Influence of Agricultural Waste Materials in Concrete: A Sustainable Approach

Year : 2026 | Volume : 16 | Issue : 01 | Page : 26 32
    By

    Yuvraj Singh Gurjar,

  • Mayank Gupta,

  1. Student, Department of Civil Poornima College of Engineering, Jaipur, Rajasthan, india
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering Poornima College of Engineering, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Urbanization and resource depletion have intensified the need for sustainable alternatives to traditional construction materials. The concrete industry, a major contributor to environmental issues due to cement production, is turning to waste materials to mitigate its impact. This review paper focuses on the use of agricultural waste as a partial replacement for cement and aggregates in high-strength concrete (HSC), with an emphasis on its influence on both fresh and hardened properties. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of various agro-wastes such as rice husk ash, coconut shell, oil palm shell, and natural fibers. It examines how these materials affect the fresh properties of concrete, including workability, and their impact on hardened properties like compressive strength, durability, and microstructure. The analysis reveals that agricultural wastes with pozzolanic properties can significantly enhance the mechanical and durability performance of HSC. Specifically, partial replacement of cement (5–10%) can improve strength by promoting the formation of additional calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H) gels, which lead to a denser microstructure. The fineness of these materials also reduces permeability, increasing resistance to sulfate and chloride attacks. The findings demonstrate that incorporating agricultural waste into high-strength concrete is a viable strategy to improve its performance while simultaneously addressing critical environmental challenges. This approach provides a sustainable solution for waste management, conserves natural resources, and reduces the carbon footprint of the construction industry. This review highlights the potential of agro-waste to contribute to a more circular and environmentally friendly economy in the production of building materials.

Keywords: Agricultural waste, durability performance, high-strength concrete, pozzolanic replacement, sustainable construction materials

[This article belongs to Recent Trends in Civil Engineering & Technology ]

How to cite this article:
Yuvraj Singh Gurjar, Mayank Gupta. Influence of Agricultural Waste Materials in Concrete: A Sustainable Approach. Recent Trends in Civil Engineering & Technology. 2026; 16(01):26-32.
How to cite this URL:
Yuvraj Singh Gurjar, Mayank Gupta. Influence of Agricultural Waste Materials in Concrete: A Sustainable Approach. Recent Trends in Civil Engineering & Technology. 2026; 16(01):26-32. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rtcet/article=2026/view=241726


References

  1. Mehta PK, Monteiro PJM. Concrete: Microstructure, Properties, and Materials. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2014.
  2. Ganesan K, Rajagopal K, Thangavel K. Rice husk ash blended cement: assessment of optimal level of replacement for strength and permeability properties of concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2008;22(8):1675–1683. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.06.011.
  3. Chopra D, Siddique R, Kunal. Strength, permeability and microstructure of self-compacting concrete containing rice husk ash. Biosyst Eng. 2015;130:72–80. doi:10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2014.12.005.
  4. Mannan MA, Ganapathy C. Concrete from an agricultural waste–Oil Palm Shell (OPS). Build Environ. 2004;39(4):441–448. doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2003.10.007.
  5. Ramesh V, Kumar S. Experimental study on partial replacement of coarse aggregate with coconut shell in concrete. Int J Civ Eng Technol. 2018;9(7):142–150.
  6. Cordeiro GC, Toledo Filho RD, Fairbairn EMR. Effect of calcination temperature on the pozzolanic activity of sugar cane bagasse ash. Constr Build Mater. 2009;23(10):3301–3303. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.02.013.
  7. Giménez E, Adam JM, Ivorra S, Calderón PA. Influence of strips configuration on the behaviour of axially loaded RC columns strengthened by steel angles and strips. Mater Des. 2009;30:4103–4111. doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2009.05.010.
  8. Thomas BS, Gupta RC. A comprehensive review on the applications of waste tire rubber in cement concrete. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2016;54:1323–1333. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.092.
  9. Lee G, Poon CS, Wong YL, Ling TC. Effects of recycled fine glass aggregates on the properties of dry-mixed concrete blocks. Constr Build Mater. 2013;38:638–643. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2012.09.017.
  10. Memon SA, Lo TY. Performance of rice husk ash blended high-strength concrete at elevated temperatures. Constr Build Mater. 2011;25(2):822–828.
  11. Islam MS, Rahman MM, Islam MN. Sustainable development of concrete using agro-industrial waste: a review. Constr Build Mater. 2020;261:119695.
  12. Singh G, Siddique R. Effect of waste foundry sand (WFS) as partial replacement of sand on the strength, ultrasonic pulse velocity and permeability of concrete. Constr Build Mater. 2012;26:416–422. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2011.06.041.
  13. Chindaprasirt P, Rukzon S, Sirivivatnanon V. Resistance to chloride penetration of blended Portland cement mortar containing palm oil fuel ash, rice husk ash and fly ash. Constr Build Mater. 2008;22(5):932–938. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2006.12.001.
  14. ASTM International. ASTM C618-19: Standard specification for coal fly ash and raw or calcined natural pozzolan for use in concrete. West Conshohocken (PA): ASTM International; 2019.
  15. Siddique R. Waste Materials and By-Products in Concrete. Berlin: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg; 2008.

Regular Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 16
Issue 01
Received 02/02/2026
Accepted 03/02/2026
Published 10/02/2026
Publication Time 8 Days


Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics