David Houben

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Verified

David verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

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• PhD HDR
• Professor (Associate) at UniLaSalle

Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting element in most of the soils worldwide. This chapter provides a contemporary review on the role of plant traits in the plant-soil microorganisms processes influencing P availability in ecosystems, in order to provide insights into functionally optimal vegetation (or crops) designs enhancing P availability and cyclin...

Studies on interactions between plants and belowground organisms, or between plants and aboveground organisms , are numerous and highlight their importance in understanding ecosystem functioning. However, these two compartments are rarely studied together, despite the direct link formed by the plant itself. Soil organisms can influence interactions...

Aims Phosphorus (P) in soil comprises both organic P (OP) and inorganic P (IP), but efficiency of plant P-acquisition strategies for accessing various IP or OP from soil is unclear. Methods We examined the response of P-acquisition root traits in eight plant species in the presence of IP or OP sorbed onto various soil minerals. Results We highlig...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as key molecular regulators in most of intracellular processes essential for plant adaptation to environmental changes. microRNAs can mediate regulation of gene expression involved in development, acquisition of nutrients, defense and interactions with soil microorganisms to enhance stress tolerance of plants. Accu...

L'optimisation du fonctionnement des agroécosystèmes représente un défi majeur à l'heure où la pression croissante sur les ressources naturelles et la nécessité de répondre aux besoins alimentaires mondiaux imposent une gestion plus efficiente et durable des terres agricoles. Dans ce contexte, l’un des objectifs de la transition agroécologique est...

Cover crops are typically thought to increase the P nutrition of crops. However, there are mixed reports on this with some studies reporting a negative effect. An improved understanding of cover crop residues and their P release dynamics could offer new insight with the benefit of improved management for optimal P availability in cropping systems....

Compost and biochar are increasingly considered to improve crop growth and soil functioning in agriculture. However, their combined application has shown contrasting results, probably resulting from the use of different biochar/compost ratios and divergent (synergistic or antagonist) impacts on nutrient availability, especially nitrogen (N). We aim...

Background and aims One of the major challenges of modern agriculture is to transform agricultural systems to support food security under global change. The reduction of the agricultural carbon footprint requires the development of agroecological practices and eco-friendly processes for biomass and by-products transformation. The push towards decar...

Aim Conservation agriculture is increasingly adopted to improve soil fertility and reduce the depressive effects of intensive farming on soil functions and associated services. However, conservation agriculture systems may vary greatly regarding time since conversion to this system and the quality and biomass production of cover crops. In addition,...

Biochar is increasingly considered an efficient amendment to improve soil fertility and store carbon in soils for climate change mitigation. However, few field studies have evaluated biochar impacts on soil fauna and especially earthworms in temperate areas despite their importance for soil structure and laboratory-based evidence of potential adver...

Biochar and compost are increasingly considered sustainable amendments to improve soil fertility, while reducing agrochemical use. However, the efficiency of biochar, compost, and especially their mixtures under field conditions in temperate regions is still poorly studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar/compost...

Organic phosphorus (OP) represents a significant fraction of the total P pool in soils. With the increasing use of organic resources to substitute mineral P fertilizers and the need to recover P from the soil, it is pivotal to gain insight into the interactions between various OP forms and soil minerals and their consequences on P availability. Her...

Biochar is more and more widely recognized as a promising agricultural amendment improving yield and ecosystem services in a range of different contexts. However, underlying mechanisms contributing to biochars benefits, notably biochar‐root interactions, and their mediation by biochar’s diverse properties remain unclear and poorly quantified. This...

Due to its influence on multiple soil processes, water intervenes in biogeochemical cycles at multiple spatial scales with contrasting effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. On all scales, water availability influences biological processes, such as plant growth and (micro-)biological activity, leading to organic matter input, its decomposit...

Due to increased drought frequency following climate change, practices improving water use efficiency and reducing water-stress are needed. The efficiency of organic amendments to improve plant growth conditions under drought is poorly known. Our aim was to investigate if organic amendments can attenuate plant water-stress due to their effect on th...

Aim Conservation agriculture is increasingly adopted to improve soil fertility and reduce the depressive effects of intensive farming on soil functions and associated services. However, conservation agriculture systems may greatly differ from each other by their age and the quantity and the quality of cover crops and the effects of these variables...

