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Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in terrestrial and marine environments. This research work studied the occurrence, distribution of MPs and heavy metals associated with these MPs in soils of different land- use types viz. residential, commercial, and industrial areas. We identified 15 types of MP polymers, of which polypropylene (15.51%), polyethylene (12.28%), polyamide (9.57%) were dominant. MPs abundance ranged from 8.54 × 104 to 8.51 × 105 particles/kg of soil. Average abundance of MPs in the three fractions viz. < 1 mm, 1–2 mm, and 2–5 mm were 1.85 × 105, 1.31 × 105, and 697.5 particles/kg of soil, respectively. Among the three land use types, MPs abundance in < 1 mm and 1–2 mm soil fractions were significantly higher in residential areas than that in commercial and industrial areas, i.e. <1 mm: 3.4 × 105, 1.26 × 104 and 9.0 × 104, and 1–2 mm: 2.35 × 105, 8.36 × 104, and 7.50 × 104 particles/kg, respectively, for residential, commercial and industrial areas respectively. The average concentration of Cr, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Ni, Cu and Pb in soils were 31.79, 11047.29, 423.92, 0.05, 11.86, 17.53, 125.95 and 28.29 mg/kg, respectively, whereas that in MPs were 6.27, 2181.64, 277.36, 0.24, 6.43, 8.29, 47.05 and 9.24 mg/kg, respectively. Concentration of Cd sorbed on MPs was higher than those found in soils. Also, Pb and Cd in MPs were positively correlated to MPs abundance, indicating MPs can be vectors of heavy metals in soils. The synergistic effect of MPs and heavy metals might put soil organisms at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Aedes aegypti is a widespread mosquito in tropical and subtropical regions that causes significant mortality and morbidity in humans by transmitting diseases, such as dengue fever and Zika virus disease. Synthetic insecticides, such as pyrethroids, have been used to control Ae. aegypti, but these insecticides can also affect nontarget organisms and contaminate soil and water. This study aimed to investigate the mosquitocidal activity of Pseudomonas mosselii isolated from pond sludge against larvae of Ae. aegypti. RESULTS: Based on the initial results, similar time‐course profiles were obtained for the mosquitocidal activity of the bacterial culture and its supernatant, and the pellet resuspended in Luria–Bertani (LB) medium also showed delayed toxicity. These results imply that the toxic component can be released into the medium from live bacteria. Further research indicated that the toxic component appeared in the supernatant approximately 4 h after a 3‐mL stock was cultured in 200 mL of LB medium. The stabilities of the P. mosselii culture and supernatant stored at different temperatures were also evaluated, and the best culture stability was obtained at 28 °C and supernatant stability at 4 °C. The bacterial culture and supernatant were toxic to larvae and pupae of not only susceptible Ae. aegypti but also pyrethroid‐resistant strains. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the value of the mosquitocidal activity of P. mosselii, which has potential as an alternative insecticide to control pyrethroid‐resistant Ae. aegypti in the field. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how to enhance ecosystem services in urban soils, focusing on managing the microbiome of Technosols to improve soil health and biodiversity. Topics include the impact of urban development on soil quality, the potential benefits of microbial inoculation and diverse plant communities, and strategies for integrating nature-based solutions into urban landscapes.

In the current European Union pesticide risk assessment for soil organisms, effect endpoints from laboratory studies (Tier 1) and field studies (higher‐tier risk assessment) are compared with predicted environmental concentrations in soil, derived from the proposed use pattern. The simple but conservative initial Tier 1 risk assessment considers a range of worst‐case assumptions. In contrast, the higher‐tier assessment focuses on specific conditions tested in the corresponding field study. Effect modeling, such as toxicokinetic–toxicodynamic (TKTD) modeling, is considered a promising future tool to address uncertainties in soil risk assessment, such as extrapolation to different ecological, pedo‐climatical, or agronomical situations, or to serve as an intermediate tier for potential refinement of the risk assessment. For the implementation of TKTD modeling in soil organism risk assessment, data on earthworm growth and reproduction over time are required, which are not provided by the standard Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) 222 laboratory test. The underlying study with carbendazim presents a new earthworm cocoon test design, based on the OECD 222 test, to provide the necessary data as input for TKTD modeling. This proposed test design involves destructive samplings at days 7, 14, 21, and 28, enabling the determination of growth, cocoon number, and the number of juveniles hatched per cocoon in 7‐day intervals. The new cocoon test allowed the disentanglement of the toxic effect of carbendazim in earthworms: At the highest concentration prominent effects on growth and reproductive output were observed, and the number of cocoons was significantly reduced compared to control. The results highlighted different physiological modes of action: effect on growth via higher maintenance costs as a primary mode of action as well as a reduced number of cocoons (effect on reproduction) and a lower number of juveniles hatching from each cocoon (hazard during oogenesis) as a secondary mode of action. We provide an example of how this new test's data can be used to feed a dynamic energy budget theory–TKTD model of Eisenia fetida. We also validate it against the original OECD 222 test design, outlining its potential future use in soil risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1–10. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe widespread use of the herbicide alachlor disrupted the endocrine system of organisms in the soil and severely contaminated the soil. Biodegradable herbicides have become a hot research topic. In this study, the efficient degrading strain Trichoderma harzianum H12 was isolated from the soil which is applied with amide herbicides for a long time. The effects of temperature, pH, strain dosage and oncentration of alachlor on the degradation of alachlor by dominant bacteria were studied. The changing trend of malondialdehyde (MDA) content and related typical enzyme activities in earthworms were analyzed to characterize the changes in toxicity of alachlor and its metabolites. Finally, the dominant bacteria were added into the rhizosphere soil of corn to establish a corn-microorganism combined remediation system. The research results showed that: after 5d, the degradation rate of strain H12 to 50 mg/L alachlor under the optimal conditions was 96.1%. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in earthworms were increased, and the content of MDA was always significantly higher than that in the control group, resulting in lipid peroxidation in earthworms. However, the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) finally recovered to the level of the control group, and the toxicity of metabolites was less than that of alachlor. The degradation rate of the corn and strain H12 combined in the remediation of alachlor-contaminated soil was as high as 85.9%, and the addition of strain H12 alleviated the toxic effects of alachlor on corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diana Wall, a respected environmental and sustainability scientist, has passed away at the age of 80. She was a University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University and made significant contributions to the fields of soil ecology and sustainability science. Diana was a strong advocate for soil biodiversity and emphasized the crucial role of soil organisms in ecosystem processes. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, and her legacy will continue to inspire and impact the scientific community. Additionally, the given text references several sources that provide valuable insights into the formation of soil and the significance of worms in this process, including Charles Darwin's book "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms, with Observations on Their Habits" published in 1881, a review of this book by W. Gifford et al. in 1882, H. Jenny's book "Factors of Soil Formation – A System of Quantitative Pedology" published in 1941, and a global soil biodiversity atlas by A. Orgiazzi et al. published in 2016. [Extracted from the article]

The relationship between species diversity and spatial scale is a central topic in spatial community ecology. Latitudinal gradient is among the core mechanisms driving biodiversity distribution on most scales. Patterns of β-diversity along latitudinal gradient have been well studied for aboveground terrestrial and marine communities, whereas soil organisms remain poorly investigated in this regard. The West Siberian Plain is a good model to address diversity scale-dependence since the latitudinal gradient does not overlap with other possible factors such as elevational or maritime. Here, we collected 111 samples following hierarchical sampling (sub-zones, ecosystem types, microhabitat and replicate samples) and performed multi-scale partitioning of β-diversity of testate amoeba assemblages as a model of study. We found that among-ecosystem β-diversity is a leading scale in testate amoeba assemblages variation. Rare species determine β-diversity at all scale levels especially in the northern regions, where rare taxa almost exclusively accounted for the diversity at the ecosystem level. β-Diversity is generally dominated by the turnover component at all scales in lower latitudes, whereas nestedness prevailed at among-ecosystem scale in higher latitudes. These findings indicate that microbial assemblages in northern latitudes are spatially homogeneous and constrained by historical drivers at larger scales, whereas in southern regions, it is dominated by the turnover component both at the microhabitat and ecosystem scales and therefore determined by recent vegetation and environmental heterogeneity. Overall, we have provided the evidence for the existence of negative latitudinal gradient for among-ecosystem β-diversity but not for among-microhabitat and among-sample β-diversity for terrestrial testate amoeba communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the importance of body size in soil microorganisms and their adaptation to environmental changes in agricultural ecosystems. The study found that smaller microorganisms have stronger resistance to disturbances and higher diversity compared to larger organisms. Smaller microorganisms also have a wider niche breadth, allowing them to deploy survival strategies and survive in various environments. The research highlights the significant role of smaller microorganisms in maintaining stability in the soil microbiome and predicting agroecosystem dynamics. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the mechanisms behind them. [Extracted from the article]

Forests are crucial for supporting various ecosystem functions and biodiversity, but they are vulnerable to global change drivers such as climate change and land use change. The special issue "How belowground biodiversity affects ecosystem functions of forests" explores the relationship between belowground biodiversity and ecosystem functions in forests. The papers in the special issue cover topics such as the potential drivers of soil microbial biodiversity, the effects of belowground biodiversity on multiple ecosystem functions, and the implications for future research. The findings highlight the importance of belowground biodiversity in maintaining ecosystem functions and provide insights for forest management and biodiversity conservation. [Extracted from the article]

Civilian and military activities are sources of water and soil contamination by inorganic and organic contaminants caused by shooting practices, warfare, and/or mechanized military training. Lead poisoning and contaminant bioaccumulation due to spent shots or other related military contaminants have been widely studied for mammals, birds, and plants. Although there are different papers on the impact on earthworms, information on micro and mesofauna (i.e., collembola, nematodes, etc.) is still scarce. Here, we review the published data regarding the impact of civilian and military shooting activities, including war-impacted areas, focusing on soil organisms, from microbial communities to the ecotoxicological effects on terrestrial organisms. One hundred eleven studies were considered where earthworms and enchytraeids were widely studied, especially under ecotoxicological assays with Pb and energetic-related compounds from military explosives. There is a lack of information on soil organism groups, such as mites, ants, or gastropods, which play important roles in soil function. Data from combined exposures (e.g., PTEs + TNT and PTEs + PAHs) is scarce since several studies focused on a single contaminant, usually Pb, when combined contaminants would be more realistic. Ecotoxicological assays should also cover other understudied ammunition elements, such as Bi, Cu, or W. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture has gained increasing importance in response to the continuous growth of the world population and constant need for food. To avoid production losses, farmers commonly use pesticides. Mancozeb is a fungicide used in agriculture as this compound is effective in combating fungi that harm crops. However, this fungicide may also produce damage to non-target organisms present in soil and water. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of exposure to mancozeb on survival rate, locomotor activity, behavior, and oxidative status utilizing adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of this pesticide. The experimental groups were negative control, positive control, and mancozeb (0.3; 1.02; 3.47; 11.8 or 40 μg/L). Zebrafish were exposed to the respective treatments for 96 hr. Exposure to mancozeb did not markedly alter survival rate and oxidative status of Danio rerio. At a concentration of 11.8 μg/L, the fungicide initiated changes in locomotor pattern of the animals. The results obtained suggest that the presence of mancozeb in the environment might produce locomotor alterations in adult zebrafish, which subsequently disrupt the animals' innate defense mechanisms. In nature, this effect attributed to mancozeb on non-target organisms might result in adverse population impacts and ecological imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using desi-cow waste products like Jeevamrit under natural farming is widespread among farmers for improving soil biology and productivity. Jeevamrit enhances soil chemical and microbiological properties without needing a large quantity of farmyard manure (FYM) as a sustainable farming practice with a reduced carbon footprint. Despite its traditional use, Jeevamrit faces criticism due to a lack of scientific evidence. This study investigated the comparative effect of Jeevamrit and chemical fertilizers on the growth and yield of marigold cv. Siracole. The experiment employed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The mother block of marigolds was raised for both the summer and winter seasons. From this mother block, three harvesting flushes were taken and propagated from cuttings. The rooted cuttings were planted at monthly intervals and evaluated for flowering parameters and compared to those treated with RDF (30:20:20 N, P, and K g/m2). Soil supplied with Jeevamrit showed enhanced bacteria (26.33%), fungi (18.92%), and actinomycetes (31.21%) populations compared to the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (i.e., N–P–K @ 30:20:20 g m−2). Jeevamrit-treated plants have a more marketable flower yield per square meter (3.98%) and a longer shelf life (9.93%) compared to RDF. The study concludes that Jeevamrit @ 2 liters m−2 is a sustainable and effective alternative to traditional fertilizers for enhancing marigold production in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, where natural farming is already accepted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a summary of a special issue in the journal Toxics that focuses on the use of Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for removing emerging organic contaminants from water. The articles in this issue discuss the potential toxic effects of these contaminants and highlight the effectiveness of AOPs in degrading them. The research presented in the articles demonstrates the efficiency of AOPs in removing organic pollutants and emphasizes the need for sustainable solutions to environmental pollution. The document also includes a list of the articles in the special issue, along with the authors' contributions and conflicts of interest. [Extracted from the article]

Due to the widespread use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for soil remediation and nano‐enabled sustainable agriculture, there is a growing concern regarding the behavior and fate of ENMs released into soil systems in the presence of natural root exudates (REs). Herein, we investigate the influence of REs on the fate and ecological effect of ENMs from a comprehensive perspective. We summarize the key roles reported in the literature for REs in physical changes (e.g., adsorption, dispersion/aggregation), chemical changes (e.g., oxidation/redox reactions, and dissolution), and biotransformation of ENMs, which will further determine the ecological risk of ENMs in natural soil systems. Moreover, this review highlights the potential adverse effects of ENMs on different soil organisms (e.g., bacteria, plants, and eisenia foetida) in the presence of REs. The remaining unclear mechanisms (e.g., oxidative stress and DNA damage) of ENMs toxicity at the cellular level influenced by REs are reviewed and presented. Finally, the review concludes by addressing the current knowledge gaps and challenges in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rhizosphere microbiome displays structural and functional dynamism driven by plant, microbial, and environmental factors. While such plasticity is a well-evidenced determinant of host health, individual and community-level microbial activity within the rhizosphere remain poorly understood, due in part to the insufficient taxonomic resolution achieved through traditional marker gene amplicon sequencing. This limitation necessitates more advanced approaches (e.g., long-read sequencing) to derive ecological inferences with practical application. To this end, the present study coupled synthetic long-read technology with avidity sequencing to investigate eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbiome dynamics within the soybean (Glycine max) rhizosphere under field conditions. Results: Synthetic long-read sequencing permitted de novo reconstruction of the entire 18S-ITS1-ITS2 region of the eukaryotic rRNA operon as well as all nine hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. All full-length, mapped eukaryotic amplicon sequence variants displayed genus-level classification, and 44.77% achieved species-level classification. The resultant eukaryotic microbiome encompassed five kingdoms (19 genera) of protists in addition to fungi – a depth unattainable with conventional short-read methods. In the prokaryotic fraction, every full-length, mapped amplicon sequence variant was resolved at the species level, and 23.13% at the strain level. Thirteen species of Bradyrhizobium were thereby distinguished in the prokaryotic microbiome, with strain-level identification of the two Bradyrhizobium species most reported to nodulate soybean. Moreover, the applied methodology delineated structural and compositional dynamism in response to experimental parameters (i.e., growth stage, cultivar, and biostimulant application), unveiled a saprotroph-rich core microbiome, provided empirical evidence for host selection of mutualistic taxa, and identified key microbial co-occurrence network members likely associated with edaphic and agronomic properties. Conclusions: This study is the first to combine synthetic long-read technology and avidity sequencing to profile both eukaryotic and prokaryotic fractions of a plant-associated microbiome. Findings herein provide an unparalleled taxonomic resolution of the soybean rhizosphere microbiota and represent significant biological and technological advancements in crop microbiome research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex meso- and microclimatic heterogeneity inherent to mountainous regions, driven by both topographic and biotic factors, and the lack of observations, poses significant challenges to using climate models to predict and understand impacts at various scales. We present here a six-year dataset (2017–2022) of continuous climatic measurements collected at five elevations from 983 m to 2705 m above sea level in the Val Mazia - Matschertal valley in the Italian Alps. The measurements include the air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, soil properties, precipitation, and snow height. Collected within the European Long-Term Ecological Research program (LTER), this dataset is freely available in an open access repository. The time series may be valuable for the validation of regional climate models, atmospheric exchange modelling, and providing support for hydrological models and remote sensing products in mountain environments. Additionally, our data may be useful for research on the influence of elevation on ecological processes such as vegetation growth, plant composition, and soil biology. Beyond its utility in advancing such fundamental research, meteorological monitoring data contribute to informed socio-political decisions on climate adaptation strategies, land management, and water resource planning, enhancing the safety and resilience of mountain communities and biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the toxicological mechanisms of pesticide mixtures on soil organisms, this study concentrated on evaluating enzymatic activity and gene expression changes in the earthworm Eisenia fetida (Savigny 1826). Despite being frequently exposed to multiple pesticides, including the common combination of abamectin (ABA) and carbendazim (CAR), environmental organisms have primarily been studied for the effects of individual pesticides. Acute toxicity results exhibited that the combination of ABA and CAR caused a synergistic impact on E. fetida. The levels of MDA, ROS, T-SOD, and caspase3 demonstrated a significant increase across most individual and combined groups, indicating the induction of oxidative stress and cell death. Additionally, the expression of three genes (hsp70, gst, and crt) exhibited a significant decrease following exposure to individual pesticides and their combinations, pointing toward cellular damage and impaired detoxification function. In contrast, a noteworthy increase in ann expression was observed after exposure to both individual pesticides and their mixtures, suggesting the stimulation of reproductive capacity in E. fetida. The present findings contributed to a more comprehensive understanding of the potential toxicity mechanisms of the ABA and CAR mixture, specifically on oxidative stress, cell death, detoxification dysfunction, and reproductive capacity in earthworms. Collectively, these data offered valuable toxicological insights into the combined effects of pesticides on soil organisms, enhancing our understanding of the underlying risks associated with the coexistence of different pesticides in natural soil environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Naphthalene (NAP) was frequently detected in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)-contaminated soil, and its residues may pose an eco-toxicological threat to soil organisms. The toxic effects of NAP were closely tied to phenolic and quinone metabolites in biological metabolism. However, the present knowledge concerning the eco-toxicological impacts of NAP metabolites at the animal level is scanty. Here, we assessed the differences in the eco-toxicological responses of Eisenia fetida (E. fetida) in NAP, 1-naphthol (1-NAO) or 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NQ) contaminated soils. NAP, 1-NAO, and 1,4-NQ exposure triggered the onset of oxidative stress as evidenced by the destruction of the antioxidant enzyme system. The lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidative damage levels induced by 1-NAO and 1,4-NQ were higher than those of NAP. The elevation of DNA damage varied considerably depending on differences in oxidative stress and the direct mode of action of NAP or its metabolites with DNA. All three toxicants induced different degrees of physiological damage to the body wall, but only 1, 4-NQ caused the shedding of intestinal epithelial cells. The integrated biomarker response for different exposure times illustrated that the comprehensive toxicity at the animal level was 1,4-NQ > 1-NAO > NAP, and the time-dependent trends of oxidative stress responses induced by the three toxicants were similar. At the initial stage, the antioxidant system of E. fetida responded positively to the provocation, but the ability of E. fetida to resist stimulation decreased with the prolongation of time resulting in provocation oxidative damage. This study would provide new insights into the toxicological effects and biohazard of PAHs on soil animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organisms play a key role in carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. While soil organisms are strongly influenced by litter chemistry and are highly sensitive to abiotic conditions, little is known about the interactive effects of these two factors. To address this gap in knowledge, we conducted a 10 week microcosm experiment in which we simulated the effects of climate change on soil ecology. More specifically, we studied relationships among litter nutrient concentration, microbial biomass, Collembola demographic parameters, and litter decomposition, exploring the potential impacts of increasing air temperature and decreasing soil moisture. To develop a gradient of nutrient concentrations, we created six tree litter mixtures with materials gathered from Quercus pubescens and its companion species. In contrast to microbes, we observed that Collembola abundance and litter decomposition were interactively affected by soil moisture and air temperature: the negative effect of increasing air temperature on Collembola abundance was amplified by reduced soil moisture, whereas the positive effect of increasing air temperature on litter decomposition disappeared under reduced soil moisture conditions. In contrast to fungi, the response of bacterial biomass and Collembola abundance to litter nutrient concentration was dependent on abiotic conditions. More specifically, the relationships between nutrients, especially calcium and magnesium, and bacterial biomass and Collembola abundance were less robust or disappeared under drier or warmer conditions. In conclusion, our findings underscore that ongoing climate change could affect soil organisms directly as well as indirectly, by altering their responses to litter nutrient concentrations. In addition, we found that nutrient‐rich habitats might be more affected than nutrient‐poor habitats by altered climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical soil disturbance is one among the key factors influencing soil biodiversity in agriculture. Although many soil organisms are sensitive to soil disturbance, fungi could be highly impacted due to their sessile lifestyle, relatively slow growth and filamentous body structure. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are of particular interest in arable lands, providing crop plants with numerous vital services such as nutrient acquisition and protection against abiotic and biotic stressors. Considering this, tillage practices that aim to reduce soil disturbance are often seen as a fungal‐friendly alternative to conventional inversion tillage. Although local studies exist on the impacts of minimal tillage practices on AM fungi, the universality of this approach has been debated. Our objective was to assess the effects of reduced tillage intensity on AM fungi in comparison with conventional tillage. Using high‐throughput sequencing techniques in long‐term field experiments in five European countries, we show that the effects of reduced tillage intensity may not necessarily be positive on soil AM fungal diversity. Plots which were tilled using reduced tillage techniques had lower AM fungal richness in three countries, whereas in one of them, no significant differences were found. We also observed a shift in AM fungal communities where prevalence of taxa preferring root colonisation rather than soil exploration increased under reduced tillage regimes. Here, we argue that more detailed and long‐term studies are needed to understand the factors that could make the reduction of soil disturbance more beneficial to AM fungi if agricultural sustainability goals are to be met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging knowledge of plant–soil biotic interactions and the role of soil organisms in shaping the world aboveground is advancing our understanding of ecosystem function. Nematodes are the most abundant animals on Earth. They are morphologically and functionally diverse, and play key roles in ecosystem function, making them ideal for developing a trait-based understanding of adaptation to the environment and for assessing their contributions to ecosystem function. Trait-based approaches allow us to capture the functional attributes of organisms beyond their taxonomic identity, provide insights on evolutionary fitness, and make global comparisons possible. We propose the nematode economics spectrum (NES), analogous to the plant economic spectrum, which describes the tradeoffs among growth, reproduction, and survival, potentially enabling us to predict the impacts of global change on nematode ecological strategies and the associated changes in ecosystem function. Trait-based approaches are being increasingly adopted to understand species' ecological strategies and how organisms influence ecosystem function. Trait-based research on soil organisms, however, remains poorly developed compared with that for plants. The abundant and diverse soil nematodes are prime candidates to advance trait-based approaches belowground, but a unified trait framework to describe nematode ecological strategies and assess their linkages with ecosystem function is lacking. We categorized nematode traits as morphological, physiological, life history, and community clusters, and proposed the nematode economics spectrum (NES) to better understand nematode ecological strategies and their association with ecosystem function. We argue that bridging the NES and the plant economics spectrum will facilitate a more holistic understanding of ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling under global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil supports many ecosystem services (ES) essential to human well‐being. Rapid developments in digital soil mapping (DSM) allow the mapping of soil types and soil properties with improved resolution and accuracy. However, the potential of DSM to improve the assessment and mapping of ES is not fully exploited. To better understand this potential, we synthesized the peer‐reviewed literature. We examined what empirical studies reveal about the role of soil properties in the assessment of four major ES provided by the forest: (I) timber production, (II) soil carbon storage, (III) regulation of water flow and provision of clean water, and (IV) the soil as a habitat for organisms. Results revealed that soil properties are strongly related to the provision of ES. Therefore, using DSM could greatly improve the assessment of the ES provided by forests. Several variables were related to specific ES regardless of region or ecosystem types, but others were found to be situation‐specific (climate and soil type) and need to be considered at the proper scale or within a proper land classification framework. DSM products have the potential to greatly improve the assessment of ES by turning qualitative relationships between soil and ES to quantitative ones. This could also lead to the discovery of new soil–ES relationships. For this potential to be realized, progress should be made in mapping the most crucial soil parameters with greater precision and in promoting the use of soil parameters in ES assessment. Core Ideas: Soil properties are major determinants of forest ecosystem services (ES).Advances in digital soil mapping are generating better spatial estimates of soil properties.Soil properties are rarely used to evaluate ES.A literature review identifies how soil property maps could help improve the assessment of four ES.The ES considered are timber production, soil carbon storage, water quality/quantity, and habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of climate change on plant adaptation, with a specific focus on belowground processes and root system architecture. It emphasizes the significance of the rhizosphere and the role of the rhizosphere microbiome in plant-soil interactions. The article also highlights the importance of breeding crops with deeper rooting systems to enhance resilience to drought and nutrient availability. Additionally, it explores the role of root exudates and rhizosphere processes in carbon and nitrogen cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. The editorial underscores the need for further research to fully comprehend and address the challenges posed by climate change. [Extracted from the article]

Background and aims: Biological invasions have tremendous effects on soil biodiversity. Although the effects of invasive plants on soil biota have been widely investigated, how soil fauna invasion affects native soil biodiversity in island ecosystems remains unclear. Methods: Field survey in non-invaded and invaded sites was conducted to investigate the effects of the giant African snail invasion on native soil biodiversity on tropical coral islands. Results: The effects of snail invasion on native soil biodiversity were strongly dependent on sampling seasons. Fungal biomass, microbial diversity, and nematode abundance (except omnivores/predators) increased by snail invasion in the dry season but decreased in the wet season. Mite abundance and diversity increased, whereas the activities of β-1,4-glucosidase, β-D-cellobiosidase, β-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and alkaline phosphatase decreased by snail invasion in both dry and wet seasons. Snail invasion homogenized the seasonal community composition of nematodes, the fungi: bacteria ratio (F: B ratio), and the Gram-positive: Gram-negative bacteria ratio (GP: GN ratio). These results together indicate that snail invasion does not have greater effects on soil biota at lower trophic levels but also has great effects on those at higher trophic levels. Soil moisture, soil organic carbon, available phosphorus, and potassium were important factors explaining the variation of soil biodiversity under snail invasion. Conclusion: These results together indicate that alien snail invasion weakens the seasonal variation of native soil biodiversity by altering soil resource availability. Such information is valuable for improving our understanding of the ecological consequences of alien organism invasion on soil biodiversity in tropical coral islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting how biological communities assemble in restored ecosystems can assist in conservation efforts, but most research has focused on plants, with relatively little attention paid to soil microbial organisms that plants interact with. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are an ecologically significant functional group of soil microbes that form mutualistic symbioses with plants and could therefore respond positively to plant community restoration. To evaluate the effects of plant community restoration on AM fungi, we compared AM fungal abundance, species richness, and community composition of five annually cultivated, conventionally managed agricultural fields with paired adjacent retired agricultural fields that had undergone prairie restoration 5–9 years prior to sampling. We hypothesized that restoration stimulates AM fungal abundance and species richness, particularly for disturbance‐sensitive taxa, and that gains of new taxa would not displace AM fungal species present prior to restoration due to legacy effects. AM fungal abundance was quantified by measuring soil spore density and root colonization. AM fungal species richness and community composition were determined in soils and plant roots using DNA high‐throughput sequencing. Soil spore density was 2.3 times higher in restored prairies compared to agricultural fields, but AM fungal root colonization did not differ between land use types. AM fungal species richness was 2.7 and 1.4 times higher in restored prairies versus agricultural fields for soil and roots, respectively. The abundance of Glomeraceae, a disturbance‐tolerant family, decreased by 25% from agricultural to restored prairie soils but did not differ in plant roots. The abundance of Claroideoglomeraceae and Diversisporaceae, both disturbance‐sensitive families, was 4.6 and 3.2 times higher in restored prairie versus agricultural soils, respectively. Species turnover was higher than expected relative to a null model, indicating that AM fungal species were gained by replacement. Our findings demonstrate that restoration can promote a relatively rapid increase in the abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities that had been degraded by decades of intensive land use, and community compositional change can be predicted by the disturbance tolerance of soil microbial taxonomic and functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper contamination stemming from copper-based pesticides poses a grave concern in vineyards and orchards, causing toxicity to soil organisms. Here, we present a comprehensive review of global data encompassing copper levels in these soils, coupled with variables such as the age of agricultural establishments, climate, soil organic matter content, soil pH, and farming practices (organic vs. conventional). The results suggest that there are three pivotal determinants driving copper content in vineyard and orchard soils: climate, the age of agricultural establishments, and soil organic matter content. It was impossible to estimate soil pH's effect on soil copper content because of its dependence on precipitation. Copper content in vineyard and orchard soils worldwide follows a direct correlation with precipitation while inversely correlating with aridity (i.e. potential evapotranspiration divided by precipitation). Furthermore, a clear linkage emerges between farm age and increased copper content in soils globally. Intriguingly, the increased soil organic matter content has shown inverse impacts on soil copper levels. These effects of soil properties on soil copper contents were discussed in terms of copper losses from soil via surface runoff. However, no discernible disparities in soil copper content between organic and conventional farming systems were found. This worldwide survey not only underscores the established influence of climate on European vineyards but also sheds novel light on the historical legacy of copper contamination in these landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread application of conventional chemical fertilizers has led to various environmental issues, including reduced food quality, soil degradation, and harm to beneficial soil organisms. Conversely, the use of Nano-fertilizers holds promise as a potential solution to address these challenges. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of supplementing small quantities of Nano-fertilizers in conjunction with conventional NPK fertilizers to reduce the overall volume of traditional fertilizers when cultivating spinach plants. Moreover, the performance of micro Nano fertilizers (Fe, Zn) with spinach plants was assessed in comparison to the performance of chelated fertilizers. A split-plot experimental design was utilized, consisting of twenty treatments with three replicates, which were the simple possible combination between four NPK additions as main plots and five foliar applications of Fe and Zn as sub main factor. Main factor treatments were T1: 100% recommended dose of NPK as traditional bulk form,T2: 75% recommended dose of NPK as traditional bulk form + 15% recommended dose of NPK as Nano form,T3: 50% recommended dose of NPK as traditional bulk form + 15% recommended dose of NPK as Nano form andT4: 25% recommended dose of NPK as Nano form. While, the sub main factor treatments were F1: Control (without foliar),F2: Fe- Nano (10mg L-1, Fe2O3 Nanoparticles), F3: Zn- Nano (10mg L-1, ZnO Nanoparticles), F4: Fe- EDTA (100mg L-1 using Fe -EDTA 6% Fe) and F5: Zn- EDTA (100mg L-1 using Zn -EDTA 6%Zn). The T2 treatment emerged as the most effective in achieving the highest values for all the all the measured parameters such as plant height (cm), fresh and dry weights (g plant-1), leaf area (cm2 plant-1) and yield (ton ha-1) of spinach plants at the harvest stage. It was followed closely by the T3 treatment . In contrast, the T1 treatment ranked third after both T3 and T2. Lastly, the T4 treatment was found to have the least impact on these growth parameters and yield. Fe treatments exhibited greater effectiveness when compared to the Zn treatments. Furthermore, the data demonstrate that the Nano form exhibited greater effectiveness when compared to the chelated form in the context of both Fe and Zn treatments. Generally, it can be noticed that the F2 treatment was the superior for obtaining the maximum values for the most of studied traits. Therefore, it is recommended that farmers and agricultural practitioners consider adopting this approach to optimize crop performance while minimizing the environmental impact of conventional chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background The rhizosphere microbiome displays structural and functional dynamism driven by plant, microbial, and environmental factors. While such plasticity is a well-evidenced determinant of host health, individual and community-level microbial activity within the rhizosphere remain poorly understood, due in part to the insufficient taxonomic resolution achieved through traditional marker gene amplicon sequencing. This limitation necessitates more advanced approaches (e.g., long-read sequencing) to derive ecological inferences with practical application. To this end, the present study coupled synthetic long-read technology with avidity sequencing to investigate eukaryotic and prokaryotic microbiome dynamics within the soybean (Glycine max) rhizosphere under field conditions. Results Synthetic long-read sequencing permitted de novo reconstruction of the entire 18S-ITS1-ITS2 region of the eukaryotic rRNA operon as well as all nine hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. All full-length, mapped eukaryotic amplicon sequence variants displayed genus-level classification, and 44.77% achieved species-level classification. The resultant eukaryotic microbiome encompassed five kingdoms (19 genera) of protists in addition to fungi – a depth unattainable with conventional short-read methods. In the prokaryotic fraction, every full-length, mapped amplicon sequence variant was resolved at the species level, and 23.13% at the strain level. Thirteen species of Bradyrhizobium were thereby distinguished in the prokaryotic microbiome, with strain-level identification of the two Bradyrhizobium species most reported to nodulate soybean. Moreover, the applied methodology delineated structural and compositional dynamism in response to experimental parameters (i.e., growth stage, cultivar, and biostimulant application), unveiled a saprotroph-rich core microbiome, provided empirical evidence for host selection of mutualistic taxa, and identified key microbial co-occurrence network members likely associated with edaphic and agronomic properties. Conclusions This study is the first to combine synthetic long-read technology and avidity sequencing to profile both eukaryotic and prokaryotic fractions of a plant-associated microbiome. Findings herein provide an unparalleled taxonomic resolution of the soybean rhizosphere microbiota and represent significant biological and technological advancements in crop microbiome research.

This article explores the impact of boron contamination on spinach plants and the potential mitigating effects of silicon and NPK fertilizer. The study found that increasing levels of boron in the soil led to a decrease in plant growth and various physiological parameters. However, the addition of silicon and fertilizer helped alleviate the negative effects of boron toxicity and improved plant growth. The research suggests that silicon and NPK application can be effective in reducing boron toxicity in spinach plants. [Extracted from the article]

Sequestration of carbon (C) in arable cropping systems is considered one of the potential climate change mitigation strategies. In this context, assessing the potential of sugarcane cropping systems should be a priority, as it leaves substantial amounts of recyclable residues essential for maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC), improving soil health, and strengthening overall resources. We evaluated the impacts of residue retention and nutrient management practices on SOC and its pools, storage, soil biology, and yield in a multi-ratooning sugarcane system. A field experiment was conducted in the split-plot design with residue burning (RB) and residue retention (RR) as the main plot treatments and three nutrient management practices, that is, 25% of the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF, i.e., 300:150:150 kg of N, P2O5, and K2O kg ha-1, respectively) as basal + 75% through fertigation (N1); 50% of RDF as basal + 50% through fertigation (N2); and 75% of RDF as basal + 25% through fertigation (N3) as subplot treatments in ratoon sugarcane. Soil samples were collected initially and after 6 years of multi-ratooning (one plant and four ratoon crops) from a soil depth of 0-30cm. The results indicated that RR plots had 21% higher total SOC with 42, 47, 17, and 13% higher very labile, labile, less labile, and non-labile C pools, respectively, than RB plots (P < 0.05). RR also had a higher lability and recalcitrant index than RB. Of the total SOC stock, the contribution of passive pools was higher (72-75%) than active pools. Significantly higher dehydrogenase activity (DHA) (86%), alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) (16%), and ß-glucosidase activity (BGA) (22%) were observed in RR plots as compared to RB plots, whereas for nutrient management practices, it followed the order of N2 > N3> N1. Microbial counts also followed the same trend as that of enzyme activities. Residue retention practices reported higher C sequestration (0.68Mg C ha-1 yr-1), carbon retention efficiency (37%), and yield (38%) with a potential to reduce GHG emissions by 2.72Mg CO2 ha-1 yr-1 as compared to traditional practices. Residue retention and 50-75% RDF as basal is recommended for higher soil C retention and soil biology for sustained sugarcane productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nocardia is an ubiquitous soil organism. As an opportunistic pathogen, inhalation and skin inoculation are the most common routes of infection. Lungs and skin are the most frequent sites of nocardiosis. Testis is a highly unusual location for nocardiosis. Case presentation: We report the case of an immunocompromised 75-year-old-man admitted for fever of unknown origin. He presented with skin lesions after gardening and was first suspected of Mediterranean spotted fever, but he did not respond to doxycycline. Then, physical examination revealed new left scrotal swelling that was compatible with a diagnosis of epididymo-orchitis. The patient's condition did not improve despite empirical antibiotic treatment with the onset of necrotic scrotal abscesses requiring surgery. Nocardia brasiliensis yielded from the removed testis culture. High-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and ceftriaxone were started. Multiple micro-abscesses were found in the brain and spinal cord on imaging studies. After 6 weeks of dual antibiotic therapy for disseminated nocardiosis, slight regression of the brain abscesses was observed. The patient was discharged after a 6-month course of antibiotics and remained relapse-free at that time of writing these lines. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole alone is meant to be pursued for 6 months thereafter. We undertook a literature review on previously reported cases of genitourinary and urological nocardiosis; to date, only 36 cases have been published with predominately involvement of kidney, prostate and testis. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of Nocardia brasiliensis simultaneously infecting skin, testis, brain and spinal cord in an immunocompromised patient. Knowledge on uncommon forms of nocardiosis remains scarce. This case report highlights the difficulty of diagnosing atypical nocardiosis and the importance of prompt bacteriological sampling in case of empirical antibiotics failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A bibliometric analysis of studies on the topic of earthworm in the soil ecosystem was conducted to reveal the research advances and trends in the field. The ecological effects of earthworms, the impact of agricultural activities on earthworms, earthworm ecotoxicology and earthworm invasion were four research hotspots on the topic and "impact", ''biodiversity", "oxidative stress", "diversity", "response", "Eisenia fetida" and "exposure" have been the emerging active topics. The earthworm, as a soil engineer, plays highly important roles in the soil ecosystem for shaping soil structure, promoting soil fertility, regulating microbial community composition and activities and decomposing soil pollutants. However, the research progresses on this important soil fauna have rarely been reviewed so far. Therefore, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of the literature published during 1900–2022, which was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS). The results showed that three periods (1900–1990, 1991–2005 and 2006–2022) could be identified in terms of the intensity of publications on the topic, and the number of publications kept increasing since 2006. The United States produced the highest publication record at the country scale, whereas Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institution. Chinese institutions and authors played an active and prominent role during 2018–2022. Soil Biology & Biochemistry was the most popular journal for the topic-related research. In these publications, Professor Lavelle P was the most influential author. Based on a citation network of the top 50 cited papers, four hotspots were identified, i.e., the ecological effects of earthworms, the impact of agricultural activities on earthworms, earthworm ecotoxicology and earthworm invasion. Moreover, "impact", "biodiversity", "oxidative stress", "diversity", "response", "Eisenia fetida" and "exposure" were the emerging and active topics in recent years. This study can help us to better understand the relevant subject categories, journals, countries, institutions, authors and articles and identify the research hotspots and emerging trends in the field of soil earthworm research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soil sodicity is a major abiotic stress for crop production in many parts of the world. Soil enzymes have been proposed as potential indicators of soil quality due to their connection to soil biology, ease of measurement and quick responsiveness to changes in soil management. Concerning that how different levels of sodicity affects the activity of soil enzymes, soil MBC and antioxidant enzymes in different rice varieties will promote us to understand the mechanism behind the tolerant varieties and to find out the ways to improve the tolerance mechanism. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu during September 2022 to January 2023. Different rice varieties viz., TRY 1, CO 43, TRY 2, CSR 27, TRY 3 and white ponni (WP) were grown at different levels of Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) i.e., 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 and 48 under field condition. The soil samples were collected at flowering stage and analyzed for urease, alkaline phosphatase (APH), dehydrogenase (DHG) and soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC). The plant samples collected at flowering stage were examined for activity of antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX). Result: The growth and yield decreases with increasing sodicity levels. The soil enzyme and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) found to be decreased with increasing ESP levels. The antioxidant enzyme increases with increase in sodicity levels in tolerant varieties and decreases at high ESP levels in susceptible varieties. Overall TRY 3 outperformed under increasing sodicity levels compared to other varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study conducted in a temperate grassland in China that examined the impact of nitrogen (N) input on soil bacterial and fungal communities. The study found that increasing N input resulted in a decrease in the complexity of soil bacterial co-occurrence networks, indicating a decline in competitive interactions but strengthened cooperative interactions. However, N input did not have an effect on soil fungal network complexity. The study also revealed that N input influenced bacterial life history strategy, favoring copiotrophs and increasing the r-/K-strategy ratio. The reduction in bacterial co-occurrence network complexity was directly influenced by the increased bacterial r-/K-strategy ratio. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into how microbial traits shape interactions and co-occurrence networks in response to global changes. [Extracted from the article]

