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Environments
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Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments
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Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments

A special issue of Environments (ISSN 2076-3298).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 16319

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elias Afif Khouri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
Interests: cltivated soils; nutrient dynamics; soil remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Rubén Forján

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Organisms and Systems Biology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain.
Interests: soil remediation; biochar; phytoremediation; nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The loss of productive soil due to contamination and other degradation reasons and the excessive production of waste are two of the most pressing problems in today's society. For this reason, in this Special Issue, we want to unite these two problems and look for joint solutions, i.e., using by-products (biochar, hydrochar, compost, and inorganic amendments) to remediate contaminated soils (mine soils and brownfield soils) or improve soil quality (cultivated soils and farmlands). In addition, this Special Issue will include manuscripts that enhance the positive effect of amendments with other techniques such as phytoremediation or those that demonstrate crop improvements.

Dr. Elias Afif Khouri
Dr. Rubén Forján
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. Environments 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 1800 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.

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 8431 KiB  
Article
Spent Coffee Grounds (SCGs) as a Soil Amendment: The Effects of Composting Time on Early Sunflower Development
by Catherine L. Sinclair, Peter J. Irga, Gabrielle Duani and Fraser R. Torpy
Environments 2024, 11(12), 272; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11120272 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 414
Abstract
The unsustainability of current and future agricultural use has led to increased interest in using organic waste products, such as spent coffee grounds (SCGs) and compost, as alternative nutrient supplements. While SCGs are initially phytotoxic, upon composting, they can be utilised as a [...] Read more.
The unsustainability of current and future agricultural use has led to increased interest in using organic waste products, such as spent coffee grounds (SCGs) and compost, as alternative nutrient supplements. While SCGs are initially phytotoxic, upon composting, they can be utilised as a soil amendment; however, the minimum length of composting time required is not well known. Two glasshouse experiments were conducted to identify the concentration where raw SCGs are toxic to sunflower seedling growth and to assess the age and concentration at which composted SCGs are most effective for crop soil addition. Both raw and composted SCG substrates demonstrated higher water-holding capacities and electrical conductivity levels than commercial soil mix, though differences were observed in pH, with raw SCGs being acidic and composted SCGs being neutral. Concentrations of raw SCGs ≥ 35% caused large reductions in germination, plant height, cotyledon and true leaf emergence. SCGs composted for 6 months were non-toxic for sunflower seedlings and most effective at ≥35%, which could potentially reduce composting times by 50%. The addition of raw or composted SCGs also reduced the root/shoot ratio, though the cause and effects are currently unknown. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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17 pages, 3302 KiB  
Article
Combination between Composting and Vermicomposting of OFMSW: A Sicilian Case Study
by Enrico Licitra, Maria Gabriella Giustra, Gaetano Di Bella and Antonio Messineo
Environments 2024, 11(8), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080183 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 901
Abstract
In nature, earthworms process enormous quantities of plant debris, ingesting and converting them into vermicast, the final product of their digestion process. Vermicast is widely recognized as an organic fertilizer suitable for plants, usually obtained from the transformation of animal manure. Indeed, controlled [...] Read more.
In nature, earthworms process enormous quantities of plant debris, ingesting and converting them into vermicast, the final product of their digestion process. Vermicast is widely recognized as an organic fertilizer suitable for plants, usually obtained from the transformation of animal manure. Indeed, controlled vermicomposting of the organic fraction from municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has yielded contradictory results, limiting the extension of laboratory results to larger-scale initiatives. This study aims to analyze a combined composting–vermicomposting process using Eisenia fetida (also known as Californian red worm) for the treatment of OFMSW (containing different impurities, such as heavy metals), mixed with a suitable substrate for earthworms, consisting of a blend of animal bedding and pre-selected food scraps (SOM—pre-selected organic material). Different fractions from a municipal composting plant were tested for the biological process: raw OFMSW, pre-composted (PC, organic matrix that has completed the thermophilic biodegradation phase), and compost (C). Laboratory tests involved five different applications with varying mixing proportions, partly aided by the addition of OM. The physical–chemical parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, moisture) and worm growth rate in the different treatments were measured and compared. The results showed that the process improved the quality of the final product, especially for the selected matrices, and revealed a significant reduction in the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (lower than 14 in all tests) when vermicomposting was applied to the mixed matrices and SOM. Worms increased during the process in net weight and growth rate, even if there was an accumulation of heavy metals in the “worm tea”. Worm mass reached a little over double the initial value in all tests (from 200 g to more than 500 g in the SOM test), except for an increase of only 87% in the OFMSW test, while heavy metal content in the solid matrix was reduced in all tests compared to the starting content. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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21 pages, 3402 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Different Combinations of Cattle Organic Soil Amendments and Copper on Lettuce (cv. Rufus) Plant Growth
