Dionisios GasparatosAgricultural University of Athens · Department of Natural Resources Management and Agricultural Engineering (NRM&AE)
Dionisios Gasparatos
PhD in Soil Science, MSc in Applied Environmental Geology
Included in 2023 and 2024 Stanford University’s (Single Year) Top 2% Scientists List
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120
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Introduction
Dionisios Gasparatos currently works at the Laboratory of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry , Agricultural University of Athens. Dionisios does research in Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Geochemistry.
Additional affiliations
September 2019 - August 2023
June 2016 - August 2019
February 2014 - May 2016
Publications
Publications (120)
Biochar is the solid carbonaceous product of biomass pyrolysis. The properties of biochar depend on the biomass feedstock as well as the pyrolysis temperature and time. Therefore, biochars with different properties and functionalities can be produced. Biochar research has been intensive in the past 15 years, focusing mainly on soil applications, wa...
Hydrogels have shown promise in improving soil quality and alleviating plant drought stress. This study investigated the effectiveness of four hydrogel composites composed of polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, and pine or olive tree biochar in improving bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plant growth and soil microbial activities. The experiment was conduc...
We investigated the enduring consequences of a wildfire on nematode diversity and abundance in a pine forest, employing a slope gradient approach. Our primary objective was to determine the extent of post-fire alterations in the nematode community 3 years after the incident, to understand if the ecosystem has returned to its pre-fire state or has t...
Soil salinity has become one of the most challenging environmental issues in recent years, hence the importance of restoration is vital. Biochar contributes to soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, promotes plant nutrition, and thus is widely used as an alternative material for the remediation of salt-affected soils. Biostimulants als...
This Special Issue assesses climate changes impact on soils and land management, the crop production contributions to these changes, as well as land-based adaptation and mitigation response options to combat the projected climate changes.
More specifically, the topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Studies that integrate climati...
Agricultural soils close to mining establishments may suffer from airborne pollution, due to excavation and transportation activities. To assess the impact of soil pollution from potentially toxic elements (PTEs) on soil and human health in agricultural areas close to Fe-Ni mines, 36 composite topsoil samples were collected from central Euboea Isla...
Obtaining Soil Moisture Content (SMC) over large scales is of key importance in several environmental and agricultural applications especially in the context of climate change and transition to digital farming. Remote sensing (RS) has a demonstrated capability in retrieving SMC over large areas with several operational products already available at...
Organic cultivation management has generated a great deal of interest during the last decades. As there are numerous conflicting results in the literature on the superiority of organic cultivation over an integrated one, a trial occurred using two apricot cultivars, i.e., ‘Bebecou’ and ‘Diamantopoulou’, under integrated and organic cultivation (thr...
This work investigates the effects of an organic fertilizer enriched in Ca and Mg and two bacterial inoculants, applied alone and in combination, on soil fertility, plant growth, nutrition, and production of secondary metabolites, namely, acemannan and total phenolic compounds (TPCs), by Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller), under field cultivation....
Copper-contained products that are widely employed yearly in viticulture for vine disease management, lead to Cu accumulation in topsoil creating an increased risk for land workers and for leaching and/or uptake of Cu by plants, especially in acidic soils where Cu mobility is higher. In this study, the impact of two biochar types on Cu distribution...
Aiming at the production of robust chestnut plants suitable for the establishment of plantations or for their use in afforestation of forest ecosystems, we studied the effect of soil mixtures on growth, physiological characteristics, and nutritional status of chestnut seedlings. In a complete randomized-block design pot experiment, the soil used wa...
In the present study, the ability of a modified CaCl 2 zeolite (Ca-Z) to both increase Se(IV) availability and restrict Se(VI) mobility in soils is examined. As it was resulted from batch experiments and verified by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopies, higher amounts of both Se species adsorbed on Ca-Z...
The Philippi peatland is considered the biggest peat deposit in the Balkan Peninsula and one of the deepest in the world. The purpose of this study was to access the impact of eight potentially toxic elements (PTEs), i.e., As, Se, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mn and Cu, on the local environment. PTE content was determined in corn grains and surface soil samples...