This document provides summaries of various research studies related to potato breeding, genetics, cultivation, disease management, and storage. The studies cover topics such as optimizing photosynthesis in potato plants, detecting potato virus Y using hyperspectral reflectance analysis, managing pathogens in potato fields, developing CPB-resistant potato varieties, suppressing Fusarium dry rot using biological control agents, analyzing flavor profiles of different potato genotypes, breeding heat-tolerant potato varieties, identifying genomic regions associated with heat tolerance, and using deep learning models for PVY detection. The document also includes information on new potato varieties, disease resistance, insecticide resistance in Colorado potato beetles, molecular detection of P. infestans, and the impact of soil organic matter on potato productivity. These studies provide valuable insights and potential solutions for improving potato production, disease management, and storage practices. [Extracted from the article]

Highly diverse and abundant organisms coexist in soils. However, the contribution of biotic interactions between soil organisms to microbial community assembly remains to be explored. Here, we assess the extent to which soil fauna can shape microbial community assembly using an exclusion experiment in a grassland field to sort soil biota based on body size. After 1 year, the exclusion of larger fauna favoured phagotrophic protists, with increases up to 32% in their proportion compared to the no‐mesh treatment. In contrast, members of the bacterial community and to a lesser extent of the fungal community were negatively impacted. Shifts in bacterial but not in fungal communities were best explained by the response of the protistan community to exclusion. Our findings provide empirical evidence of top–down control on the soil microbial communities and underline the importance of integrating higher trophic levels for a better understanding of the soil microbiome assembly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional role of soil microbes in the restoration of degraded lands is greatly influenced by interactions within and between microbial communities, as well as by soil organisms at higher trophic levels (microfauna). However, little is known about how changes in connection patterns among soil microbes and their co‐existing microfauna contribute to associated changes in soil function over the ecosystem restoration process.In this study, the effects of afforestation and natural regeneration approaches on connection patterns among soil microbes and their co‐existing microfauna were assessed in ex‐arable lands on the Loess Plateau in China along a 50‐year restoration chronosequence. The relationships between soil network connections, microbial functional associations, and multiple soil functions (e.g. multifunctionality) were assessed quantitatively.Although both afforestation and natural regeneration approaches enhance connections among soil microbes and their co‐existing microfauna compared to recently abandoned sites, connection trends were opposed between these two approaches across the restoration chronosequence. Afforestation resulted in a higher number of soil microbial and microfauna species with a unimodal connection pattern, while natural regeneration resulted in a continuous increase in soil network connections over the progress of succession. These increases in soil network connections, particularly those of soil microfauna‐microbe and microbial inter‐kingdom connections, corresponded to enhanced microbial functional associations. This result is corroborated by significant correlations between microbial functional genes encoding different central functional pathways, which, in turn, were positively correlated with soil multifunctionality.Synthesis and applications. Changes in the connections among soil microbes and their co‐existing microfauna were positively associated with changes in soil multifunctionality, mediated by microbial functional associations. While in the early restoration stages, soil networks following afforestation contained more connections than those following natural regeneration, in later restoration stages, the number of connections of the afforestation network declined and was eventually surpassed by those following natural regeneration. These findings raise concerns about the ecological sustainability of afforestation measures in historic grasslands on the Loess Plateau, suggesting that natural regeneration is the preferred approach to achieve long‐term ecological restoration success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Interactions among soil organisms are crucial for food webs and ecological functions. However, the effects of millipedes, which play a key role as decomposers in the soil, on soil microarthropods remain unclear. This study demonstrates that millipede activity in the soil decreased the abundance and diversity of Collembola in the soil while increasing their abundance and diversity in the litter layer. Consequently, this led to an increase in the abundance and diversity of Acari in the soil. The dominant species of both Acari and Collembola were most notably affected by the experiment. Millipede activity significantly altered the community structure of Acari and Collembola and strengthened the correlation between these two groups. These findings enhance our understanding of the ecological role of millipedes. Ecosystem engineers influence the structure and function of soil food webs through non-trophic interactions. The activity of large soil animals, such as earthworms, has a significant impact on the soil microarthropod community. However, the influence of millipedes on soil microarthropod communities remains largely unknown. In this microcosm experiment, we examined the effects of adding, removing, and restricting millipede activity on Acari and Collembola communities in litter and soil by conducting two destructive sampling sessions on days 10 and 30, respectively. At the time of the first sampling event (10 d), Acari and Collembola abundance was shown to increase and the alpha diversity went higher in the treatments with millipedes. At the time of the second sampling event (30 d), millipedes significantly reduced the Collembola abundance and alpha diversity. The results were even more pronounced as the millipedes moved through the soil, which caused the collembolans to be more inclined to inhabit the litter, which in turn resulted in the increase in the abundance and diversity of Acari in the soil. The rapid growth of Collembola in the absence of millipedes significantly inhibited the abundance of Acari. The presence of millipedes altered the community structure of Acari and Collembola, leading to a stronger correlation between the two communities. Changes in these communities were driven by the dominant taxa of Acari and Collembola. These findings suggest that millipedes, as key ecosystem engineers, have varying impacts on different soil microarthropods. This study enhances our understanding of biological interactions and offers a theoretical foundation for soil biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic matter (SOM) is made up of decomposing biotic material in various stages, as well as compounds generated by plant roots and soil organisms--it helps the soil's biophysical functions. Laboratory spectroscopy, for example, provides a novel technique to analyse SOM content because it is both cost and timeefficient. Because of its composition and biophysical features, SOM has a distinct spectral reflectance; this relationship has been effectively exploited to estimate and predict SOM. The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between SOM concentration and laboratory-based soil spectral reflectance in the Emakhosaneni subplace of uThukela District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We collected 13 random soil samples from each of the four major land use types (agricultural, residential, eroded land, and rangeland), totalling 52 samples. To assess the SOM content, we oven-dried the materials overnight (105 ℃), crushed them, sieved them (1 mm), and analysed them using the Walkley-Black method. The spectral reflectance of the soil samples was then acquired using the Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) FieldSpec3 and pre-processed for noise reduction before analysis. We found that the area's average SOM content was 2.19%, with agricultural land having the greatest average SOM content (2.98%), followed by rangeland (2.46%), residential (1.77%), and eroded land area (1.56%). However, the average reflectance of the spectra was higher on eroded areas and decreased to a minimum on agricultural areas. This is attributed to the relationship between soil colour and SOM. Correlation analysis demonstrated a moderately negative relationship between SOM concentration and spectral reflectance over the whole spectral range covered (400-2400 nm). Our partial least squares regression analysis revealed that pre-processed spectra data models (FDT; R2 = 0.46 and SG; R2 = 0.34) performed better than raw data models, in both calibration and validation data sets, respectively. Despite the influence of noise on raw data model performance, they modestly predicted SOM content, particularly on the validation data set. However, the developed model cannot be used due to the very low coefficient of determination. Our results highlight the importance of spectroscopy to assess SOM content, and further research can be carried out on a larger scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This document summarizes a study on earthworm communities in wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal, India. The study found that the number of earthworm species varied across the sanctuaries, with one sanctuary being more suitable for earthworm communities based on diversity. Exotic species were identified as indicators in most sanctuaries, except for one where an endemic species was found. The study also observed the range extension of a particular earthworm species in West Bengal and the tolerance of certain species to different environmental factors. The authors suggest further research is needed to understand the genetic variations between parthenogenetic and sexually reproducing colonies of a specific earthworm species. [Extracted from the article]

