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Mining activity is one of the main sources to pollute soil, water and plants. An analysis of soil and plant samples around the Atrevida mining area in Catalonia (NE Spain) was preformed to determine potentially harmful elements (PHEs). Soil and plant samples were taken at eight locations around the mining area. The topsoil (0-15 cm) samples were analysed for physico-chemical properties by standard methods, by ICP-MS for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn, and were microwave-digested. Plant, root and shoot samples were digested separately, and heavy metals were analysed by AAS. Translocation factor (TF), biological concentration factor (BCF) and biological accumulation factor (BAF) were determined to assess the tolerance strategies developed by native species and to evaluate their potential for phytoremediation purposes. Soil pH was generally acid (5.48-6.72), with high soil organic matter (SOM) content and a sandy loamy or loamy texture. According to the agricultural soil values in southern Europe, our PHEs concentrations exceeded the toxicity thresholds. The highest root content of the most studied PHEs appeared in Thymus vulgaris L. and Festuca ovina L., while Biscutella laevigata L. accumulated more PHEs in shoots. The TF values were > 1 in B. laevigata L., but BAF obtained < 1, except Pb. B. laevigata L., and can be considered potentially useful for phytoremediation for having the capacity to restrict the accumulation of large PHEs amounts in roots and Pb translocation to shoots.

Agricultural land consolidation (ALC) is an effective tool to ensure national food security. The current ALC is a government-led systematic behavior with regional characteristics, most ALC types are classified according to difficulty without considering the safety of soil systems, resulting in randomness in the site selection of projects. Given the soil complexity, ensuring soil security (SS) is a prerequisite for efficiently completing ALC. ALC that gives full play to the soil's functional advantages is an effective means of securing SS. The main goal of this study is to establish a new set of technical processes for classifying the types of ALC from the perspective of SS, including the agricultural SS evaluation system and the identification method of land-improvable limiting factors. We used a generalized mean model to evaluate and analyze SS in multiple dimensions and identified 11 combinations of limiting factors in Wen County through the k-means clustering method. The combination of the limiting factor clustering area with the SS spatial distribution patterns guided five ALC types. When compared using the spatial pattern comparison method, the new ALC guideline avoids the singularity of ALC types, selects the field patch as the evaluation and decision-making unit, and improves the accuracy of land management measures. The results indicate that incorporating SS into ALC policy planning and decision-making can provide complex and multifaceted knowledge of factors affecting SS, and potential solutions to make agricultural soils safer, enabling higher quality and sustainability of agricultural land use.

In the original article, in the References section the reference for “Debeljak et al., 2019” was incorrectly written as “Debeljak, M., Trajanov, A., Kuzmanovski, V., Schröder, J., Sandén, T., Spiegel, H., et al. (2019). Scientific data management in the age of big data: An approach supporting a resilience Index development effort. Front. Environ. Sci. 7, 1–13. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2019.00072.” It should be: “Debeljak, M., Trajanov, A., Kuzmanovski, V., Schröder, J., Sandén, T., Spiegel, H., et al. (2019). A Field-Scale Decision Support System for Assessment and Management of Soil Functions. Front. Environ. Sci. 7, 115. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2019.00115.” In the original article, in the References section the reference for “Fiantis et al., 2022” was incorrectly written as “Fiantis, D., RudiyantoGinting, F. I., Utami, S. R., SukarmanAnda, M., Jeon, S. H., Minasny, B., et al. (2022). Sustaining the productivity and ecosystem services of soils in Indonesia, Geoderma Reg. 28, 488.” It should be: “Fiantis, D., Rudiyanto, Ginting, F.I., Utami, S.R., Sukarman, Anda, M., et al. (2022). Sustaining the productivity and ecosystem services of soils in Indonesia. Geoderma Reg. 28, e00488. doi:10.1016/j.geodrs.2022.e00488.” In the original article, the References for “Van Leeuwen et al., 2019” was incorrectly written as “Van Leeuwen, J. P., Creamer, R. E., Cluzeau, D., Debeljak, M., Gatti, F., Henriksen, C. B., et al. (2019). Scientific data management in the age of big data: An approach supporting a resilience Index development effort. Front. Environ. Sci. 7, 1–13. doi:10.3389/fenvs.2019.00072.” It should be: “Van Leeuwen, J.P., Creamer, R.E., Cluzeau, D., Debeljak, M., Gatti, F., Henriksen, C.B., et al. (2019). Modeling of soil functions for assessing soil quality: Soil biodiversity and habitat provisioning. Front. Environ. Sci. 7, 113. doi:10.3389/ fenvs.2019.00113.” In the original article, the References for “Wang, A., et al., 2022” was incorrectly written as “Wang, A., Liu, S., Xie

Rodents are considered one of the animal pests with the greatest impact on agricultural production and public health. Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs), used as one of the most effective ways to control rodent populations worldwide, inhibit the vitamin K 2,3-epoxide reductase (VKORC1) enzyme involved in blood coagulation. Resistances to ARs are mainly associated with mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vkorc1 gene. Since the information on this subject is scarce in Spain, we monitored and discovered rodent SNPs that could favour genetic resistance in its populations. For that, more than 200 samples of stools and tails from brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), black rat (Rattus rattus) and mouse (Mus musculus) were collected from 12 Spanish regions previously identified with low AR efficacy in coordination with the National Association of Environmental Sanitation Companies (ANECPLA) and the managing entities of four locations. We then sequenced their vkorc1 exon 3 corresponding genomic DNA. We identified genotypic vkorc1 variations corresponding to amino acid changes at the VKORC1 protein at the S149I - S149T and the E155K - E155Q mutations, depending on the rodent species. Computational analysis of binding predictions found out that the brown rat S149I mutation predicted a high reduction of the binding affinity of chlorophacinone and brodifacoum ARs while, the black rat S149T, E155K and E155Q mutations slightly reduced bromadiolone AR binding. These results suggest that these mutations may be one of the causes of the increased resistance to those ARs.

Spain is a country where agricultural production has a relatively low weight in the national gross domestic product (only 3.16%), but it is a sector with a great strategic importance, more than 20 million tons of vegetable products exported per year, and a high level of domestic consumption. Within that production, the cultivation of corn is one of the most important crops on the surface within irrigation systems. This study aims to summarize the current situation of maize production in Spain in relation to the world situation. Currently, the two main constraints to increasing the area cultivated with maize and increasing its yield in Spain are the availability of water and the economic profitability. For this reason, this work summarizes the progress achieved until the present, but also the potential improvements that could improve their economic performance without increasing (or even decreasing) their environmental impact. These techniques require inevitably an improvement of the efficiency use of the agronomic inputs (fertilizers, diesel, pesticides, etc.), as well as, the improvement of water use. To achieve these greater efficiencies, different techniques have been identified such as adjusting the doses of water-nutrients-phytosanitary products, their application at right moments or even remote sensing, and the use of precision agriculture; all of them defined in greater detail in this manuscript. Therefore, farmers who wish to continue growing maize in Spain, and being able to improve their yields and reduce their environmental impact, must, above all, improve their production margins, España es un país donde la producción agrícola tiene un peso relativamente bajo en el producto interior bruto nacional (solo del 3,16%), pero con una gran importancia estratégica ya que representa más de 20 millones de toneladas de productos vegetales exportados al año, además del alto nivel de consumo interno. Dentro de esa producción, el cultivo del maíz es uno de los cultivos con mayor importancia en cuanto a superficie dentro de los sistemas de regadío. El presente estudio pretende resumir la situación actual de la producción de maíz en España en relación a la situación mundial. A día de hoy, los dos principales factores limitantes para el aumento de la superficie cultivada de maíz y el aumento de su rendimiento en España son la disponibilidad de agua y la rentabilidad económica. Por eso, este trabajo resume los avances alcanzados hasta la fecha, pero también las mejoras potenciales que permitirían mejorar su rendimiento económico sin aumentar (o incluso disminuyendo) su impacto ambiental. Estas técnicas se basan en la mejora de la eficiencia de uso de los insumos agrícolas empleados (fertilizantes, gasoil, fitosanitarios, entre otros) así como la eficiencia en el uso del agua. Para alcanzar estas mayores eficiencias se han identificado distintas técnicas como el ajuste de las dosis de agua-nutrientes-fitosanitarios, su aplicación en los momentos clave o incluso la teledetección y el uso de agricultura de precisión, todos ellos definidos en mayor detalle en este trabajo. Por eso, los agricultores que deseen seguir cultivando maíz en España, además de ser capaces de mejorar su rendimiento y reducir el impacto ambiental, deberán, sobre todo, mejorar sus márgenes de beneficio.

