# Fertilization and Soil Microbial Community: A Review
## 1 Introduction
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**Type** & **Production Process and Materials** & **Pros and Cons** & **Refs.** \\ \hline Biochar and biochar-based fertilizers & Pyrolysis (thermal decomposition of organic matter with absence of or very limited access to oxygen), hydrothermal liquefaction and gasification of different type of biomass (agricultural residues, sewage sediment, forest waste, energy crops and residues from agro-food processing) & They improve physical, chemical and biological properties of soil, together with nutrient absorption and cation exchange capacity. They reduce the uptake of metals, pesticides, PAHs, engineered nanomaterials, and pharmaceuticals by plants. The type of biomass used influences the biochar properties. If used together with other fertilizers, they can reduce their beneficial effects. & Increase soil fertility by various macro- and micronutrients; improve soil biodiversity and plant growth by increasing the accessibility to or uptake of nutrients from a limited soil nutrient pool. Power of biofertilizers depends on the type of microorganism used and their metabolic activity during and after field applications. & \\ Biosolids & Stabilization of organic solids from sewage treatment processes (mainly from biological treatment of wastewater). The stabilization reduces the pathogen presence & They contain macro and micronutrients in variable quantities; K concentrations are commonly low, so that an additional K fertilization may be necessary. They can contain pathogens, traces of metals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other organic contaminants (e.g., phthalates, pesticides, phenols, PCBs, dioxins). & \\ Bios-surfactants & Surface-active biomolecules produced by microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts and fungi); they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions & (solubilisation/desorption). They also regulate the attachment and removal of microorganisms from surfaces. Used for hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soil, for plant pathogen elimination thanks to their antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal and antimycoplasma activities and for increasing the nutrient bioavailability for beneficial plant-associated microbes. & \\ \hline \multirow{5}{*}{Compost} & Composting (biological decomposition under controlled moisture, self-heating and aerobic conditions) of animal manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste and green wastes & Simplicity of technologies and possibility of implementation on every farm; quality protocols are provided in several countries for reducing pathogen, heavy metal and organic pollutant presence. & \\ \hline \multirow{5}{*}{Green waste or biowaste} & Different origins: crop residues, food and kitchen waste. It does not include forestry or agricultural residues, manure, sewage sludge or other biodegradable waste such as natural textiles, paper or processed wood. & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & Increase soil fertility by various macro- and micronutrients; improve soil biodiversity and plant growth by increasing the accessibility to or uptake of nutrients from a limited soil nutrient pool. Power of biofertilizers depends on the type of microorganism used and their metabolic activity during and after field applications. & \\ \hline \multirow{5}{*}{Biosolids} & \multirow{5}{*}{Stabilization of organic solids from sewage treatment processes (mainly from biological treatment of wastewater). The stabilization reduces the pathogen presence} & They contain macro and micronutrients in variable quantities; K concentrations are commonly low, so that an additional K fertilization may be necessary. They can contain pathogens, traces of metals, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and other organic contaminants (e.g., phthalates, pesticides, phenols, PCBs, dioxins). & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & They increase the surface area of hydrophobic substrates (e.g., hydrocarbon pollutants, heavy metals or nutrients) increasing their bioavailability & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & (solubilisation/desorption). They also regulate the attachment and removal of microorganisms from surfaces. Used for hydrocarbon biodegradation in contaminated soil, for plant pathogen elimination thanks to their antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal and antimycoplasma activities and for increasing the nutrient bioavailability for beneficial plant-associated microbes. & \\ \hline \multirow{5}{*}{Compost} & Composting (biological decomposition under controlled moisture, self-heating and aerobic conditions) of animal manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste and green wastes & Simplicity of technologies and possibility of implementation on every farm; quality protocols are provided in several countries for reducing pathogen, heavy metal and organic pollutant presence. & \\ \cline{1-1}  & & Different origins: crop residues, food and kitchen waste. It does not include forestry or agricultural residues, manure, sewage sludge or other biodegradable waste such as natural textiles, paper or processed wood. & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
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