This approach not only addresses the problem of soil degradation but also contributes to the sustainable management of industrial by-products, offering a more eco-friendly solution to agricultural challenges.
Partners
- UNIVERSITY MOHAMMED VI POLYTECHNIC (UM6P);
- THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH (NCSTR);
- THE MINISTERY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (MHESRI);
- IBN TOFAIL UNIVERSITY (ITU).
Scientific, Environmental, and Economic Impact
The aim of this project is to use phosphogypsum, a by-product of the production of phosphoric acid, which is widely available in Morocco, as an alternative to gypsum to reduce soil salinity. However, such amendment can only be considered if the harmlessness of the products has been validated. To reduce the potential presence of toxic elements, bioremediation will be explored by selection of microorganisms and/or plants capable of metabolizing heavy metals in soil, tree and fruit as a result of the application of phosphogypsum.