Phytotoxicity Removal Technologies for Agricultural Waste as a Growing Media Component: A Review

In response to the challenge of resource recycling, this review investigates the removal of phytotoxicity from agricultural waste for its application as a growing media component. Agricultural waste typically exhibits high phytotoxicity due to the presence of substances such as phenols, organic acids, ammonia, nitrogen, and heavy metals. These substances hinder seed germination and plant growth, posing a significant barrier to the use of agricultural waste as a growing media component. Thus, it is imperative to mitigate or eliminate phytotoxicity before effectively utilizing agricultural waste. This review rigorously analyzes an extensive array of recent studies, scrutinizing diverse technologies for the mitigation of phytotoxicity in agricultural wastes. The methods investigated include the four most common methods—composting, heat treatment, washing, and aging, and a recently introduced method, ammonium incubation. Each method was assessed considering its underlying principles, effects in application, and respective advantages and disadvantages. This review suggests that successful phytotoxicity mitigation in agricultural waste hinges on reducing the content or activity of phytotoxic substances. Moreover, this study emphasizes that future phytotoxicity mitigation efforts should aim for economic efficiency while maximizing the preservation of the original material volume and weight. This study offers insightful guidance for technical professionals aiming to mitigate the phytotoxicity of agricultural waste, thereby fostering sustainable agricultural practices.