Soil provides a diverse and complex range of ecosystem services. Understanding the trade-offs and synergies among soil functions is foundational for effective soil ecosystem management and human well-being. In contrast, the long-term pursuit of solely productive functions in cultivated land use has resulted in soil degradation and weakened other ecological functions. This study collected soil, topographic landform, climate, and management data from 151 fields in four counties and three climatic zones in China. The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model was used to evaluate nutrient retention, water production, and carbon storage, and the market value method was used to evaluate the value of the soil production function. A semi-quantitative model of Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) was used to simulate soil processes, thus revealing factors potentially influencing the supply capacity of five soil functions. Sensitivity analysis was used to identify the key variables influencing soil functional supply, and the probabilistic inference was used to identify interactions among soil’s multiple functions. The main findings were as follows: 1) In four counties, the spatial heterogeneity in the supply of the five soil functions was relatively high. 2) The primary variables influencing the supply of soil’s multiple functions were climatic conditions, management level, carbon storage, soil nutrients, soil biology, soil structure, and topography. 3) Trade-offs existed among primary productivity (PP), water purification and regulation (WPR), and carbon sequestration and regulation (CSR). Moreover, the provision of functional and intrinsic biodiversity (PFIB), WPR, and CSR were synergistic; specifically, the CSR and WPR services synergized with the nutrient provision and cycling (PCN). This research may aid in understanding the supply of, and interactions among soil’s multiple functions, thus aiding in using BBNs to analyze soil ecosystem services.

We measured the concentrations of 9 heavy metals (Fe, Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni) in the soils collected in the watershed of Sebkhet Ariana (Tunisia) and assessed health risks for residential adults and children. Also, we assessed their potential sources, contamination status, and ecological risks using pollution indicators such as the enrichment factor (EF), geoac cumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk (RI), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk index (CRI) to both children and adults. Heavy metal concentrations followed the order Fe>Zn>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cu>Co>Cd>Hg. Geoaccumulation index, contamination factor, and enrichment factor results indicated that watershed of Sebkhet Ariana was polluted with Cd, Hg, and Pb due to use of pesticides and fertilizers and industrial wastewater reuse. Also, the study region had “high potential ecological risk” for Cd, whereas “low potential ecological risk” for the other heavy metals. Factor and hierarchical cluster analyses revealed that Ni, Hg, and Cu were from anthropogenic sources; Cd, Cr, and Co from both anthropogenic and natural sources; while other heavy metals from natural sources. The hazard index and the carcinogenic risk of HMs in adults’ group revealed an acceptable level; however, children’s group faced a great chance of carcinogenic risk by Cr and Ni moreover non-carcinogenic risk due to high level of Co.

