Letteratura scientifica selezionata sul tema "Technosols fertility"

Anthropogenic sources such as urban and agricultural runoff, fossil fuel combustion, domestic and industrial wastewater effluents, and atmospheric deposition generate large volumes of nutrient-rich organic and inorganic waste. In their original state under subsurface conditions, they can be inert and thermodynamically stable, although when some of their components are exposed to surface conditions, they undergo great physicochemical and mineralogical transformations, thereby mobilizing their constituents, which often end up contaminating the environment. These residues can be used in the production of technosols as agricultural inputs and the recovery of degraded areas. Technosol is defined as artificial soil made from organic and inorganic waste, capable of performing environmental and productive functions in a similar way to natural ones. This study presents results of international research on the use of technosol to increase soil fertility levels and recover degraded areas in some countries. The conclusions of the various studies served to expand the field of applicability of this line of research on technosols in contaminated spaces. The review indicated very promising results that support the sustainability of our ecosystem, and the improvement achieved with this procedure in soils is comparable to the hybridization and selection of plants that agriculture has performed for centuries to obtain better harvests. Thus, the use of a technosol presupposes a much faster recovery without the need for any other type of intervention.

Urban agriculture is sprouting throughout the world nowadays. New forms of urban agriculture are observed such as rooftop farming. In the case of low-tech rooftop farming projects, based on recycled urban waste, one of the key issues is the type of substrate used, as it determines the functions and ecosystem services delivered by the green roof. Using a five year experimental trial, we quantified the food production potential of Technosols created only with urban wastes (green waste compost, crushed wood, spent mushroom), as well as the soil fertility and the potential contamination of food products. Regarding food production, our cropping system showed promising results across the five years, in relation with the high fertility of the Technosols. This fertility was maintained, as well as the nutrients stocks after five cropping years. Most of the edible crops had trace metals contents below existing norms for toxic trace metals with nevertheless a concern regarding certain some trace metals such as Zn and Cu. There was no trace metal accumulation in the Technosols over time except for Zn. This study confirmed that constructing Technosols only from urban wastes is a suitable and efficient solution to design rooftops for edible production.

The assessment of Technosols quality in urban environments is pivotal for the maintenance of ecosystems impacted by human activities. The study was performed on Technosols constructed in experimental mesocosms in the suburban area of Naples (Southern Italy) to highlight changes in the main soil properties over eight years and to identify the most suitable indices at quality monitoring. In this study, several chemical, biological, and integrated indices were analysed to evaluate the mineral accumulation, potential ecological risk, edaphon activity, fertility, and the overall soil quality. The Technosols showed alkaline pH, nitrogen ranged from 24.5 to 39.5 g kg−1, high organic matter contents above 40 g kg−1, and there were no evident processes of soil compaction. Heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) did not exceed the thresholds defined by the Italian law for urban soils, despite their volcanic components. During eight years, the chemical indices depicted changes in the elements balance and increase in ecological risk; the biological indices indicated a reduction in the fungal fraction (fivefold) and in the resources utilisation and carbon storage. The soil quality index with all parameters highlighted the reduction in the soil quality (from 0.78 to 0.65) due to the decrease of the chemical quality, the increase of microbial stress conditions, and changes of the microbial composition, underlining the importance of integrating chemical and biological information for monitoring Technosols.