The established practices of intensive agriculture, combined with inadequate soil Κ replenishment by conventional inorganic fertilization, results in a negative environmental impact through the gradual exhaustion of different forms of K reserves in soils. Although biochar application as soil amendment has been established as an approach of integrat...
This study, based on circular economy principles and sustainable development practices, aims to present the results of soil samples analysis after their mixture with a biobed bio-mixture of straw, soil and compost, used for two consecutive years as organic bio-filter of olive oil mill wastewater. So far, exhausted bio-mixtures used in biobeds to mi...
The main aim of this Special Issue is to publish papers focusing on recent scientific progress and innovation in soil fertility and plant nutrition for sustainable agriculture. We welcome novel research, reviews, and opinion papers covering all related topics that enhance our understanding on holistic fertilization management practices and discuss...
To tackle selenium (Se) malnutrition, biofortification is among the proposed strategies. A biostimulant application in soils is thought to support a plant’s growth and productivity. Biofortification with Se(VI) may lead to a leaching hazard due to the high mobility of Se(VI) in the soil environment. In this study, the effect of the application of t...
Soils close to former mines or metallurgical facilities often contain extreme concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), and among soil remediation actions needed, enhanced phytoextraction techniques using chelating agents could be a very promising option. In this context, a pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Na2-EDTA,...
Soil contamination has been identified and as one of the main threats to soil, inducing
the degradation of global soils and driving long-term losses of the ecosystem services that they provide. As a result of human activities, the amount of soil contamination caused by heavy metal(loid)s has severely increased over the last few decades and has beco...
Soils are central to life on Earth because they provide food, clean water, and air due to their filtering capacity; raw materials; habitats for living organisms; and climate resilience via carbon sequestration, therefore supporting a variety of ecosystem services [...]
Strawberry plants (cv. Camarosa) were cultivated under organic (ORG) and integrated management (INT) practices to assess possible differences in plant growth, fruit production and quality, soil fertility, and plant nutrition. Two integrated fertilizer schemes were used, differentiating based on the origin of the major organic fertilizer used, i.e.,...
To investigate the potentiality of Eruca sativa (rocket) to be enriched in selenium (Se) and, thus, to promote human health through consumption, a pot experiment was designed. Two rates, 5 and 10 mg/kg soil, of either selenite or selenate sodium salts were applied to appropriate pots, each filled with 1 kg of calcareous soil. Rocket seedlings were...
The objective of the present work is to contribute to the examination of the interconnections between soil classification/soil mapping and soil capability for agricultural use. A pedon scale analytical field along with laboratory data of an episaturated agricultural soil of Thessaly (Greece), allowed for the optimization of soil fertility class eva...
Selenium biofortification of lettuce plants was studied for two rates (5 and 10 mg kg−1 soil) of either selenate or selenite and for the effect of 5% w/w biochar addition. Lettuce seedlings were grown in pots containing 1 kg of a calcareous soil. Twelve weeks later, the plants were harvested and selenium (Se), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) concent...
The main aim of this Special Issue is to publish papers focusing on recent scientific progress and innovation in soil fertility and plant nutrition for sustainable agriculture. We welcome novel research, reviews, and opinion papers covering all related topics that enhance our understanding on holistic fertilization management practices and discuss...
Agricultural management practices on fertilizer nitrogen are vital to soil sustainability and crop productivity, as well as to reducing global greenhouse gases and environmental pollution. An increasing number of models have been adapted for specific purposes and scales of application which may lead to better understanding of crop response under di...
Featured Application: In this study, commercially available products were tested, which could be used by strawberry growers to ameliorate toxic effects of salinity on strawberry plants and achieve higher yields. Abstract: Strawberry, the most significant berry crop, is characterized as a salt-sensitive plant. The present study aimed to examine ways...
Ni-laterite ores in central Greece deposits are currently used in the LARCO GMMSA smelting plant (http://www.larco.gr/nickel.php) to produce ferronickel-Fe-Ni-alloy. However, new importance arises due to the demand for critical and battery metal resources in the EU and worldwide (such as Co, REE+Y+Sc, Ni [e.g. 1,2]). In the frame of recent research...
Soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) is considered one of the most severe environmental threats, while among remediation strategies, research on the application of soil amendments has received important consideration. This review highlights the effects of biochar application on soil properties and the bioavailability of potenti...
Dear Colleagues,
Worldwide, agriculture is facing challenges and risks due to the increase of global population, which is predicted to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, and this will require a rapid increase of global food demand from existing soil resources. In this context, agriculture is placing unpredictable requirements and demands on natural resour...
Greek agriculture maintains a key-position in the economy and is on the threshold on significant changes. Respectively, the Greek fertilizer sector is also under transformation, focusing on maximizing nutrient use efficiency and promoting integrated soil nutrient management principles, in order to add value to the agro-food chain. The fertilizer co...
The most important aspect of the agricultural systems is irrigation water management practices which require timely applied irrigation when the crop needs proper amount. There is a growing interest in deficit irrigation, an irrigation practice where the crop is exposed to a certain level of water stress either during particular phenological stages...
Selenium adsorption/desorption behavior was examined for eight Greek top soils with different properties, aiming to describe the geochemistry of the elements in the selected soils in terms of bioavailability and contamination risk by leaching. Four soils were acid and four alkaline, and metal oxides content greatly differed between the two groups o...
Two soil mapping methodologies at different scales applied in the same area were compared in order to investigate the potential of their combined use to achieve an integrated and more accurate soil description for sustainable land use management. The two methodologies represent the main types of soil mapping systems used and still applied in soil s...
Selenium deficiency in humans and animals can be reduced through dietary supplementation. Therefore, Se biofortification strategy is important in food plants and pastures. In this study, the effects of selenium (Se) addition (4 mg Se/kg) as sodium selenate (Na2SeO4) on lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.) and berseem cultivation (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)...
Soil is one of the most valuable resources on earth, providing, for example, food and fiber production, climate and gas regulation, carbon sequestration, and raw materials. Soil contamination has been identified and as one of the main soil threats inducing the degradation of global soils and driving long-term losses of ecosystems services provided...
Application of chelating and reductive agents in soils can increase the availability of potentially toxic elements facilitating their uptake by plants. This study discusses the effect of single or combined EDTA (E), sodium dithionite (SD), and olive mill wastewater (OMW) treatments on As, Pb, and Zn mobility over time in a heavily contaminated mine...
Olive is the most important fruit tree species grown in Mediterranean basin, where many times it grows under saline conditions, due to irrigation with low quality water. Olive response to salinity is cultivar dependent and the evaluation of native genotypes is an important tool in finding tolerant genetic material. For this reason, five Greek olive...
The ability of fertilizer phosphates to desorb arsenates from soils is not yet adequately studied especially in cases of mining lands severely contaminated with arsenic (As). In this study two soils with different physicochemical properties and heavily contaminated with As equilibrated with solutions containing various rates of phosphates either in...
Many studies have reported the advantages of alternative agricultural practices using more environmentally-friendly products to ameliorate the negative impacts of salinity and sodicity, but few have examined the effects of these products in saline-sodic soils with high soil organic matter (SOM) content. The objective of this research was to examine...
Over the last few years, phosphorus (P) has attracted the global interest because it is finite and non-renewable resource. However, some aspects of P dynamics in soils are still unclear and novel insights are necessary to better understand the very complex geochemistry of P and to conclusively evolve the traditional soil P management practices. An...
Biochar is considered to improve soil fertility and aid climate change mitigation
through soil carbon storage. However, its effects in saline soils have received less
attention. In this study the potential synergy between biochar and arbuscular
mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in a saline soil was investigated. A completely randomized
pot experiment with le...
The demand to develop fertilizers with higher sulfur use efficiency has intensified over the last decade, since sulfur deficiency in crops has become more widespread. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fertilizers enriched with 2% elemental sulfur (ES) via a binding material of organic nature improve yield when compared to the corresp...
The critical dependence of all living beings on phosphorus (P) availability
has revealed serious P challenges such as the P deficiency in weathered and
eroded soils, the high cost of phosphate fertilizers, the scarcity and unequal global
distribution of rock phosphates, the regional over-accumulation of P and the agricultural
non-point source P pol...
