To carry out a suitable remediation process through biological technologies such as phytoremediation and landfarming its is necessary deeply characterize the initial sediment, if necessary, improve the physical and chemical sediment properties (e.g. mixing with gravel, compost etc.) to allow the survival and growth of selected plants and carry out periodical sampling campaigns to monitor the development of the processes and eventually make adjustments to the process (e.g. oxygen, water, nutrients and microorganism supply). At the end of the process, if the sediments do not comply with the reference legislation, they can be mixed with other substrates to reach the required properties (e.g. peat, sludge, coconut).

Because of the high costs and environmental impacts of peat and chemical fertilizers, the search for sustainable alternatives is increasing. Posidonia-based compost (C) has been widely tested as a growing media, while the combination with decontaminated dredged sediments (S) has only recently been studied. Moreover, little information is available on the relationship between plants and growing media. In this work, the suitability of growing media (CS) composed of 100% C, 70% C + 30% S and 30% C + 70% S were investigated compared to peat, for ornamental plants (Elaeagnus macrophylla, Photinia fraseri and Viburnum tinus). Plant growth, physiological, nutritional and antioxidant responses were also investigated. The CS were compliant with current legislation on growing media. The Cu (+60%; +70%), Mg (+11%; +23%) and Ca (+66%; +72%) concentrations were higher in CS with 30% and 70% of S, respectively, than peat. The plants growing in CS had lower antioxidant activities than those on peat, suggesting a better plant tolerance to abiotic stress. In conclusion, the use of CS growing media, especially those with 30% and 70% of S, can be a valuable strategy to replace peat and reduce the application of fertilizers.

In the plant nursery sector, efforts have been made for some time to partially or totally replace peat-based substrates with growing media characterized by a lower environmental impact. In this perspective it was decided to evaluate a composted material obtained from dredged sediments and green waste, to be used as component for substrates in ornamental plant production, while evaluating the environmental implications of this operation. Fresh green waste consisting of corn cob, wood chips, grass and leaves were mixed in different rates (3:1, 1:1, 1:3 v/v) with dried dredged sediments taken from a small stream located in an urban area (?ejkovice, Czech Republic). These different mixtures were co-composted for six months, and the compost heaps were managed following standard compost protocols. To evaluate the progress of the co-composting process, the various mixtures were subjected to physical, chemical and biological analysis, during the entire period of co-composting. Eventually these mixes were taken to a plant nursery farm in Pistoia (Tuscany, Central Italy), and mixed in different ratios with classical nursery growing media (peat and pumice). Then, one-year-old vegetatively propagated plants of two typical evergreen shrubs (Photinia × fraseri, Viburnum tinus) were placed in 10-L (24 Ø cm) pots with differentiated substrates, added with 4.5 g L-1 of Basacote®. The growth of the plants tested is monitored (dry mass storage); at the same time, it was decided to use an LCA (life cycle assessment) analysis, to quantify the CO2 emissions (kg CO2 equivalent) deriving from the different phases (inputs, energy, transport, structures, etc.) of the production process, assessing the effect of these growing mixes on the environmental sustainability of plant nursery production.

This deliverable presents the results obtained within action C4 of the LIFE AgriSed project, inherent to the analysis of the environmental impacts that the various phases of the experimentation have generated. Both composting processes carried out within the project, the one in the Czech Republic and the one in Italy, the two cultivation tests carried out with the two composts obtained and the soil reconstitution processes by the partner MCM Ecosistemi were taken into consideration.

