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Environments
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New Insights in Soil Quality and Management
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New Insights in Soil Quality and Management

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2024) | Viewed by 5486

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Diego Arán

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Guest Editor
LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: soil quality; soil remediation; biochar; technosols
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Erika S. Santos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
LEAF—Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: soil quality; nature-based techniques; environmental geochemistry, soil-plant interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Joaquim Esteves Da Silva

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Guest Editor
Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), Institute of Molecular Sciences (IMS), Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (FCUP), Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
Interests: environmental sciences; soil physical chemistry; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is one of the most relevant and influential system components as a regulator of ecosystem services and functions. It is a central component in the regulation of nutrient cycles, the control and buffering of contamination (food security and water quality), as well as the control and regulation of the C cycle, among others. Methods used to determine soil quality and soil management, according to different sources of impacts, such as polymetallic contamination, pesticides, forest fires, desertification, erosion, etc., are constantly evolving and innovating. The biological component of soils and its interrelation with physico-chemical properties, as well as the use of new non-invasive or destructive determination techniques, such as remote sensing, to infer diverse soil properties, are some of the current advances that intervene in decision-making processes and help to improve soil quality indicators and soil management.

This Special Issue aims to present the most relevant advances in the following: different indicators and modes of soil management, such as the establishment of quality indicators (physical, chemical, or biological) in soils, as well as indicators and indices of risk in relation to different ecosystem and human health disturbances; the creation of predictive models of soil quality and management using remote sensing and AI techniques; the development of indicators and sensors for determining soil quality; methods of soil quality assessment; and the various strategies and forms of sustainable soil management. Studies are encouraged to consider applied solutions in the fields of agriculture, forestry, industry, and mining, as well as to explore urban soils in real situations and medium–long-term studies.

Dr. Diego Arán
Dr. Erika S. Santos
Prof. Dr. Joaquim Esteves Da Silva
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.

Keywords

  • soil quality
  • soil management
  • environmental and human risk
  • ecosystem services
  • environmental geochemistry
  • remote sensing
  • preditive models
  • nature-based techniques

