Industrial wasteland transforming into a green space through Technosols

Soil SOS: How 'Technosols' Can Rescue Our Degraded Lands

Elliot Brynn in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how scientists are using innovative artificial soils to revitalize industrial wastelands, making way for biodiversity and a healthier planet."

Our planet is facing a growing crisis: soil degradation. Human activities are putting immense pressure on our soils, leading to widespread environmental problems. In Europe, this has become a critical issue, demanding innovative solutions to restore and protect this vital resource.

Enter Technosols: artificial soils constructed from treated soil and recycled waste. This approach offers a promising way to restore degraded or polluted land, while also finding a beneficial use for industrial waste materials. Imagine transforming barren industrial sites into thriving ecosystems – that's the potential of Technosols.

While Technosols are showing great promise in supporting plant life, there's a crucial piece of the puzzle we need to understand better: the role of soil biota. How do these artificial soils get colonized by the tiny organisms that are essential for a healthy, functioning ecosystem? A recent study investigated this question, focusing on the development of nematode communities in Technosols.

What Are Technosols and Why Should You Care?

Industrial wasteland transforming into a green space through Technosols

Technosols are essentially human-made soils, carefully engineered from a mix of materials, often including treated soil, compost, and various recycled wastes. Think of them as custom soil blends designed to address specific environmental challenges. Their construction is a deliberate act of ecological engineering, aiming to kick-start the recovery of damaged landscapes.

These artificial soils aren't just a theoretical concept; they're being put to the test in real-world scenarios. Studies have demonstrated that Technosols can successfully support the growth of both sown and native plants, even on land previously considered unusable. This is a game-changer for reclaiming derelict industrial sites and turning them into green spaces.

Waste Recycling: Technosols offer a productive outlet for recycling industrial byproducts and treated wastes, reducing landfill burden and promoting a circular economy.
Land Restoration: They provide a means to revitalize land degraded by industrial activity, paving the way for ecological recovery and renewed biodiversity.
Ecosystem Services: Beyond plant growth, Technosols can provide essential ecosystem services like nutrient cycling, water filtration, and carbon sequestration.

The study we're focusing on tracked the development of nematode communities in two types of Technosols over four years. Nematodes, tiny worms that live in the soil, play a vital role in nutrient cycling and act as indicators of soil health. By monitoring these communities, scientists can gain insights into how well a Technosol is functioning as a living ecosystem.

The Future of Technosols: A Path Towards Greener Landscapes

The research highlights the importance of understanding soil biota in Technosol development. The rapid colonization and diversification of nematode communities in the Technosols studied suggests that these artificial soils can indeed become thriving ecosystems. The high organic matter content, particularly in the upper layers, appears to be a key factor in supporting nematode colonization and driving biodiversity. As we seek sustainable solutions for land restoration, Technosols offer a promising avenue, turning environmental liabilities into potential assets for a greener future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1134/s1064229318100149, Alternate LINK

Title: Rapid Changes In Soil Nematodes In The First Years After Technosol Construction For The Remediation Of An Industrial Wasteland

Subject: Earth-Surface Processes

Journal: Eurasian Soil Science

Publisher: Pleiades Publishing Ltd

Authors: C. Villenave, G. Séré, C. Schwartz, F. Watteau, A. Jimenez, J. Cortet

Published: 2018-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly are Technosols, and what makes them important for addressing environmental concerns?

Technosols are human-made soils carefully engineered from a mix of materials, often including treated soil, compost, and recycled wastes. They're designed to address specific environmental challenges by kick-starting the recovery of damaged landscapes, revitalizing land degraded by industrial activity, and promoting a circular economy by productively using industrial byproducts.

In what specific ways do Technosols contribute to environmental sustainability beyond just supporting plant growth?

Technosols contribute to waste recycling by offering a productive outlet for industrial byproducts and treated wastes, reducing landfill burden and promoting a circular economy. They facilitate land restoration by revitalizing land degraded by industrial activity, paving the way for ecological recovery and renewed biodiversity. Furthermore, Technosols can provide essential ecosystem services like nutrient cycling, water filtration, and carbon sequestration.

Why is the colonization of nematode communities in Technosols considered a significant indicator of soil health and ecosystem development?

The colonization of nematode communities is crucial because nematodes, as tiny worms living in the soil, play a vital role in nutrient cycling and act as indicators of soil health. Monitoring these communities provides insights into how well a Technosol is functioning as a living ecosystem. The rapid colonization and diversification of nematode communities in the studied Technosols suggest that these artificial soils can indeed become thriving ecosystems.

While Technosols show promise, what aspects of soil biota still need further investigation to maximize their effectiveness in land restoration?

Technosols show great promise in supporting plant life and developing thriving ecosystems. However, a better understanding is needed regarding the complex interactions within the soil biota, including various microorganisms and invertebrates beyond nematodes. Further research could explore optimizing the composition of Technosols to encourage a more diverse and resilient soil ecosystem, thereby enhancing the long-term sustainability of restored lands.

How does the organic matter content in Technosols influence their ability to support biodiversity, and what strategies could enhance this effect?

The high organic matter content, particularly in the upper layers of Technosols, appears to be a key factor in supporting nematode colonization and driving biodiversity. This suggests that managing and enhancing organic matter within Technosols is critical. Future strategies might include incorporating specific types of compost or organic amendments to further boost soil fertility and support a broader range of beneficial organisms. This could lead to even more successful land restoration efforts, turning environmental liabilities into assets for a greener future.