Abstract. There is no information on how organisms influence hydrostructural properties of constructed Technosols and how such influence will be affected by the parent-material composition factor. In a laboratory experiment, parent materials, which were excavated deep horizons of soils and green waste compost (GWC), were mixed at six levels of GWC (from 0 to 50 %). Each mixture was set up in the presence/absence of plants and/or earthworms, in a full factorial design (n = 96). After 21 weeks, hydrostructural properties of constructed Technosols were characterized by soil shrinkage curves. Organisms explained the variance of hydrostructural characteristics (19 %) a little better than parent-material composition (14 %). The interaction between the effects of organisms and parent-material composition explained the variance far better (39 %) than each single factor. To summarize, compost and plants played a positive role in increasing available water in macropores and micropores; plants were extending the positive effect of compost up to 40 and 50 % GWC. Earthworms affected the void ratio for mixtures from 0 to 30 % GWC and available water in micropores, but not in macropores. Earthworms also acted synergistically with plants by increasing their root biomass, resulting in positive effects on available water in macropores. Organisms and their interaction with parent materials positively affected the hydrostructural properties of constructed Technosols, with potential positive consequences on resistance to drought or compaction. Considering organisms when creating Technosols could be a promising approach to improve their fertility.

This study established features of the animal population of artificial soil-like bodies – technosols in terms of ecomorphic analysis. The survey was conducted at the research station of the Dnipro State Agricultural University in the city Pokrov in 2012–2014. The experimental polygons were laid within four technosol types: pedozems, sod loess-like lithogenic soils on loam, grey-green clay and red-brown clay. The polygon consisted of 15 transects and each transect was composed of seven test sites. The distance between rows in the polygon was 3 m. Each test site was a square with size 3 × 3 m. The manual sorting of the soil-zoological samples was conducted within each site for areas 0.25 × 0.25 m to the depth where animals were found. Samples were taken in late April or early May. In general, for each period of counting for each polygon 105 soil-zoological samples were taken 123 species of invertebrates were found in the soil macrofauna community of the technosols. These communities are a steppe monoceonosis with a tendency to transformations into pseudoomonoceonosis on account of increased share of pratants. The soil macrofauna of sod lithogenic soils on grey-green clay and loam on loes-like clays is most adapted to xerophilous condition. Animal communities in pedozems and sod-lithogenic soils or on red-brown clay have a more mesophilic character. The trophoceonomorphic structure of the soil macrofauna community indicates a significant potential of the fertility of artificial soil. The aeromorphs’ structure reveals a significant ability of technosols to create cracks and pores, which can lead to hyperaeration. The dominant part of the of soil macrofauna community was hypercarbonatophils. Against the background of the steppe character, the soil macrofauna community had a topomorphic structure that is unusual for natural steppe black soil biogeocenoses on loess-like loam. The trophomorph structure was greatly dominated by phytophages, which indicates the prevalence of processes of mineralization of plant residues under the humification process. The phoromorphic spectrum of soil animal communities was dominated by ecological groups which move without the active construction of tunnels.

Abstract. Constructed Technosols provide an opportunity to recycle urban waste, and are an alternative to the uptake of topsoil from the countryside. Despite potential problems of erosion, compaction or water holding capacity, their physical properties and the resulting water regulation services are poorly documented. In a laboratory experiment, excavated deep horizons of soils and green waste compost (GWC) were mixed at six levels of GWC (from 0 to 50 %). Each mixture was set up in the presence/absence of plants and/or earthworms, in a full factorial design (n = 96). After 21 weeks, hydrostructural properties of constructed Technosols were characterized by soil shrinkage curves. Organisms explained the variance of hydrostructural characteristics (19 %) a little better than parent-material composition (14 %). The interaction between the effects of organisms and parent-material composition explained the variance far better (39 %) than each single factor. To summarize, compost and plants played a positive role in increasing available water in macropores and micropores; plants were extending the positive effect of compost up to 40 and 50 % GWC. Earthworms affected the void ratio for mixtures from 0 to 30 % GWC and available water in micropores, not in macropores. Earthworms also acted synergistically with plants by increasing their root biomass and the resulting positive effects on available water in macropores. Organisms and their interaction with parent materials thus positively affected the hydro-structural properties of constructed Technosols, with potential positive consequences on resistance to drought or compaction. Considering organisms when creating Technosols could be a promising approach to improve their fertility.