Biostimulants are gaining prominence in scientific research, with the potential to enhance plant productivity through benefits to crop yield/quality and tolerance to environmental stresses. Through possible improvements to nutrient use efficiency, they may also lessen the adverse environmental impacts of conventional inorganic fertilizer use in agriculture. The application of biostimulants is currently uncommon as a farming practice, with uncertain effectiveness in delivering these potential benefits. Current research focuses on biostimulant effects on plant physiological changes. There is little scientific evidence on the impact of biostimulants on soil properties (biological, physical, or chemical) or soil functions. This knowledge gap should be addressed considering the vital role of soil processes in the bioavailability of nutrients, as reflected in crop productivity. This review evaluates laboratory and field experimental work on the effectiveness of common, non-microbial biostimulants, with a focus on their modes of action within the soil matrix. Of 2,097 initial articles returned through the search strings, 10 were within the scope of this review. A common soil biostimulant mechanism emerges from this literature. This relates to the supply of nutrients provided by the biostimulants, which stimulate native soil microbiology in mineralizing organic material in the soil, thus producing more bioavailable nutrients for plant uptake. Additionally, some articles link biostimulant effects to soil physical and chemical changes, which in turn impact soil biology (and vice versa). However, there is inconsistent evidence to provide full support for these explanatory mechanisms. This review highlights the need for further research into the effect of biostimulants on the native soil microbiology and associated soil properties, to provide greater clarity on biostimulants' modes of action and greater mechanistic insights into how they can be used to improve crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the impact of different types of mycorrhizal symbiosis on the chemical composition of roots and leaves in temperate woody species. The study found that plants associated with ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi had slower decomposition rates and exhibited chemical traits that suppress decomposition compared to plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The study also suggests that mycorrhizal associations can influence plant defense responses and the abundance of defense-related phenolic compounds. Another study conducted at the University of Minnesota found that different plant-fungus combinations had significant effects on plant growth and chemical composition. However, the results may not be generalizable to other environmental settings. Another study found that mycorrhizal colonization generally improved plant growth and increased nitrogen content, but the effects on lignin and condensed tannins varied depending on the plant species and type of mycorrhizal fungi. The study also found that mycorrhizal colonization had different effects on lignin molecular composition in gymnosperms and angiosperms. Overall, mycorrhizal colonization can influence the chemical traits and lignin composition of plants, but more research is needed to understand the ecological implications. [Extracted from the article]

Summary: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) transport substantial plant carbon (C) that serves as a substrate for soil organisms, a precursor of soil organic matter (SOM), and a driver of soil microbial dynamics. Using two‐chamber microcosms where an air gap isolated AMF from roots, we 13CO2‐labeled Avena barbata for 6 wk and measured the C Rhizophagus intraradices transferred to SOM and hyphosphere microorganisms.NanoSIMS imaging revealed hyphae and roots had similar 13C enrichment. SOM density fractionation, 13C NMR, and IRMS showed AMF transferred 0.77 mg C g−1 of soil (increasing total C by 2% relative to non‐mycorrhizal controls); 33% was found in occluded or mineral‐associated pools.In the AMF hyphosphere, there was no overall change in community diversity but 36 bacterial ASVs significantly changed in relative abundance. With stable isotope probing (SIP)‐enabled shotgun sequencing, we found taxa from the Solibacterales, Sphingobacteriales, Myxococcales, and Nitrososphaerales (ammonium oxidizing archaea) were highly enriched in AMF‐imported 13C (> 20 atom%). Mapping sequences from 13C‐SIP metagenomes to total ASVs showed at least 92 bacteria and archaea were significantly 13C‐enriched.Our results illustrate the quantitative and ecological impact of hyphal C transport on the formation of potentially protective SOM pools and microbial roles in the AMF hyphosphere soil food web. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition of forest litter is essential for maintaining forest ecosystem productivity and improving soil fertility. Interdisciplinary collaboration plays a pivotal role in the study of litter decomposition. Nevertheless, existing literature reviews often concentrate on specific hot topics, lacking a more comprehensive and systematic overview of this field. This study was based on the Web of Science core collection of literature. CiteSpace and VOSviewer bibliometric tools were employed to systematically analyze the literature associated with forest litter decomposition from multiple perspectives, published from 1996 to 2023. Publishing trends, literature exchanges, development trends, influential countries, institutions, authors, and journals were identified and discussed. We arrived at the following conclusions that research in this field exhibited a clear trend of rapid growth, particularly after 2016. On one hand, this phenomenon may have been due to the United Nations climate agreement signed in late 2015, while in contrast it was also related to technological and theoretical advances. The United States, China, and Germany are prominent in this field and collaborative research is steadily increasing. Frequently cited articles reveal that advances in theory and technology are of great significance toward the development of the field. The keywords and investigative hotspots in this research domain show a staged development; however, nutrient cycling, carbon dynamics, soil, and root systems are stable hot topics. Future research should strengthen international cooperation, broaden the scope of research, consider a wider range of ecological processes, and delve into fundamental topics such as nutrient cycling, carbon dynamics, soil biology, and litter quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: Histoplasma capsulatum is a spore-forming fungal organism found in soil that is considered endemic in Venezuela. Histoplasmosis has 3 different clinical presentations that primarily affect immunocompromised individuals. A type of injectable dermal cosmetic treatment uses platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This report is of a 35-year-old immunocompetent Venezuelan woman with primary cutaneous histoplasmosis (PCH) following cosmetic injection of PRP. Case Report: This report presents a rare case of PCH following a cosmetic procedure of PRP injection in a 35-year-old immunocompetent patient, who was initially treated with self-administered antibiotics. During her first appointment, an atypical mycobacterial infection was suspected, and empirical antibiotic therapy targeting these pathogens was initiated. Complementary tests were conducted, ruling out immunosuppression and systemic infections. After 1 month of treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, the lesions had completely resolved. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of PCH with intracytoplasmic inclusions of Histoplasma. In this case, the patient had no evident risk factors for PCH, and it is suspected that the infection was likely introduced during the PRP procedure due to inadequate hygiene measures. Conclusions: This case demonstrates that PCH can arise in immunocompetent patients, emphasizing the need to include histoplasmosis as a diagnostic option, particularly in endemic locations. Direct inoculation of Histoplasma might occur following aesthetic procedures that do not follow basic hygiene precautions. Finally, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole can be considered an alternate therapy option, and additional research into this strategy may benefit patients with similar clinical circumstances or when optimal treatment options are unavailable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystems are frequently disturbed by fires that have an important impact on the soil environment and the composition of soil organisms. In order to provide a baseline for the current research and identify trends on the effects of wildland fire on soil environment and biological changes, the available literature was identified from the Web of Science database, covering the period from 1998/1998/1999 (the year of the earliest publication in this field) to 2023. A bibliometric analysis was performed and the data were visually displayed for the number of publications, countries, authors, research institutions, and keywords representing research hotspots. Specifically, the effects of wildland fire on the soil environment, on soil microorganisms and on soil fauna were analyzed. The results show that the annual number of publications describing effects of wildland fire on the soil environment and on soil microorganisms are increasing over time, while those describing effects on soil fauna are fewer and their number remains constant. The largest number of papers originate from the United States, with the United States Department of Agriculture as the research institution with the largest output. The three authors with the largest number of publications are Stefan H. Doerr, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja and Jan Jacob Keizer. The research hotspots, as identified by keywords, are highly concentrated on wildfire, fire, organic matter, and biodiversity, amongst others. This study comprehensively analyzes the current situation of the research on the effects of wildland fire on changes in the soil environment and organisms, and provides reference for relevant scientific researchers in this trend and future research hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]