Mitigating Metal/Metalloid Stress in Crops: Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Resilience

Abstract

In the face of escalating soil contamination, this chapter meticulously examines the multifaceted strategies employed to mitigate metal/metalloid stress in crops, an imperative endeavor for maintaining agricultural productivity and ensuring food security. Central to the discussion is exploring advanced phytoremediation techniques alongside the strategic use of soil amendments, highlighting their efficacy in decontaminating metal/metalloid-laden soils. The narrative further extends to the crucial role of mycorrhizal fungi in enhancing plant resilience against metal/metalloid toxicity and the innovative application of genetic engineering and breeding techniques aimed at cultivating metal/metalloid-tolerant crop varieties. Moreover, the chapter sheds light on integrating cutting-edge soil remediation technologies, including electrokinetic and nanotechnology, showcasing their potential to revolutionize conventional remediation practices. The synthesis of these strategies underscores the importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach, blending traditional methods with technological innovations to develop sustainable and effective solutions for metal/metalloid stress in agriculture. Additionally, the chapter emphasizes the need for robust policy frameworks and sophisticated monitoring tools to manage soil health comprehensively, advocating for a holistic strategy to safeguard agricultural landscapes against metal/metalloid contamination.