Abstract. Mining is one of the main causes of environmental pollution by heavy metals and (re)vegetation of mine spoils is the most effective method of preventing wind and water erosion and the consequent spread of contaminants to surrounding areas. However, plant establishment and growth are conditioned by some limiting factors of mine soils, such as low pH, low fertility, high heavy metal concentration, and a small seed bank to initiate plant establishment. Improving soil physical and chemical properties is required in many cases for successful (re)vegetation programs. In the copper mine of Touro, Galicia, Spain there is a large-scale project of soil amendment underway using technosols, a mixture of several organic residuals, to improve the conditions of mine soils. We evaluated the seed bank of several types of technosols, mine soil and soil from a control area outside the mine by studying seedling emergence in these soils. In a second experiment we evaluated the impact of increasing pH with liming and the admixing of nutrient-rich soil on the growth of two grasses (Lolium perenne and Dactylis glomerata) and two legumes (Medicago sativa and Trifolium subterrraneum) both sown individually and in mixtures. Seedling emergence and species richness were highest in the technosols. Soil amendments promoted plant growth, with the addition of high-nutrient soil being the best amendment for the four plant species tested. Plant growth was impaired in the mine soil. Lolium perenne was the only plant species that germinated and grew in this soil. We found that soil amendments, either through the addition of technosols, pH buffering or nutrient enrichment, are essential for promoting the revegetation of mine areas.

UDK 631.41(497.6) The research was conducted on deposol and rekultisol (technosols) in lignite mine Stanari. The main task of the formed grasslands is to improve the mechanical, chemical and biological properties of the rekultisol and deposol in the reclamation process. The fertility of Stanari deposol is extremely low in comparison to the natural soil. Grassland seeding through direct type of reclamation was conducted in 2008, 2011 and 2012 year. The conducted researches include the changes in the adsorption complex in the surface layer of the treated deposol in the reclamation process. Laboratory analysis of this technogenic soil were carried out before the reclamation and sowing started, and then in the process of reclamation at the end of 2012. On the experimental plots where reclamation measures were implemented, there is a slight improvement in most of the chemical characteristics of the rekultisol. Adsorption capacity and saturation degree of base cations in rekultisol were increased. Proper selection of the agromeliorative and other measures is required in the reclamation process. Well based seeding grasslands contribute to the creation of quality rekultisol.

Based on a conjugated analysis of the official data of Roshydromet on the content of priority heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni) in the soils of 23 cities of the Volga Federal District, as well as Rosstat data on the socio-economic indicators of these settlements, the ecological and geochemical characteristics of urbanozems (Urbic Technosols) and with the help of multivariate statistical analyzes (cluster and factorial), possible relationships between soil pollution parameters and urban features of cities were revealed. For the soils of most cities in the region with average socioeconomic indicators, admissible levels of accumulation of Cd, Pb, Zn, and Cu have been established, which, in terms of concentrations, are close to the average abundance of urban soils in Russia. In small and medium-sized cities of the Republic of Bashkortostan, exceedances of APC Ni in soils are recorded, which reflects the presence of a regional geochemical anomaly of natural and anthropogenic nature in the eastern part of the Volga Federal District, but no correlations between nickel pollution and socio-economic indicators of settlements are revealed. The moderately hazardous level of complex pollution in urbanozems with dominant accumulation of Cd and significantly lower concentration ratios of other heavy metals (Belebey, Davlekanovo, Dzerzhinsk) shows no correlation with the demographic indicators of settlements. The more complex profile of soil pollution (Cd–Zn in Penza or Cu–Cd–Zn in Mednogorsk) shows lower values of the total fertility rate and higher values of the mortality rate (compared with the average regional indicators). In general, using the example of the cities of the Volga Federal District, it is shown that the gradients of increasing concentrations in soils of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and the total pollution index Zc are codirectional with an increase in the general mortality rate of the population.

