Persistent Impact of Pesticides and Herbicides on Soil
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2026 | Viewed by 230
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Pesticides and herbicides are indispensable tools for safeguarding global food security by controlling pests and weeds, yet their widespread and prolonged application has led to persistent accumulation in soil ecosystems. These xenobiotics can alter soil physicochemical properties (e.g., pH, organic matter content), disrupt microbial community structure and functional diversity, inhibit key enzymatic activities, and pose risks of bioaccumulation in terrestrial food chains—ultimately threatening soil health, crop productivity, and ecological sustainability. Despite advances in understanding their environmental fates, critical knowledge gaps remain regarding long-term ecotoxicological mechanisms, interactive effects with other soil contaminants, and region-specific risk assessment frameworks. This Special Issue of Agronomy aims to gather original research and reviews focusing on the persistent impacts of pesticides/herbicides on soil systems, including (but not limited to) contamination characterization, biogeochemical cycling, microbial adaptation, remediation technologies, and sustainable management strategies. We invite contributions that provide novel insights to guide evidence-based policies and practices for mitigating soil pollution and preserving soil ecosystem services.
Dr. Li Zheng
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- pesticides
- herbicides
- soil persistence
- soil ecosystem
- environmental impact
- soil health
- microbial community
- pollution remediation
- risk assessment
- sustainable agriculture
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