RESTARC

The project of research, innovation and promotion of the use of amendments and organic waste in soils, especially in the field of soil restoration, has the following objectives and lines of work:

• LINE 1: Evaluate the effects of the use of organic amendments in the restoration of degraded soils: to carry out this evaluation at least 4 types of amendments and organic waste will be selected, laboratory tests will be developed and plots will be established in an extractive activity and a controlled deposit where the organic materials will be applied to create technosols. Subsequently, sowing and planting will be carried out with species specific to the habitats to be restored in each location. The evolution of the plots will be monitored during the project, which will include the study of the soil and the vegetation.
• LINE 2: Characterize the microbiome, microplastics as well as other contaminants contained in the organic materials tested in line 1, using different biochemical and molecular techniques (metabarcoding, microresp, epifluorescence, or others). This activity will be carried out in coordination with the pilot application tests in order to characterize the same batches that will be applied to the ground. An observation and quantification of micro and macroplastics will be performed, using microscopy techniques (optical, fluorescence and electron) and spectroscopy (Infrared and Raman).
• LINE 3: Analyze the effect of the use of organic amendments on soil restoration in relation to climate change mitigation: effects of promoting the application of organic matter to soil in relation to certain ecosystem services linked to the climate regulation and assess the potential for carbon sequestration as a result of the application of organic amendments to soils.