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Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays an important role in maintaining or increasing soil fertility and quality in paddy field, but there is limited information about how SOC mineralization responds to different fertilizer managements under the double-cropping rice system in southern China. Therefore, this study was designed to explore changes in SOC content, soil enzyme activities, SOC mineralization at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers, and its relationship with long-term fertilizer managements in a double-cropping rice system of southern China. The experiment included four fertilizer treatments: chemical fertilizer alone (CF), rice straw and chemical fertilizer (RS+F), 30% organic manure and 70% chemical fertilizer (OM+F), and without fertilizer input as a control (Con). These results showed that SOC and labile organic carbon contents at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers in paddy field with RS+F and OM+F treatments were increased, compared to CF and Con treatments. Compared with Con treatment, SOC mineralization rate and accumulation with CF, RS+F, and OM+F treatments were increased. SOC accumulation and potential mineralization at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm layers with RS+F and OM+F treatments were increased, compared with CF and Con treatments. SOC mineralization rate and accumulation at 0–10 cm layer with CF, RS+F, OM+F, and Con treatments were higher than that of 10–20 cm layer. These results indicated that soil invertase, cellulose and urease activities in paddy field with RS+F and OM+F treatments were significantly higher than that of CF and Con treatments. There was a significant positive relationship between SOC accumulation and SOC content, soil invertase, cellulose, urease activities but were significant negative correlated with soil pH, bulk density. As a result, these were beneficial practices for improving SOC content and SOC mineralization in a double-cropping rice field of southern China by combined application of rice residue or organic matter with chemical fertilizer managements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is a very important plant nutrient for the development of plants and its production is not unlimited in the world. In addition, excessive use can lead to soil and water pollution. In this respect, phosphorus should be used effectively in plant production, especially in calcareous soils. The aim of this study was to comparatively determine the effects of phosphorus-enriched organomineral fertilization (p-OMF), chemical phosphorus fertilization (CF), and organic fertilization (OF) on some chemical properties of a calcareous soil. The experiment was established in Söke county of Aydın province in the Southwest of Türkiye. In this study, four doses of dairy manure (DM1: 10, DM2: 20, DM3:30, and DM4: 40 t ha−1) in OF, four phosphorus doses (P1: 10, P2: 20, P3:30, and P4: 40 kg P ha−1) in the CF system, and sixteen different doses of OMF formed by the combinations of these two fertilizers were applied excluding control. According to the main research findings, p-OMFs increased the soil organic matter (SOM), salinity, total nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) by 60.1%, 20.9%, 22.1%, 140%, and 17.2%, respectively. They also decreased soil pH by 4%. As a result, it was determined that the most effective organomineral fertilizer combination that maintains soil properties at appropriate levels in calcareous soils is DM3+P2 (30 t ha−1 dairy manure +20 kg P ha−1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agave plants, found primarily in arid and semi‐arid regions, have been utilized by indigenous communities for various purposes for thousands of years. They currently serve as crops to produce alcoholic beverages and fibers. Despite their importance, there is limited understanding of the relationship between agave and soil. This article addresses some of the knowledge gaps regarding the interactions and benefits of the agave‐soil approach. Among all the documents reviewed, 153 discussed individual soil parameters (45 physical, 68 chemical, and 40 biological), 59 explored interactions between them, and 130 did not address soil aspects (i.e., soil was merely presented as a substrate for the growth and development of plants and was not examined in the study's findings). Moreover, the historical evolution of the research highlights two distinct periods (from 1985 to 2000 and between 2010 to 2023) of notable publication activity, with recent years witnessing a surge in studies involving soil management techniques, genetic improvement of agave species, bioremediation, and the use of residues for bioenergy, biofuel, and soil amendments. There is a notable increasing trend in diverse research areas interested in these interactions, reflecting a broader recognition of the importance of understanding soil functioning in agave cultivation. Indeed, from 2010 to 2023, the use of the keyword 'soil' increased by 96% in studies of agave cultivation. This shift in research trends suggests that scientific advances in agave cultivation and soil science can be expected, contributing to sustainable agriculture and the long‐term viability of agave‐based industries. This article underscores an opportunity for further research to optimize agave cultivation and processing (e.g., soil management and productivity), for different purposes while conserving soil health and promoting sustainable land‐use practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Modifying soil surface conditions is essential in managing water and soil resources. Although the use of soil microorganisms in the bioengineering management in soil and water conservation has been confirmed, the controllability of the surface cracks morphometry on petroleum-contaminated soils using microorganisms has yet to be studied. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of inoculating soil microorganisms on changing the surface cracks' pattern of soil contaminated with petroleum. Materials and methods: In 2022, the studied soil was taken from Iran's Tehran Oil Refinery area from the top 30 cm of the earth's surface and transferred to the Rain and Erosion Simulation Laboratory of Tarbiat Modares University at the Faculty of Natural Resources. The predominant cyanobacteria of Microcoleus sp. Oscillatoria sp. Lyngbya sp. Nostoc sp, and Phormidium sp. bacteria of Bacillus sp. and Azetobacter sp. fungus of Penicillium oxalicum were identified, purified and proliferated. The study was conducted at a 0.5 × 0.5-m plot scale in two replications for four treatments. Uncontaminated and gasoil-contaminated soils, during one month, were inoculated by bacteria, cyanobacteria, and fungus. The soil was contaminated using 720 mL of gasoil evenly sprayed. The morphometric characteristics of soil surface cracks were investigated using the PCAS software. Results and discussion: Results indicated that soil microorganisms influence the soil cracking patterns. So, the mean area, length, and width of cracks increased by 99.55%, 50.90%, and 29.60% in uncontaminated plots inoculated with cyanobacteria compared to the control treatment. In gasoil treatment, fungus-inoculated soils performed better than control plots, and the mean area and length increased by 19.51% and 29.58%, respectively, while width decreased by 17.29%. Microorganisms caused the agglutination of aggregates by secreting enzymes and exopolysaccharides, stabilizing soil particles, generating cracks, covering the soil surface, and improving the soil's rheological properties. Conclusion: Finally, the results of the present study showed that modifying the surface of the petroleum-contaminated soil by inoculating soil microorganisms is a way to improve the hydrologic and rheologic characteristics of the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the C footprint of human activities, there is a growing need for alternative energy sources including the production of bioenergy feedstocks. Miscanthus × giganteus is a high yielding grass with low environmental impact and high potential for feedstock use. Studying the composition of the aboveground tissues of Miscanthus is important for understanding feedstock quality for biofuel conversion and how crop residue quality may affect soil input management. Data on Miscanthus leaf and stem chemistry including carbon (C), nitrogen (N), macronutrient concentrations, and the optical characteristics of the water extractable organic matter (WEOM) was analyzed to identify differences in composition between aboveground tissues and modeled to identify soil variables that may be correlated with tissue chemistry. Leaves and stems were dominated by N, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg), but overall, the leaves contained higher nutrient concentrations compared to the stems. The leaves displayed elevated Si:K (0.0935) and Ca:K (0.445) ratios and lower C:N (36) and C:P (323) ratios compared to the stems (0.0560, 0.145, 150, and 645, respectively). Leaf WEOM contained large, aromatic, and complex structures, while the stem WEOM was dominated by small, recently produced structures. Varying relationships were found between tissue C and the mobile C pool in surface (0–15 cm) and deep (45–60 cm) soils. Overall, Miscanthus leaves had a chemical composition indicative of reduced biofuel quality compared to the stems. The relationships with soil mobile C suggest a dynamic linkage between Miscanthus physiology and this active soil C pool. These results have implications for crop nutrient allocation and nutrient management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil can be managed to improve plant nutrition and resilience under water scarcity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of soil conditioners, controlled-release fertilizers, and water availability levels to mitigate water scarcity and improve the nutrition of coffee plants. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse under a randomized block design with four replicates in a factorial scheme (2 irrigation levels × 2 fertilizer types × 5 soil conditioners) of analysis of variance. The factors under study were two irrigation levels (low—40% of water holding capacity, and high—80% of water holding capacity), fertilizer type (conventional and controlled-release), and soil conditioners (coffee husk, gypsum, water-retaining polymer, organic compost, and control without soil conditioner), The characteristics assessed were soil fertility, soil moisture, and nutrient foliar contents. Multivariate analytical methods were used to interpret the results. Soil moisture, chemical attributes, and leaf nutrient contents were analyzed. There was a similarity in the clusters formed by the controlled-release fertilizer treatments, which contribute to plant nutrition. Even under water restriction, the treatments with coffee husk and organic compost were clustered along with soil moisture, favoring the absorption of nutrients. Soil cover with organic compounds improved soil moisture, even under low water availability, which favored plant fertility and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released from sewage sludge-derived biochar and digestion-derived biochar under different extraction conditions (deionised water, hot water, 0.1 mol·L-1 NaOH) using TOC analyser, UV-vis spectroscopy. Biochars were produced through the pyrolysis process at temperatures of 400, 500, 600, and 800 ℃. The objective of this article was to examine the influence of diverse extraction solutions on the amount of dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) released from biochars and to delineate alterations in the composition and characteristics of DOC contingent on the extraction parameters. The findings demonstrated that elevated pyrolysis temperatures resulted in a notable reduction in DOC concentration, with fractions extracted using NaOH exhibiting the highest DOC concentrations. SUVA254 analysis and the E2/E3 ratio indicated that biochars produced at higher temperatures contained a greater proportion of aromatic and hydrophobic substances. These results indicate that pyrolysis temperature, feedstock type and extraction conditions are of significant importance for the properties of DOC in biochar. This has important implications for their potential applications in soil management and carbon sequestration strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is the most active carbon pool in soils, which plays critical roles in soil carbon cycling, plant productivity, and global climate change. An accurate assessment of the quantity of DOC in the soil is essential for the detailed elucidation of ecosystem functions and services. Nevertheless, the global driving factors and distribution of soil DOC remain inadequately quantified due to the scarcity of large-scale data. Here, a comprehensive global database of 12807 soil DOC concentrations derived from 975 target papers in the literature was compiled. Detailed geographic locations, climate, and soil properties were also recorded as predictors of soil DOC. Machine learning techniques were employed to assess the relative importance of various predictors in the determination of soil DOC concentrations, which were subsequently extended for their prediction on a global scale. The worldwide soil DOC concentration spanned a wide range (0.04 to 7859 mg kg-1), averaging 222.78 mg kg-1. The 12 selected variables (including soil properties, month, climate, and ecosystem) explained 65 % of the variance in soil DOC concentrations. Elevation, soil clay, and soil organic carbon were three of the most important predictors. Global soil DOC concentration increased from the equator to the poles. The soil DOC stocks in the topsoil layer (0–30 cm) amounted to 12.17 Pg, with significant variations observed across different continents. These results are instrumental for informing strategies on soil management practices, ecosystem services, and the mitigation of climate change. Furthermore, our database can be combined with other carbon pools to explore the total soil carbon turnover and constrain Earth carbon models. The dataset is publicly available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.26379898 (Ren and Cai, 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is a major cause of soil degradation, leading to soil quality deterioration. The resulting alternation of soil properties would in turn change the soil's responses in subsequent soil erosion events later, which, however, has rarely been studied. The objective was to examine the effects of such erosion‐induced degradation on subsequent soil erosion and sediment size distribution of a cultivated black soil under heavy rainstorms. The plough layers of the black soil that had suffered from 0, 