Soil consists of different materials. Even if the main frac-tion is mineral, the organic matter in soil plays a critical role in the functions of a healthy soil. The main functions (Schulte et al.,2014) in soil, such as primary productivity, water purification and regulation, carbon sequestration and regulation, biodiversity and nutrient cycling are all highly dependent on soil organic matter (SOM). The or-ganic fraction in soil consists of approximately 58% car-bon, which was mostly removed from the atmosphere through the photosynthetic activity of plants. Therefore, the level of SOM is not only critical for the soil and the farmer, but also for climate, environment and society as a whole. Depending on the type of soil, most organic matter levels in arable and vegetable production are between 1 to 6% of total soil mass. Even with such a small proportion, soil organic matter has a huge impact on most physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil.
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Agricultural run-off and subsurface drainage tiles transport a significant amount of nitrogen and phosphorus leached after fertilization. alchemia-nova GmbH in collaboration with University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna developed two multi-layer vertical filter systems to address the agricultural run-off issue, which has been installed on the slope of an agricultural field in Mistelbach, Austria. While another multi-layer addressing subsurface drainage water is implemented in Gleisdorf, Austria. The goal is to develop a drainage filter system to retain water and nutrients. Both multi-layer filter systems contain biochar and other substrates with adsorption properties of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus). The filter system can be of practical use if an excess of nutrients being washed out is of concern in the fields of the practitioner by keeping the surrounding waters clean. This approach may result in economic value by re-using the saturated biochar as fertilizer and improving the soil structure, thus increasing long-term soil fertility. Link: https://wateragri.eu/a-bio-inspired-multilayer-drainage-system/
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement No 858735. FACTSHEET NANOCELLULOSE MEMBRANES FOR NUTRIENT RECOVERY Key information Functionalized nanocellulose membranes can take up nitrate and phosphate. These membranes can be put in a water treatment unit. As the membranes are biobased, degradable materials, they can after use be added to the soil, thus returning the leached nutrients back for their original purpose providing fertilizers (nutrient recycling).
Because variables such as temperature and humidity have a profound effect on the activity of crop pests, diseases and natural enemies, the ability to monitor environmental conditions within a crop has always been important for crop protection.