Soil Bioresource Applications and Environmental Sustainability

Soil is far more than an inert substrate—it is a living, breathing ecosystem that forms the foundation of terrestrial life. Like any ecosystem, its health relies on the dynamic interplay of biological, chemical, and physical factors. At the heart of this system is an active and diverse microbiome, a vital network of microorganisms that drive essential ecological processes. These microbes mediate nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, pollutant degradation, and plant-microbe symbioses, all of which underpin ecosystem productivity and resilience.

For soil to function effectively, it requires microbial activity and a continuous flux of nutrients and water. These resources must be exchanged and cycled within a physical structure that maintains porosity, aeration, and moisture retention. The architecture of healthy soil enables positive interactions among microorganisms, plants, and animals, creating an integrated system that supports biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and food security.

In this context, soil bioresource applications emerge as a robust and sustainable approach to supporting and enhancing soil health. By utilizing biological resources such as plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, and their derivatives, we can address environmental challenges while improving soil quality. Applications range from microbial inoculants and composted organic amendments to mycorrhizal fungi and enzyme-based treatments. These solutions restore soil fertility and structure and build resilience against disease and environmental stressors.

Importantly, bioresources play a dual role in maintaining current productivity and safeguarding the needs of future generations. As global pressures on land use intensify, integrating soil bioresources into agricultural, environmental, and industrial systems becomes essential to achieving sustainability goals. Therefore, to preserve the integrity and function of soils, we must treat them as vibrant ecosystems requiring care, restoration, and biological innovation. Healthy soils mean healthy plants, animals, and ultimately, healthy societies. However, due to the use of chemical agents in agriculture, industry, and households, the release of harmful chemicals and the disposal of non-biodegradable wastes lead to environmental pollution, significantly affecting soil health.

The current Research Topic focuses on finding solutions to using soil bioresources for industrial, agricultural, environmental, medical, and daily applications. They can be applied to the development of organic fertilizer, biofertilizer, biocontrol agent, and biogenic material to reduce the use of chemical agents to meet the purposes of environmental sustainability and to lie in the potentials to address some of humanity's major challenges, such as food security, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and emerging diseases, affecting human health. Studies focusing on the conversion of soil bioresources into added-value products in a green and eco-friendly approach, with energy-efficient and waste production minimization, is also welcome.

We welcome studies on the following subtopics, but not limited to:

- Soil bioresources that enhance the productivity and resilience of soils and plants, reducing the need for chemical inputs and land expansion;

- Harnessing the diversity and functionality of microorganisms and enzymes for bioremediation, biosensing, biocatalysis, and biotransformation, offering novel solutions for soil health, monitoring, and management;

- Developing renewable and biodegradable materials from soil sources, such as organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, and biogenic materials, that can replace chemical-based products and reduce environmental impact and waste generation.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Applied Mycology, Biofertilizers, Biocontrol Agents, Biogenic Materials, Environmental Sustainability, Organic Fertilizers, Plant Health, Soil Bioresource, Soil Health

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.