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Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions

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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 (1 December 2022) | Viewed by 30955

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Dr. Subhan Danish

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Guest Editor

Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: soil science; plant nutrition; biofertilizers; heavymetal; biocomposites
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Dr. Muhammad Arif Ali

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Guest Editor

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, 60800 Pakistan
Interests: environment; soil fertility; plant nutrition; soil science; nutrient cycling; biofertilizers; soil microbiology; soil ecology; phosphorus; inoculation; zinc; mycorrhiza fungi

Dr. Shah Fahad

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Guest Editor

1. College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430060, China
2. Department of Agronomy, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Pakistan
Interests: soil science; agricultural plant science; agronomy; temperature stress
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Dr. Valerie Vranová

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Guest Editor

Department of Geology and Soil Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: agricultural and biological Sciences
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Dr. Rahul Datta

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Department of Geology and Pedology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University in Brno, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic
Interests: soil fauna microbial interaction; soil enzymes; soil nutrient cycling; soil remediation; sustainable agriculture; organo-mineral interactions; carbon sequestration in the soil; biochar; biofertilizers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil contamination by heavy metals is a major environmental issue. Many meteorological factors, i.e., temperature, humidity, and precipitation, directly affect heavy metals exposure in our environment. Furthermore, anthropogenic activities are also playing an essential role in the development of heavy metals toxicity. Field applicability of different remediation technologies mostly encountered various obstacles, such. Scientists are trying to introduce new techniques for increasing the yield of crops without disturbing the environment. Integrated approaches for remediation of heavy metals as pollutants and improving soil fertility status under changing climatic conditions are gaining attention. The use of organic amendments and biofertilizers can immobilization these heavy metals in soil. They can also improve the bioavailability of macro and micronutrients by improving the physio-chemical properties of soil. Cultivation of hyperaccumulators can effectively remove the heavy metals contaminants in polluted lands. They can also facilitate the proliferation of heavy metals resistant microorganisms in the rhizosphere that have the potential to change the transition state of toxic metals. The issue of heavy metals and poor fertility level needs serious and more scientific attention. That’s why we invite researchers to contribute to the Special Issue on Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation and Soil Fertility Management: Changing Climatic Conditions, which intended to serve as a unique multidisciplinary forum covering broad aspects of meteorological stress generating factors, environmental science, soil fertility and detoxification of hazardous heavy metals. This Special Issue, “Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation and Soil Fertility Management: Changing Climatic Conditions" aims to fill the gaps in the scientific literature concerning this crucial area as much as possible, to highlight its importance, and to provide a platform for the dissemination of state-of-the-art advances in this field.

Please

(1) Heavy metals remediation technologies

(2) Use of inorganic fertilizers with organic amendments

(3) Climatic changes and soil heavy metals contamination

(4) Improvement in fertilizer use efficiency under changing climate

(5) Response of different crops towards nutrients deficiency and heavy metals toxicity

Dr. Subhan Danish
Dr. Muhammad Arif Ali
Dr. Shah Fahad
Dr. Valerie Vranová
Dr. Rahul Datta
Guest Editors

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Keywords

heavy metals
fertilizers
manures
compost
biochar
mulching
biocontrol agents
chemical controlling agents
agronomic practices
crops growth and productivity
ethylene

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4561 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Farmyard Manure and Different Phosphorus Inorganic Fertilizer Application Rates on Wheat Cultivation in Phosphorus-Deficient Soil

by Khadim Dawar, Zeeshan Khalil, Ishaq Ahmad Mian, Bushra Khan, Shamsher Ali, Ashfaq Ahmad Rahi, Muhammad Saeed Tahir, Niaz Ahmed, Shah Fahad, Subhan Danish, Asad Syed, Ali H. Bahkali and Rahul Datta

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9030; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159030 - 23 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2526

