Biosolids Soil Application: Agronomic and Environmental Implications 2013

Call for Papers

The increasing volume of biosolids generated worldwide during the treatment of wastewaters constitutes an environmental problem. Land application of biosolids is an internationally favoured option because it contributes to recycling organic matter, macro- and micronutrients that improve soil characteristics and have beneficial effects on plant growth, biomass production, and microbial activity. This management may apply to agricultural areas, agroforestry, and the restoration of damaged and degraded ecosystems, where soil properties hamper the production of goods and services. However, the benefits from biosolids application have to be weighed against potential negative effects, such as an increased rate of nitrate leaching and soil contamination with potentially toxic inorganic trace elements, organic contaminants, or pathogens.

This annual issue intends to gather the most recent scientific information on this subject around the world. Authors are invited to submit original research as well as review articles. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Agronomic application–rates, methods, and economics
• Mineralization of organically bound elements
• Soil nutrient availability
• Plant nutrient uptake and nutrition
• Biosolids N and P management
• Fate of pollutants and interactions with native soil components
• Trace elements, including robustness of current application guidelines and directives
• Changes in soil organic matter fractions
• Hazardous organic components, including pathogens
• Effect of biosolids on soil organisms
• Effect of biosolids on soil’s physical conditions
• Potential for carbon sequestration
• Biosolids as a restoration tool of degraded ecosystems and industrial sites
• Other related topics dealing with biosolids application

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/aess/bsa13/ according to the following timetable:

Lead Guest Editor

• Silvana I. Torri, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, School of Agriculture, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Guest Editors

• Rodrigo Studart Corrêa, Department of Ecology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
• Giancarlo Renella, Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
• Leonid Perelomov, Department of Biology and Medicine, Tula State University, Tula, Russia
• Alejandro Valdecantos, Department of Forestry, Centro de Estudios Ambientales del Mediterráneo (CEAM), Valencia, Spain