Purpose: The aim of this review is to synthesize and critically analyse current knowledge on the presence, transformations, and interactions of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in soil environments. It investigates how physicochemical processes, and biological interactions influence the fate, bioavailability, and ecological risk of AgNPs in soils, while also identifying regulatory and analytical gaps that limit reliable long-term environmental assessment. Materials and methods: This review was conducted through a systematic and critical analysis of peer-reviewed literature, regulatory documents, and technical reports published up to 2025. Major scientific databases were searched using combinations of keywords including silver nanoparticles, soil, transformation, bioavailability, toxicity, microbiome, and risk assessment. Studies focusing on terrestrial environments were prioritized, while biomedical and purely laboratory-based toxicological works were included only when relevant to environmental processes. Attention was given to research addressing physicochemical transformations of AgNPs, interactions with soil microbiota, and methodological challenges in detection and characterization. Regulatory and policy documents from international agencies and national authorities were reviewed to identify gaps in legislative frameworks. The collected materials were critically compared to highlight consistencies, discrepancies, and knowledge gaps, forming the basis for an integrated assessment of AgNPs in soil ecosystems. Results and Discussion: The reviewed literature confirms that soil acts as the principal sink for silver nanoparticles, where complex transformations such as dissolution, sulfidation, and aggregation govern their environmental fate. These processes strongly modulate AgNPs bioavailability, shaping both toxicity and persistence in soils. Evidence indicates that AgNPs interact closely with microbial communities, leading to shifts in diversity and functional potential, with possible consequences for nutrient cycling and plant health. Despite growing insights, substantial analytical challenges remain in detecting and characterizing AgNPs within heterogeneous soil matrices. Moreover, regulatory frameworks still lack provisions for long-term monitoring and life cycle–based assessments. Integrating chemical, biological, and regulatory perspectives is therefore essential for advancing accurate environmental risk assessment of AgNPs in terrestrial ecosystems. Conclusions: Silver nanoparticles represent a significant emerging pollutant in soils, where their transformations and interactions critically influence bioavailability and ecological risk. Current evidence highlights impact on microbial diversity and soil functioning, yet analytical limitations and regulatory gaps hinder robust long-term assessment. An integrated approach that combines physicochemical, biological, and policy perspectives is essential to advance environmental risk assessment and guide effective management of AgNPs in terrestrial ecosystems.
The depletion of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the escalating prevalence of soil-borne plant pathogens represent critical challenges to terrestrial biogeochemical stability and global food security. With approximately 24
To compare soil carbon pools, biological functioning, and fertility across maize monoculture, agroecological cotton systems, and Caatinga vegetation with contrasting conservation status, and to assess whether agroecological systems exhibit intermediate soil conditions between monoculture and preserved Caatinga. Five land-use conditions were compared in Mossoró, Brazil: maize monoculture, cotton intercropped with maize, cotton intercropped with sesame, preserved Caatinga, and secondary Caatinga. Four composite field replicates were sampled at 0–10 and 10–20 cm. Soil organic carbon (SOC), labile carbon, particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), carbon stocks, and chemical attributes were evaluated at both depths, Microbial biomass carbon was assessed at both depths, whereas enzyme activities were assessed only at 0–10 cm. Data were analyzed using univariate tests, Pearson correlations, PCA, and PERMANOVA. Maize monoculture was associated with the most altered soil condition, with SOC reductions of 64
Clarifying how conservation tillage duration affects soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) accumulation is critical for sustainable crop production in the North China Plain. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects of 8-year and 18-year conservation tillage on SOC and TN, and identify the key drivers of soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration. Long-term field experiments were conducted with three tillage treatments (no-tillage, NT; subsoiling tillage, ST; conventional tillage, CT) and two durations gradients (8 years and 18 years). Soil samples were collected to measure the target indicators (SOC, TN, and associated soil properties). Compared with the initial soil, 18-year conservation tillage had a significantly stronger positive effect on SOC and TN accumulation than did 8-year tillage, with these effects being concentrated mainly in the 0–40 cm layer. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, NT significantly increased the SOC and TN contents by 11.4
The application of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG)-producing Pseudomonas strains as biocontrol agents offers effective disease suppression but raises concerns about unintended effects on soil microbial communities. This study aimed to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of 2,4-DAPG on the functional genetic potential and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profile of an agricultural soil microbiome. A 56-day mesocosm experiment was conducted using Luvic Phaeozem soil treated with 2,4-DAPG at environmentally relevant (1 mg kg⁻¹) and experimental high-dose (10 mg kg⁻¹) concentrations. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to assess changes in taxonomic composition, functional gene profiles, and resistome diversity. High-dose 2,4-DAPG significantly altered the functional gene profile, enriching genes involved in cell wall and membrane biogenesis, energy metabolism, and stress response, while suppressing replication-associated functions. The soil resistome showed increased ARG alpha diversity and enrichment of multidrug resistance genes, including efflux pumps and antibiotic-inactivating enzymes. Co-enrichment of transposases suggested increased potential for genetic mobility. The low-dose treatment induced minimal functional disruption and no significant resistome expansion. These findings highlight ecological trade-offs associated with biocontrol antibiotic use. Sustainable deployment of 2,4-DAPG-producing inoculants should prioritize conservative application rates (≤ 1 mg kg⁻¹) and include routine resistome monitoring to minimize unintended consequences for soil health and ecosystem functioning.
