Our latest research “Enhancing microbial biodiversity and vegetation growth in polluted soils by constructed Technosols” has been available in Pedosphere since May 2025 (in press).

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of two constructed Technosols in the in situ remediation of soils affected by potentially harmful elements (PHEs in mg kg⁻¹; As_T: 280, Cu_T: 83, Pb_T: 550, Zn_T: 147) through analysing changes in soil physicochemical properties and biological processes, as well as vegetation recovery. Both constructed Technosols (TO and TV) consisted of the mentioned PHEs-polluted soil mixed with mining wastes (iron oxyhydroxide-rich sludge and marble cutting and polishing sludge). Additionally, TO includes an agro-industrial waste (composted solid olive-mill by-product), while TV incorporates an urban waste (vermicompost from pruning and gardening). After one year of surface application of Technosols on polluted soils under field conditions, both Technosols and underlying polluted soils were analysed for soil properties, PHEs solubility, soil enzymatic activities, soil microbial composition and diversity, and the recovery of indigenous vegetation. Both constructed Technosols effectively remediated polluted soils by neutralising acidity, doubling organic carbon contents and reducing the mobility of most PHEs. These improvements stimulated soil enzymatic functions (dehydrogenase activity: 85 and 60 µg TPF g⁻¹ 16 h⁻¹ in TO and TV, respectively), and promoted an increase in microbial diversity, particularly plant growth-promoting microorganisms. Consequently, a diverse native vegetation cover was successfully established, with variations depending on the organic amendment applied. Long-term studies should investigate the effects of different organic matter types used, as well as changes on the richness and diversity of plants and microorganisms, to evaluate the recovery of biological properties in both constructed Technosols and underlying polluted soils.

This research is the result of a collaboration between the Departments of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry and Microbiology at the University of Granada, and constitutes the chapter of my doctoral thesis focused on the field experiment of poluted soil remediation.

The article can be found at the following link:

8789/8/4/103https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1002016025000414?via%3Dihub