34th ISTANBUL World Congress on Sustainable Agriculture, Plant Nutrition & Soil Pollution (SAPNSP-26) scheduled on Nov. 23-25, 2026 Istanbul (Türkiye)
Call for papers/Topics
Topics of Interest for Submission include, but are Not Limited to:
1. Core Independent Pillars
These are the foundational topics that define each individual field.
Sustainable Agriculture
Alternative Farming Systems
Organic farming and biodynamic agriculture.
Permaculture and agroforestry.
Conservation agriculture (minimal soil disturbance).
Resource Management
Water-use efficiency and drip irrigation.
Renewable energy integration in farming.
Seed saving and genetic diversity.
Socio-Economic Factors
Fair trade and local food systems.
Agricultural policy and subsidies.
Climate change adaptation strategies.
Plant Nutrition
Plant Physiology & Biochemistry
Photosynthesis and carbon fixation.
Nutrient uptake mechanisms (active vs. passive transport).
Phloem and xylem transport.
Nutrient Classification
Primary Macronutrients: Nitrogen ($N$), Phosphorus ($P$), Potassium ($K$).
Secondary Macronutrients: Calcium ($Ca$), Magnesium ($Mg$), Sulfur ($S$).
Micronutrients: Iron ($Fe$), Zinc ($Zn$), Boron ($B$), Copper ($Cu$), etc.
Deficiency & Toxicity Manifestations
Visual symptoms (chlorosis, necrosis).
Metabolic disruptions.
Soil Pollution
Types of Soil Pollutants
Heavy metals (Lead, Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury).
Organic pollutants (Pesticides, herbicides, petroleum hydrocarbons).
Microplastics and nanoplastics in soil.
Sources of Pollution
Industrial waste and mining activities.
Urban sprawl and electronic waste (e-waste).
Atmospheric deposition (acid rain).
Soil Chemistry & Physics
Soil pH and buffering capacity.
Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC).
Soil texture and porosity affecting pollutant mobility.
2. The Intersections: Where the Worlds Collide
The real magic (and the solutions to our global food crisis) happens where these three subjects overlap.
Plant Nutrition + Sustainable Agriculture
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM): Combining organic fertilizers, chemical fertilizers, and bio-fertilizers to maintain soil fertility sustainably.
Bio-fertilizers & Microbial Inoculants: Using nitrogen-fixing bacteria (like Rhizobium) and Mycorrhizal fungi to enhance nutrient uptake naturally.
Precision Agriculture: Using GPS, drones, and sensor data to apply the exact amount of nutrients a plant needs, minimizing waste.
Green Manuring and Cover Cropping: Growing specific plants to fix nitrogen and return organic matter to the soil.
Plant Nutrition + Soil Pollution
Heavy Metal Uptake & Phytotoxicity: How polluted soil prevents plants from absorbing good nutrients, leading to stunted growth.
The Food Chain Barrier: How plants absorb toxic elements (like Cadmium) and pass them up the food chain to humans.
Nutrient Antagonism due to Pollutants: How an excess of a pollutant can block a plant from absorbing an essential nutrient.
Sustainable Agriculture + Soil Pollution
Phytoremediation: Using specific plants to hyper-accumulate, degrade, or render harmless soil contaminants.
Bioremediation: Using soil microbes to break down organic pollutants like pesticides.
Sustainable Waste Management: Composting agricultural and municipal waste safely without introducing heavy metals back into the soil.
The Grand Nexus: The Ultimate Overlap
This is the center of the Venn diagram where all three fields must work together to solve complex problems:
Eutrophication Control: How sustainable fertilizer application (Plant Nutrition) in farming (Sustainable Ag) prevents nutrient runoff that poisons water and soil (Soil Pollution).
Regenerative Agriculture: A holistic approach that restores degraded, polluted soils while maximizing natural plant nutrition and ensuring long-term food security.