The reconstitution pedotechnique is based on the treatment of organic and non-organic matrices for producing specific Technosols. The technology applies a conceptual model based on the production of new soil aggregates with targeted environmental characters generated via a chemical-mechanical process that entails reusing residues of a specific origin. In AGRISED project the reconstituted soils, produced with dredge sediment and co-compost, were used to make experiments in soil columns and pots. The aim of the action C3 was to demonstrated if reconstitution technology could be an effective instrument to recycle dredge sediment and co-compost to create a Technosol to be used as a growing media for plant nursery and soil rehabilitation. The AGRISED Technolsols were analyzed and packed in 40 L columns for an experiment lasted 8 months. During the experiment the columns were regularly watered to induced water-dry cycles; leachate and interstitial water were sampled every 2 months and analyzed; soil moisture, electrical conductivity and temperature were monitored every 15 minutes using Hydra Probe. At the end of the experiment the columns were dismissed and the soil were sampled and analyzed. The reconstituted soils were also used to make a trial in pots.

After the co-composting phase of the materials examined was accomplished, a cultivation phase was planned, with the aim to evaluate the effect of different substrates assembled with these waste materials on the growth of two ornamental container-grown species. Following the experimental layout described in B3, we will discuss in this document the results obtained from the Photinia and Viburnum plants cultivated in Trial 1 (Czech Republic and Italy) and in Trial 2 (Italy). More in detail, Trial 1 was carried out either at a commercial nursery company (Gorini Piante) in Pistoia, or at EPS Biotechnology in Kunovice (Czech Republic), a company providing services in the field of environmental biotechnologies. The second research (Trial 2) was planned six months later, in March 2021 only at Gorini Piante, in Italy. The growth of Photinia and Viburnum plants didn't show significant differences among the various substrates; this fact clearly shows a considerable potential of these alternative substrates to be used in the normal production cycle of ornamental shrubs.

Purpose The main results of the experience of CNR-IRET Pisa regarding sediment recovery and recycling are reported. Methods and results In the AGRIPORT project, saline and brackish sediments were mixed with agronomic soil and underwent phytoremediation. After two years, heavy metals and hydrocarbons decreased, and the improvement of chemical and biological properties created a "functional soil" for further applications. Both phytoremediated sediments were refined through landfarming in the CLEANSED and HORTISED projects and applied for civil and agricultural uses. The landfarming process further reduced the organic contaminants in both sediments. Then, in CLEANSED, nursery plants performed similarly in brackish sediment-based substrates as in alluvial soil (control) (33% and 50%). In HORTISED, horticultural plants, grown on substrates with peat and remediated saline sediments (50%), had a yield, number, weight, and fruit quality comparable with those grown on peat. In the "Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia" project, the decontaminated saline sediments were successfully co-composted with Posidonia oceanica and reused as nursery growth substrate. Another two European LIFE projects are still in progress. The SUBSED project aims to confirm the suitability of saline-remediated sediments after landfarming as an alternative substrate to peat and coconut fiber for fruit, flowering, and non-food crops. The AGRISED project aims to recover brackish sediments through a co-composting process with green waste to produce an innovative substrate for the cultivation of ornamental plants. Conclusions The projects confer environmental, economic, and social values to sediments, through their eco-sustainable recovery and use in different sectors.

Two co-composting trials were carried out in this action, one in Italy and one in Czech Republic at the EPS site of Nový Dv?r. Monitoring campaigns of 8 and 6 months were carried out in Czech Republic and Italy, respectively, in order to evaluate the evolution of the three co-composts. The composting samples were collected and analyzed by CNR-IRET and UNIFI for physical, chemical (included organic and inorganic contaminants), hydraulic, biochemical, biological, and toxicological point of view. In addition, temperature and gas emissions were frequently measured directly on the piles. The chemical and biological results suggested the reaching of compost stability and maturity in both Czech Republic and Italy. In addition, the increase in germination index, the reduction in organic contaminants, the absence in salmonella and E. coli lower than 100 CFU/g indicated the absence of toxic elements and the sanctification of the materials. At the end of the process, the characteristics of the three co-composts of both countries were compared with the respective national legislation for their reuse as agronomic substrate. In Czech Republic there are two legislations of reference: the legislation on fertilizer N° 147/2000 and that on sediment reuse in agriculture Decree N° 257/2009, while in Italy there is only the D. Lgs.75/2010 for agronomic substrates. In Czech Republic, concerning the legislation on fertilizers, the three composts did not respect the limits for pH and electrical conductivity, being higher than the legal limits, while the volatile solids were within the range of legislation only in compost C. In Italy, the three composts followed the legislation for all parameters except for electrical conductivity (EC) and total organic carbon (TOC) in compost A and B.However, the mixing of compost with matrices with high organic matter content and low salinity like peat or coconut would allow the use of all 3 composts as agronomic substrates. It is possible to conclude that the dredged sediments co-composted with green wastes provide a suitable strategy for their management in circular economy perspective. In fact, the co-composting led to the production of proper substrate for agriculture, plant nursery and soil reconstitution for degraded soil rehabilitation

Once the co-composting trial, a cultivation phase was planned to evaluate the effect of different substrates obtained assembling the obtained materials on the growth of 2 ornamental container-grown species. Due to the delays in granting authorizations for the preparation of compost in Italy, the consortium decided to carry out 2 different field trials. The first one (Trial 1) using co-compost from Czechia; the second one (Trial 2) using compost produced in Italy. Trial 1 started in October 2020 and was carried out either at GORINI nursery company in Pistoia (Italy) and at EPS greenhouse in Kunovice (Czech Republic). The Trial 2 was planned six months later and carried out only at GORINI nursery in Pistoia. One last trial was conducted with technosols provided by MCM, to understand if these components could improve cultivation of ornamental plants in containers (Trial MCM).

In the Czech Republic, composting was carried out starting from 30 October 2019 at the EPS certified composting site of the biogas plant in Nový Dv?r (CZ); The pretreated sediment and green waste biomass (fresh cut grass, corn cob biomass, wood chips, and dry leaves) from local agriculture sources were mechanically homogenized and disintegrated several times. Subsequently, the desired bulk amounts of sediment and individual biomass components were separately portioned to prepare each of the compost configurations 3:1, 1:1, 1:3. Finally, all components for each compost configuration were mixed together and piled, adding urea powder; compost piles were periodically homogenized using an excavator equipped with a mixing unit. The Italian co-composting phase began on 27 October 2020. The bags containing the starting matrices (green waste and dredged sediments) arrived at the composting site inside the "Gorini Piante" nursery,and as foreseen in the authorization provided by the Tuscany Region, the area where the co-composting took place was previously prepared: the ground was covered with a highly resistant waterproof sheet (Patisilos LLD Avorio®), in turn, protected by a polypropylene (PP) geotextile sheet, while three galvanized steel composters were prepared to contain the material being processed, designed in such a way as not to allow any wastewater to spill onto the ground and covered with the same plastic material used to waterproof the ground below to protect the composted material from rain. The same ratios between green waste and dredged sediments were adopted as in the process carried out in the Czech Republic. In both experiments periodic analyses were carried out, both directly on the heaps and on the material taken from them at regular intervals; temperature and Gas emissions (O2, CO2, CH4, H2S) were measured inside the compost piles.

Sediment-based techno-soil has been recently used as a constituent of peat-free substrates for growing ornamental plants and land reclamation. In recent years, many authors have proposed Posidonia-based compost as a promising nursery growth for food production. The objective of this study was to demonstrate that Posidonia-based compost and decontaminated sediments can be used as constituents of growing-media for ornamental plants. The substrate obtained by mixing Posidonia-based compost and sediment-based techno-soil (70:30, v:v) was compared to a traditional peat substrate in terms of chemical characteristics, but also in relation to plant growth and physiological response, using the ornamental species Viburnum tinus L. Results about chemical (macronutrients) and enzymatic characterization (beta-glucosidase, phosphatase, butyrate esterase and aryl-sulphatase; enzymes link to C, P, S cycle, and to overall microbial activity respectively) of growth media, demonstrated that the substrate was able to sustain the growth of the plants. The performance of the plant growth on Posidonia-based compost and sediments was comparable to the plant growth on the traditional substrate (peat), in terms of stem radial growth. Moreover, the eco-physiological responses of the plants, evaluated by enzyme activities (ascorbate-peroxidase APX, guaiacol peroxidase GPX and superoxide dismutase SOD), and by chlorophyll content and by leaf gas exchanges, demonstrated that the plants were in healthy physiological status, without any hidden stress symptoms. This study represents an important starting point for the endorsement of Posidonia-based compost and sediment-based techno-soil as a constituent of growing media for ornamental plant production. The evidence proved that these organic and mineral wastes can be used for the production of growing media. In addition, this study provides indications that may support the development of the New EU Fertiliser Regulation on the principles of circular economy.

A marine sediment phytoremediated and homogenized by landfarming was tested for its potential recycle as growing media in horticulture. Two strawberry cultivars, Camarosa and Monterey, were grown on remediated sediment alone (TS100), commercial peat/pumice based growing medium (TS0) and a mixture 1:1 in volume of sediment and peat (TS50). Chemical fertility and strawberry production and safety of produced food were monitored for three consecutive productive seasons on the same growing media. During the first year of cultivation, plants grown on sediment-based media showed a significantly lower biomass production and fruit yield compared with peat, mainly due to the sediment low fertility. In the subsequent two years, the plant re-cultivation improved the sediment structure and N mineralization, and on the third cultivation year both strawberry cultivars showed higher fruit productivity and no accumulation of potentially toxic trace metals. The produced fruits did non accumulate high concentrations of trace metals, and risk assessment showed no risks for human health related to the consumption of strawberry produced on sediment-based growing media. We concluded that a phytoremediated sediment could be recycled as an ingredient of soilless growing media for reducing the environmental impact of plant nursery production and posing no risks for human health. These results show that reclaimed sediments could be reconsidered as a component material category in the new EU regulation on fertilizers. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a landfarming process (LP) in recovering sediments at different biodegradation phases: phytoremediated dredged sediments (PDS) and fresh dredged sediments (FDS). The PDS landfarming was applied to (1) reduce residual contamination and (2) improve the biological activities in order to obtain a decontaminated matrix rich in organic matter and enzymatic activity to be reused as agronomic substrate. In 3 months of LP, a microbial activity stimulation (from 7 to 48%) and a decrease in organic contamination (about 15%) were recorded. In addition, no phytotoxicity and the content in total organic carbon and nitrogen make the sediments suitable to be reused in agriculture. The FDS landfarming was carried out to (1) reduce water content, (2) transform the organic matter into a more stable form, and (3) decrease organic contaminant level. Five months of LP led to a considerable reduction in water content (40%) and to the activation of microbial biomass metabolism (from 4 to 50 times higher), which achieved proper mineralization of organic matter and contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons near to zero and a total petroleum hydrocarbon reduction of about 60%). The LP also enhanced the stoichiometric ratios of nutrients and enzymes. In conclusion, the LP was a promising and economical methodology to improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of polluted sediments at different biodegradation phases, creating a substrate ready for several environmental applications. Notably, the PDS resulted appropriate for agricultural use and FDS for civil applications.

EDTA, which is one of the most commonly applied chelants, can directly promote the Pb extraction by forming strong complexes with Pb and indirectly by enhancing the reductive dissolution of the oxides. The results of the batch experiments showed that the combination of reducing agents with EDTA increased the overall Pb extraction efficiency from the S2.3 Trieste soil sample. The extent of the increase in extraction efficiency was dependent on the type of soil sample and reducing agents. In fact, EDTA-Pb extraction from the S2.3 Trieste soil was slightly increased by the addition of oxalate, but it was greatly increased by the addition of sodium dithionite. The type of reducing agent seemed to greatly affect the Pb extraction. Sodium dithionite is a strong reducing agent, which has a higher reduction potential with respect to oxalate and ascorbic acid, which are mild reducing agents. In particular, EDTA 0.1M and sodium dithionite 0.05M extracted 100% of the total Pb from the S2.3 Trieste soil within 24 hours of incubation. The germination index GI % on the S2.3 soil water extract after the exposition of the soil to leaching solutions EDTA 0,1 M + sodium dithionite at different concentrations (0.05M, 0.025M, 0,01M and 0,005M) showed that the higher concentration of sodium dithionite (0.05M) was toxic (GI% lower than 40%), while the sodium dithionite at lower concentrations was not toxic for seed germination and growth. Starting from the results obtained on the S 2.3 sample, other batch experiments were carried out on other four soil samples collected in the Trieste site. This was in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the selected leaching solution on Pb leaching in other soil samples representative of the Trieste site. The extraction with EDTA 0.1 M and sodium dithionite 0.05M, resulted less effective in the Pb soil leaching in the four soil samples with respect to the S 2.3 soil. In fact, considering the four soil samples, the maximum Pb concentration in leaching solution was not higher than 40%. The Pb fractionation of the four soil samples showed a prevalence of Pb in the residual fraction (between 60 and 80%), while in sample S2.3 the Pb in this fraction was less than 30%. In addition, the remaining percentage of Pb in the four soil samples was almost exclusively in the oxidizable fraction, while in the sample S2.3, 60% of Pb was in the reducible fraction. In view of this, other batch tests with different oxidant solutions in association with EDTA were carried out on the four soil samples, showing a Pb extraction higher than 50% when EDTA was used in association with H2O2. On the basis of the batch test and germination index results, some preliminary column experiments were set up by passing EDTA 0.1M and sodium dithionite at the 0.025M and 0.01M concentrations, resulting not phytotoxic in germination tests, through the S2.3 Trieste soil sample. The columns were oriented vertically and were packed with 40 grams of soil sieved at 2 mm. The leaching solutions were introduced into the column and allowed to saturate for 24 hours before conducting the leaching tests. At each eluate collection moment, the volume of each eluate fraction was measured and the Pb cumulatively released was calculated. Lead concentration in leaching solutions was performed by ICP instrument. Considering that in 40 grams of S2.3 soil there were 27,5 mg of Pb, in ten days, 97 ml of EDTA 0.1M and sodium dithionite 0.025M leached the 50% of the total Pb (Pb amount in the leaching solution=13,9 mg). The column experiments are ongoing, and we are continuing the monitoring of Pb in the leaching solution in order to establish times and leaching solution volumes able to decontaminate the soil.

Two Italian sediments were dredged from the Navicelli Canal in Pisa (Italy), a navigable canal which connects Pisa to the sea at the Port of Livorno, and analysed, since the first sediment collected (NAVI A) showed some properties not suitable to be composted with green waste, as planned in the Agrised project. This sediment, in fact, even having a good nutrient content, no heavy metal contamination and contamination by hydrocarbon C>12, presented a low content in sand and a high in clay and salinity, characteristics not suitable for a composting process. The second sediment (NAVI B), instead, had an appropriate texture, due to a high amount of sand in the sediment (62.42%) and a reasonable salinity. Furthermore, the good nutrient content and hydraulic property (high water availability), no heavy metal contamination, low organic contamination and absence of toxicity makes the NAVI B suitable for the composting process. The Czech sediment (EPS) had physical and chemical characteristics similar to the NAVI B sediment. In fact, it had a sandy texture, good hydraulic property (high water availability) and nutrient content, no inorganic contamination, and no toxicity. The content in organic contaminants resulted also similar to the Italian sediments. In addition, Czech sediment has the advantage to present a very low salinity due to its origin coming from agricultural area, resulting very appropriate for a composting process to be carried out in Czechia . The green waste biomass used for the composting process in Czech Republic comes from local agriculture areas and it was composed by fresh cut grass(A), corn cob biomass (B), wood chips (C) and dry leaves (D). Instead, the Italian green waste was composed by herbaceous and woody components, and it was provided by Agrobios, an Agricultural Cooperative in Pistoia specialized in the recovery and enhancement of agricultural by-products.Both the green wastes had a good nutrient content, both in total and soluble forms, no contaminations and a great enzyme activity, thus confirming the suitability of these biomasses for the composting process. These matrices, in fact, had the task to improve the content in available organic matter and nutrients of the compost, other than to ameliorate its physical structure.

Sustained tillage and continual applications of phytopharmaceutical and fertilizers using heavy machineries frequently give rise to soil erosion, loss of soil organic matter (SOM) and contamination phenomena in Mediterranean vineyards. Because of their distinctive properties, applying natural zeolites to vineyard soils can conceivably affect the efficient use of fertilizers and reduce nutrient leaching losses. This work assesses the impact of zeolite amendment at differing rates (0, 5 and 10 t/ha) on the chemical and biochemical soil properties of three vineyard soils after 6 months from initial treatments. In particular, chemical properties usually related to soil fertility were evaluated along with more sensitive indicators of soil functionality and indicators of chemical-structural characteristics of SOM. The vineyard soils amended with zeolite showed higher nutrient availability and dehydrogenase activity if compared with the control soils. In addition, even though total organic carbon (TOC) content was unchanged, a decrease in humic substances was observed in the zeolite-treated soils. These results suggested that the stimulation of soil microbial processes by adding zeolite triggered a microbial mineralization process of soil organic carbon stocks. In addition, the modification in the chemical-structural composition of soil organic matter in zeolite-treated soils was shown by the pyrolysis-gas chromatography (Py-GC) results. Py-CG of soil organic matter clearly demonstrated an increase in the labile aliphatic compound furfural and a decline in the more stable aromatic pyrolytic fragments in zeolite-treated soils in contrast with the control soils, thus indicating the higher extent of decomposition of the SOM more stable pool.

In 2013, a pilot experimental field of about 15 ha was set up within the basin ofLake Massaciuccoli (Tuscany, Italy) in order to compare different management strategies--apaludicultural system (PCS), a constructed wetland system (CWS), a nearly-natural wetland system(NWS)--for peatland restoration after almost a century of drainage-based agricultural use (CS).After five years, changes in peat soil quality were investigated from a chemical, biochemical,and ecoenzymatic perspective. The soil in CS was mainly characterized by oxidant conditions,higher content of overall microbial activity, low levels of easily available phosphorus for vegetation,and medium total carbon content ranging from 25.0% to 30.7%. In PCS, the levels of total carbonand the content of bioavailable P were higher, while the oxidant conditions were lower compared tothe other systems. As expected, the soils in CWS and NWS were characterized by the most reducedconditions and by the highest levels of arylsulphatase activity. It was noteworthy that soils in theNWS systems were characterized by the highest level of nonavailable P. Outputs from ecoenzymaticactivity confirmed the physico-chemical and biochemical results.

In order to obtain a product with agronomic characteristics and biological stability consistent with the EU fertilizer decree for the market of EU fertilising products three different mixtures obtained from sludge digestate from municipal wastewater treatment plant, fresh compost and mature compost have been studied and characterized. For the experimental activity, the raw samples and three mixing ones were collected for the analytical characterization. The biological stability was then assessed for all samples using different stability criteria such as Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate, Rottegrad self-heating factor, Residual biogas potential. Specific enzymatic tests provided information about the status of nutrient cycles (C, P and S) and to overall microbial activity. Physical (bulk density, particle density, air capacity and water content), nutritional (C, N, P, K, Mg, and Ca) and toxicological properties (seedling growth tests on Lepidum sativum L., Cucumis sativus L., Lolium perenne L.) were also evaluated in order to assess the feasibility of agronomic use of the digestate-based mixtures. All the digestate-based mixtures responded to the main characteristics of compost quality requirements proposed in national and international regulations. The evidence found in this study highlighted that the strategy of mixing of sludge digestates with the composts allowed to mitigate the environmental risk posed by each starting material and to valorize their nutrient content.

In the recent decades, soil salinity became the main human-induced soil degradation causes in Egypt's Nile Delta Valley (ENDV) by affecting the stabilization processes of soil organic matter (SOM). However, soil organic carbon (SOC) is highly conserved by aggregating the stabilized organic molecules under sound agricultural management. In particular, labile SOM fractions assumed to be dually influenced by salinity and agricultural management practices other than the stabilized fractions. This work aimed to study various labile and stable SOM fractions that are more susceptible to the current agricultural practices in salt-affected soils of the ENDV area. Three different agro-ecological sites were studied: Eastern (EH, EM soils) and Western (WM, WL soils) Delta regions dominated by Vertic Torrifluvents, and Coastal region (NCH, NCM soils) dominated by Typic Calcitorrerts of high CaCO contents. Two different salinity levels were detected in each site; low in WL soils, medium in WM, NCM, and EM soils, and high in EH and NCH soils. The least values in EM, WL, and NCM soils were due to the recurrent legume applications. The carbon content of glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) (C-GRSP) was positively correlated with SOC and water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) fraction confirming the contribution of GRSP to the stabilization of SOM. The lower soil ?-glucosidase, phosphatase, and protease enzymes activities were in those soils with larger salinity levels in each site as NCH < NCM, WM < WL, and EH < EM reflecting the effect of soil salinity and CaCO contents on soil metabolic activities. Extracted organic carbon (EOC) in both humic and fulvic fractions was higher in EH, WM, WL, and EM soils than in NCH and NCM soils. The chemical composition of SOM obtained by the pyrolysis gas chromatography showed that lignocellulosic and condensed aromatic structures in SOM increased significantly with CaCO and salinity. In conclusion, the considered SOM fractions such as WEOC, EOC, GRSP, C-GRSP, together with the pyrolytic results can be considered as significant indicators in the dynamic stability of SOM. Intercropping with legumes may increase the stability of SOM fractions in salt-affected soils of degraded lands. In calcareous soils, severe alteration in SOC conservation was observed and negatively influenced the active constituents of SOM.

In order to evaluate the evolution of sediment characteristics during the three months of landfarming process, 3 sampling points on a surface of about 40 m3, consisting of 10 sub samples each, were collected and characterized from physical, chemical, biochemical, toxicological and hydrological point of view. Sampling has been carried out as following: - start of the landfarming process (end of November 2018), Ti - middle of the landfarming process (middle of January 2019), Tm - end of the landfarming process (end of February 2019), Tf The results of the analyzed samples, suggested that three months landfarming process was effective in homogenizing the substrate and further reducing organic contamination, and in reaching physical and chemical characteristics in accordance with the Italian regulation for agronomic substrates (D.lgs. 75/2010) with the only exception of organic carbon content and bulk density value. The bulk density was, in fact, slightly higher than the maximum limit, while the organic carbon was lower. Nevertheless, in order to reach the C concentration and bulk density required by Italian legislation, it would be sufficient to mix the sediments with a source of organic matter rich in carbon and with low bulk density such as peat, sludge or coconut fiber. Regarding the inorganic contaminants (heavy metals), normed by D.lgs. 75/2010, all the heavy metals in the sediments at the end of the landfarming process showed a concentration considerably lower than the legal limits. On the contrary, heavy hydrocarbons (C> 12), normed by D.lgs 152/2006, were still higher than the legal limit for civil reuse, even if much lower than the limit for industrial reuse. On the other hand, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were notably reduced during the landfarming process (about 80%), reaching concentration also lower than the limits for civil reuse. However, this residual contamination seemed to not compromise the reuse of the sediments in horticulture, since the toxicological tests showed no phyto toxicity of the sediments.