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Aluminium toxicity to crops depends on the acidity of the soil and specific plant resistance. However, it is also strongly affected by other environmental factors that have to be considered to properly evaluate the resultant effects on plants. Observed weather perturbations and predicted climate changes will increase the probability of co-occurrence of aluminium toxicity and other abiotic stresses.In this review the mechanisms of plant-aluminium interactions are shown to be influenced by soil mineral nutrients, heavy metals, organic matter, oxidative stress and drought. Described effects of aluminium toxicity include: root growth inhibition, reduction in the uptake of mineral nutrients resulting from the inhibition of transport processes through ion channels; epigenetic changes to DNA resulting in gene silencing. Complex processes occurring in the rhizosphere are highlighted, including the role of soil organic matter and aluminium detoxification by mucilage.There is a considerable research gap in the understanding of root growth in the soil environment in the presence of toxic aluminium concentrations as affected by interactions with abiotic stressors. This knowledge is important for the selection of feasible methods aimed at the reduction of negative consequences of crop production in acidic soils affected by adverse growth environment.

Apple pomace (AP) is an abundant waste causing environmental problems. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of AP on soil and plant growth under optimum and limited water availability. Two laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of AP on: (i) hydrophysical properties, respiration, and N transformations in soil aggregates and (ii) the growth of wheat and faba bean in soil with addition of AP under optimum and limited water availability. The soil respiration rate increased rapidly after the introduction of AP, and the effect was dependent on the aggregate size. The reduction of nitrate and the increase in ammonium content in response to the AP addition were more pronounced in the larger aggregates. Reduced growth of wheat was noted in the dry soil supplemented with AP. Faba bean maintained its unchanged rate of growth after the application of AP, irrespective of water availability. An increase in the chlorophyll content was observed in faba bean grown in the AP-enriched soil. The apple pomace reduced the water wetting rate and increased the repellency index but did not affect the tensile strength of the soil aggregates. Disposal of AP as a soil amendment affects many indicators of soil quality. The application of AP to the soil has an impact on respiration and N transformations in the soil aggregates; moreover, it differently influences the growth of spring wheat and faba bean.