La végétalisation d'espaces en zone urbaine nécessite l'utilisation de grandes quantités de ressource naturelle terreuse. Pour préserver cette ressource non renouvelable, le génie pédologique propose une stratégie de construction de Technosols fertiles à partir du recyclage de déchets et sous-produits. Les propriétés des Technosols sont alors fortement influencées par les matériaux technogéniques qui les constituent. La formulation de mélanges performants pour la croissance des végétaux urbains passe par une analyse scientifique préalable. La fertilité des mélanges et leur évolution au cours du temps peuvent être appréciées par l'étude du processus d'agrégation et du transfert d'éléments nutritifs lors des stades précoces de la pédogenèse. Le modèle expérimental de Technosol construit proposé dans la Thèse développe une méthodologie aboutissant à la sélection de 11 matériaux (ballasts, béton, boues de station d'épuration urbaine, briques, compost de boues et de déchets verts, déchets de balayage de rue, déchets de démolition, déchets verts, terres excavées de profondeur, sous produits papetiers) représentatifs des gisements de déchets recensés au niveau européen et compatibles avec la construction de sol fertile. Le potentiel fertile initial de chaque matériau pur et de certaines combinaisons de mélanges a été mesuré. Puis des expériences menées en conditions contrôlées ont permis d'évaluer l'effet de différents facteurs pédogénétiques (e.g. anthropique, climatique et biologique) sur les processus déterminant de la fertilité des Technosols construits. Les résultats indiquent (i) qu'il est possible de construire un Technosol fertile exclusivement à partir de deux ou trois déchets aux propriétés physico-chimiques complémentaires; (ii) que les propriétés des mélanges sélectionnés peuvent être modélisées à partir des propriétés initiales de leurs matériaux parents.(iii) que lors des premiers stades d'évolution pédogénétique des mélanges, des agrégats stables se forment en fonction de la nature et des propriétés des matériaux parents, (iv) que les transferts d'éléments nutritifs sont fortement dépendants de la nature des matières organiques et du procédé de mélange des particules entre elles. La libération d'éléments nutritifs (e.g. phosphore) serait liée à la taille et la quantité des agrégats formés et en corollaire à la mise en place d'une organisation porale. Les connaissances acquises sur le fonctionnement et l'évolution des Technosols construits à partir de déchets apportent des connaissances nouvelles pour le génie pédologique. La méthode de choix de déchets ainsi que le procédé de formulation de mélanges développés dans ces travaux permettent d'obtenir des mélanges voire des sols construits performants par rapport à des usages attendus. Les modèles d'évolution des mélanges permettent de prédire au cours du temps la fertilité physico-chimique des Technosols construits. Dans le cadre du programme SITERRE-ADEME (2010-2015), les résultats acquis constituent des bases incontournables dans le développement d'un outil d'aide à la décision pour les gestionnaires (e.g. collectivités, bureaux d'étude, entreprises) auquel doit être associée une expertise sur la construction de sol pour la production de biomasse végétale
Greening of urban spaces requires large amounts of arable soil which is a non-renewable resource. To preserve this resource, a strategy is proposed to build fertile Technosols from wastes and by-products by pedological engineering. The properties of Technosols are highly influenced by their constitutive technogenic materials. In order To create favourable mixtures of materials for urban plant growth a preliminary scientific analysis is required. The fertility of the mixtures and their evolution can be assessed by the study of the aggregation process and nutrients transfer during the first stage of pedogenesis. An experimental model of constructed Technosol is proposed in this work. From this model a methodology is developed for the selection of eleven constitutive materials (e.g. bricks, compost made of sludge and green waste, concrete, demolition rubble, excavated earth materials, green wastes, paper mill sludge, sewage sludge, street sweeping wastes, track ballast). Each of these materials is representative of wastes deposits listed European wide and they are suitable candidates for the construction of fertile soils. The fertility of each pure material and of selected mixtures has been determined. Thereafter, experiments under controlled conditions enabled to assess the impact of different pedogenesis factors (e.g. anthropogenic, climatic and biological) involved in the definition