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 9077 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Spatial Patterns of Heavy Metals in Topsoil and Asthma in the Western Salt Lake Valley, Utah
by Long Yin Lee, Ruth Kerry, Ben Ingram, Connor S. Golden and Joshua J. LeMonte
Environments 2024, 11(10), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11100223 - 13 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
Mining activities, particularly in large excavations like the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine in Utah, have been increasingly linked to respiratory conditions due to heavy-metal-enriched waste and dust. Operating continuously since 1906, the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine contributes 4.4% of the Salt Lake Valley [...] Read more.
Mining activities, particularly in large excavations like the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine in Utah, have been increasingly linked to respiratory conditions due to heavy-metal-enriched waste and dust. Operating continuously since 1906, the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine contributes 4.4% of the Salt Lake Valley PM2.5 pollution. However, the extent of its contributions to larger-sized particulate matter (PM10) dust, soil and water contamination, and human health impacts is largely unknown. Aerosol optical depth data from Sentinel-2 imagery revealed discernible dust clouds downwind of the mine and smelter on non-prevailing-wind days, suggesting potential heavy metal dispersion from this fugitive dust and subsequent deposition to nearby surface soils. Our analysis of topsoils from across the western Salt Lake Valley found mean arsenic, copper, lead, and zinc concentrations to be well above global background concentrations. Also, the minimum values for arsenic and maximum values for lead were well above the US EPA regional screening levels for residential soils. Thus, arsenic is the metal of greatest concern for impacts on human health. Elevated concentrations of all metals were most notable near the mine, smelter, and tailings pond. Our study linked these elevated heavy metal levels to regional asthma outcomes through cluster analysis and distance-related comparison tests. Significant clusters of high asthma rates were observed in regions with elevated topsoil heavy metal concentrations, impacting both low- and high-income neighborhoods. The findings of this preliminary study suggest that the mine, smelter, and recent construction activities, especially on lands reclaimed from former tailings ponds, could be contributing to atmospheric dust containing high levels of heavy metals and exacerbating asthma outcomes for residents. However, the methods used in the study with aggregated health outcome data cannot determine causal links between the heavy metal contents of soil and health outcomes; they can only point to potential links and a need for further investigation. Such further investigation should involve individual-level data and control for potential confounding factors, such as socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and lifestyle factors, to isolate the effect of metal exposures on asthma outcomes. This study focused on atmospheric deposition as a source of heavy metal enrichment of topsoil. However, future research is also essential to assess levels of heavy metals in subsoil parent materials and local surface and groundwaters to be able to assess the links between the sources or methods of soil contamination and health outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Soil Quality and Management)
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18 pages, 2047 KiB  
Article
Are Ecological Risk Indices for Trace Metals Relevant for Characterizing Polluted Substrates in the Katangese Copperbelt (DR Congo) and for Assessment of the Performance of Remediation Trials?
by Serge Langunu, Jacques Kilela Mwanasomwe, Gilles Colinet and Mylor Ngoy Shutcha
Environments 2024, 11(6), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060122 - 11 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1196
Abstract
This study aims to contribute to the characterization of Katangese Copperbelt’s (DR Congo) mining wastes and soils polluted with trace metals, using pollution indices and direct concentration measurements. This study also evaluated the use of these indices in assessing the success of remediation [...] Read more.
This study aims to contribute to the characterization of Katangese Copperbelt’s (DR Congo) mining wastes and soils polluted with trace metals, using pollution indices and direct concentration measurements. This study also evaluated the use of these indices in assessing the success of remediation projects. Data from previous studies and samples collected from six types of discharge and one polluted soil were used to address the first objective. Soil and plant samples were collected at Kipushi and Penga Penga for the second objective. The results reveal very high concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn in all mine tailings and polluted soils, compared with local references. The degree of contamination (DC) values (from 72 to 5440) and potential ecological risk (RI) values (from 549 to 162,091) indicate very high-risk situations associated with polluted discharges and soils. Regarding revegetation trials, the results show lower concentrations and RIs in tree rhizospheres compared with unamended areas at both sites. However, trace metal concentrations are higher in tree rhizospheres compared with local references, and RI values are in the considerable risk range for Penga Penga (RI = 533) and in the very high range (>1500) for Kipushi. Bioconcentration factor values are below 1, indicating low accumulation in roots, wood, and leaves, and low risk of contamination of the trophic chain. In this context, it seems that the pollution indices used are suitable for characterizing pollution and prioritization for remediation. However, there seems unsuitable for assessing the effectiveness of phytotechnology processes based on metal stabilization. Direct plant performance measurements combined with direct measurements of metals in substrates and plants to assess transfer and efficiency are more appropriate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Soil Quality and Management)
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11 pages, 1548 KiB  
Article
The Potential Impact of Long-Term Copper Fungicide Sprays on Soil Health in Avocado Orchards
by Dumsane Themba Matse, Thangavelautham Geretharan, Eileen F. van Gorp, Sean Anderson, Paramsothy Jeyakumar and Christopher W. N. Anderson
Environments 2024, 11(6), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060109 - 25 May 2024
Viewed by 1247
Abstract
The long-term use of copper (Cu)-based fungicide sprays in orchards is associated with changes in soil Cu levels. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the potential accumulation of Cu in orchards and the associated impacts on the soil microbial structure. This [...] Read more.
The long-term use of copper (Cu)-based fungicide sprays in orchards is associated with changes in soil Cu levels. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the potential accumulation of Cu in orchards and the associated impacts on the soil microbial structure. This study assessed the possibility of Cu accumulation in different avocado orchard farms and further evaluated the potential effect on soil microbial activities. Soil Cu levels were quantified in Tauranga and Northland, and three avocado orchards were analysed in each experimental location. All avocado farms in both sites received Cu-based fungicide sprays for over eight years. Soil samples were collected at a 0–20 cm depth from all six orchards. The soil total and bioavailable Cu, changes in soil chemical properties, microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, alkaline phosphatase activity, and acid phosphatase activity were measured. The results revealed that the total Cu and bioavailable Cu concentrations in Tauranga orchards were 81.3 and 0.32, 196.7 and 0.82, and 33.6 and 0.31 mg Cu kg−1 in Farms 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In Northland orchards, the total Cu and bioavailable Cu were 54.5 and 0.06, 18.4 and 0.77, and 46 and 0.34 mg Cu kg−1 in Farm 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Five out of six of the avocado orchard farms assessed in this study had total Cu concentrations greater than 30 mg Cu kg−1 reported in New Zealand native land. The magnitude of Cu accumulation was linked with soil pH and C content. No clear trend was observed between soil Cu concentrations and the soil microbial activity. Our study results demonstrated that the long-term use of Cu-based fungicide sprays can elevate Cu concentrations in orchard soils. Mitigation strategies need to be explored to abate the accumulation of Cu in orchard soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Soil Quality and Management)
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Review

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11 pages, 956 KiB  
Review
Environmental Stressors of Mozambique Soil Quality
by Mario J. S. L. Pereira and Joaquim Esteves da Silva
Environments 2024, 11(6), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060125 - 12 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1313
Abstract
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it has natural resources, and if they are managed under sustainable development principles, it can overcome its current problems. In the present socio-economic status, soil is one of its most important resources [...] Read more.
Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. However, it has natural resources, and if they are managed under sustainable development principles, it can overcome its current problems. In the present socio-economic status, soil is one of its most important resources and must be protected from pollution and degradation. This review identifies and discusses the main soil quality stressors, namely soil fertility; deforestation and its sources: agriculture, timber harvesting, charcoal production, and uncontrolled fires; mining activities, manly gold artisanal explorations, and industrial open-pit coal mining; and solid wastes management. The sustainable use of natural resources is mandatory for future generations to continue to profit from this nature-based wealth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights in Soil Quality and Management)
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