Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Enhancing Soil Quality and Sustainability: A Comparative Study of Chemical, Organic and Waste-Based Fertilizers in Toma-to-Grown Soils, with Emphasis on Carbon and Water Footprint

Angela Maffia
ORCID logo ,
Federica Marra
ORCID logo ,
Francesco Canino
,
Mariateresa Oliva
,
Carmelo Mallamaci
,
Giuseppe Celano
ORCID logo ,
Muscolo Adele
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 12 October 2023 / Approved: 13 October 2023 / Online: 13 October 2023 (09:40:09 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Maffia, A.; Marra, F.; Canino, F.; Oliva, M.; Mallamaci, C.; Celano, G.; Muscolo, A. Comparative Study of Fertilizers in Tomato-Grown Soils: Soil Quality, Sustainability, and Carbon/Water Footprints. Soil Syst. 2023, 7, 109. Maffia, A.; Marra, F.; Canino, F.; Oliva, M.; Mallamaci, C.; Celano, G.; Muscolo, A. Comparative Study of Fertilizers in Tomato-Grown Soils: Soil Quality, Sustainability, and Carbon/Water Footprints. Soil Syst. 2023, 7, 109.

Abstract

This manuscript explores sustainable agriculture's role in mitigating environmental challenges and meeting the nutritional needs of a growing global population. The objective is to assess the impact of different fertilizers on two distinct tomato-growing soils, each characterized by unique chemical and biological properties. The study compares four fertilizer treatments: Additionally, it evaluates the environmental implications of these fertilizers, focusing on their Carbon and Water Footprints. The findings indicate significant improvements in soil quality with SBO fertilizer. Both soils experienced a shift towards a near-neutral pH, increased organic matter content, and heightened microbial biomass. Enzyme activities were notably superior in SBO-treated soils. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results demonstrate that the SBO-based system is the most sustainable, with the lowest Carbon footprint. NPK exerts the highest environmental impact. The Water Footprint analysis aligns with these results, showing that SBO requires the least water for tomato production. In summary, this study underscores the significance of sustainable fertilization practices in improving soil quality and reducing environmental footprints in agriculture, offering potential benefits for food production and environmental conservation.

Keywords

Sustainability; Soil quality; Carbon Footprint; Water Footprint

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Agricultural Science and Agronomy

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Download PDF

Comments (0)

We encourage comments and feedback from a broad range of readers. See criteria for comments and our Diversity statement.

Leave a public comment
Send a private comment to the author(s)
* All users must log in before leaving a comment
Views 0
Downloads 0
Comments 0
Metrics 0
Get PDF Cite Share 0
Bookmark BibSonomy Mendeley Reddit Delicious
×
Alerts
Notify me about updates to this article or when a peer-reviewed version is published.
We use cookies on our website to ensure you get the best experience.
Read more about our cookies here.