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Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 49576

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ugo De Corato

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Guest Editor

ENEA, Italian National Agency for the New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Bioenergy, Biorefinery and Green Chemistry (DTE-BBC-BIC), Territorial Office of Bari – Via Giulio Petroni 15/F, 70124, Bari, Italy
Interests: applied soil ecology; biocontrol agent; compost; soil-borne plant disease control; soil microbiology; soil microbiota

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A natural balance of all soil components is needed between the physical, chemical, and biological properties that characterize a healthy soil ecosystem. The focus of this Special Issue is to give a general description of ecosystem services and representative indicators for a selection of specific soil types in relation to land use. The scope of the Special Issue is aimed at developing a rational soil use and management for a systematic approach for identifying the highest-risk scenarios in land use in view of environmental stressors, based on vulnerability assessment of indicators for ecosystem services. The purpose of this Special Issue is to cover all the aforementioned aspects and mechanisms governing the natural and anthropogenic processes which affect soil systems. It will document the sustainable use and management of soil resources and cover specific key points, such as the complex ecological roles of soil organisms and their multiple interactions in relation to sustainability and productivity, nutrient cycling, soil structure formation and modification affected by soil biota and other soil processes, the maintenance of soil functions, the impact of human activities on soil ecosystems, and bio(techno)logical control of soil-inhabiting plant pests, plant diseases, and weeds. In addition, specific papers focused on biocontrol of soil-borne plant pathogens by use of organic amendments by agricultural waste recycling (e.g., compost, biochar, digestate, sewage sludge) are particularly welcomed regarding a specific topic to satisfy the soil quality and ecosystem service requirements.

This Special Issue will supplement the existing literature through interdisciplinary studies, e.g., linking soil with climate change, biodiversity, global health, and the sustainable development goals, with strong novelty, wide implications, and unexpected outcomes.

Dr. Ugo De Corato
Guest Editor

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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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

Applied soil ecology
Ecosystem service
Land use
Soil-borne plant pathogen
Soil biota
Soil indicator
Soil quality

Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 167 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Towards New Soil Management Strategies for Improving Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Agriculture: Editorial Overview

by Ugo De Corato

Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9398; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12229398 - 12 Nov 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3057

Abstract

The major issues related to indiscriminate land use are overall related to topsoil depletion, groundwater contamination, plant disease outbreaks, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, global vision focused on the environmental impact and use of eco-friendly strategies are increasing. The design of new agroecosystems and food systems are fundamental to make more sustainability in soil management systems by improving the release of advanced ecosystems services for farmers. Sustainable agriculture utilizes natural renewable resources in the best way due to their intrinsic features by minimizing harmful impact on the agroecosystems. Farmers should sustain or even increase the soil organic matter (SOM) content overall in depleted, semiarid and arid soils. Nutrients recycled from agro-waste into the soil using residual biomass sources should be endorsed by diversified agriculture and governmental policies in which livestock and crop production are spatially integrated. Many good agricultural practices that growers may use to promote soil quality and soil health by minimizing water use and soil pollution on farms are yet available from past years. Exploration of the natural soil biodiversity and manipulation of soil microbiota by continuous amendment with compost, biochar and digestate represents a pre-requisite to develop more efficient microbial consortia useful for soils and crops. On the other hand, more attention is proven regarding the sustainable use of useful microorganisms employed as pure inoculants in rhizosphere. Among them, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biological control agents cover the major groups of tailored inoculants in order to rationalize the internal recycling of nutrients and their energy recovery, or to improve the soil quality and plant health thanks to their diversified mechanisms of action and complex interactions between SOM, microbiota and plant roots in the rhizosphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

Research

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16 pages, 1486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Various Factors Affecting Farmers’ Willingness to Adopt Soil Erosion Control Measures in the Sebeya Catchment, Rwanda

by Félicien Majoro and Umaru Garba Wali

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12895; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141912895 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1645