by Chiara De Carolis, Valentina Iori, Alessandra Narciso, Davide Gentile, Barbara Casentini, Fabrizio Pietrini, Paola Grenni, Anna Barra Caracciolo and M. Adelaide Iannelli
Environments 2024, 11(7), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11070134 - 25 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1736
Abstract
In modern agricultural production, cattle manure waste recovery is considered as a sustainable approach to agricultural waste management, reducing environmental pollution and chemical fertilizer use. This study aimed to investigate the effects of manure and digestate derived from a pilot-scale livestock waste-recycling system, [...] Read more.
In modern agricultural production, cattle manure waste recovery is considered as a sustainable approach to agricultural waste management, reducing environmental pollution and chemical fertilizer use. This study aimed to investigate the effects of manure and digestate derived from a pilot-scale livestock waste-recycling system, in combination with a low copper concentration as a fungicide, on the physiological response of lettuce cv Rufus (Lactuca sativa L.) plants and the associated soil microbiome. A five-week microcosm experiment was conducted in a greenhouse under environmental conditions. Lettuce plant performance was assessed in terms of biomass, leaf area index, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll measurements, lipid peroxidation, total phenolic content, and nutrient uptake. The results suggested that incorporating digestate into the potting soil mix significantly enhanced crop yields compared to the control and manure treatments. The soil microbial activity increased in the presence of fertilizers, improving the soil chemical and biological properties. The addition of copper negatively affected the growth and physiological performance of the lettuce plants under both the control and manure-treated conditions, except for those grown in the presence of digestate, where copper accumulation was reduced. These findings highlight the potential of growing horticultural crops using organic fertilization through livestock waste anaerobic digestate, establishing a waste-to-food recycling system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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19 pages, 1850 KiB  
Article
Reuse of Soils Fertilized with Ash as Recycling Derived Fertilizer Revealed Strong Stimulation of Microbial Communities Involved in P Mobilization in Lolium perenne Rhizospheres
by Lea Deinert and Achim Schmalenberger
Environments 2024, 11(3), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030049 - 4 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1874
Abstract
Circular economy recycling-derived fertilizers (RDF) have the potential to replace linear economy fertilizers such as unsustainable superphosphates. Here, effects of ash RDF treatments in Irish grassland cultivation were investigated in a simulated second growing season. Soil fertilized in a preceding pot trial with [...] Read more.
Circular economy recycling-derived fertilizers (RDF) have the potential to replace linear economy fertilizers such as unsustainable superphosphates. Here, effects of ash RDF treatments in Irish grassland cultivation were investigated in a simulated second growing season. Soil fertilized in a preceding pot trial with superphosphate (SP), poultry-litter ash (PLA) and sewage-sludge ash (SSA) at P concentration of 60 kg P ha−1 and a P-free control (SP0) was reused in a microcosm trial. Lolium perenne was cultivated for 54 days in six replicates with a full complement of micro- and macro-nutrients other than P. PLA treatments provided higher dry weight shoot yields than SP0, while SSA and SP overlapped with SP0 and PLA. Most probable number (MPN) analysis showed that phosphonate- and phytate-utilizing bacterial abundance was significantly increased in PLA. Alkaline (phoD) phosphomonoesterase gene fragments were significantly more abundant (qPCR) in the ashes than the superphosphate or P-free control. Bacterial communities were significantly affected by the P application. Similarly, a significant separation of treatments was confirmed in a canonical correspondence analysis of the phoD-harboring community. The genera Streptomyces and Xanthomonas were significantly higher in abundance in the ash RDFs. These results demonstrated the potential benefits of ash RDF treatments as an alternative P source. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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13 pages, 4661 KiB  
Article
The Application of Cyanobacteria as a Biofertilizer for Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) Production with a Focus on Environmental and Ecological Sustainability
by Saoli Chanda, Sanku Dattamudi, Krishnaswamy Jayachandran, Leonard J. Scinto and Mahadev Bhat
Environments 2024, 11(3), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11030045 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4183
Abstract
Cyanobacteria, an important addition to biofertilizers, are gaining popularity for their multifaceted benefits in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater, predominantly caused by cyanobacteria, prevent sunlight penetration into the water and develop hypoxic and anoxic conditions. We [...] Read more.
Cyanobacteria, an important addition to biofertilizers, are gaining popularity for their multifaceted benefits in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater, predominantly caused by cyanobacteria, prevent sunlight penetration into the water and develop hypoxic and anoxic conditions. We collected cyanobacteria slurry from Lake Jesup (Central Florida, USA), repurposed it as a biofertilizer, and incorporated it in a typical South Florida calcite soil for high-value okra (Abelmoschus esculentus; var: Clemson spineless) production. Experiments were conducted at the Organic Garden Shade House and Greenhouse located inside the main campus of the Florida International University (FIU), FL, USA. A two-year experiment with four different treatments was conducted, namely, (a) control (C; no fertilizer applied), (b) total synthetic (TS), (c) total biofertilizer (TB; only cyanobacteria biofertilizer was applied), and (d) half and half (HH; 50% biofertilizer + 50% synthetic fertilizer), which were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications for each treatment. Our results indicate that TB and TS produced about 29 to 33% higher SPAD (soil plant analytical development) readings than the control. The absence of interveinal chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) in the TB and HH treatments suggests that the cyanobacteria-based biofertilizer had a role in supplying one of the critical micronutrients, iron (Fe). Analysis of the biofertilizer indicated 2000 ppm Fe content, which directly supports our observation. Similarly, average plant height (61 cm), yield (130 gm per pot), and crop biomass (67 gm) productions were significantly higher in TB than in the control. Overall, this study documents the potential of cyanobacteria biofertilizers as a viable option compared to synthetic fertilizers for sustainable crop production and soil health improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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17 pages, 2372 KiB  
Article
Zeolite and Winery Waste as Innovative By-Product for Vineyard Soil Management
by Serena Doni, Grazia Masciandaro, Cristina Macci, Davide Manzi, Giovan Battista Mattii, Eleonora Cataldo, Maria Gispert, Francesca Vannucchi and Eleonora Peruzzi
Environments 2024, 11(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11020029 - 2 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2093
Abstract
In semiarid environments, vine cultivation is a land use with a high impact with regard to soil erosion, loss of organic matter and biodiversity, contamination, and compaction. In addition, the wine supply chain produces a considerable quantity of organic waste, which remains as [...] Read more.
In semiarid environments, vine cultivation is a land use with a high impact with regard to soil erosion, loss of organic matter and biodiversity, contamination, and compaction. In addition, the wine supply chain produces a considerable quantity of organic waste, which remains as residues in the ecosystem. Within this context, we developed a sustainable vine management system to improve the efficient use of fertilisers by applying a by-product derived from the composting of winery wastes and zeolite. We evaluated the effects of the zeolite-based compost on the chemical, physical, and biochemical soil properties of a productive vineyard. Four treatments were set up and monitored for about two years. These were as follows: (1) Commercial compost (COM); (2) Zeolite (Z); (3) 30% zeolite and 70% winery waste compost (30 ZEO); (4) 10% zeolite and 90% winery waste compost (10 ZEO). The results demonstrated that the ZEO treatments could be considered a win–win solution able to improve soil water content, nutrient retention, carbon sequestration, and biochemical activity while also recycling wastes. In particular, 10 ZEO seems to be the amendment that best combines an improvement in soil biochemical properties with gradual and constant nutrient availability, thus satisfying, without exceeding, soil and plant needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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9 pages, 1231 KiB  
Article
Effects of Wood Distillate (Pyroligneous Acid) on the Yield Parameters and Mineral Composition of Three Leguminous Crops
by Pablo Carril, Elisabetta Bianchi, Costanza Cicchi, Andrea Coppi, Marco Dainelli, Cristina Gonnelli, Stefano Loppi, Luigia Pazzagli and Ilaria Colzi
Environments 2023, 10(7), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10070126 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3252
Abstract
The excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture is increasing the demand for novel products to improve the quality of crops in a more sustainable way. Wood distillate (WD, pyroligneous acid) is a by-product obtained during the pyrolysis of plant biomass [...] Read more.
The excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture is increasing the demand for novel products to improve the quality of crops in a more sustainable way. Wood distillate (WD, pyroligneous acid) is a by-product obtained during the pyrolysis of plant biomass that can be successfully applied in agriculture due to its ability to enhance the growth, size, and weight of edible plant parts. However, there is little information concerning its plant yield-promoting effects on leguminous crops. The present work investigated the effects of WD on the yield, protein content and mineral composition of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants grown in field conditions. The application of WD showed remarkable yield-promoting effects mostly in lentil plants, which significantly increased plant and shoot biomass, the number and weight of both pods and seeds, as well as the total seed protein content. Furthermore, seeds from WD-treated plants differentially increased the concentration of elements with high nutritional value for human health, including Fe, Ca, Mg and K. These results suggest that the effects of WD among the legumes tested are species-specific and that WD could be an optimal candidate to grow high-yielding legumes with improved seed nutritional quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Remediation and Improvement through the Application of By-Product Amendments)
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