Olive groves face severe soil erosion, threatening their sustainability. This study reviewed existing research to understand how and why erosion happens and why results often seem contradictory. We found that: (a) differences mostly come from how and where erosion is measured, not from disagreement about the problem and (b) soil management is decisive. Keeping the ground covered with vegetation consistently cuts soil loss by over half. This urges the adoption of soil conservation practices.

We explored how a portable tool can quickly and affordably test city soils for harmful metals like lead and arsenic. Traditional lab methods are accurate but slow and costly. By reviewing 84 studies, we found that portable X-ray fluorescence tools work well when properly used and calibrated. This can help identify contaminated areas faster, making urban gardening safer and helping communities grow food in healthier soil.

Despite the massive use of soil storage, its impact on soil microbial parameters (SMPs) has been assessed in a very scattered way. I analysed 73 research articles dealing with the impact of storage practices on various SMPs. The results show significant effects of all storage practices on SMPs in a vast majority of cases. Storage practices should be carefully selected according to the conditions that prevail in the native soil environment and to the SMPs of interest.