Abstract

Soil erosion is a worldwide environmental problem leading to low agricultural productivity and water quality degradation. Improving soil erosion control measures is essential. This study reports the results of a survey of 75 farmers, using structured interviews, field observations, and focus groups to analyze farmers’ perceptions concerning current and future efforts to adopt Soil Erosion Control (SEC) measures in the Sebeya catchment located in the Western Province of Rwanda. Various factors influencing farmers’ perceptions of soil erosion causes, effects, and willingness to adopt SEC measures were analyzed using descriptive statistics and SPSS (Version 20), including t-tests, chi-square tests, and a binary logistic regression model. Chi-square test results indicate that gender, farmer age, land ownership, farmland size, social media access, and credit access were strongly associated (p < 0.05) with the adoption of SEC measures, while marital status and education were not. A binary logistic regression model showed that among farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, farming experience (B = 0.749; p = 0.020) and access to socio media (B = 2.107; p = 0.027) were positively correlated, while age (B = −0.642; p = 0.035) and gender (B = −2.034; p = 0.032) were negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with the adoption of SEC measures. In order to mitigate high soil erosion rates and increase food production, there is a need for the government to support farmers, and train them. A highly skilled technical team should be mobilized to assist in implementing SEC measures in the Sebeya catchment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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19 pages, 2475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Indicator and Geospatial Based Approaches for Assessing Variation of Land Quality in Arid Agroecosystems

by Ahmed S Abuzaid, Yasser S. A. Mazrou, Ahmed A El Baroudy, Zheli Ding and Mohamed S. Shokr

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5840; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14105840 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1588

Abstract

Novel spatial models for appraising arable land resources using data processing techniques can increase insight into agroecosystem services. Hence, the principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchal cluster analysis (HCA), analytical hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy logic, and geographic information system (GIS) were integrated to zone and map agricultural land quality in an arid desert area (Matrouh Governorate, Egypt). Satellite imageries, field surveys, and soil analyses were employed to define eighteen indicators for terrain, soil, and vegetation qualities, which were then reduced through PCA to a minimum data set (MDS). The original and MDS were weighted by AHP through experts’ opinions. Within GIS, the raster layers were generated, standardized using fuzzy membership functions (linear and non-linear), and assembled using arithmetic mean and weighted sum algorithms to produce eight land quality index maps. The soil properties (pH, salinity, organic matter, and sand), slope, surface roughness, and vegetation could adequately express the land quality. Accordingly, the HCA could classify the area into eight spatial zones with significant heterogeneity. Selecting salt-tolerant crops, applying leaching fraction, adopting sulfur and organic applications, performing land leveling, and using micro-irrigation are the most recommended practices. Highly significant (p < 0.01) positive correlations occurred among all the developed indices. Nevertheless, the coefficient of variation (CV) and sensitivity index (SI) confirmed the better performance of the index developed from the non-linearly scored MDS and weighted sum model. It could achieve the highest discrimination in land qualities (CV > 35%) and was the most sensitive (SI = 3.88) to potential changes. The MDS within this index could sufficiently represent TDS (R² = 0.88 and Kappa statistics = 0.62), reducing time, effort, and cost for estimating the land performance. The proposed approach would provide guidelines for sustainable land-use planning in the studied area and similar regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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13 pages, 1342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Screening of New Biological Limiters against Some of the Main Soil-Borne Phytopathogens

by Giovanni D’Ambrosio, Corrado Cariddi, Francesco Mannerucci and Giovanni Luigi Bruno

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2693; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052693 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1690

