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Sustainable Integrated Soil and Water Resources Management in the Arid Lands: Consideration of Economic Aspects
Published in Rohini Prasad, Manoj Kumar Jhariya, Arnab Banerjee, Advances in Sustainable Development and Management of Environmental and Natural Resources, 2021
Healthy soils are essential to assure perfect productivity of agricultural fields and for conserving the key functions of ecosystems such as biological activities, enhancing water quality, providing micro and macronutrients for crops, and ensuring carbon sequestration (Freidman et al., 2001). Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties have significant effects on these key functions. Many of these soil properties are dynamic and have a high potential of alteration. Contrarily, a few of soil properties are inherent and more resistant to alteration. Through direct and indirect ways, climate change has various negative effects on soil health, which in turn led to important challenges for agricultural productivity and sustainability. Several soil management actions can help us to improve soil health and to reduce the negative effects of climate change. For example, the negative effects of dry and wet rainfall extremes can be reduced by increasing soil organic matter (SOM), which can enhance water infiltration and decrease nutrient losses during extreme rainfall events (Anwar et al., 2013). Also, green infrastructures such as pipes and drains can reduce soil erosion and also may enhance inherent soil properties. The soil management actions that can help to enhance the soil health are summarized in Figure 2.5.
Impact of compost on soil health
Published in Monica Ozores-Hampton, Compost Utilization in Production of Horticultural Crops, 2021
The horticulture industry is familiar with production practices aimed to improve the health and function of the soil (Ozores-Hampton, 2017b). Arshad et al. (1996) defined soil quality or health as the continued capacity of the soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals and humans. The definition implies the management of the soil to provide food, shelter and water for future generations (Ozores-Hampton et al., 2011). The success of long-term horticulture production and maintenance of environmental quality is dependent on soil quality (Arshad et al., 1996). The decline in soil health can be aggravated by crop nutrient removal, leaching, decreased soil organic matter (SOM), application of inadequate outside inputs and intensive agricultural management (Agegnehu et al., 2015; D’Hose et al., 2014). The most common indicators of soil health or quality include measuring physical, chemical and biological soil properties (Doran and Parkin, 1994). Specific measurable indicators of soil quality include SOM, bulk density (BD), water holding capacity (WHC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH and soil microbial respiration (Arshad et al., 1996; Doran and Parkin, 1994).
Sustainable use of switchgrass for biofuel
Published in Chris Saffron, Achieving carbon negative bioenergy systems from plant materials, 2020
John Fike, Vance Owens, David Parrish, Rana Genedy
Development of a perennial, grass-based bioenergy industry faces several issues, and all impact sustainability in some manner. Thus, before proceeding, we digress with a discussion of what we consider to be 'sustainable'. Metaphorically, sustainability often is described as a three-legged stool. Each 'leg’- economic viability, environmental soundness and social acceptability - is critical to the overall 'standability’and stability of the stool (i.e. the practice being considered). First-generation biofuels, based on corn or other grain production systems, have been questioned for their sustainability across all three criteria. Although they have provided opportunity for corn growers and alcohol refiners - and were expected to jumpstart the second generation biofuel industry - grain-based biofuel systems may present high (if unaccounted) social costs. Soil erosion, pesticide and nutrient losses to the environment, loss of species diversity, reductions in soil health and consequences for water quality are among the concerns (e.g. see Fike et al., 2007). Although this type of system may make economic sense at the grower level, the production may be subsidized directly or indirectly by federal policy (e.g. through the renewable fuels standard) and the many environmental costs typically are externalized. In either case, society pays for these systems and their impacts.
Straight vegetable oil fuel performance and exhaust emissions under turbocharged and naturally aspirated conditions
Published in Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects, 2023
Albert K. Sunnu, Godwin K. Ayetor, James M. Gaye
The choice of vegetable oils for this study is particularly important because of the advantage a community will derive from the biofuel use and its production. Especially providing jobs for women in the rural setting. Sustainable farming and value-added agriculture biodiesel feedstock can come from a variety of agricultural crops. When these crops are grown in a sustainable manner, using good stewardship practices, there are long-term benefits to farmers, farming communities, and the land. Many crops that yield oils used for biodiesel production can be cultivated in rotation with other food crops including soybeans, corn, canola, and wheat. Using crops in rotation can improve soil health and reduce erosion. The community could also benefit from improved technologies in Agriculture through this.
Heavy metal remediation and resistance mechanism of Aeromonas, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas: A review
Published in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2022
Ali Fakhar, Bushra Gul, Ali Raza Gurmani, Shah Masaud Khan, Shafaqat Ali, Tariq Sultan, Hassan Javed Chaudhary, Mazhar Rafique, Muhammad Rizwan
The availability of heavy metals to plants depends on a number of factors, such as organic matter and aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and other elements in the soil. The organic matter content and the hydrous ferric oxide in the soil are inversely proportional to heavy metal availability. Immobilization tends to decrease the availability of heavy metals. In contaminated soil, changes in microbial activity and diversity alter patterns of growth and reproduction (Husein et al., 2019). It has been reported that the integral risk to soil microorganisms can increase 1.6 times compared with the initial risk in Pb-contaminated soils (Tang et al., 2017). Biomineralization of lead in mine tailings using autochthonous Bacillus sp. KK1 has been performed and diminished the exchangeable Pb by 26% (Govarthanan et al., 2013). The use of Bacillus sp. SKK11 also reduced exchangeable Pb (Govarthanan et al., 2015). Soil microorganisms have a key role in a variety of processes, such as maintenance of soil fertility and soil health, which increases the availability of nutrients to plants. Soil microbes also stimulate plant growth and development and help protect plants from adverse factors such as phytopathogens (Melnichuk et al., 2020).
Impacts of metallic nanoparticles and transformed products on soil health
Published in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 2021
Wenjie Sun, Fugen Dou, Cong Li, Xingmao Ma, Lena Q. Ma
Since soil is the foundation of agricultural production and ecosystem services, maintaining its health is critical to sustain agricultural production and improve human health. Based on the Natural Resources Conservation Service, soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans (Stevens, 2018). The definition is straightforward in theory, yet it is highly challenging to quantify in practice due to the complexity of soil compositions. In addition to the diverse abiotic mineral particles and SOM, soil is also rich in biota. Consequently, soil health must be defined by a suite of physical, chemical and biological parameters associated with the intended soil functions and ecosystem services (Bünemann et al., 2018).