Department of Civil, NFC Institute of Engineering & Technology Khanewal Road, Engineering, Multan, 6000, Punjab, Pakistan.
School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2024 Jun;31(29):41775-41790. doi: 10.1007/s11356-024-33696-x. Epub 2024 Jun 10.
The rapid expansion of urbanization and construction activities has led to a significant increase in cement production worldwide, resulting in a surge in cement waste generation. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the repercussions of cement waste on soil fertility and crop productivity, emphasizing its critical implications for global food security. Through a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing field surveys, laboratory experiments, and statistical modeling, we assess the physicochemical alterations induced by cement waste in agricultural soils. Our findings reveal substantial declines in crucial soil parameters, including pH levels, organic matter content, and nutrient availability, which directly translate into diminished crop yields. Furthermore, the study identifies key mechanisms underlying these detrimental effects, including altered microbial communities and disrupted nutrient cycling processes. In addition, the findings underscore the severity of the issue, revealing substantial declines in soil fertility and crop yields in areas affected by cement waste contamination. Additionally, we discuss potential mitigation strategies and policy interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of cement waste on agricultural systems. By quantifying the extent of soil degradation and crop yield reduction attributed to cement waste, this research underscores the urgency for sustainable waste management practices and highlights the need for policy interventions to safeguard agricultural productivity and ensure global food security in the face of escalating urbanization and construction activities.
城市化和建设活动的迅速扩张导致了全球范围内水泥产量的大幅增加，从而导致了水泥废料的大量产生。本研究旨在全面分析水泥废料对土壤肥力和作物生产力的影响，强调其对全球粮食安全的关键影响。通过包括实地调查、实验室实验和统计建模在内的多学科方法，我们评估了水泥废料在农业土壤中引起的物理化学变化。我们的研究结果表明，土壤的关键参数（包括 pH 值、有机质含量和养分供应）显著下降，这直接导致了作物产量的降低。此外，研究还确定了这些不利影响的关键机制，包括微生物群落的改变和养分循环过程的破坏。此外，研究结果揭示了水泥废料污染地区土壤肥力和作物产量严重下降的问题。此外，我们还讨论了潜在的缓解策略和政策干预措施，旨在减轻水泥废料对农业系统的不利影响。通过量化水泥废料造成的土壤退化和作物减产程度，本研究强调了可持续废物管理实践的紧迫性，并强调了需要采取政策干预措施来保护农业生产力，以应对城市化和建设活动的不断增加，确保全球粮食安全。
