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Herbicides are the most widely used agrochemicals in crop protection, which has led to serious environmental pollution around the world, including soil ecosystems. It is important to look for new solutions that lead to an improvement in soil quality, even if only through the use of hydrogels. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the effect of sodium alginate on the microbiological and biochemical properties of sulcotrione-treated soil. It was found that both the herbicide and the sodium alginate had a significant effect on the soil environment. An amount of 10 g kg−1 of sodium alginate was applied to the soil, while sulcotrione was applied to the soil in the following amounts: 0.00 (C), 0.200 (R), 0.999 (5R), and 9.999 mg kg−1 (50R). Sulcotrione stimulated the activity of dehydrogenases, catalase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase and inhibited the activities of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and urease as well as the proliferation of organotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria, and fungi. This caused an increase in the colony development index (CD) of organotrophic bacteria and fungi and decreased the colony development index value of actinobacteria. It also increased the value of the ecophysiological diversity index (EP) of fungi. The addition of sodium alginate to the soil increased the numbers of organotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria, and fungi as well as the activities of dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, alkaline phosphatase, and arylsulfatase. The hydrogel had different effects on β-glucosidase activity. Acid phosphatase showed a significant decrease in activity after the addition of sodium alginate to the soil. Under the influence of sodium alginate, there was an increase in the index of colony development of actinobacteria and fungi, while there were decreases in organotrophic bacteria and the index of ecophysiological diversity of actinobacteria and fungi. The proliferation of microorganisms and the enzymatic activity of the soil changed over time both in soil enriched with sodium alginate and without its addition. This study may be useful for evaluating the effects of sulcotrione on the microbiological and biochemical properties of soil and the effectiveness of sodium alginate in improving the quality of soil exposed to sulcotrione.

The aim of this study was to assess how soil use and the cultivation of Triticum aestivum spp. vulgare L. (Sw), Triticum aestivum spp. spelta L. (Ww), Zea mays L. (M), and Brassica napus L. (Wr) impacts soil microbiota. This study consisted of a pot experiment over 120 days, until Vicia faba spp. minor seeds and pods reached the developmental stage of growth. This study showed that T. aestivum spp. vulgare L. grown in the soil sown with faba beans had a beneficial effect on the development of organotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria, and fungi. Regardless of the previous crop and soil cultivation method, r-strategists were found among the organotrophic bacteria and fungi, whereas K-strategists were found among the actinobacteria. All soils sown with faba beans were primarily colonized by bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinobacteriota (represented by the genus Cellulosimicrobium) and fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota. In the soil sown with field faba beans from the cultivation of Sw and Wr, the soil was dominated by Mortierella genus fungi; that of Ww was dominated by Cladosporium, and that of M was dominated by Alternaria. The results of this study provide new insights into the influence of previous crops and further cropping with faba bean on the quantitative and qualitative composition of the soil microbiota.

In defining the research objective, consideration was given to the expanding range of applications of third-generation pyrethroids, including cypermethrin—the active substance in Arpon G preparation. The interest in cypermethrin is due to its high thermostability and photostability. This study verified the effect of Arpon G on both the soil condition and the growth and development of Zea mays. To this end, the alpha and beta diversity of bacterial and fungal communities were characterized using the NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) method, as was the response of soil enzymes. The positive response of Z. mays to the soil application of cypermethrin corresponded to higher soil microbial and biochemical activity. Sowing the soil with Z. mays moderated changes in the biodiversity of alpha- and beta-bacterial communities to a greater extent than cypermethrin. The influence of both parameters was less significant for fungi. Although bacteria belonging to the Actinobacteria phylum and fungi from the Ascomycota phylum dominated in the soil, the use of Arpon G reduced the abundance of unique nucleotide sequences in the mycobiome to a greater extent than in the bacteriobiome. The inhibitory potential of Arpon G was only evident for acid phosphatase (by 81.49%) and arylsulfatase (by 16.66%) in the soil sown with Z. mays. The activity of catalase, dehydrogenases, β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, and alkaline phosphatase was most strongly associated with the abundance of bacteria, while dehydrogenases were correlated with the abundance of fungi at the genus level. Arpon G can, thus, be considered a safe insecticide for soil conditions and, consequently, for its productive function.

Investigations into the effective, fast, and economically viable remediation of soils polluted with petroleum-derived products are still relevant. The vegetative pot experiment was conducted at the Didactic-Experimental Garden greenhouse (NE, Poland, 53.759° N, 20.452° E) on loamy sand (LS) and sandy loam (SL) soils. Its main research objective was to assess the effectiveness of biochar (B), halloysite (H) and alginite (A) in the biological regeneration of contaminated soil diesel oil (DO) and petrol (P). The assessment was conducted by determining the magnitude of the adverse impact of these xenobiotics on the growth and development of Zea mays, as well as the activity of seven soil enzymes. The impact of the tested contaminants and sorbents was assessed based on the impact factors (IF) of DO and P, as well as B, H, and A on Zea mays biomass and enzymatic activity of the soil. Soil contamination with petroleum-derived products disrupted the growth and development of Zea mays. DO had a stronger inhibitory effect on plant growth compared to P. Zea mays cultivated in LS, which was less resistant to the effects of these contaminants compared to that cultivated in SL. The impact of DO and P on enzyme activity depended on the soil texture. DO stimulated enzyme activity in LS and SL, while P only did so in LS. All remediation substances, and biochar in particular, led to an increase in plant biomass in the DO-contaminated soils. Both biochar, halloysite and alginite also improved the biochemical quality index (BA) of SL and LS. Despite the unquestionable remediation potential of the analyzed sorbents, their highest efficacy can only be achieved by their application on soils with physicochemical properties corresponding to their characteristics, which is a valuable guideline for further research.

Environmentally safe ways are sought to prevent the accumulation and to accelerate the degradation of herbicide active substances in agricultural soil. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of finely-ground barley straw and bentonite in mitigating the effects of agricultural soil contamination with Successor T 550 SE. This herbicide was applied in the following doses: 0, 0.73, and 14.63 mg of the active substance per kg. The bentonite and spring barley straw were used at 10 g/kg. The action of these additives was compared to soil without the addition of straw and bentonite. The application of the experimental herbicide disturbed microbial systems, such as organotrophic bacteria, oligotrophic bacteria and their spores, actinobacteria, and fungi. A positive response to the herbicide dose of 14.63 mg a.s./kg was observed only for spores of oligotrophic bacteria. Further disturbances were observed in the agricultural soil biochemical properties, i.e., in the activity of dehydrogenases, urease, catalase, acid, and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase. A significant decrease in the activity of dehydrogenases, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase was observed following the application of 14.63 mg a.s./kg. The yield of maize decreased following the application of the analysed plant protection agent. Based on the soil quality index (BA), the addition of straw was more effective in restoring soil homeostasis than bentonite. Both bentonite and straw can be successfully used to improve agricultural soil biological activity. However, more effective mitigation of the negative effects of the herbicide in soil was observed in objects supplemented with barley straw. This improved the microbiological and biochemical properties of the soil. Barley straw was more effective than bentonite in restoring soil biological balance.