With the increasing use of organic resource for P fertilization, the adsorption and desorption dynamics of various organic phosphorus (OP) forms remain an important gap of knowledge to bridge in order to improve P availability. In this study, we examined the adsorption and desorption dynamics of various OP (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, myo-IHP; g...

Editorial on the Research Topic Frass: The Legacy of Larvae – Benefits and Risks of Residues From Insect Production

Aims Organic P (OP) accounts for significant fractions of the total phosphorus (P) pool in soils, especially in soils treated with organic inputs. In soils, OP compounds can be sorbed onto soil minerals but the consequences of these interactions on P availability and plant uptake are poorly known. This research aims at elucidating the extent to whi...

Understanding management factors driving soil biota is pivotal to improve the sustainability of cropping systems, especially given the emergence of new cropping systems induced by bioeconomy. Here, we investigated the combined effects of tillage practices (tillage versus no-tillage) and contrasted cropping systems, including conventional , feed and...

Moving toward more sustainable sources for managing phosphorus (P) nutrition in agroecosystems, organic phosphorus (Po) derived from organic inputs and soil is increasingly considered to complement mineral P fertilizer. However, the dynamics of P added by organic input in soil-plant systems is still poorly understood and there is currently no clear...

The forecasted growth of insect production in the next few years will generate high quantities of frass (insect excreta). Although frass is increasingly considered a potential fertilizer, the dynamics of nutrient supply by frass is still poorly understood. Here, we aimed at gaining insight into the short-term fertilizer value of frass from mealworm...

Plant–soil–microbe interactions play a central role in plant nutrient acquisition and thus ecosystem functioning and nutrient availability in agroecosystems. Adjustments in root morphology, root exudation and associations with micro‐organisms such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are common for phosphorus acquisition. Yet how plant below‐ground func...

AimsPlant P acquisition strategies are driven by multiple belowground morphological and physiological traits as well as interactions among these traits. This study aimed to characterize the relationships among traits involved in P acquisition to explore tradeoffs and the main P-acquisition strategies and their mediation by soil type.Methods Ten mor...

Biochar addition to compost is of growing interest as soil amendment. However, little is known about the evolution of material properties of biochar-compost mixtures and their effect on plants after exposure to physical weathering. This study aimed to investigate the physico-chemical characteristics of fresh and weathered biochar-compost mixtures,...

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in agricultural soils has exerted a serious threat due to continuous application of pesticides, fertilizers, and wastewater irrigation. The present study aimed to test the efficiency of KOH-modified and non-modified rice straw-derived biochar (KBC and BC, respectively) for reducing Cd solubility and bioavailability in Cd-cont...

Technologies based on zero-valent iron (Fe⁰) are increasingly being used to immobilize metals in soils and remove metals and nitrate from waters. However, the impact of nitrate reduction on metal immobilization in metal contaminated soils has been poorly investigated so far. Here, different concentrations of Fe⁰ filings (1%, 2% and 5%; wt%) were ap...

With the forecasted dramatic growth of insect rearing in the near future, frass (insect excreta) has been increasingly considered a sustainable resource for managing plant nutrition in cropping systems and a promising alternative to conventional fertilizer. However, the impact of soil fauna on its fertilizing effect has not been investigated so far...

Rearing insects is expected to dramatically increase during the next few years, and this will be associated with generating high quantities of frass (insect excreta). It is necessary to find solutions allowing the efficient valorization of these by-products before a major upscaling of the industry takes place. therefore, this study aims at investig...

Struvite is increasingly considered a promising alternative to mined phosphorus (P) fertilizer. However, its solubility is very low under neutral to alkaline pH while it increases with acidification. Here, we investigated whether supplying ammonium to stimulate rhizosphere acidification might improve struvite solubility at the vicinity of roots and...

Cet article traite de l'organisation d'un atelier de sensibilisation au sol à destination d'élèves âgés d'entre 8 et 11 ans organisé à Beauvais (France) dans le cadre de la Fête de la Science 2017, et discute de l'efficacité de ce type d'action sur base des retours collectés. L'approche adoptée pour l'élaboration des ateliers a été basée sur la dém...

