Environmental Risk from Organic Residues

Teresa Rodríguez-Espinosa (), Jose Navarro-Pedreño (), Ignacio Gómez Lucas, María Belén Almendro Candel, Ana Pérez Gimeno, Manuel Jordán Vidal, Iliana Papamichael and Antonis A. Zorpas
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Teresa Rodríguez-Espinosa: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Jose Navarro-Pedreño: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Ignacio Gómez Lucas: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
María Belén Almendro Candel: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Ana Pérez Gimeno: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Manuel Jordán Vidal: Department of Agrochemistry and Environment, University Miguel Hernández of Elche, Avd. de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain
Iliana Papamichael: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 33, Latsia, 2220 Nicosia, Cyprus
Antonis A. Zorpas: Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 33, Latsia, 2220 Nicosia, Cyprus

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Soil nutrient imbalance is a global threat to food security and ecosystem sustainability but adding organic residues or constructing anthropogenic soils and technosols can optimize it. However, FAO considers organic residues not “risk-free”, mainly due to their heavy metal content. Despite the fact that applying pruning residues to soil is a worldwide fertilization practice, its potential heavy metal risk has been poorly studied. This work characterizes Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb elemental composition concentration and their solubility content in almond tree pruning, commercial peat substrate, hay straw, olive tree pruning, pomegranate peel, pine needle, date palm leaf pruning, sewage sludge compost and vine pruning. Furthermore, we compare the legal frameworks governing heavy metal content in agricultural substrates to heavy metal concentration in each residue. Results show that commercial peat substrate is the only one among those studied that surpasses the threshold value for Cr in agricultural substrates. All pruning residues met the heavy metal threshold value; hence, their application to soil involves minimal soil toxicity. Moreover, the solubility index of heavy metals and the maximum quantity of each residue are crucial to discerning a heavy metal-free organic fertilization plan.

Keywords: soluble heavy metal; ecosystem services; circular economy; Sustainable Development Goals (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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