1p3: The impact of hormones on below ground interactions

Abstract

A key requirement for a circular bio-economy is that rest products, e.g. faeces, urine, sewage sludge, are returned to soil for replenishing nutrients for crops. However, a major concern is that these by-products contain hormones, both natural (e.g. testosterone) and from medicinal treatments and reproductive manipulations (e.g. estradiol, progesterone), which may distort ecosystem functioning and crop safety.