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are biological control agents distributed worldwide in natural and agricultural soils. Recent evidence supports the hypothesis that stable rhizospheres of perennial crops can favor the occurrence of EPNs. However, different agricultural management practices can modulate their natural distribution in agroecosystems, hence should be considered in conservation biological control programs to support as high as possible native EPN populations. Cultivated olive (Olea europaea subsp. europaea), originally from the Mediterranean Basin, is a key perennial crop susceptible to a diverse range of arthropod pests that account for their life with at least one soil inhabitant stage. In this study, we investigated, for the first time, the occurrence of EPNs and associated soil organisms in olive groves managed with different practices. We surveyed 89 commercial olive groves located in Andalusia (Southern Spain) and differently handled for pest management (conventional vs. organic), soil management (tilling vs. cover cropping), and irrigation regime (rain feed vs. drip-irrigation). By using species-specific primers-probe sets and quantitative real-time PCR approaches, we screened the occurrence of nine species of EPNs, five free-living nematodes (FLNs), and six nematophagous fungi (NF). We found EPNs in 23.6% of the sites, identifying only two EPN species: Steinernema feltiae (15.7%) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (7.9%). Pest and soil management did not affect EPN abundance, but drip irrigation increased their occurrence (P < 0.025). On the contrary, we recorded lower FLN numbers in irrigated groves (P = 0.003), particularly for Oscheius tipulae and Pristionchus maupasi. Regarding NF, both organic management (P < 0.001) and drip irrigation (P < 0.035) enhanced their abundance. Four abiotic explanatory variables (extractable P, clay content, elevation, and precipitation) explained 85.6% of the EPN, FLN, and NF species variation in multivariate an

Albufera Natural Park (ANP) (Valencia, Spain) is one of the most important wetland areas of the Mediterranean coast subject to high anthropogenic pressure, on whose soils a battery of bioassays has never been applied to evaluate the ecotoxicological risk. The present study determined available and water-soluble heavy metal content in four paddy soils used in the ANP, and the ecotoxicological effect on these soils was evaluated by performing the bioassays regulated in Spanish Royal Decree 9/2005. Soil properties and extractable Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn (EDTA pH = 7) were analyzed in soils. These elements and macro- and micronutrients were also assessed in soil leachate. A test battery covering the following was needed: acute toxicity test in Eisenia foetida (OECD TG 207); mineralization tests of nitrogen (OECD TG 2016) and carbon (OECD TG 217); growth inhibition test in Raphidocelis subcapitata (OECD TG 201); mobility inhibition test in Daphnia magna (OECD TG 202). The soils found in the most anthropized areas to the north of the ANP (Massanassa and Alfafar) demonstrated a higher concentration of available heavy metals than in the southern ones (Sueca and Sollana). The aqueous leachate of the studied soils contained very low concentrations, which would be related to soil properties. Despite the high concentration of available potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Massanassa and Alfafar soils, the studied soils showed no toxicity during the performed battery bioassays. Therefore, soils can be considered non-toxic despite the obtained PTEs available concentration.

Physical and chemical alterations may affect the microbiota of soils as much as the specific presence of toxic pollutants. The relationship between the microbial diversity patterns and the soil quality in a Mediterranean context is studied here to test the hypothesis that soil microbiota is strongly affected by the level of anthropogenic soil alteration. Our aim has been to determine the potential effect of organic matter loss and associated changes in soil microbiota of poorly evolved Mediterranean soils (Leptosols and Regosols) suffering anthropogenic stress (i.e., cropping and deforestation). The studied soils correspond to nine different sites which differed in some features, such as the parent material, vegetation cover, or soil use and types. A methodological approach has been used that combines the classical physical and chemical study of soils with molecular characterization of the microbial assemblages using specific primers for Bacteria, Archaea and ectomycorrhizal Fungi. In agreement with previous studies within the region, physical, chemical and biological characteristics of soils varied notably depending on these factors. Microbial biomass, soil organic matter, and moisture, decreased in soils as deforestation increased, even in those partially degraded to substitution shrubland. Major differences were observed in the microbial community structure between the mollic and rendzic Leptosols found in forest soils, and the skeletic and dolomitic Leptosols in substitute shrublands, as well as with the skeletic and dolomitic Leptosols and calcaric Regosols in dry croplands. Forest soils displayed a higher microbial richness (OTU's number) and biomass, as well as more stable and connected ecological networks. Here, we point out how human activities such as agriculture and other effects of deforestation led to changes in soil properties, thus affecting its quality driving changes in their microbial diversity and biomass patterns. Our findings demonstrate the pot