Nickel is ubiquitous in soils with a very broad range from trace amounts
to relatively high concentrations, as compared to other heavy metals. Soil
parent material, and especially the presence of ultramafic rocks, is the most
important factor that determines the distribution of Ni on a global area basis.
In this chapter, the origin of Ni in soils h...
The Fe-Mn concretions are morphological features of soils under alternating oxidizing and reducing conditions. They have a high adsorption capacity for many inorganic pollutants, like heavy metals. This study determines the enrichment factors of Fe, Μη, Ni, Co, Pb and Cd in Fe-Mn concretions collected from imperfectly -drained soils in Central Gree...
The distribution of Fe, Al, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Zn was examined in two soil profiles of cultivated Alfisols developed from gabbro in the area of Chamilo in Kilkis. The main features of the studied soils were the accumulation of clay in the argilic horizons, the low pH and organic matter content, the absence of CaC03, and the high sand content, with dif...
A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Na 2-EDTA 0.01 M (E) and olive mill wastewater 15% (OMW) on As, Pb, and Zn uptake by Pteris vittata L. grown in a soil highly contaminated by mining activities. A two-factor experimental design was followed; 3 treatments (E, OMW, and E + OMW) × 2 batches (single or double dose). Six weeks aft...
From ancient times until recently, mining and metallurgical activities in the greater Lavrion area, Greece, have resulted in the production of large amounts of metal wastes that enrich the surrounding soils with toxic metal(loid)s. Since the area is inhabited, soil dust inhalation, consumption of vegetables grown on the contaminated soils and of da...
Special equations called Pedotransfer Functions (PTFs) have been broadly implemented as state-of-the-art indirect cost-effective and time-saving methods in predicting soil bulk density (BD). The objectives of the present study are: a) to perform a comprehensive literature review and record published PTFs that estimate BD, b) to evaluate the perform...
The highly degraded mine-affected soils of Lavrion, central Greece, are greatly polluted by heavy metals and arsenic (As). To assess As partitioning in the soils of the area, Wenzel and BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedures (SEP) were applied to 29 top soils. The results of the Wenzel SEP showed that As was mainly bou...
Η επισιτιστική ασφάλεια, η έντονη υποβάθμιση του περιβάλλοντος και
η κλιματική αλλαγή είναι από τις κυριότερες προκλήσεις που καλείται να
αντιμετωπίσει άμεσα η ανθρωπότητα τις επόμενες δεκαετίες. Το έδαφος, το
κλειδί για τη διατήρηση της ζωής στον πλανήτη, αποτελεί κρίσιμο συνδετικό
κρίκο όλων αυτών των προκλήσεων με αποτέλεσμα να δέχεται ασφυκτικέ...
Emissions from civil airports are similar to those observed in industrial and urban areas. While air pollution and noise levels are regularly monitored and assessed, information on the status of heavy metals in soils close to airport facilities is limited. In this study, we monitored and assessed heavy metal distribution in soils close to Athens In...
In a preliminary set of field trials, a number of 11 crops of durum wheat (Simeto, Meridiano and Quantrato cultivars) were established in different areas of central and northern Greece and soil fertility levels was determined prior to crop establishment. Sowing and harvesting took place mid November 2015 and end of June 2016, respectively. Each cro...
A durum wheat crop established in Central Greece, served as the reference crop that received conventional fertilization scheme, whilst the nearby field (0.9 acres each) received the same combination of fertilizers additionally coated with 2% elemental sulfur (the treatment SG-crop; SG stands for Sulfogrow produced by Sulphur Hellas S.A.). Soil tes...
Organic farming has been proposed as an alternative agricultural system to help solve environmental problems, like the sustainable management of soil micronutrients, without inputs of chemical fertilizers. The purposes of this study were: i) to assess Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu bioavailability through the determination of sequentially extracted chemical for...
Soils are receptors of atmospheric metal depositions and hence reliable indicators of pollution phenomena, especially for cases that potential site specific pollution sources are detected in terrestrial ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Ba concentrations in soils nearby the Inter...
The aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of two commercial organic fertilizers (Activit and Agrobiosol) on two newly planted olive cultivars for two successive years. Two cultivars were used, 'Koroneiki' an olive oil cultivar and " Konservolia " a table olive one. The organic fertilizers were combined with inorganic fertilizers...