Abstract

This study explored the role of Aphanocladium album (strain MX95), Pleurotus ostreatus (strain ALPO) and Pleurotus eryngii (strain AL142PE) as potential biological limiters. MX95, ALPO and AL142PE were screened under laboratory studies against Phytophthora nicotianae (PN), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL), Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), Fusarium solani (FS), Sclerotinia minor (SM), Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (SS), Athelia (Sclerotium) rolfsii (AR) and Verticillium dahliae (VD). The radial growth inhibition and the over-growth of potential antagonists on the target organisms were used to assess the interactions in the in vitro dual culture plate assay. The antagonistic ability of each challenge isolate was evaluated by calculating an index of the antagonism (AI) based on the interaction type in the dual cultures. MX95, reducing the growth of SS (20%) and FS (40%), displayed deadlock at mycelial contact against FOL and FORL, deadlock at distance versus VD and completely over-grew PN and SM. ALPO reduced (43 to 88%) the mycelial growth of tested pathogens except FORL and replaced PN and VD. AL142PE reducing (53 to 67%) SS, VD, FS and FOL mycelial growth and completely over-grew PN. AR showed combative ability against all the experienced biological limiters. Based on the results of the AI values, MX95 (AI = 16.5) was considered an active antagonist, while ALPO (AI = 11.5) and AL142PE (AI = 12.0) were moderately active antagonists. Strains MX95, ALPO and AL142PE were suitable as environment-friendly potential biocontrol agents to manage some of the main soil-borne agents of foot, root, soft rot and wilt diseases. These results are the first step in the assessment of the potential capacity of these organisms as biological limiters. Nevertheless, additional experiments should be performed for the translation to the field conditions in plant protection against soil-borne plant pathogens. In particular, the optimisation of dose and application time validation should be performed for a solid conclusion about the competitive ability of MX95, ALPO and AL142PE and the usefulness of potential biological limiters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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13 pages, 3646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metadata Analysis to Evaluate Environmental Impacts of Wheat Residues Burning on Soil Quality in Developing and Developed Countries

by Mohsen Jamali, Esmaeil Bakhshandeh, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi and Carmine Crecchio

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6356; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13116356 - 03 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2650

Abstract

Crop residues are widely considered as a biofuel source and used in livestock feeding, or are burned off to clean the field for tillage and planting. Nonetheless, crop residue burning poses serious threats to the soil stability and sustainability of the food chain. This study aimed to investigate the potential environmental impacts of wheat residues burning on declines in soil quality in developing (Iran) and developed (Italy) countries by analyzing metadata of the last 50 years. All metadata were provided from the ‘Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) including wheat harvested area, annual production, and biomass burning, to assess the potential impact of crop residue burning on soil quality. In detail, the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, and energy and nutrient losses by the wheat residues burning were estimated. Our results showed a robust interdependence between wheat residues burning and environmental effects in both developed and developing systems. Accordingly, the global warming potential increased in Iran (4286 to 5604 kg CO₂eq) and decreased in Italy (3528 to 1524 kg CO₂eq) over the last 50 years. Amongst all nutrient losses, nitrogen represents the higher lost value in both countries, followed by potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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15 pages, 1970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Locally Available Organic Waste for Counteracting Strawberry Decline in a Mountain Specialized Cropping Area

by Sebastian Soppelsa, Luisa Maria Manici, Francesco Caputo, Massimo Zago and Markus Kelderer

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3964; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073964 - 02 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1879

Abstract

Crop decline caused by soil borne fungal pathogens affects specialized cropping systems such as fruit trees and strawberry. A study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of pre-plant application of waste-derived biomasses in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) to reduce that phenomenon. A field experiment was carried out in an alpine strawberry specialized valley in South Tyrol (Italy), in a long term cultivated field selected for yield reduction over recent years. In July 2018, one month before strawberry transplanting, a field experiment with four soil treatments was set up: anaerobic digestate (solid fraction) of liquid manure, compost from anaerobic digestate of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), untreated control and Dazomet as chemical control. Plants were grown for two cycles (2019 and 2020). Dazomet always gave a significant (over 50%) increase in marketable yield per plant in both the years, anaerobic digestates did not improve strawberry production; compost from OFMSW gave phytotoxic effects in the first year, but improved strawberry yield like Dazomet in the second. Changes of rhizosphere bacterial populations and difference in root pathogen abundance, especially that of Dactylonectria torresensis, were correlated to the crop response to treatments. Findings suggest that waste-derived biomasses are a promising eco-friendly option for counteracting strawberry yield decline. Their positive impact was mostly linked to functional improvements induced by microbial variations. However, the use of such organic amendment requires careful evaluation of composition, doses and above all application times to reduce phytotoxic effects that in some cases can occur in the first months after application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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14 pages, 1947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Management of Soil-Borne Bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum In Vitro and In Vivo through Fungal Metabolites of Different Trichoderma spp.

by Yancui Guo, Zhenyu Fan, Xiong Yi, Yuhong Zhang, Raja Asad Ali Khan and Zhiqiang Zhou

Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1491; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13031491 - 01 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2777

Abstract

The efficacy of traditional control measures for the management of plant pathogens is decreasing, and the resistance of these pathogens to pesticides is increasing, which poses a serious threat to global food security. The exploration of novel and efficient management measures to combat plant disease is an urgent need at this time. In this study, fungal metabolites from three Trichoderma spp. (T. harzianum, T. virens and T. koningii) were prepared on three different growth media (STP, MOF and supermalt (SuM)). The fungal metabolites were tested in vitro and in vivo from March–April 2020 under greenhouse conditions in a pot experiment utilizing completely randomized design to test their management of the bacterial wilt disease caused by R. solanacearum in tomato plants. The effect of the fungal metabolites on bacterial cell morphology was also investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In vitro investigation showed that the fungal metabolites of T. harzianum obtained on the STP medium were the most effective in inhibiting in vitro bacterial growth and produced a 17.6 mm growth inhibition zone. SEM analysis confirms the rupture of the cell walls and cell membranes of the bacterium, along with the leakage of its cell contents. Generally, fungal metabolites obtained on an STP medium showed higher activity than those obtained on the other two media, and these metabolites were then evaluated in vivo according to three application times (0 days before transplantation (DBT), 4 DBT and 8 DBT) in a greenhouse trial to examine their ability to manage R. solanacearum in tomato plants. Consistent with in vitro results, the results from the greenhouse studies showed a level of higher anti-bacterial activity of T. harzianum metabolites than they did for the metabolites of other fungi, while among the three application times, the longest time (8 DBT) was more effective in controlling bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants. Metabolites of T. harzianum applied at 8 DBT caused the maximum decrease in soil bacterial population (1.526 log cfu/g), resulting in the lowest level of disease severity (area under disease progressive curve (AUDPC) value: 400), and maximum plant freshness (with a resulting biomass of 36.7 g, a root length of 18.3 cm and a plant height of 33.0 cm). It can be concluded that T. harzianum metabolites obtained on an STP medium, when applied after 8 DBT, can suppress soil bacterial population and enhance plant growth, and thus can be used as a safe, environmentally-conscious and consumer-friendly approach to managing bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants and possibly other crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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21 pages, 3444 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Acacia mangium on Soil Fertility and Bacterial Community in Eucalyptus Plantations in the Congolese Coastal Plains

by Lydie-Stella Koutika, Alessia Fiore, Silvia Tabacchioni, Giuseppe Aprea, Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira and Annamaria Bevivino

Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8763; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su12218763 - 22 Oct 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3655

Abstract

Productivity and sustainability of tropical forest plantations greatly rely on regulation of ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling, i.e., the link between plant growth, nutrient availability, and the microbial community structure. So far, these interactions have never been evaluated in the Acacia and Eucalyptus forest planted on infertile soils in the Congolese coastal plains. In the present work, the soil bacterial community has been investigated by metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene in different stands of monoculture and mixed-species plantation to evaluate the potential of nitrogen-fixing trees on nutrient and bacterial structure. At the phylum level, the soil bacterial community was dominated by Actinobacteria, followed by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. A principal coordinate analysis revealed that bacterial communities from pure Eucalyptus, compared to those from plantations containing Acacia in pure and mixed-species stands, showed different community composition (beta-diversity). Regardless of the large variability of the studied soils, the prevalence of Firmicutes phylum, and lower bacterial richness and phylogenic diversity were reported in stands containing Acacia relative to the pure Eucalyptus. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed a positive correlation of available phosphorus (P) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio with bacterial community structure. However, the Spearman correlation test revealed a broad correlation between the relative abundance of bacterial taxa and soil attributes, in particular with sulfur (S) and carbon (C), suggesting the important role of soil bacterial community in nutrient cycling in this type of forest management. Concerning mixed plantations, a shift in bacterial community structure was observed, probably linked to other changes, i.e., improvement in soil fertility (enhanced P and C dynamics in forest floor and soil, and increase in soil N status), and C sequestration in both soil and stand wood biomass with the great potential impact to mitigate climate change. Overall, our findings highlight the role of soil attributes, especially C, S, available P, and C/N ratio at a lesser extent, in driving the soil bacterial community in mixed-species plantations and its potential to improve soil fertility and to sustain Eucalyptus plantations established on the infertile and sandy soils of the Congolese coastal plains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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Review

