Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 1
Written by Florența PARASCHIV (JAFRI), Mihaela COSTEA, Nicoleta-Olimpia VRÎNCEANU, Veronica TĂNASE
Applying organic amendments such as digestate and compost is increasingly recognized as a sustainable strategy for improving soil quality, particularly in contaminated sites. This study investigates the effects of digestate and compost applications on the chemical characteristics of heavy metals-polluted soil and their influence on metal availability. The research was carried out in the greenhouse conditions, using maize as test plant. The main parameters analyzed were pH, organic carbon (Corg), total nitrogen (Nt), mobile phosphorus (PAL), mobile potassium (KAL), and the bioavailable forms of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn). Results revealed that both amendments enhanced soil pH, PAL, and KAL, reducing the bioavailability of heavy metals. The compost has proven to have very good performance in decreasing the mobility of heavy metals, mainly Cu, Mn, Ni, and Zn. This study highlights the suitability of these organic amendments for remediating polluted soils and improving soil fertility, offering a sustainable approach to land management in polluted areas.
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