34th ISTANBUL World Congress on Sustainable Agriculture, Plant Nutrition & Soil Pollution: SAPNSP-26

Call for papers/Topics

Topics of Interest for Submission include, but are Not Limited to:


1. Core Independent Pillars

These are the foundational topics that define each individual field.

Sustainable Agriculture

  • Alternative Farming Systems

    • Organic farming and biodynamic agriculture.

    • Permaculture and agroforestry.

    • Conservation agriculture (minimal soil disturbance).

  • Resource Management

    • Water-use efficiency and drip irrigation.

    • Renewable energy integration in farming.

    • Seed saving and genetic diversity.

  • Socio-Economic Factors

    • Fair trade and local food systems.

    • Agricultural policy and subsidies.

    • Climate change adaptation strategies.

Plant Nutrition

  • Plant Physiology & Biochemistry

    • Photosynthesis and carbon fixation.

    • Nutrient uptake mechanisms (active vs. passive transport).

    • Phloem and xylem transport.

  • Nutrient Classification

    • Primary Macronutrients: Nitrogen ($N$), Phosphorus ($P$), Potassium ($K$).

    • Secondary Macronutrients: Calcium ($Ca$), Magnesium ($Mg$), Sulfur ($S$).

    • Micronutrients: Iron ($Fe$), Zinc ($Zn$), Boron ($B$), Copper ($Cu$), etc.

  • Deficiency & Toxicity Manifestations

    • Visual symptoms (chlorosis, necrosis).

    • Metabolic disruptions.

Soil Pollution

  • Types of Soil Pollutants

    • Heavy metals (Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury).

    • Organic pollutants (Pesticides, herbicides, petroleum hydrocarbons).

    • Microplastics and nanoplastics in soil.

  • Sources of Pollution

    • Industrial waste and mining activities.

    • Urban sprawl and electronic waste (e-waste).

    • Atmospheric deposition (acid rain).

  • Soil Chemistry & Physics

    • Soil pH and buffering capacity.

    • Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC).

    • Soil texture and porosity affecting pollutant mobility.


2. The Intersections: Where the Worlds Collide

The real magic (and the solutions to our global food crisis) happens where these three subjects overlap.

Plant Nutrition + Sustainable Agriculture

  • Integrated Nutrient Management (INM): Combining organic fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, and bio-fertilizers to maintain soil fertility sustainably.

  • Bio-fertilizers & Microbial Inoculants: Using nitrogen-fixing bacteria (like Rhizobium) and Mycorrhizal fungi to enhance nutrient uptake naturally.

  • Precision Agriculture: Using GPS, drones, and sensor data to apply the exact amount of nutrients a plant needs, minimizing waste.

  • Green Manuring and Cover Cropping: Growing specific plants to fix nitrogen and return organic matter to the soil.

Plant Nutrition + Soil Pollution

  • Heavy Metal Uptake & Phytotoxicity: How polluted soil prevents plants from absorbing good nutrients, leading to stunted growth.

  • The Food Chain Barrier: How plants absorb toxic elements (like Cadmium) and pass them up the food chain to humans.

  • Nutrient Antagonism due to Pollutants: How an excess of a pollutant can block a plant from absorbing an essential nutrient.

Sustainable Agriculture + Soil Pollution

  • Phytoremediation: Using specific plants to hyper-accumulate, degrade, or render harmless soil contaminants.

  • Bioremediation: Using soil microbes to break down organic pollutants like pesticides.

  • Sustainable Waste Management: Composting agricultural and municipal waste safely without introducing heavy metals back into the soil.


The Grand Nexus: The Ultimate Overlap

This is the center of the Venn diagram where all three fields must work together to solve complex problems:

  • Eutrophication Control: How sustainable fertilizer application (Plant Nutrition) in farming (Sustainable Ag) prevents nutrient runoff that poisons water and soil (Soil Pollution).

  • Regenerative Agriculture: A holistic approach that restores degraded, polluted soils while maximizing natural plant nutrition and ensuring long-term food security.