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13 pages, 1044 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of NO in the Amelioration of Heavy Metal Stress in Plants by Individual Application or in Combination with Phytohormones, Especially Auxin

by Retwika Ganguly, Anik Sarkar, Krishnendu Acharya, Chetan Keswani, Tatiana Minkina, Saglara Mandzhieva, Svetlana Sushkova and Nilanjan Chakraborty

Sustainability 2022, 14(14), 8400; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14148400 - 08 Jul 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2300

Abstract

Since the time of the Industrial Revolution, the accumulation of various heavy metals (HMs), such as cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), etc., has increased substantially in the soil, causing a real risk to all kinds of consumers in the food chain. Moreover, excess HM accumulation is considered a major factor in decreasing plant growth and productivity. A number of recent studies have exhibited the astonishing impact of nitric oxide (NO), a multifunctional, gaseous signal molecule, on alleviating the destructive effects of HMs. Many reports revealed the noteworthy contribution of NO in reducing HM uptake and toxicity levels. In the present review, focus is given to the contribution of NO to decrease the toxicity levels of different HMs in a variety of plant species and their accumulation in those species. Simultaneously, this review also demonstrates the effects of NO on HM-stressed species, by its use both individually and along with auxin, a plant-growth-promoting phytohormone. Different perspectives about the reaction to the co-application of NO and auxin, as well as the differential role of NO to overcome HM stress, have been expanded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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13 pages, 1484 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Beneficial Microorganisms in Soil Quality and Plant Health

by Aurelio Ortiz and Estibaliz Sansinenea

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5358; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14095358 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 10677

Abstract

The practice of agriculture has always been a source of food production. The increase in the global population leads to improvements in agriculture, increasing crop quality and yield. Plant growth results from the interaction between roots and their environment, which is the soil or planting medium that provides structural support as well as water and nutrients to the plant. Therefore, good soil management is necessary to prevent problems that will directly affect plant health. Integrated crop management is a pragmatic approach to crop production, which includes integrated pest management focusing on crop protection. Currently, there is an extended idea that many microorganisms, such as fungi or bacteria, are useful in agriculture since they are attractive eco-friendly alternatives to mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides. The microbes that interact with the plants supply nutrients to crops, control phytopathogens and stimulate plant growth. These actions have beneficial implications in agriculture. Despite the great benefits of microorganisms in agriculture, their use has been quite limited; however, there has been great growth in recent years. This may be because more progress is needed in field applications. One of the most employed genera in agriculture is Bacillus since it has several mechanisms to act as biofertilizers and biopesticides. In this review, the role of beneficial microorganisms, with special emphasis on the Bacillus genus, in soil and plant health will be discussed, highlighting the recent advances in this topic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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12 pages, 620 KiB

Open AccessReview

Realizing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for Greener Remediation of Heavy Metals-Contaminated Soils by Biochar: Emerging Trends and Future Directions

by Mahmoud Mazarji, Muhammad Tukur Bayero, Tatiana Minkina, Svetlana Sushkova, Saglara Mandzhieva, Andrey Tereshchenko, Anna Timofeeva, Tatiana Bauer, Marina Burachevskaya, Rıdvan Kızılkaya, Coşkun Gülser and Chetan Keswani

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13825; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413825 - 14 Dec 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3986

Abstract

The remediation of heavy metals (HMs) in soil is always an important topic, as environmental contamination by HMs is of serious concern. Numerous potential advantages, especially integrated with biochar produced from various biomass, might provide an ecologically beneficial tool for achieving the UN’s sustainable development objectives for greener soil remediation. The aim of this study was to address how the soil-science professions may best successfully utilize biochar for greener remediation of HMs-contaminated soils. In this context, the biochar preparation method from different agricultural feedstock, and its use as a soil amendment for remediation of HMs-contaminated soil, were discussed. Furthermore, biochar-based nanocomposites containing functional materials have lately attracted much interest because of the unique properties emerging from their nanoscale size compartment, and present good promise in terms of reactivity and stability. The utility and potency of biochar-based nanocomposites, on the other hand, are determined by their ability to adapt to particular site circumstances and soil qualities. This overview summarized the current advances in the application for the remediation of HMs-polluted soils. Future views on the usage and possibilities for deploying biochar-based nanocomposites in polluted soils were discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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16 pages, 999 KiB

Open AccessReview

Microbiota Management for Effective Disease Suppression: A Systematic Comparison between Soil and Mammals Gut

by Giuliano Bonanomi, Mohamed Idbella and Ahmed M. Abd-ElGawad

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13147608 - 07 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2342

Abstract

Both soil and the human gut support vast microbial biodiversity, in which the microbiota plays critical roles in regulating harmful organisms. However, the functional link between microbiota taxonomic compositions and disease suppression has not been explained yet. Here, we provide an overview of pathogen regulation in soil and mammals gut, highlighting the differences and the similarities between the two systems. First, we provide a review of the ecological mechanisms underlying the regulation of soil and pathogens, as well as the link between disease suppression and soil health. Particular emphasis is thus given to clarifying how soil and the gut microbiota are associated with organic amendment and the human diet, respectively. Moreover, we provide several insights into the importance of organic amendment and diet composition in shaping beneficial microbiota as an efficient way to support crop productivity and human health. This review also discusses novel ways to functionally characterize organic amendments and the proper operational combining of such materials with beneficial microbes for stirring suppressive microbiota against pathogens. Furthermore, specific examples are given to describe how agricultural management practices, including the use of antibiotics and fumigants, hinder disease suppression by disrupting microbiota structure, and the potentiality of entire microbiome transplant. We conclude by discussing general strategies to promote soil microbiota biodiversity, the connection with plant yield and health, and their possible integration through a “One Health” framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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41 pages, 925 KiB

Open AccessReview

Soil Microbiome Manipulation Gives New Insights in Plant Disease-Suppressive Soils from the Perspective of a Circular Economy: A Critical Review

by Ugo De Corato

Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 10; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13010010 - 22 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7305 | Retraction

Abstract

This review pays attention to the newest insights on the soil microbiome in plant disease-suppressive soil (DSS) for sustainable plant health management from the perspective of a circular economy that provides beneficial microbiota by recycling agro-wastes into the soil. In order to increase suppression of soil-borne plant pathogens, the main goal of this paper is to critically discuss and compare the potential use of reshaped soil microbiomes by assembling different agricultural practices such as crop selection; land use and conservative agriculture; crop rotation, diversification, intercropping and cover cropping; compost and chitosan application; and soil pre-fumigation combined with organic amendments and bio-organic fertilizers. This review is seen mostly as a comprehensive understanding of the main findings regarding DSS, starting from the oldest concepts to the newest challenges, based on the assumption that sustainability for soil quality and plant health is increasingly viable and supported by microbiome-assisted strategies based on the next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods that characterize in depth the soil bacterial and fungal communities. This approach, together with the virtuous reuse of agro-wastes to produce in situ green composts and organic bio-fertilizers, is the best way to design new sustainable cropping systems in a circular economy system. The current knowledge on soil-borne pathogens and soil microbiota is summarized. How microbiota determine soil suppression and what NGS strategies are available to understand soil microbiomes in DSS are presented. Disturbance of soil microbiota based on combined agricultural practices is deeply considered. Sustainable soil microbiome management by recycling in situ agro-wastes is presented. Afterwards, how the resulting new insights can drive the progress in sustainable microbiome-based disease management is discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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Other

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1 pages, 149 KiB

Open AccessRetraction

Retraction: De Corato, U. Soil Microbiome Manipulation Gives New Insights in Plant Disease-Suppressive Soils from the Perspective of a Circular Economy: A Critical Review. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10

by Ugo De Corato

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1688; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13041688 - 04 Feb 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2274

Abstract

The journal retracts the article “Soil Microbiome Manipulation Gives New Insights in Plant Disease-Suppressive Soils from the Perspective of a Circular Economy: A Critical Review” by Ugo De Corato [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management)

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Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management

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