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Impact of Spent Mushroom Substrates on the Fate of Pesticides in Soil, and Their Use for Preventing and/or Controlling Soil and Water Contamination: A Review

Summary

This research examines how spent mushroom substrate (SMS) – the leftover growing material from mushroom production – can be beneficially reused to help control pesticide pollution in agricultural soils and water. The study shows that adding SMS to soil can help trap pesticides and prevent them from contaminating water supplies, while also potentially helping break down these chemicals. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides a sustainable way to reuse mushroom farming waste material – Helps protect drinking water sources from pesticide contamination – Offers farmers a natural method to manage pesticide use more environmentally – Could reduce costs for soil and water treatment/remediation – Demonstrates how agricultural waste products can be repurposed to solve environmental problems

Background

Intensive crop production involves high pesticide consumption, which is a major environmental concern due to increasing presence of pesticides in water. Agricultural practices include pesticide application to control pests and diseases, with global pesticide sales reaching $47.26 billion in 2012. The contamination of water by pesticides is increasing in agricultural areas worldwide, sometimes exceeding EU drinking water limits. Both diffuse (non-point) and point source contamination of soil and water by pesticides are common in agriculture.

Objective

This review aims to summarize the influence of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) on the environmental fate of pesticides when both are simultaneously applied in agriculture. The review evaluates the processes of adsorption, leaching and dissipation of pesticides in SMS-amended soils at laboratory and field scale, and examines relationships between experimental parameters and properties of soils, SMS, and pesticides to determine how SMS application affects pesticides’ environmental impact.

Results

SMS application generally increased pesticide adsorption in soils, with effects varying based on SMS properties (organic carbon content, dissolved organic carbon, humification degree) and pesticide characteristics (hydrophobicity). SMS reduced pesticide leaching in most cases through increased adsorption. Dissipation rates were affected variably – sometimes increased through enhanced microbial activity, sometimes decreased through reduced bioavailability. SMS showed potential for both preventing diffuse contamination when applied at low rates and controlling point source pollution at higher rates.

Conclusion

SMS can serve dual purposes as a soil amendment: sustainably recycling the waste product while helping control pesticide behavior. Low rates of composted SMS with high organic carbon can help prevent diffuse water pollution from routine pesticide use. Higher rates of less composted SMS can prevent point source pollution by enhancing degradation. SMS also shows promise for bioremediation of contaminated soils. Properties of both the SMS and target pesticides must be considered for optimal application.
  • Published in:Toxics,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3390/toxics4030017
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