Naslov
Sustainable food system from the soil protection perspective: beneficial land disposal of biosolids

Autori
Romić, Marija

Izvornik
Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju (0004-1254) 73 (2022); 30-31

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
agricultural productivity ; climate change ; land management practice ; soil organic matter ; soil quality

Sažetak
The capability of land to produce food originates from several attributes, such as inherent soil properties, agricultural practice, climate and topography, water availability and quality, soil fertility, and many others. In the coastal Mediterranean region, characterized by a semi-arid climate, the progressive depletion of soil organic matter is the major threat to the sustainability of the agricultural production system. Soil organic matter (SOM) comprises a wide range of pools and indices of the quality and potential turnover rates of SOM pools add great value to the sole knowledge of the SOM content of a soil. The use of municipal sewage sludge as a source for compost production would be of great value from both an agricultural and environmental point of view. In this study, we evaluated the potential of agricultural land in the coastal Adriatic Karst region for biosolids application by integrating spatial data from different sources: digital maps and remote sensing, parcel identification system, GIS field observations, and measurements focusing on specific land and soil properties. The evaluation revealed that agricultural land in the study area accounts for only 10 % of the total area, but only a quarter of the existing land is suitable for biosolids application. Currently, the end use of biosolids is limited and is determined by the low quality of the product and the available options for beneficial use or disposal. While biosolids can be used as a valuable resource for organic matter, nutrients, and trace elements, land application appears to be a preferred management option compared to conventional disposal, which is now limited.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Poljoprivreda (agronomija), Biotehnologija, Interdisciplinarne biotehničke znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA