Occurrence of Pesticides in Agricultural Soils and Related Risks to Soil Life: a study on a European scale

This research investigates the occurrence and distribution of multiple pesticide residues in European agricultural soils and their effects on soil organisms. Soil organisms play an essential role in maintaining soil health, especially breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients needed for plant growth. However, agricultural soils are often exposed to several pesticides, and their combined effects on soil life are not yet fully understood. Using samples from 201 fields in 10 European countries and an experiment pesticide mixture effects were associated with the microbial composition and microbial processes. Additionally, the pesticide mixture risks for earthworms was estimated for the field samples. This research aims to improve the monitoring of soil health, strengthen pesticide risk assessment and contribute to better protection of European soils and more sustainable agriculture.