Abstract

Less phosphorus (P) availability in calcareous alkaline soils is one of the major problems in achieving an optimum crop yield. Its deficiency in plants adversely affects growth and yield attributes. To overcome this issue, growers incorporate inorganic P fertilizers. However, the need for time in the sustainable management of soil fertility in terms of P. Farmyard manure (FYM) application is one of the most popular organic amendments in this regard. Thus, the current study was conducted to explore the best application rate of FYM in combination with inorganic P fertilizer single super phosphate (SSP). There were six treatments i.e., control (0F), 100%SSP (100P), 25% FYM and 75% SSP (25F+75P), 50% FYM and 50% SSP (50F+50P), 75% FYM and 25% SSP (75F+25P), and 100% FYM (100F+0P), applied in three replications. The design of the experiment was a randomized complete block design. For assessment of treatment response, two wheat cultivars (V1 = Pirsabak and V2 = Atta Habib) were used. Results showed that the application of 50F+50P significantly improved the plant height (20.69 and 32.01%), spike/m² (35.19 and 30.10%), grain (41.10 and 38.16%), and leaf P (49.82 and 71.32%) compared to control in V1 and V2, respectively. A significant improvement in the grain and the biological yield of wheat V2 also validated the efficacious functioning of 50F+50P over control. In conclusion, 50F+50P has the potential to enhance wheat growth and nutrient concentration over control. More investigations are required for a more precise and balanced synchronization of FYM and SSP for the achievement of maximum wheat yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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18 pages, 1318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cadmium-Tolerant Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria Curtobacterium oceanosedimentum Improves Growth Attributes and Strengthens Antioxidant System in Chili (Capsicum frutescens)

by Mitesh Patel, Kartik Patel, Lamya Ahmed Al-Keridis, Nawaf Alshammari, Riadh Badraoui, Abdelbaset Mohamed Elasbali, Waleed Abu Al-Soud, Md Imtaiyaz Hassan, Dharmendra Kumar Yadav and Mohd Adnan

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4335; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074335 - 6 Apr 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3824

Abstract

The remediation of potentially toxic element-polluted soils can be accomplished through the use of microbial and plant-assisted bioremediation. A total of 32 bacteria were isolated from soil samples contaminated with potentially toxic elements. The isolated bacterial strain DG-20 showed high tolerance to cadmium (up to 18 mM) and also showed bioaccumulative Cd removal properties, as demonstrated by atomic absorption spectroscopy studies. By sequencing the 16S rRNA gene, this strain was identified as Curtobacterium oceanosedimentum. Under stress and normal conditions, isolate DG-20 also produced a wide range of plant growth promoting traits, including ammonia production (51–73 µg/mL) and IAA production (116–183 µg/mL), alongside siderophore production and phosphate solubilization. Additionally, pot experiments were conducted to determine whether the strain could promote Chili growth when Cd salts are present. Over the control, bacterial colonization increased root and shoot lengths significantly up to 58% and 60%, respectively. Following inoculation with the Cd-tolerant strain, the plants also increased in both fresh and dry weight. In both the control and inoculated plants, Cd was accumulated more in roots than in shoots, indicating that Chili was phytostabilizing Cd levels. Besides improving the plant attributes, Cd-tolerant bacteria were also found to increase the amount of total chlorophyll, proline, total phenol, and ascorbic acid in the soil when added to the soil. These results suggest that the inoculant provides protection to plants from negative effects. The results of the present study predict that the combined properties of the tested strain in terms of Cd tolerance and plant growth promotion can be exploited for the purpose of the bioremediation of Cd, and for the improvement of Chili cultivation in soils contaminated with Cd. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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16 pages, 7057 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Soil Quality Status and the Ecological Risk in the Baia Mare, Romania Area

by Ioana Monica Sur, Valer Micle, Evelyn Terez Polyak and Timea Gabor

Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3739; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073739 - 23 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3144

