Managing Soil Contaminants for Safe and Sustainable Crop Production

Dear Colleagues,

Soil pollution remains a global environmental challenge, driven primarily by industrial activities, agricultural chemical use, urbanization, and improper waste disposal. In addition to traditional heavy metals and metalloids (e.g., As, Cd, Hg, and Cr) and organic pollutants (e.g., insecticides, herbicides, and persistent organic pollutants), emerging contaminants such as nanomaterials, microplastics, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are attracting increasing scientific attention. To ensure crop safety and protect human health, soil management is rapidly evolving toward risk-based classification, low-carbon remediation, and system integration. Key strategies include nutrient improvement, the cultivation of low-accumulation crop varieties, regulation of the rhizosphere microbiome, and the application of novel amendments such as biochar and nanomaterials. These approaches aim to markedly reduce the bioavailability of pollutants, restore soil functionality, and enable safe agricultural production. This Special Issue invites original research articles that address the remediation of soil pollutants in farmland and the safe production of crops in contaminated soils, with a focus on theoretical innovations, technological breakthroughs, and the scalable promotion and application of remediation technologies. We particularly welcome studies that integrate risk assessment frameworks with agronomic management and remediation technologies, as well as those exploring low-carbon remediation strategies.

Dr. Hongzhi He
Prof. Dr. Guikui Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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