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for flora and fauna, and is an essential element during energy transformation processes of the living world. Phosphate rock, which is the most common source of phosphorus, is globally used in various forms, in order to boost agricultural productivity and cover contemporary food demand. Its low price in combin...
In calcareous soils, Fe availability is highly restricted. On the other hand, Fe metabolism is intimately related to S, N, and P ones, whilst intensive agronomic activity requires significant S inputs. How these relationships are shaped in the commonly used for lawns species Cynodon dactylon, Pennisetum clandestinum, Festuca arundinacea, Festuca ru...
Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for flora and fauna, and is an essential element during energy transformation processes of the living world. Phosphate rock, which is the most common source of phosphorus, is globally used in various forms, in order to boost agricultural productivity and cover contemporary food demand. Its low price in combin...
Preface
The 2nd 2016 International Conference on Agricultural and Biological Sciences (ABS 2016) was successfully held from July 23rd to July 26th in Shanghai, China, which is one of the largest urban areas in the world and the showpiece of the booming economy of mainland China.
Agriculture is the cultivation and production of animals, plants, fu...
Soils are receptors of atmospheric metal depositions and hence reliable indicators of pollution phenomena, especially for cases that potential site specific pollution sources are detected in terrestrial ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to assess the distribution of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, and Ba concentrations in soils nearby the Inter...
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used to remove Νi2+ from aqueous solutions. Batch experiments performed to examine the effects of initial Νi2+ solution concentrations, pH, and contact time on Νi2+ sorption process. MWCNTs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, micro...
Η διαχείριση του φωσφόρου αποτελεί μια πρόκληση με πολλαπλές όψεις από την επισιτιστική ασφάλεια και την αειφόρο χρήση των φυσικών πόρων μέχρι την παραγωγικότητα των οικοσυστημάτων και την περιβαλλοντική υποβάθμιση. Η αειφόρος χρήση των φωσφορικών αποθεμάτων μέσω της ορθολογικής διαχείρισης των φωσφορικών λιπασμάτων αποτελεί ένα πρώτο βήμα της διασ...
Iron and manganese are essential microelements on plant growth but no information is known with regard to their content on Lantana camara L. subsp. camara (lantana) treated with drenched-applied paclobutrazol. Thus, the effects of drenched-applied paclobutrazol [0 (control), 40, and 80 mg l-1 ] on leaf iron and manganese contents of lantana plants...
The creation of high quality plants and their maintenance depends, primarily, on proper fertilization, deriving mainly from the knowledge of their nutrient requirements (NR). Spray-applied chlormequat chloride (CCC), at the concentrations of 3000 and 6000 mg L-1, has been reported to contribute to the production of attractively flowering Lantana ca...
The purpose of the present study is to test metals’ accumulation and behavior in surface soils of Thriassio plain, Attica, an area registered as probably the most polluted in Greece. Avoiding sampling close to obvious specific pollution sources, 50 surface soil samples were collected and the Tessier fractionation scheme was applied to determine the...
Carbon nanotubes have aroused widespread attention as a new type of sorbents possess great potential for removing many kinds of inorganic and organic pollutants from large volumes of wastewater. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced by Glonatech SA was used as sorbents to study the removal of Pb2+ and Νi+2 from aqueous solutions. The effe...
The effects of mepiquat chloride (MC) (0, 500 and 1000 mg l-1) on specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) content of Lantana camara L. plants were examined under 0% and 66% shading levels. All examined parameters and Fe were affected significantly by MC at 66% and 0% shading, respe...
In a medium-textured calcareous soil (pH 8.04, CaCO3 41.2%) the following graminaceous species were sown in lanes: the warm season C4 Cynodon dactylon, and Pennisetum cladestinum, as well as the cold season C3 Festuca arundinacea, and Lolium perenne. Sowing took place in December 15th 2012, and the lanes were irrigated regularly with slightly salin...
Carbon nanotubes have aroused widespread attention as a new type of sorbents that possess great potential for removing many kinds of inorganic and organic pollutants from large volumes of wastewater. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes and oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by NaClO solution was used as sorbents to study the sorption charact...