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Background <p>Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) production faces increasing challenges related to water scarcity, intensive input use, and environmental contamination. In this context, biostimulants combined with water- and fertilizer-saving strategies have been proposed to enhance crop performance while reducing environmental impacts. However, their integrated effects on soil contamination and potential health hazards remain insufficiently understood. This study, conducted within the Horizon 2020 TOMRES project, provides a multidisciplinary evaluation of these aspects across different European agroecosystems.</p> Results <p>Results showed that pseudo-total potentially toxic elements (PTE) concentrations varied among sites, occasionally exceeding reference thresholds. However, bioaccessible PTEs generally remained low and below toxicity levels. Biostimulant application and reduced water and nutrient inputs had limited effects on PTE bioaccessibility, although localized increases were observed in soils with higher baseline contamination. Microbiological analyses revealed high variability across sites, with total plate counts (TPCs) influenced more by environmental conditions than by agronomic treatments. Faecal indicators were generally low, and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. was detected only by molecular methods, without clear association with other microbial parameters. Ecotoxicological assays indicated low to moderate toxicity overall, with algae showing the highest sensitivity; biostimulants occasionally mitigated toxic effects, particularly under well-watered conditions. Multivariate analysis confirmed that site-specific factors, including soil properties and baseline conditions, were the primary determinants of chemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological variability, exceeding the influence of agronomic treatments.</p> Conclusions <p>Despite some methodological limitations inherent in this multidisciplinary study, the results suggest that the integration of biostimulants with water- and fertilizer-saving practices did not result in significant environmental or health hazards under the studied conditions. However, the outcomes highlight the importance of site-specific assessments, particularly in soils with elevated contaminant levels. These findings support the potential of sustainable agronomic strategies in tomato production while emphasizing the need for context-dependent management and further research on long-term impacts and food safety implications. Future research on this topic should be expanded by developing integrated risk assessment frameworks that combine chemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological factors to support sustainable agriculture and protect public health.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Integrated assessment of biostimulants with water and fertilizer saving techniques: implications for environmental contamination and health hazard in tomato crops across Europe

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月25日

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  • C. Pignata,
  • Si. Bonetta,
  • S. Filippetti,
  • E. Gasparro,
  • V. Porro,
  • E. Fea,
  • G. Gilli,
  • L. Celi,
  • E. Carraro

摘要

Background

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production faces increasing challenges related to water scarcity, intensive input use, and environmental contamination. In this context, biostimulants combined with water- and fertilizer-saving strategies have been proposed to enhance crop performance while reducing environmental impacts. However, their integrated effects on soil contamination and potential health hazards remain insufficiently understood. This study, conducted within the Horizon 2020 TOMRES project, provides a multidisciplinary evaluation of these aspects across different European agroecosystems.

Results

Results showed that pseudo-total potentially toxic elements (PTE) concentrations varied among sites, occasionally exceeding reference thresholds. However, bioaccessible PTEs generally remained low and below toxicity levels. Biostimulant application and reduced water and nutrient inputs had limited effects on PTE bioaccessibility, although localized increases were observed in soils with higher baseline contamination. Microbiological analyses revealed high variability across sites, with total plate counts (TPCs) influenced more by environmental conditions than by agronomic treatments. Faecal indicators were generally low, and Salmonella spp. was detected only by molecular methods, without clear association with other microbial parameters. Ecotoxicological assays indicated low to moderate toxicity overall, with algae showing the highest sensitivity; biostimulants occasionally mitigated toxic effects, particularly under well-watered conditions. Multivariate analysis confirmed that site-specific factors, including soil properties and baseline conditions, were the primary determinants of chemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological variability, exceeding the influence of agronomic treatments.

Conclusions

Despite some methodological limitations inherent in this multidisciplinary study, the results suggest that the integration of biostimulants with water- and fertilizer-saving practices did not result in significant environmental or health hazards under the studied conditions. However, the outcomes highlight the importance of site-specific assessments, particularly in soils with elevated contaminant levels. These findings support the potential of sustainable agronomic strategies in tomato production while emphasizing the need for context-dependent management and further research on long-term impacts and food safety implications. Future research on this topic should be expanded by developing integrated risk assessment frameworks that combine chemical, microbiological, and ecotoxicological factors to support sustainable agriculture and protect public health.

Graphical Abstract