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A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the remediation potential of Brassica juncea and Sorghum bicolor in the decontamination of soil polluted with heavy metals such as copper, lead, tin, and zinc along with polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy hydrocarbons. Two composts obtained from different composting processes were tested as biostimulating agents. At the end of the trial, the effect of plant/compost combinations on soil microbial composition, contaminant removal, biochemical indicators, and plant biomass production was determined. The results highlighted that compost addition improved plant biomass despite slowing down plants' removal of organic and inorganic contaminants. In addition, compost partially enhanced the soil biochemical indicators and modified the relative abundance of the rhizosphere microorganisms. Sorghum showed better mitigation performance than Brassica due to its higher growth. The soil fertility level, the choice of plant species, and microbial richness were found fundamental to perform soil remediation. In contrast, compost was relevant for a higher crop biomass yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate plant nutritional status and soil fertility preservation can be achieved through sustainable agricultural management techniques. The challenge of intensive orchard cultivation, besides the risk of nutrient decline, is to prevent the loss of soil fertility that could lead to soil degradation with a consequent negative impact on yield and fruit quality. The use of organic amendments could be a sustainable strategy to combine high plant performance with soil fertility improvement. This work aims at shedding light on the effects of compost addition with respect to an unfertilized control and a mineral fertilization treatment on macronutrient (K, Ca, Mg, and S) dynamics in plants and soil of a commercial nectarine orchard planted in 2001. In the first 0.15 m of soil, compost addition resulted in higher values (26–42%) of all the parameters. Both fertilization treatments induced a 28% increase in roots' S content compared to the control but did not induce macronutrient content variation in plant skeleton, pruned wood, and thinned fruits. In autumn leaves, all the macronutrients resulted in higher values (24–45%) with both mineral and compost fertilization, and the same was observed in fruit at harvest (increases of 15–31%). In our study, the treatment with compost satisfied plants' nutrient demands as much as the mineral fertilizer. In addition, compost treatment also improved soil nutrient content while preserving yield. Our results show that it is possible to reconcile plant nutrient needs with the preservation of soil fertility with the aim of improving sustainability of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive conventional farm management, characterized by high agrochemicals input, could alter the composition of microbial communities with potential negative effects on both functional traits and the ecosystem services provided. In this study, we investigated the gut microbial composition of a high ecological relevance carabid Pseudoophonus rufipes, sampled in two fields subjected to conventional and organic management practices. Carabids' gut microbiota was analyzed via qPCR and NGS. Profound differences between the microbial composition of organic and conventional samples were detected: the abundance of Tenericutes and Proteobacteria was significant higher in organic and conventional samples, respectively. Spiroplasmataceae and Bifidobacteriaceae families were significantly more abundant in samples from organic management, while Enterococcaceae, Morganellaceae and Yersiniaceae were more abundant in samples from conventional management. The diverse gut microbial composition of insects between the two management systems is related to the pressure of environmental stressors and it may representing an important bioindication of ecological functions and services provided by a carabid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]