10, 30, 50, and 70 years of soil erosion in northeast China were artificially constructed, corresponding to five erosional degradation levels of none, slight, moderate, severe, and very severe degradations, successively. A simulated heavy rainfall at the 75 mm h−1 intensity was performed, and runoff and sediment samples were collected every 6 min and analyzed for particle size distribution. Owing to the increasingly coarse source soil and thereby enhanced hydraulic conductivity, the steady‐state runoff rate decreased from 1.06 to 0.77 mm min−1, as the degradation level increased from none to very severe degradation. However, the fine‐textured noneroded soil had a better water retention capacity, which decreased runoff, especially at the beginning of the rainfall. The maximum runoff in total, that is, 103.61 mm, was consequently observed in the slightly degraded soil. The sediment concentrations and yields here were also significantly greater than those of the other treatments (p <0.01), suggesting a relatively higher soil erodibility. Sediment sorting was observed at each treatment especially during the first half of the rainfall, except for the slightly eroded soil where the elevated runoff was believed sufficient to equally transport different‐sized particles. The clay particles were enriched in the sediments eroded from the non‐ and moderately degraded soils, as the corresponding enrichment ratios (ERs) were typically above 1. Whereas for the severely and very severely degraded soils, ERs were around 0.5, indicating considerable depletion of these fine particles. These results demonstrate the diverse erosional responses of the soils exhibiting varying erosion‐induced degradation levels and hold important implications for agricultural management and soil and water conservation in the black soil region of northeast China as well as other similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nitrification, driven by ammonia‐oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB), is a crucial process in maintaining the soil nitrogen (N) balance. However, the influence of AOA and AOB on soil gross nitrification rates (GNR) in response to vegetation restoration remains unclear, particularly in karst regions. In this study, we investigated soil GNR and the abundance, diversity, and community composition of AOA and AOB across after vegetation restoration. Four land use types were examined: plantation forest (PF), forage grass (FG), a combination of plantation forest and forage grass (FG), and cropland (CR, control). Soil ammonium N (NH4+) was higher in the vegetation restoration compared to that in cropland, whereas nitrate N (NO3−) exhibited the opposite trend. Soil GNR were reduced by 55.4%–90.3% in the vegetation restorations compared to that in cropland. The abundance, Chao1, and Shannon index of AOB were lower in vegetation restorations compared to cropland, respectively. The abundance and diversity of AOA were higher than those of AOB but were unaffected by vegetative restoration. Furthermore, AOB community is more sensitive to vegetation restoration than AOA community. Specifically, the abundance of AOB taxa belonging to the genera Nitrosospira and Nitrosovibrio was decreased by the restoration efforts. In addition, soil nutrients availability (e.g., NH4+, NO3−, and phosphorus) and AOB index (e.g., Shannon index) were the main factors driving soil GNR. This study highlights the importance of AOB in driving soil nitrification during vegetation restoration and emphasizes the necessity to optimize soil nitrogen management in karst ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yellow River Delta (YRD) has the world's highest land formation rate. However, soil salinization has caused severe land degradation in the region. Understanding the distribution of soil salinity and its variation is essential for saline soil management. This study combined soil salinity sampling data, remote sensing imagery, and layers of geographic environmental factors. Three different models, including Ordinary Kriging (OK), Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR), and Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME), were used and compared to predict the soil salinity of two soil layers in 2006 and 2022. Then the spatial distribution characteristics and development trends of soil salinity in the YRD were analyzed. The results indicated that (1) The BME model is an optimal salinity prediction model that integrates soft data from multiple sources to perform nonlinear estimates. Compared to the OK and GWR models, the RMSE was reduced by up to 25% and 13%, respectively, and the greatest improvement in R2 was increased from 0.0534 and 0.2718 to 0.5569, respectively. (2) Soil salinity in the YRD shows a spatially increasing trend from the southwestern inland to the northeastern coast. Over the past 16 years, the salinization pattern has become more complex: soil salinization has been mitigated in