Abstract

Industrial activities in the Baia Mare, Romania area have generated strong pollution, and the impact on soil quality in the neighboring areas of the city remains unclear. The aim of the research is to investigate samples of soil from Baia Mare in order to determine the quality of the soil and also the ecological risk of the soil. This study presents among the first studies using the ecological risk assessment methodology on the soil from the Baia Mare area and aims to serve as scientific support for future studies and research. Evaluation of the soil quality state was performed by determining the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil (pH, texture, structure, and concentration of metals). Evaluation of the anthropic activity from the studied areas was conducted by determining the pollution indices: C_f; C_d, PLI, Er, and PERI. The results of this study indicate that the surface soils have very high concentrations of metals (Cd: 3.5–14.4 mg kg⁻¹; Cu: 9.4–361.5 mg kg⁻¹; Pb: 29.7–1973 mg kg⁻¹), with exceedances of the limit values established in the Romanian legislation. Results regarding the degree of contamination, the PLI pollution load index (1.3–14.9), and the PERI potential ecological risk index (733.9–4686) indicate that soils in the studied area have a very high degree of pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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13 pages, 3253 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alleviating Role of Gibberellic Acid in Enhancing Plant Growth and Stimulating Phenolic Compounds in Carrot (Daucus carota L.) under Lead Stress

by Muhammad Awais Ghani, Muhammad Mehran Abbas, Basharat Ali, Rukhsanda Aziz, Rashad Waseem Khan Qadri, Anam Noor, Muhammad Azam, Saleem Bahzad, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Muyassar H. Abualreesh, Aishah Alatawi and Shafaqat Ali

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12329; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112329 - 8 Nov 2021

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 5171

Abstract

Toxicity of heavy-metals in soil is a major constraint for the production of carrots (Daucus carota L.). Different plant growth regulators are being used to overcome this problem. It has been found that plant growth regulators induce stress tolerance in plants. In this study, the role of exogenously applied plant growth regulator, gibberellic acid (GA₃) was examined in soil grown two carrot cultivars under four different levels of lead (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) with one level of gibberellic acid (50 ppm). Results showed that Pb stress retarded the plant growth and reduced chlorophyll contents in the leaves of both carrot cultivars. A significant decrease was observed in photosynthetic attributes by Pb addition alone. However, exogenously applied GA₃ ameliorated the plant growth and chlorophyll contents in the leaves of both carrot cultivars under Pb stressed conditions. Moreover, GA₃ also decreased the uptake of Pb concentration in carrot leaves and roots. In addition, GA₃ significantly regulated the phenolic compounds concentration in both carrot cultivars under Pb stress. In this study, cultivar T-29 was found to be more tolerant to Pb stress, however, cultivar Mevarick experienced higher damage regarding plant growth under Pb stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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13 pages, 5542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alleviation of Cadmium Phytotoxicity Using Silicon Fertilization in Wheat by Altering Antioxidant Metabolism and Osmotic Adjustment

by Abdihakim Osman Heile, Qamar uz Zaman, Zubair Aslam, Afzal Hussain, Mustansar Aslam, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Muyassar H. Abualreesh, Aishah Alatawi and Shafaqat Ali

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11317; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011317 - 13 Oct 2021

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 2653

Abstract

Humans are facing very serious health threats from food contamination with cadmium (Cd), and Cd uptake by wheat is amongst the main causes of Cd entrance into the food chain. The current study examined the effect of foliar application (0, 1.50, 3.00 and 4.00 mM) of various silicate chemicals (calcium silicate and potassium silicate) on wheat growth and Cd addition by wheat under Cd stress 20 mg kg⁻¹ of soil using CdCl₂. The results revealed that under control conditions, the application of Si improved all the growth, physiological, biochemical and quality attributes by reducing malondialdehyde contents and electrolyte leakage. Under Cd stress, the supplementation of Si conferred a better growth rate, gaseous exchange for metabolic activity and maintained the tissues’ turgor and membranes’ stabilities compared to those obtained under control (without Si). The enzymatic activities (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) also show rapid action by the application of Si supplement, which were associated with elevated osmoprotectant contents and antioxidants, having role in antioxidant defense against Cd stress. These results suggested that a 4.50 mM concentration of Si supplement (potassium silicate) works effectively against Cd stress. The given results showed that Si supplement is beneficial for the enhancement of many metabolic activities that takes places in plants during the growth period that proved a feasible approach in controlling the Cd concentration within wheat plants and, ultimately, in humans. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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17 pages, 2171 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supplemental Effects of Biochar and Foliar Application of Ascorbic Acid on Physio-Biochemical Attributes of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Cadmium-Contaminated Soil

by Samia Yaseen, Syeda Fasiha Amjad, Nida Mansoora, Shameem Kausar, Huma Shahid, Saad A. M. Alamri, Sulaiman A. Alrumman, Ebrahem M. Eid, Mohammad Javed Ansari, Subhan Danish and Rahul Datta

Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9128; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169128 - 14 Aug 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3633

Abstract

Biochar, prepared from organic waste materials, can improve the quality of contaminated soil areas. Biochar can be used as an economic centerpiece over other available resources and can properly utilize large amounts of waste. Soil contaminated with cadmium (Cd) is a worldwide problem that poses potential agricultural and human health hazards. Moreover, Cd toxicity causes serious problems for sustainable food production, especially in food crops like barley. High cadmium concentration in soil is phytotoxic and decreases plant growth and ultimately yields. Biochar and ascorbic acid in ameliorating Cd stress are economically compatible and consistent approaches in agriculture. The present study aimed to evaluate biochar’s and foliar-applied ascorbic acid’s influence on some growth and biochemical characteristics of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to Cd stress. The soil was supplemented with biochar 2% w/w and 20 mg Cd kg⁻¹. The foliar application of 30 mM ascorbic acid was done on plants. The results revealed that Cd stress decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids. It also increased oxidative stress indicators, i.e., APX, COD, POD, flavonoids, anthocyanin, phenolics, and electrolyte leakage, in barley with Cd-contamination. A significant enhancement in root and shoot length, gas exchange attributes, and chlorophyll contents validated the effectiveness of Bio + Asa treatments over all other treatments under Cd contamination. In conclusion, the sole applications of biochar and Asa in Cd contamination are also effective, but Bio + Asa is a better amendment for Cd stress alleviation in barley plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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Review

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18 pages, 2139 KiB

Open AccessReview

Potential Role of Biochar on Capturing Soil Nutrients, Carbon Sequestration and Managing Environmental Challenges: A Review

by Zouhair Elkhlifi, Jerosha Iftikhar, Mohammad Sarraf, Baber Ali, Muhammad Hamzah Saleem, Irshad Ibranshahib, Mozart Daltro Bispo, Lucas Meili, Sezai Ercisli, Ehlinaz Torun Kayabasi, Naser Alemzadeh Ansari, Alžbeta Hegedűsová and Zhuqi Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2527; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032527 - 31 Jan 2023

Cited by 76 | Viewed by 7787

Abstract

Biochar (BC) properties and its influences within agricultural soil health and environmental ecosystems largely depend on feedstock, residence time and pyrolysis conditions. The organic and inorganic contaminants from soil can be removed using BC as an adsorbent. Additionally, soil amendment with BC is known to improve overall soil quality, microbial and enzymatic activities and soil organic carbon content with nutrient retention and availability. Moreover, one of the great impacts of BC is its capability to capture soil nutrients and sequestrate carbon. The physicochemical properties of biochar could be affected by the feedstocks and pyrolysis conditions (temperature, duration, activation method, etc.). This review paper summarizes the recent research studies on the composition of BC that controls carbon presence in soil, as well as BCs role in improving soil fertility and carbon sequestration, which has not been reported in detail yet. The main finding of the present work revealed that the high pyrolytic temperatures in BC production may have negative impacts on phyto-availability of essential nutrients. Depending on the feedstock raw material and pyrolysis process used for producing BC, it has different capacities for releasing nutrients in the soil. An economically feasible method of producing newly engineered biochar, with more controlled pyrolysis and C-based materials, for suitable agriculture needs to be developed. Further investigation should be carried out to optimize the production procedure and its application to local farming community for sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Soil Heavy Metals Remediation, Soil Fertility Management and Crops Productivity: Changing Climatic Conditions)

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