Evaluation of the potential use of biosolids in corn crop in the municipality of Puebla, Mexico

Purpose Due to the urgent need for sustainable agro-industrial waste management, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the application of biosolids as organic fertilizer in a corn cultivation crop. In addition, to achieve food security, the study aimed to assess metals concentrations in soil and maize plants and enrichment factors (EF) for soils and plants.Method Four sites with a biosolids application were studied and  compared against a control. Physicochemical properties of soils and heavy metal contents were evaluated after one year of application of biosolids. Metal concentrations, average kernel yield and biomass were measured in corn plants.Results The results demonstrated that the biosolids increased the content of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and exchangeable bases in the soil. In addition, the concentration of heavy metals in soils with biosolids was higher than in soils without treatment, and the concentration of heavy metals in the corn kernels did not exceed the maximum recommended limits. However, EF values showed a considerable contamination grade due to the accumulation of metals.Conclusion Some of the physical and chemical characteristics of soil were improved by incorporating biosolids, but the metal content in the soil increased. Also, the application of biosolids increased the plant height  and corn yield. Therefore, biosolids can be used as organic fertilizer sources; however, it is necessary to carry out periodic evaluations to ensure low levels of enrichment in crops and soil, thus guaranteeing the safety of biosolids as soil fertilizers

Calidad de suelos y servicios ambientales en el Parque Nacional Iztaccíhuatl Popocatépetl

“En este trabajo se evalúo la calidad del suelo en diferentes subzonas de manejo dentro del Parque Nacional Iztaccíhuatl-Popocatépetl, para lo cual se calcularon distintos índices de calidad de suelo. El contenido de nitrógeno, la capacidad de intercambio catiónico y el contenido de K intercambiable fueron las variables más importantes para realizar el cálculo de los distintos índices de calidad. La zona que mostró mejor calidad de suelo fue la subzona de preservación en bosque de pino, seguido de la zona de influencia en bosque de pino y por último las zonas de recuperación tanto en bosque de pino como en la zona con pastizal. Los índices de calidad más adecuados para la evaluación de calidad de suelo fueron los obtenidos por medio de las ecuaciones lineales tanto por el método aditivo como el ponderado. Se evaluaron ciertas funciones del suelo vinculadas a los servicios ecosistémicos, las cuales fueron la capacidad de soportar la biodiversidad, el almacén de carbono y la función de amortiguamiento. La capacidad de proveer estas funciones fue más adecuada en aquellas zonas con mayor contenido de carbono, menor densidad aparente y en donde las actividades humanas son más restringidas”

Assessing Contamination in Transitional Waters Using Geospatial Technologies: A Review

Transitional waters (TWs) are relevant ecological and economical ecosystems that include estuaries, deltas, bays, wetlands, marshes, coastal lakes, and coastal lagoons and play a central role in providing food, protecting coastal environments, and regulating nutrients. However, human activities such as industrialization, urbanization, tourism, and agriculture are threatening these ecosystems, which results in contamination and habitat degradation. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate contamination in TW to develop effective management and protection strategies. This study analyses the application of geospatial technologies (GTS) for monitoring and predicting contaminant distribution in TW. Cartography, interpolation, complex spatial methods, and remote sensing were applied to assess contamination profiles by heavy metals, and persistent organic compounds, and analyze contamination indices or some physicochemical water parameters. It is concluded that integrating environmental and demographic data with GTS would help to identify critical points of contamination and promote ecosystem resilience to ensure long-term health and human well-being. This review comprehensively analyzes the methods, indicators, and indices used to assess contamination in transitional waters in conjunction with GTS. It offers a valuable foundation for planning future research on pollution in these types of waters or other similar water bodies worldwide