Repeated application of organic fertiliser has unintentionally let to the introduction into surface water and soils of many phytotoxic substances that compromise agricultural production and threaten environmental quality. Recent studies using hydroponic systems have reported that bisphenol A (BPA) affects essential mineral elements contents and roo...

The use of biochar as an additive for growing media for the production of potted plants requires a sound knowledge of how its properties impact plant biomass production. This study aims at linking physical and chemical properties of biochar with horticultural crop biomass. For this purpose, we incorporated six different biochars into growing medium...

Crops have different strategies to acquire poorly-available soil phosphorus (P) which are dependent on their architectural, morphological, and physiological root traits, but their capacity to enhance P acquisition varies with the type of fertilizer applied. The objective of this study was to examine how P-acquisition strategies of three main crops...

Sewage sludge is a phosphorus (P) source alternative to P fertiliser derived from rock phosphate, but its impact on soil processes driving P cycling in agroecosystems requires further study. In order to optimise the use of sludge for sustainable P fertilisation, we need to elucidate the drivers of P dynamics. The present study aims at determining h...

Organic matter (OM) decomposition is a fundamental ecosystem service in conservation agriculture, but the response of this process to the conversion from conventional tillage (CT) to no-tillage (NT) systems is not fully understood, especially during the transition period. Here, using a litterbag experiment (tea bag technique), we studied OM decompo...

Sewage sludge use is of major interest for sustainable phosphorus (P) fertilization. Optimal practices, particularly crop succession, can depend on the forms of P in the sludge applied, because they can impact P-acquisition strategies of crops. Here, we investigated how P acquisition by crops and mobilization traits are influenced by soil type and...

Non‐essential silicon (Si) is beneficial to plants. It increases the biomass of Si‐accumulator plants by improving photosynthetic activity and alleviating stresses. Desilication, however, takes place because of natural soil weathering and removal of harvested biomass. Pyrolysis transforms Si‐rich biomass into biochar that can be used to supply bioa...

The ability of biochar to immobilize metals relies on the amount of functional groups at its surface but the contribution of each functional groups (e.g. carboxylic, phenolic) to metal bonding is poorly known. Using a new approach based on previous works on rare earth element (REE) interactions with humic substances, we aim at elucidating the relat...

Description du sujet. Cet article traite de l’impact du biochar sur la biodisponibilité en phosphore (P) dans les sols en vue d’améliorer la gestion et l’autonomie de la fertilisation en P des cultures. Objectifs. L’objectif général était d’explorer le potentiel du biochar à augmenter la biodisponibilité du P dans le sol. Les objectifs spécifiques...

Zinc is an essential micronutrient that is ultimately released during mineral weathering. In soils, organic matter plays a key role in influencing Zn partitioning and therefore on Zn biogeochemical cycling. Soil organic matter is partitioned between carbon that is more readily available for decomposition by microorganisms, and more stable carbon tr...

Decline of ecosystem services has triggered numerous studies aiming at developing more sustainable agricultural management practices. Some agricultural practices may improve soil properties by expanding plant biodiversity. However, sustainable management of agroecosystems should be performed from a functional plant trait perspective. Advances in fu...

Description du sujet. Cet article traite de l'impact du biochar sur la biodisponibilité en phosphore (P) dans les sols en vue d'améliorer la gestion et l'autonomie de la fertilisation en P des cultures. Objectifs. L'objectif général était d'explorer le potentiel du biochar à augmenter la biodisponibilité du P dans le sol. Les objectifs spécifiques...

This paper deals with the impact of biochar on soil phosphorus (P) bioavailability with a view to improving the management of P fertilization. Objectives. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of biochar to increase P bioavailability in soil. The specific objectives were to elucidate the role of feedstock and the rate of application of...

Research on biochar has increased, but its long‐term effect on the fertility of temperate agricultural soil remains unclear. In Wallonia, Belgium, pre‐industrial charcoal production affected former forested areas that were cleared for cultivation in the nineteenth century. The sites of traditional charcoal kilns, largely enriched in charcoal residu...

Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient for the productivity of many agroecosystems. The depletion of global mineral P reserves is of concern for global food security. An important challenge is to develop productive farming systems where P availability in soil is increased through the use of renewable organic waste-derived P resources such as sewage...

