Availability of lead in agricultural soils amended with compost of biosolid with wood shavings and yard trimmings.

Lead-polluted agricultural soils are a serious problem for food safety, with organic amendment being a promising mitigation method from the environmental perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate lead availability and the effectiveness of the application of compost of biosolid with wood shavings and yard trimmings in contaminated soils. The physicochemical (Pb distribution, organic matter, pH, electric conductivity, cation exchange capacity, nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, carbonates, exchangeable cations, sodium) and biological parameters (the microbial activity obtained by fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis) in Pb-polluted and non-polluted agricultural soils were evaluated after the addition of biosolid with wood shavings and yard trimming compost.

Short-term effects of combined iprodione and vermicompost applications on soil microbial community structure.

The use of compost amendments to bioremediate potential organic pollutants in agricultural soils has recently become an increasingly important field of research. Although several fungicides have been extensively used to control a wide range of soil-borne fungal diseases, little is known about the impact of applying these pesticides on the structure and function of microbial communities in soils amended with vermicompost. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combined treatment of iprodione and vermicompost on soil microbiological parameters under laboratory conditions.

Physico-chemical and toxicological assessment of liquid wastes from olive processing-related industries.

Background: In the last few years, agricultural uses of waste waters from olive processing-related industries have been gaining interest mainly with a view to composting or bio-fertilizers. The present work examines physico-chemical, toxicological and geno-toxicological properties of three liquid wastes, namely olive mill wastewater (OMWW), olive wet husk and olive brine. The effect of OMWW spreading on soil microbial activity and biomass was also evaluated.