of the fertility of constructed Technosols. The results demonstrate (i) the feasibility of the formulation of fertile constructed Technosols exclusively with two or three wastes presenting contrasted physico-chemical properties; and (ii) that the properties of selected mixtures can be modelled using the initial properties of their constitutive parent materials ; (iii) that during the first stage of pedogenesis of the mixtures, depending on parent materials nature and properties, stable aggregates can be formed, (iv) that nutrients transfer are highly dependent on organic matter nature and the process of particles mixing. The delivery of nutrients (e.g. phosphorus) seems to be related to the amounts and size of the formed aggregates and, consequently, to the established porosity. The understanding of the functioning and evolution of Technosols constructed with waste materials provides new knowledge for the development of pedological engineering. The methodology of wastes selection and the mixing process developed in this work enables us to propose mixtures and constructed soils favourable to various uses. The evolution models of the mixtures developed in this work allow the prediction of the physico-chemical fertility of constructed Technosols. The results acquired during this thesis are the main basis of a decision support tool for green spaces operators developed in the framework of the research program SITERRE-ADEME (2010-2015). The use of this decision support tool for plant biomass production, has to be associated with an expertise in soil construction

Dans un contexte de dégradation des sols suite aux activités anthropiques et d’érosion de la biodiversité, la compréhension du rôle de la faune édaphique dans le fonctionnement des humipedons est d’intérêt croissant. Le développement de stratégies de réhabilitation des sols anthropisés basées sur les concepts de l’ingénierie écologique pourrait notamment s’appuyer sur les actions de transformation des matières organiques que réalisent les organismes saprophages. L’objectif de cette thèse était (i) de caractériser les fonctions écologiques réalisées par les organismes saprophages à travers la production de biostructures sur des sols fortement anthropisés et (ii) d’évaluer leur potentialité de réhabilitation des Technosols de friches industrielles. Pour cela, une démarche intégrative, basée sur le changement d’échelle spatiale, a été menée sur une friche industrielle d’intérêt. Dans un premier temps, il a été mis en évidence que les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des substrats de Technosols peuvent représenter un filtre abiotique pour la colonisation de la faune édaphique, qui se traduit notamment par l’absence de lombricidés anéciques et endogés dans les Technosols. Dans un deuxième temps, à l’échelle de l’humipedon, les résultats ont permis de montrer que la dynamique des matières organiques néoformées par la végétation dépend également de la nature du substrat utilisé lors de la réhabilitation de la friche. En effet, sous l’action des saprophages épigés, une série d’horizons ectorganiques, similaire à celle d’un Moder, s’est développée sur l’horizon technogénique des Technosols. Le terme de « Techno-moder » a ainsi été proposé pour décrire cette nouvelle forme d’humus. Les spécificités chimiques et ultrastructurales de l’horizon zOH du Techno-moder, constitué de biostructures produites par les saprophages, ont également confirmé cette proposition de classification. Pour finir, l’étude en conditions contrôlées des déjections produites par l’isopode saprophage Porcellio scaber a permis de mettre en évidence que les traits physico-chimiques des déjections dépendent du substrat composant le Technosol et de la matière organique apportée. En accord avec ce qui avait été conclu à l’échelle de l’humipedon, il semble donc que les traits des déjections produites par les saprophages épigés soient une caractéristique intrinsèque de l’écosystème, qui résulte des facteurs environnementaux caractérisant l’humipedon des Technosols. Le développement de stratégie de réhabilitation des Technosols par inoculation couplée de saprophages et de matières organiques pourrait ainsi améliorer certaines caractéristiques physico-chimiques des humipedons de Technosols tout en imposant la prise en compte des interactions spécifiques des organismes avec le substrat