The Gaza Strip is one of the world's poorest areas in terms of water, mainly due to pollution and overexploitation of aquifers. In addition, the region has a humanitarian crisis as a result of the numerous escalations of war, the lack of food security and the lack of water and sanitation. A first conclusion is that water sharing, access and management are central to progress towards economic, social and political stability in the region. Gaza is in an unsustainable situation of permanent water scarcity, especially affecting the most vulnerable: women. A second conclusion is that, in order to improve the current situation of the right to water, it must be linked to women's rights, as well as to the strengthening of their role in negotiations and management in basic aspects for economic and social transformation in the Strip., La bande de Gaza est l'une des régions les plus pauvres du monde en eau, principalement en raison de la pollution et de la surexploitation des aquifères. En outre, la région connaît une crise humanitaire en raison des nombreuses escalades de la guerre, de l'absence de sécurité alimentaire et du manque d'eau et d'assainissement. Une première conclusion est que le partage, l'accès et la gestion de l'eau sont essentiels pour progresser vers la stabilité économique, sociale et politique de la région. Gaza se trouve dans une situation insoutenable de pénurie d'eau permanente, qui touche particulièrement les plus vulnérables: les femmes. Une deuxième conclusion est que, pour améliorer la situation actuelle du droit à l'eau, il faut le lier aux droits des femmes, ainsi qu'au renforcement de leur rôle dans les négociations et la gestion des aspects fondamentaux pour la transformation économique et sociale de la bande., La Striscia di Gaza è una delle zone più povere del mondo in termini di acqua, soprattutto a causa dell'inquinamento e del sovrasfruttamento delle falde acquifere. Inoltre, la regione ha una crisi umanitaria a causa delle numerose escalation di guerra, la mancanza di sicurezza alimentare e la mancanza di acqua e di servizi igienici. Una prima conclusione è che la condivisione, l'accesso e la gestione dell'acqua sono centrali per il progresso verso la stabilità economica, sociale e politica nella regione. Gaza si trova in una situazione insostenibile di scarsità d'acqua permanente, che colpisce soprattutto i più vulnerabili: le donne. Una seconda conclusione è che, per migliorare la situazione attuale del diritto all'acqua, esso deve essere legato ai diritti delle donne, così come al rafforzamento del loro ruolo nei negoziati e nella gestione degli aspetti fondamentali per la trasformazione economica e sociale della Striscia., A Faixa de Gaza é uma das áreas mais pobres do mundo em termos de água, principalmente devido à poluição e à superexploração dos aquíferos. Além disso, a região tem uma crise humanitária como resultado das numerosas escaladas da guerra, da falta de segurança alimentar e da falta de água e saneamento. Uma primeira conclusão é que o compartilhamento, o acesso e a gestão da água são fundamentais para o progresso em direção à estabilidade econômica, social e política na região. Gaza está em uma situação insustentável de escassez permanente de água, afetando especialmente os mais vulneráveis: as mulheres. Uma segunda conclusão é que, para melhorar a situação atual do direito à água, ele deve estar ligado aos direitos das mulheres, bem como ao fortalecimento de seu papel nas negociações e na gestão em aspectos básicos para a transformação econômica e social na Faixa, La Franja de Gaza es una de las zonas más pobres del mundo en agua, a causa fundamentalmente de la contaminación y la sobreexplotación de los acuíferos. Adicionalmente, la región arrastra una crisis humanitaria como consecuencia de las numerosas escaladas bélicas, la falta de seguridad alimentaria o la carencia de agua y saneamiento. Una primera conclusión es que el reparto del agua, su acceso y gestión constituye un elemento central para avanzar hacia la estabilidad económica, social y política en la región. Gaza se encuentra en una insostenible situación de escasez hídrica permanente, afectando especialmente a las más vulnerables como las mujeres. Una segunda conclusión es que, para mejorar la situación actual del derecho al agua, se debe enlazar con los derechos de las mujeres, junto con el reforzamiento de su papel en las negociaciones y la gestión en aspectos básicos para la transformación económica y social en la Franja.

