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Topic Review
Soil Microbes in Chernobyl and Fukushima
Compositional changes in soil microbes associated with decreases in abundance and species diversity were reported, especially in heavily contaminated areas of both Chernobyl and Fukushima, which may accompany explosions of radioresistant species. In Chernobyl, the population size of soil microbes remained low for at least 20 years after the accident, and the abundance of plant-associated microbes, which are related to the growth and defense systems of plants, possibly decreased. These reported changes in microbes likely affect soil conditions and alter plant physiology. These microbe-mediated effects may then indirectly affect insect herbivores through food-mass-mediated, pollen-mediated, and metabolite-mediated interactions. Metabolite-mediated interactions may be a major pathway for ecological impacts at low pollution levels and could explain the decreases in insect herbivores in Fukushima.
  • 259
  • 20 Feb 2024
Topic Review
Soil Nanomanagement and Mushrooms
Soil is the main component in the agroecosystem besides water, microbial communities, and cultivated plants. Several problems face soil, including soil pollution, erosion, salinization, and degradation on a global level. Many approaches have been applied to overcome these issues, such as phyto-, bio-, and nanoremediation through different soil management tools. Mushrooms can play a vital role in the soil through bio-nanoremediation, especially under the biological synthesis of nanoparticles, which could be used in the bioremediation process. 
  • 528
  • 13 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Soil Nanoremediation and Mushrooms
Soil pollution is a serious challenge facing the global community. This pollution is a direct and/or indirect harmful deterioration, which penetrates all aspects of our life, especially human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to repair, remove, or decompose these pollutants according to various approaches. Concerning the relationship between soil nanoremediation and its mushrooms, this process can be called nano myco-remediation. The mechanism of this kind of remediation depends mainly on the enzymatic system of mushroom species and is involved in the bioremediation of organic environmental pollutants.
  • 769
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Soil Phytomining
Phytomining (PM) is defined as the process of using plants capable of bio-extracting metals from soil in order to explore them economically. This relatively new, innovative method has been gathering significant attention in both the academic and commercial domains. Conventional mining methods are often economically unviable when applied to lean ores, and they can lead to secondary pollution in soil—a situation that applies to all excavated metals. On the other hand, PM is an environmentally friendly and economically viable solution that addresses the growing demands for metal resources, while simultaneously contributing to energy production by harnessing biomass energy. 
  • 209
  • 31 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Soil Protection in Floodplains
Soils in floodplains and riparian zones provide important ecosystem functions and services. These ecosystems belong to the most threatened ecosystems worldwide. Therefore, the management of floodplains has changed from river control to the restoration of rivers and floodplains. However, restoration activities can also negatively impact soils in these areas. Thus, a detailed knowledge of the soils is needed to prevent detrimental soil changes. The aim of this study is therefore to assess the kind and extent of soil information used in research on floodplains and riparian zones.
  • 465
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Soil Remediation Strategy
Although soil is a valuable and non-renewable ecological system, it has always been subject to widespread degradation due to anthropic activities. The most severe risks are point source and diffuse soil pollution. The remediation of contaminated soils and sites is, therefore, a significant step in the protection of the environment and living organisms, and must be included in the broader multidisciplinary scenario of strategic green transition.
  • 991
  • 15 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Soil Washing
Soil contamination with heavy metals and organic pollutants poses an environmental problem due to their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Soil washing is one of the most common remediation technologies for permanent removal of undesirable pollutants. The effectiveness of soil washing is affected by many factors such as soil geochemistry, pollutant characteristics, type and chemistry of washing agents, and processing conditions. A variety of washing agents have been tested in soil washing with their different effect on pollutant removal and on the overall quality of treated soil. Development of soil washing is based on searching for an inexpensive, readily-available and environmentally-friendly agents to remediate polluted soils. Despite the unquestionable effectiveness of soil washing, spent washing solutions are generated that need further treatment. This entry presents the principles and application of soil washing technology, as well as the examples of washing agents and methods for liquid waste treatment.  Soil washing is an ex-situ technology, including physical and/or chemical processes that aim to effectively remove pollutants from soil.
  • 3.9K
  • 08 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Soil, Humipedon, Forest Life and Management
Three sections (Humipedon, Copedon and Lithopedon) were recognized in the soil profile. It was then possible to link the first and most biologically active section to the characteristics of the environment and soil genesis. In particular, it is now possible to distinguish organic horizons, mainly produced by arthropods and enchytraeids in cold and acidic or dry and arid environments, from organo-mineral horizons produced by earthworms in more temperate and mesotrophic environments. Each set of horizons can be associated with a humus system or form, with important implications for forestry. Anecic/endogeic earthworms and Mull or Amphi systems are more abundant in the early and late stages of sylvogenesis; by completely recycling litter, earthworms accelerate the availability of organic and inorganic soil nutrients to roots and pedofauna. On the other hand, arthropods and Moder or Tangel systems characterize the intermediate stages of sylvogenesis, where thickening in the organic horizons and the parallel impoverishment/reduction in the underlying organo-mineral horizons are observed. Recognizing the humus system at the right spatial and temporal scale is crucial for the biological management of a forest.
  • 515
  • 31 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Solar Concentration for Wastewaters Remediation
As the effectiveness of conventional wastewater treatment processes is increasingly challenged by the growth of industrial activities, a demand for low-cost and low-impact treatments is emerging. A possible solution is represented by systems coupling solar concentration technology with advanced oxidation processes (AOP).
  • 795
  • 17 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Solar Desalination
Desalination is a capital-intensive process that requires a significant amount of energy, and since it is now mostly powered by fossil fuels across the globe, it has the potential to leave a significant carbon footprint. 
  • 891
  • 18 Nov 2022
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