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In March of 2009, Mr. John Holloway and his neighbors in the Harmony Park district of Kansas City, MO, were excited to begin gardening on a vacant city lot in their neighborhood. The neighborhood, like many in urban areas, had once been residential interspersed with small establishments including restaurants, shops, and businesses such as auto body shops and gas stations. The under-utilized lot had once had multiple abandoned houses on it that had been torn down about two decades earlier, but since then the lot had been empty, overgrown with weeds, and a neighborhood eyesore. Mr. Holloway, a leader in his community, hoped that a community garden would not only improve the aesthetics of his neighborhood, but also provide a local, inexpensive source of fresh fruits and vegetables for his neighborhood, which is located in a food desert. When concerns arose about soil contaminants on the site, Mr. Holloway grew panicked that a community garden on a brownfield site would do more harm than good in his neighborhood. This case focuses on Mr. Holloway's decision of whether to continue gardening on the brownfield site in Harmony Park. The decision requires that students evaluate environmental, agronomic, human health, social, and economic issues related to the problem Mr. Holloway faces. Objectives of this case are for students to analyze and discuss data and concepts related to gardening on brownfield sites, urban soil contamination, urban food deserts, and human health.

In March of 2009, Mr. John Holloway and his neighbors in the Harmony Park district of Kansas City, MO, were excited to begin gardening on a vacant city lot in their neighborhood. The neighborhood, like many in urban areas, had once been residential interspersed with small establishments including restaurants, shops, and businesses such as auto body shops and gas stations. The under-utilized lot had once had multiple abandoned houses on it that had been torn down about two decades earlier, but since then the lot had been empty, overgrown with weeds, and a neighborhood eyesore. Mr. Holloway, a leader in his community, hoped that a community garden would not only improve the aesthetics of his neighborhood, but also provide a local, inexpensive source of fresh fruits and vegetables for his neighborhood, which is located in a food desert. When concerns arose about soil contaminants on the site, Mr. Holloway grew panicked that a community garden on a brownfield site would do more harm than good in his neighborhood. This case focuses on Mr. Holloway's decision of whether to continue gardening on the brownfield site in Harmony Park. The decision requires that students evaluate environmental, agronomic, human health, social, and economic issues related to the problem Mr. Holloway faces. Objectives of this case are for students to analyze and discuss data and concepts related to gardening on brownfield sites, urban soil contamination, urban food deserts, and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct evidence‐based approaches are vital in understanding the involvement of abiotic/biotic factors and evaluating the newly proposed theories on soil carbon (C) stabilization. Microaggregates (150–250 µm) collected from a corn system (>22 years; Kansas, USA), which had been under no‐till with different nitrogen (N) treatments were analyzed (N treatments: manure/compost, urea, zero fertilizer). We studied C stabilization in free soil microaggregates (with preserved aggregate architecture), directly using scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy coupled with near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (STXM‐NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Submicron scale findings were complemented with bulk chemical analysis. The STXM‐NEXAFS analysis revealed soil organic carbon (SOC) preservation inside nano‐ and micro‐pores and organo–mineral association, various degrees of humification, and high molecular diversity. The presence of microbial‐derived C was found in manure‐/compost‐added microaggregates highlighting the contribution of organic amendments in facilitating microbial diversity. The incidence of aragonite‐like minerals suggested the biologically/chemically active nature of microaggregate cores. Bulk analysis of free microaggregates showed a higher concentration of SOC (6.5%), ammonium oxalate extractable Fe/Al/Si), and higher aliphaticity of humic acid in manure‐/compost‐added soils compared to inorganic fertilizer (3% SOC) and control (2.7% SOC) treatments. The co‐existence of elements (calcium [Ca]/C, iron [Fe]/N, Fe/C, aluminum [Al]/C, and silicon [Si]/C) was partially supported by bulk chemical analysis that indicated a strong association between ammonium oxalate extractable Fe/Al/Si and SOC (R2 = 0.63—0.77). Overall, our study provided direct/indirect evidence for the complex and interactive involvement of chemical, mineralogical, and biological mechanisms that may have been stimulated by the long‐term addition of compost/manure in stabilizing SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To prevent the COVID-19 transmission, personal protective equipment (PPE) and packaging materials have been extensively used but often managed inappropriately, generating huge amount of plastic waste. In this review, we comprehensively discussed the plastic products utilized and the types and amounts of plastic waste generated since the outbreak of COVID-19, and reviewed the potential treatments for these plastic wastes. Upcycling of plastic waste into biochar was addressed from the perspectives of both environmental protection and practical applications, which can be verified as promising materials for environmental protections and energy storages. Moreover, novel upcycling of plastic waste into biochar is beneficial to mitigate the ubiquitous plastic pollution, avoiding harmful impacts on human and ecosystem through direct and indirect micro-/nano-plastic transmission routes, and achieving the sustainable plastic waste management for value-added products, simultaneously. This suggests that the plastic waste could be treated as a valuable resource in an advanced and green manner. • The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating plastic pollution. • The consumption of plastic products and related waste generation is addressed. • Upcycling of plastic waste into biochar is beneficial to environmental protection. • A shift in waste management practices is urgently needed to close the plastic loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]