Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions
The rising interest in Rooftop Agriculture (RA) has stemmed a demand for sustainable, lightweight alternatives to peat as plant growing media. Co-composting organic waste with biochar could represent a solution with reduced environmental impact. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the food safe...
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| Format: | Article |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325010085 |
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| author | Medina Veliu Hugo López-Romano Giuseppe Picca Marco Panettieri Eduardo Moreno-Jiménez Denis Courtier-Murias Liliane Jean-Soro Johnny Gasperi Laura L. De Sosa |
| author_facet | Medina Veliu Hugo López-Romano Giuseppe Picca Marco Panettieri Eduardo Moreno-Jiménez Denis Courtier-Murias Liliane Jean-Soro Johnny Gasperi Laura L. De Sosa |
| author_sort | Medina Veliu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rising interest in Rooftop Agriculture (RA) has stemmed a demand for sustainable, lightweight alternatives to peat as plant growing media. Co-composting organic waste with biochar could represent a solution with reduced environmental impact. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the food safety and environmental performance of these materials. This study examined trace element and nutrient dynamics in six substrates derived from three feedstocks: spent coffee grounds, coffee silverskin, and seaweeds, composted with and without biochar. Over three years, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Moruno de Aranjuez) and a mix of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Romana) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. Cicla) were cultivated on a rooftop in central Madrid (Spain). To unveil the bigger picture behind element uptake by plants and leaching into drainage water, specific indices were calculated by grouping elements by risk-based categories. Results showed feedstock-dependent trace element and nutrient dynamics, with biochar reducing their plant uptake and leaching. Despite seaweed-based compost showing the highest arsenic levels, biochar lowered plant uptake by up to 40 %. Cadmium and lead in edible parts varied by year and substrate, but they remained within EU safety limits. Atmospheric deposition minimally affected lettuce trace element content, while washing reduced hazardous elements. Biochar improved nutrient retention, reducing phosphorus and nitrogen losses by 40 % and 25 %, respectively, over three years. These findings underline the potential of biochar-amended composts as sustainable, safe peat alternatives for RA, supporting crop production while mitigating environmental and health risks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e26a5f115add46adbee2170b5c482ef8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-e26a5f115add46adbee2170b5c482ef82025-08-20T04:02:31ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-09-0130211866310.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118663Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditionsMedina Veliu0Hugo López-Romano1Giuseppe Picca2Marco Panettieri3Eduardo Moreno-Jiménez4Denis Courtier-Murias5Liliane Jean-Soro6Johnny Gasperi7Laura L. De Sosa8Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, Bouguenais F-44344, France; Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA-CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, Madrid 28006, Spain; Institut de la Recherce en Science et Techniques de la Ville – CNRS FR2488, Centrale Nantes, France; Corresponding author at: Univ Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, Bouguenais F-44344, France.Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA-CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, Madrid 28006, Spain; Department of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid 28049, SpainInstituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA-CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, Madrid 28006, Spain; Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, strada Le Grazie 15, Verona 37134, ItalyInstituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA-CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, Madrid 28006, SpainDepartment of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid 28049, SpainUniv Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, Bouguenais F-44344, France; Institut de la Recherce en Science et Techniques de la Ville – CNRS FR2488, Centrale Nantes, FranceUniv Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, Bouguenais F-44344, France; Institut de la Recherce en Science et Techniques de la Ville – CNRS FR2488, Centrale Nantes, FranceUniv Gustave Eiffel, GERS-LEE, Bouguenais F-44344, FranceInstituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA-CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, Madrid 28006, Spain; Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Av. Reina Mercedes 10, Seville 41012, Spain; Corresponding author at: Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (ICA-CSIC), Calle Serrano 115dpdo, Madrid 28006, Spain.The rising interest in Rooftop Agriculture (RA) has stemmed a demand for sustainable, lightweight alternatives to peat as plant growing media. Co-composting organic waste with biochar could represent a solution with reduced environmental impact. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the food safety and environmental performance of these materials. This study examined trace element and nutrient dynamics in six substrates derived from three feedstocks: spent coffee grounds, coffee silverskin, and seaweeds, composted with and without biochar. Over three years, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., cv. Moruno de Aranjuez) and a mix of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Romana) and Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. Cicla) were cultivated on a rooftop in central Madrid (Spain). To unveil the bigger picture behind element uptake by plants and leaching into drainage water, specific indices were calculated by grouping elements by risk-based categories. Results showed feedstock-dependent trace element and nutrient dynamics, with biochar reducing their plant uptake and leaching. Despite seaweed-based compost showing the highest arsenic levels, biochar lowered plant uptake by up to 40 %. Cadmium and lead in edible parts varied by year and substrate, but they remained within EU safety limits. Atmospheric deposition minimally affected lettuce trace element content, while washing reduced hazardous elements. Biochar improved nutrient retention, reducing phosphorus and nitrogen losses by 40 % and 25 %, respectively, over three years. These findings underline the potential of biochar-amended composts as sustainable, safe peat alternatives for RA, supporting crop production while mitigating environmental and health risks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325010085Environmental indicesPeat replacementUrban agricultureCircular economyTrace elements |
| spellingShingle | Medina Veliu Hugo López-Romano Giuseppe Picca Marco Panettieri Eduardo Moreno-Jiménez Denis Courtier-Murias Liliane Jean-Soro Johnny Gasperi Laura L. De Sosa Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Environmental indices Peat replacement Urban agriculture Circular economy Trace elements |
| title | Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions |
| title_full | Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions |
| title_fullStr | Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions |
| title_short | Biochar–Compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under Mediterranean conditions |
| title_sort | biochar compost blends modulate trace element and nutrient dynamics in rooftop farming systems under mediterranean conditions |
| topic | Environmental indices Peat replacement Urban agriculture Circular economy Trace elements |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651325010085 |
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