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Agronomy
Special Issues
Composting for Soil Improvement and Removal of Soil Contaminants
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Composting for Soil Improvement and Removal of Soil Contaminants

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 4624

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Juan Antonio López González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biology and Geology, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Interests: composting; bioremediation; biological control; lignin degradation; microbiome of composting; enzymes of composting; organic waste management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. María Rosa Martínez-Gallardo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Unit of Microbiology, Department of Biology and Geology, CITE II-B, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence ceiA3, CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
Interests: microbiology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use and abuse of agrochemicals to improve soil and crop fertility has generated significant pressure on ecosystems and farmers' economies that makes them difficult to sustain over time. Among the most realistic solutions to this problem is the combination of agrochemicals with the application of organic substrates such as compost. Compost, under its different forms of production and commercialization, can become a reference in the circular economy of world agriculture in the coming decades. All of this is changing the reality of soil health as we know it.

In this Special Issue, we are open to contributions (research papers and a reduced number of reviews) exploring the effect of compost application on soils and agronomic cropping systems. Our aim is to discern the extent and level of agronomic and ecological benefits that these organic fertilizers provide compared to the traditional model of agrochemicals. Therefore, works focused on the sustainability of ecosystems through the application of compost are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Juan Antonio López González
Dr. María Rosa Martínez-Gallardo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • compost
  • biofertilizers
  • soil sustainability
  • soil ecology
  • biorestoration
  • bioremediation
  • organic fertilization
  • agrochemical reduction

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 1746 KB  
Article
Composting and Vermicomposting of Fish Sludge with Egg Boxes and Lettuce Wastes with the Addition of Eggshells: Impacts on Chemical Properties, Nutrient Availability, and Safety
by Maha Hleibieh, Ales Hanc, Pavel Michal and Tereza Hrebeckova
Agronomy 2026, 16(4), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16040473 - 19 Feb 2026
Viewed by 891
Abstract
This study compared the composting and vermicomposting of fish sludge amended with egg boxes, lettuce residues, and eggshells, over a five-month period. Eight treatments (T1–T8) differing in fish sludge content and the presence or absence of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were evaluated. [...] Read more.
This study compared the composting and vermicomposting of fish sludge amended with egg boxes, lettuce residues, and eggshells, over a five-month period. Eight treatments (T1–T8) differing in fish sludge content and the presence or absence of earthworms (Eisenia andrei) were evaluated. Monitored parameters included pH, electrical conductivity, earthworm biomass and abundance, concentrations of available elements (P, K, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn), volatile solids and C/N ratio. Final total levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), such as Cr, Ni, Pb and As were also measured. The results demonstrated that fish sludge, egg boxes, and lettuce at a 4:5:1 ratio plus eggshells with earthworms (T8) enhanced nutrient transformation and earthworm activity. Fish sludge and egg boxes at 1:3 plus eggshells (T2) and the same mixture with earthworms (T6) produced compost with PTEs concentrations within safe limits. Final concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr, Ni, and Pb in T2, T6, and T8 remained below European regulatory thresholds. T8 showed significantly higher concentrations of available K and Mg compared to T2 and T6. T8 was identified as the most effective treatment for processing fish sludge while producing a safe, nutrient-rich product suitable for use as a high-quality organic fertilizer in sustainable agriculture. These findings support vermicomposting as an efficient and environmental strategy for fish sludge utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composting for Soil Improvement and Removal of Soil Contaminants)
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21 pages, 3332 KB  
Article
Separately Collected Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Compost as a Sustainable Improver of Soil Characteristics in the Open Field and a Promising Selective Booster for Nursery Production
by Santina Rizzo, Adolfo Le Pera, Miriam Sellaro, Luca Lombardo and Leonardo Bruno
Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 958; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040958 - 15 Apr 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2989
Abstract
The Separately Collected Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (SC-OFMSW) is the biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste fraction that is separately collected at source and classified by the European Waste Catalogue under code 20 01 08. The utilization of SC-OFMSW Compost has emerged [...] Read more.
The Separately Collected Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (SC-OFMSW) is the biodegradable kitchen and canteen waste fraction that is separately collected at source and classified by the European Waste Catalogue under code 20 01 08. The utilization of SC-OFMSW Compost has emerged as a sustainable approach to enhancing agricultural soil quality and supporting soil biodiversity and productivity, while also serving as a viable option for disposing of treated urban waste. This study investigates the dose effect of SC-OFMSWC through phytotoxicity and growth assays in Arabidopsis thaliana and Lactuca sativa seeds and seedlings, as well as the impact of the same compost on the chemical and microbiological properties of soil under open field conditions. During the field trial in an agricultural orchard, soil pH, nutrient content, organic matter, and microbial activity following SC-OFMSWC and chemical fertilizer application were evaluated. In the greenhouse trial, a significant increase in germination rate and biomass production was found for L. sativa at a compost concentration of 2.5%, while neutral to negative effects were observed for A. thaliana. In the open field, results indicated significantly increased levels of organic carbon and enhanced microbial biomass and activity, accompanied by a general increase in nutrients, promoting soil health and resilience, with only limited increases in EC values and heavy metal content. These findings underscore the potential of SC-OFMSWC as an effective agricultural soil improver and a promising component in sustainable nursery management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Composting for Soil Improvement and Removal of Soil Contaminants)
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