In this study, concentrations of cadmium using 3778 samples encompassing the total size of Spain (about 505 km2) were investgated. Two novel spatial methods namely Moran eigenvector spatially varying coefficient (MESVC) and spatially filtered unconditional quantile regression (SF-UQR) were employed with the aim of avoiding the problem of local collinearity which is prevalent in regression models. Additionally, the spatially varying coefficients methods were applied to assess the influence of soil properties together with soil texture on the spatial variations of cadmium. It was indicated that the overall level of cadmium is low compared to the concentrations found around the world. In particular, the values of Cd varied between 0.01 and 2.00 mgkg-1, with the median of 0.23 mgkg-1. The residual standard error and adjusted R2 produced by MESVC were 0.16 and 0.69, respectively which are better than 0.21 and 0.39 yielded by the SF-UQR model. Both of these models outperformed compared to the geographically weighted regression (GWR) and the performance of MESVC was also better than the traditional method of kriging. For instance, in terms of willmott index (d) and root mean squared relative error (RMSRE), the MESVC had superior performance with values equal to 0.612 and 0.275 compared to 0.399 and 0.379 obtained for the ordinary kriging. The MESVC and GWR demonstrated that CaCO3, sand, silt and clay had a negligible influence on spatial variations of cadmium whereas, EC had the largest contribution followed by SOM and pH.

Copper-based fungicides (Cuf) are used in European (EU) vineyards to prevent fungal diseases. Soil physicochemical properties locally govern the variation of the total copper content (Cut) in EU vineyards. However, variables controlling Cut distribution at a larger scale are poorly known. Here, machine learning techniques were used to identify governing variables and to predict the Cut distribution in EU vineyards. Precipitation, aridity and soil organic carbon are key variables explaining together 45% of Cut distribution across EU vineyards. This underlines the effect of both climate and soil properties on Cut distribution. The average net export of Cu at the EU scale is 0.29 kg Cu ha-1, which is 2 orders of magnitude less than the net accumulation of Cu (24.8 kg Cu ha-1). Four scenarios of Cuf application were compared. The current EU regulation with a maximum of 4 kg Cu ha-1 year-1 may increase by 2% of the EU vineyard area, exceeding the predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) in soil in the next 100 years. Overall, our results highlight the vineyard areas requiring specific remediation measures and strategies of Cuf use to manage a trade-off between pest control and soil and water contamination.

Predicting the regional net greenhouse gas emissions (Net GHG) of grasslands is increasingly important, as these are one of the most globally widespread vegetation types, providing several ecosystem services. In this study, we assessed the regional soil organic carbon (SOC) change over a 30-year period (1981–2010), and the annual GHG balance for 405,000 ha of moist temperate Spanish grassland associated with dairy cow production. To do this we used the following: (i) an integrated modelling framework comprising geographic information systems (GIS); (ii) the RothC model to simulate SOC changes in managed grasslands under moist temperate conditions; and (iii) Tier 2 recent IPCC methods to estimate emissions. The results showed an average regional SOC change rate of 0.16 Mg C ha−1 year−1, associated with the initial SOC and livestock density. The annual GHG balance was positive, contributing to global warming by 5.6 Mg CO2-e ha−1 year−1. Livestock density was the main factor affecting net GHG emissions in the grasslands associated with dairy production in northern Spain. We determined a livestock density threshold of 0.95 LU ha−1, below which there is no SOC accumulation, and a threshold of approximately 0.4 LU ha−1, above which net GHG per livestock unit (LU) are reduced. In conclusion, our study confirms the importance of dairy cow grazing systems in preserving and/or enhancing SOC stocks in the grasslands of northern Spain. It is therefore crucial to optimise the livestock density considering large variety of feed intake and alternative manure management mitigation options to reduce the net GHG emissions.