Le phosphore (P) est un nutriment limitant pour la pro-ductivité de nombreux agroécosystèmes. La diminution des réserves mondiales en P minéral constitue une pro-blématique importante pour maintenir la productivité des cultures et assurer la sécurité alimentaire mondiale. Un important challenge est de développer des systèmes d’exploitation et de cu...

Silicon (Si) is beneficial for plants, but not essential. It plays a crucial role in improving the yields of Si-accumulator crops through alleviating various biotic and abiotic stresses. The demand of Si fertilizers will likely increase due to soil desilication and removal of harvested biomass. Since plants accumulate Si in the form of readily solu...

In Wallonia, Belgium, intensive in situ charcoal production that was linked closely to pre-industrial smelting and steel-making affected a large part of the forested area in the late eighteenth century. Charcoal kiln relics can be detected under forest as domes of about 10 m in diameter, with the topsoil greatly enriched with charcoal residues. We...

Phosphorus (P) is a limiting nutrient for the productivity of many agroecosystems, and the depletion of global mineral P reserves is of concern for global food security. On the other hand, overfertilization with P and its subsequent export through runoff can cause eutrophication of water bodies and natural terrestrial habitats. An important challen...

Stable zinc (Zn) isotope fractionation between soil and plant has been used to suggest the mechanisms affecting Zn uptake under toxic conditions. Here, changes in Zn isotope composition in soil, soil solution, root and shoot were studied for ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) and rape (Brassica napus L.) grown on three distinct metal-contaminated soi...

Purpose For abandoned slag heaps, the spontaneous establishment of a vegetation cover is usually considered beneficial as it represents a means of phytostabilization. However, for slag containing heavy metals, such a vegetation cover has a potential long-term effect on the fate of the metals. The objective of this study was to investigate how the l...

The successful implementation of phytostabilization is conditioned by a sound understanding of all potential metal mobilizing and/or immobilizing mechanisms acting upon contaminated soils as well as the capacity to develop synergies with other environmental and economic priorities. With these objectives in mind, this PhD thesis aimed at gaining bet...

Background and aims Silicon (Si) is largely recognized to improve plant growth subjected to various biotic and abiotic stresses. As plants accumulate Si in the form of readily-soluble phytolith, we examine the possibility of using phytolith-rich biochar as a bio-available Si source for increasing the agronomical productivity of Si high-accumulator...

The combination of revegetation and application of stabilizing soil amendments on heavy metal-contaminated soils is generally considered to be a promising alternative to expensive classical remediation techniques. Here, we simultaneously investigated the effects of six cost-effective amendments (CaCO3, iron grit, fly ash, manure, bentonite and bone...

The re-vegetation of soils contaminated by potentially harmful metals is generally considered a suitable option to reduce the metal dispersion in surrounding environments. A continuous flow experiment was conducted to quantitatively assess the effect of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) root activity on the weathering of smithsonite (ZnCO3...

Phytoremediation is a promising and cost-effective strategy to manage heavy metal polluted sites. In this experiment, we compared simultaneously phytoextraction and phytostabilisation techniques on a Cd and Zn contaminated soil, through monitoring of plant accumulation and leaching. Lolium perenne plants were cultivated for 2 months under controlle...

As a result of the important role played by phosphorus (P) in surface water eutrophication, the susceptibility of soils to release P requires evaluation. The degree of phosphorus saturation, assessed by oxalate extraction (DPSox), has been used as an indicator. However, most laboratories do not include DPSox in routine soil tests because of cost an...

Zinc is an essential element for plants but excessive uptake can lead to (phyto) toxicity and contamination of the foodweb. Mobility and bioavailability depend on zinc speciation in solid and liquid phases. Considering the importance of solid phase, three contaminated substrates were studied: two soils and a slag heap. The relative amounts of excha...

Immobilization of heavy metals by stabilization amendments is a promising method to restore contaminated soils. In our study, we investigated the efficiency of zero-valent iron (Fe 0) added to the soil in the form of iron grit to reduce leaching and uptake of Zn and Cd by Lupinus albus L. Results of column leaching experiments show that metal leach...