Innovative Approaches for the Remediation of Polluted Soils in Agricultural Systems
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Biosystem and Biological Engineering".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editors
Interests: soil fertility; waste management; nutrient management; soil chemistry; fertilizers; organic matter; environmental science; contaminants of emerging concern; soil pollutions; tillage and organic management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: environment organic farming; soil fertility; contaminants of emerging concern; soil quality; bioaccumulation of heavy metals; sustainable agriculture; soil and water conservation
Interests: composting; soil fertility; organic farming; fertilizers; heavy metal pollution; soil organic matter; nutrient management; waste management; bioaccumulation of heavy metals; soil quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Soil pollution poses a threat to agricultural sustainability, food security, and environmental health. Well-known pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and hydrocarbons as well as contaminants of emerging concern, just to name a few, can compromise soil fertility, reduce crop productivity, and pose serious risks to both human health and ecosystem integrity. Heavily contaminated soils must be disposed of appropriately, for example, through incineration or landfill, while if they can be recovered, conventional remediation methods are often costly, time-consuming, and environmentally unsustainable. Recent advances in soil science and agronomy have driven the development of innovative, eco-friendly remediation strategies that prioritize efficiency, ecological restoration, and long-term sustainability. Bioremediation using plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and beneficial fungi, such as mycorrhizal fungi and Trichoderma species, has shown significant potential in accelerating contaminant degradation and enhancing soil resilience. Phytoremediation immobilizes and/or removes contaminants from the soil, especially when used in combination with soil conditioners such as biochar and compost, which improve soil quality and stimulate microbial activity. Emerging nanotechnologies offer additional tools for controlled pollutant management. Furthermore, regenerative agricultural practices, including cover cropping, reduced tillage contribute to the dilution and natural attenuation of contaminants while restoring soil organic matter. A diversified, integrated approach is therefore essential to mitigate pollution and sustain soil health and productivity. This Special Issue welcomes contributions that advance knowledge on innovative soil remediation strategies and promote safe and sustainable agricultural production.
Dr. Francesco De Mastro
Dr. Claudio Cocozza
Prof. Gennaro Brunetti
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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 monthly 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
- phytoremediation
- agricultural innovations
- beneficial microorganisms
- good agricultural practices
- food safety
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