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This study investigated soil fungal biodiversity in wheat-based crop rotation systems on Chernozem soil within the Pannonian Basin, focusing on the effects of tillage, crop rotation, and soil properties. Over three years, soil samples from ten plots were analyzed, revealing significant fungal diversity with Shannon–Wiener diversity indices ranging from 1.90 in monoculture systems to 2.38 in a fertilized two-year crop rotation. Dominant fungi, including Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp., showed distinct preferences for soil conditions such as pH and organic matter (OM). Conservation tillage significantly enhanced fungal diversity and richness, with the highest diversity observed in a three-year crop rotation system incorporating cover crops, which achieved an average winter wheat yield of 7.0 t ha−1—47% higher than unfertilized monoculture systems. Increased OM and nitrogen levels in these systems correlated with greater fungal abundance and diversity. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed strong relationships between fungal communities and soil properties, particularly pH and calcium carbonate content. These findings highlight the importance of tailored crop rotation and tillage strategies to improve soil health, enhance microbial biodiversity, and boost agricultural sustainability in temperate climates, providing valuable insights for mitigating the impacts of intensive farming and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive Spartina alterniflora poses a significant threat to coastal wetland ecosystems. This study investigated the role of sulfur (S) in facilitating the invasion of S. alterniflora in cadmium (Cd)-contaminated coastal wetlands by greenhouse-control-experiment. Results demonstrate that increased S deposition significantly enhanced the formation of acid-volatile sulfur in sediments, thereby reducing the bioavailability of Cd to plants by 41%. Additionally, S supplementation improved plant nutrient uptake and stress tolerance by increasing the C/N ratio and the concentrations of essential mineral elements. These physiological and biochemical changes, including enhanced photosynthesis, increased carbohydrate storage, and improved antioxidant capacity, ultimately contributed to increased shoot and root biomass production by 15% and 31% respectively, and the competitive ability of S. alterniflora. The findings of this study highlight the critical role of S in promoting the invasion of S. alterniflora. Effective strategies can be developed to control the spread of S. alterniflora and protect coastal ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)