Speaker
Description
Developing sustainable, low-cost construction materials with good thermal and mechanical performance is critical in arid regions. In Zagora region (Morocco), agricultural waste is often abandoned, posing environmental risk such as fires and waste accumulation. This study investigates the use of local agricultural waste in the production of compressed earth bricks (CEBs) as an eco-friendly building solution. A visit to the studied region, visual observation and a survey were conducted to assess local construction practices, common defects and the solutions adopted by the inhabitants. Three local soils and the agricultural waste were characterized geotechnically, physiochemically, and mineralogically using standard methods including XRD, FTIR, and SEM-EDX analysis, then combined in various mixtures to produce CEBs. After 28 days of curing, the bricks were evaluated for physical, thermal, and mechanical properties.
The results revealed several pathologies in traditional earthen construction in this region, including water infiltration and wall erosion. Incorporating agricultural waste enhanced the thermal insulation and reduced the density of the CEBs, though with some reduction in compressive strength. Overall, the study demonstrates that recycling agricultural waste into earth bricks offers a sustainable, locally adapted building material suitable in arid regions.