In a context of soil degradation and erosion of biodiversity resulting from anthropogenic activities, understanding the role of edaphic fauna in the functioning of humipedons is of growing interest. The development of reclamation strategies on anthropized soils, based on the concepts of ecological engineering, could be based on the actions of transformation of organic matter carried out by saprophagous organisms. The objective of this thesis was (i) to characterize the ecological functions performed by saprophagous organisms through the production of biostructures on anthropized soils and (ii) to assess their potential for the reclamation of brownfields Technosols. To do so, an integrative approach, based on the changes of spatial scale, was carried out on an industrial brownfield of interest. First, it was demonstrated that Technosols physicochemical characteristics can represent an abiotic filter limiting the colonization of edaphic fauna, especially highlighted by the absence of anecic and endogeic earthworms in Technosols. Secondly, at the scale of the humipedon, the results showed that the dynamics of organic matter formed by vegetation also depends on the nature of the substrate used during the rehabilitation of the brownfield. Indeed, under the action of epigeic saprophagous arthropods, a series of ectorganic horizons, similar to the ones of a Moder, developed on the technogenic horizon of Technosols. The term "Techno-moder" has thus been proposed to describe this new humus form. The chemical and ultrastructural features of the Techno-moder zOH horizon, made up of biostructures produced by saprophagous, also confirmed this classification proposal. Finally, feces produced by the saprophagous isopod Porcellio scaber, studied under controlled conditions, allowed to demonstrate that their physicochemical characteristics depend on the Technosol substrate and on organic matter chemical features. In agreement with the conclusions at the humipedon scale, it seems that feces traits produced by the epigeic saprophagous arthropods are an intrinsic characteristic of the ecosystem, which results from the Technosols humipedons composition. The development of Technosols reclamation strategies using coupled inoculation of saprophagous and organic matter could thus improve Technosols humipedons physicochemical characteristics while requiring the specific interactions of organisms with the substrate to be taken into account

Les approches de requalification de sites dégradés répondent de plus en plus à un double enjeu de dépollution et de valorisation. Les sols de ces sites, dits « sols très anthropisés », sont très souvent caractérisés par un fonctionnement dégradé lié aux processus anthropo-génétiques à l'œuvre dans ces contextes. Ces processus sont à l'origine de la présence dans ces sols de matériaux exogènes technogéniques ou naturels en quantités et natures variées. Dans ce contexte, les études et réflexions sur leur gestion s'effectuent classiquement sur la fraction fine, obtenue après tamisage à 2 mm, et laisse de côté la fraction dite « grossière », souvent surreprésentée (jusqu'à 50-60 % en masse). Or cette fraction, souvent considérée comme inerte, ne l'est pas nécessairement et sa présence peut éventuellement orienter le fonctionnement des écosystèmes et leur gestion future. Une approche méthodologique a alors été développée grâce à laquelle les dimensions et la nature des objets à étudier ont été précisément définis à travers l'utilisation d'une échelle granulométrique adaptée et la construction d'une typologie. Le couplage de cette approche à des caractérisations physico-chimiques a démontré la capacité de discrimination de la stratégie de tri mise en œuvre. La typologie a ainsi pu être amendées avec les informations liées aux composés caractéristiques des catégories de matériaux identifiées. Sur cette base, cinq matériaux modèles (anthracite, brique, calcaire, coke de pétrole et laitier de haut fourneau) ont été sélectionnés afin d'aider à la généralisation des résultats. Un processus d'adaptation des méthodes standardisées d'analyses de sol a alors été développé afin d'évaluer la réactivité des fractions granulométriques grossières. Ces dernières ne sont pas inertes et leur réactivité, bien qu'elle soit réduite par rapport à la fraction fine d'un point de vue massique, est uniquement dépendante du type de matériau et de la surface des particules. Pris seuls, les matériaux modèles sélectionnés présentent un niveau de fertilité insuffisant pour le développement du végétal et ne sont que marginalement à l'origine d'une toxicité. Ces résultats indiquent, qu'au sein du sol, les fractions grossières constituent un stock pérenne d'éléments mobilisables dans le temps à travers le processus d'altération mis en jeu par la pédogenèse. Ceci a été confirmé avec des essais de culture de végétaux sur des substrats à la formulation originale associant fractions grossières, fractions fines et matériaux inertes en conditions contrôlées en laboratoire et en lysimètres à l'échelle pilote de terrain. La contribution directe des fractions grossières à l'alimentation de la solution du sol en éléments puis à la nutrition minérale des végétaux est mise en évidence à court et à moyen termes. Ces fractions jouent également un rôle majeur dans le fonctionnement hydrique du sol en contribuant significativement à la rétention, au stockage de l'eau et à la libération d'éléments. Le type de matériau apparaît être le facteur principal gouvernant l'intensité de ces effets. Ces travaux de thèse ont ainsi permis de replacer les fractions granulométriques grossières dans un rôle actif dans le fonctionnement et l'évolution des sols très anthropisés. Les résultats obtenus apportent des connaissances nouvelles pour le génie pédologique et les acteurs de la gestion des sols très anthropisés. A cet effet, une procédure systématique de diagnostic des fractions granulométriques grossières a été proposée dont les effets doivent servir deux objectifs, i) enrichir les connaissances liées aux constituants des fractions grossières et ii) permettre une prise de décision éclairée, basée sur une connaissance plus complète du contenu d'un sol très anthropisé, autorisant une meilleure gestion en fonction du type de renaturation visée
The approaches of requalification of degraded sites increasingly answer the double challenge of depollution and valorization. The soils of these sites, known as "highly anthropized soils", are often characterized by a disturbed functioning due to anthropogenetic impacts. In particular, anthropic actives are responsible for the presence in these soils of exogenous materials, from both technogenic or natural origins, in varying quantities and natures. In this context, all the diagnoses and considerations regarding their management are carried out on the fine fraction, obtained after sieving at 2 mm, and ignore the so-called "coarse" fraction, which is often overrepresented (up to 50-60% by mass). This fraction, considered as inert, may not necessarily be so and its presence may have important consequences on the functioning of ecosystems and their future management.A dedicated methodological approach was developed. First, the dimensions and nature of the objects to be studied were precisely defined using an appropriate granulometric scale and the construction of a typology. This approach coupled to physico-chemical characterizations confirmed the efficiency of the tested screening strategy and fully enabled a precise and meaningful discrimination among coarse materials. The typology was thus implemented with composition characteristics of the material categories. On this basis, five reference materials (anthracite, brick, limestone, petroleum coke and blast furnace slag) were selected in order to allow for the generalization of the results. An adaptation process of standard soil analysis methods was then developed in order to assess the reactivity of coarse granulometric fractions. Results showed that coarse fractions are not inert. Their reactivity, although reduced compared to the fine fraction from a mass point of view, is only dependent on the type of material and the surface of the particles. Taken alone, the selected model materials present an insufficient level of fertility for plant development and are only marginally at the origin of toxicity. In an overall soil system, the coarse fraction constitutes a perennial stock of elements of interest that can be mobilized over time through the weathering processes generated by pedogenesis. The direct contribution of coarse fractions to plant nutrition was confirmed both under controlled conditions in the laboratory and in lysimeters at the pilot field scale. They also significantly contribute to water retention and storage. The type of material is the main factor governing the intensity of these effects.This thesis work has thus positioned the coarse granulometric fractions as being an active part of the functioning of highly anthropized soils. The results obtained provide new knowledge for stakeholders involved in soil engineering and highly anthropized soils management. To this end, a systematic procedure of diagnosis of coarse granulometric fractions has been proposed, the effects of which should serve two purposes, i) to enrich the knowledge related to the constituents of coarse fractions and ii) to allow an insightful decision-making process, based on a complete knowledge of the reality of a highly anthropized soil, authorizing an optimal and sensible management according to the targeted type of renaturation