the central and southern regions, with the average salinity decreasing from 1.03% to 0.86% and the salinization rate decreasing from 99% to 88%; and it has significantly intensified in the northern part of the study area near the old Yellow River channel and the Gubei Reservoir, and in some scattered inland areas. Continuous water and sediment regulation in the Yellow River basin and ecological management of natural reserves can generally alleviate soil salinization, but the risk of soil salinization can be increased by seawater erosion, inappropriate land use, and resource exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic matter is assumed to accumulate with conservation management. On‐farm surveys using paired‐farm and chronosequence approaches could validate assumptions, as well as provide a diversity of soils and management conditions to assess organic matter fractions. The objective of this study was to assess how land use and pasture management affected the gradient of organic matter fractions from active to resistant. Particulate and non‐particulate (also called mineral‐associated) organic C and N fractions were isolated and soil‐test biological activity was measured from 304 profiles at 0‐ to 10‐, 10‐ to 30‐, and 30‐ to 60‐cm depths on 31 private farms in Virginia. Root‐zone enrichment contents of these soil properties were calculated following subtraction of a baseline from total stocks of each soil profile. Land use was a key factor affecting root‐zone enrichment (0‐ to 30‐cm depth) of particulate organic C (Mg C ha−1) (p ≤ 0.05): conventional‐till cropland (6.3) = no‐till cropland (9.2) < grassland (14.2) < woodland (16.7). Root‐zone enrichments of soil C and N fractions increased with pasture age to a plateau achieved by 25 years and were optimized at cattle stocking rate of 1.0 ± 0.2 Mg live weight ha−1. Feeding hay increased root‐zone enrichment of soil‐test biological activity (49 kg CO2‐C 3 day−1 [Mg hay]−1). Although non‐particulate organic C and N dominated, accumulation with time and steady‐state concentration of particulate fractions were vital steps toward greater soil organic matter under conservation management. Root‐zone enrichment calculations from on‐farm sampling were helpful in distinguishing true effects of management from pedogenesis on soil organic matter formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle and soil quality assessment. The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is one of the largest plateaus in the world. Therefore, in this region, SOC density and the spatial distribution of SOC are highly sensitive to climate change and human intervention. Given the insufficient understanding of the spatial distribution of SOC density in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, this study utilized machine learning (ML) algorithms to estimate the density and distribution pattern of SOC density in the region. In this study, we first collected multisource data, such as optical remote sensing data, synthetic aperture radar) (SAR) data, and other environmental variables, including socioeconomic factors, topographic factors, climate factors, and soil properties. Then, we used ML algorithms, namely random forest (RF), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), to estimate the topsoil SOC density and spatial distribution patterns of SOC density. We also aimed to investigate any driving factors. The results are as follows: (1) The average SOC density is 5.30 kg/m2. (2) Among the three ML algorithms used, LightGBM showed the highest validation accuracy (R2 = 0.7537, RMSE = 2.4928 kgC/m2, MAE = 1.7195). (3) The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), valley depth (VD), and temperature are crucial in predicting the spatial distribution of topsoil SOC density. Feature importance analyses conducted using the three ML models all showed these factors to be among the top three in importance, with contribution rates of 14.08%, 12.29%, and 14.06%; 17.32%, 20.73%, and 24.62%; and 16.72%, 11.96%, and 20.03%. (4) Spatially, the southeastern part of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has the highest topsoil SOC density, with recorded values ranging from 8.41 kg/m2 to 13.2 kg/m2, while the northwestern part has the lowest density, with recorded values ranging from 0.85 kg/m2 to 2.88 kg/m2. Different land cover types showed varying SOC density values, with forests and grasslands having higher SOC densities compared to urban and bare land areas. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for future soil resource management and improved carbon sequestration accounting in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to prolonged exposure to high temperatures, investigating short-term high-temperature stress can provide insights into the impact of varying heat stress durations on plant development and soil nutrient dynamics, which is crucial for advancing ecological agriculture. In this study, five heating temperatures were set at 200°C, 250°C, 300°C, 350°C, and 400°C, along with five heating time gradients of 6s, 10s, 14s, 18s, and 20s, including a control. A total of 26 treatment groups were analyzed, focusing on maize growth parameters and soil indicators. Principal component analysis was used for comprehensive evaluation. The results showed that high-temperature treatments with different heating times significantly influenced maize growth and soil properties. For instance, the treatment of 300°C+6s resulted in the longest total root length, while 200°C+6s led to the highest average root diameter. Plant height and leaf length were notably increased with the treatment of 400°C+6s. Most treatments resulted in decreased soil pH and organic matter content. Notably, the treatment of 350°C+16s showed the highest available phosphorus content, reaching 24.0 mg/kg, an increase of 4.5 mg/kg compared to the control. The study found that the average levels of active organic carbon and peroxidase were 1.26 mg/g and 3.91 mg/g, respectively. Additionally, the average mass fractions of clay, silt, and sand particles were 8.99%, 66.75%, and 24.26%, respectively. Through principal component analysis, six principal components were able to extract 19 indicators from the 26 treatments, covering 86.129% of the information. It was observed that 16 treatment methods performed better than the control in terms of soil comprehensive quality. The optimal treatment temperature and time identified for improving soil physicochemical properties and crop growth were 300°C+6s. These findings can be used to guide agricultural management and soil improvement practices, ultimately enhancing field productivity and providing valuable insights for sustainable agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper synthesizes the current understanding of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from field cropping systems. It examines the key factors influencing GHG emissions, including crop type, management practices, and soil conditions. The review highlights the variability in GHG emissions across different cropping systems. Conventional tillage systems generally emit higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) than no-till or reduced tillage systems. Crop rotation, cover cropping, and residue management can significantly reduce GHG emissions by improving soil carbon sequestration and reducing nitrogen fertilizer requirements. The paper also discusses the challenges and opportunities for mitigating GHG emissions in field cropping systems. Precision agriculture techniques, such as variable rate application of fertilizers and water, can optimize crop production while minimizing environmental impacts. Agroforestry systems, which integrate trees and crops, offer the potential for carbon sequestration and reducing N2O emissions. This review provides insights into the latest research on GHG emissions from field cropping systems and identifies areas for further study. It emphasizes the importance of adopting sustainable management practices to reduce GHG emissions and enhance the environmental sustainability of agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil provides essential nutrients for plant growth, but excess salts hinder development, making crops more vulnerable under climate change conditions. Soil microorganisms play a significant role in nutrient cycling. However, limited information is available on microbial behavior/community changes, and functional diversity in different soil types (normal, sodic, and highly sodic) and cropping systems [rice-wheat (RW); rice-wheat-mungbean (RWMb); maizewheat-mungbean (MWMb)] and management practices in the north-western Indo-Gangetic Plains of India. We investigated the influence of different soil types on physical and chemical properties at the surface level (0-15 cm) in relation to soil microbial population, activities, and functional diversity, focusing on community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) under different agriculture systems. Seven treatment combinations of soil types, cropping systems, and management practices were evaluated. Soil pHs were found to be lower in zerotill (ZT)-based sodic soil than in conventional-till (CT) sodic soil. Soil organic carbon (SOC) (0.91 and 0.90%) content and available N (154.46 and 132.74 kg ha-1) were higher with the ZT-based system under normal (N) soils (ZT-RWMb-N and ZT-MWMb-N) than in CT-based normal soil (0.67 and 121.04 kg ha-1). Similarly, higher SOC and N (0.85 and 76.11 kg ha-1) were found under ZT management in sodic soils (S) than under CT management (0.73% and 121.05 kg ha-1). Substrate utilization (amino acids, amines, carbohydrates, carboxylic acids, phenolic compounds, and polymers) increased with the incubation period. During 0-120 h of incubation, the highest utilization of amino acids, amines, carboxylic acids, phenolic compounds, and polymers was observed for ZT-MWMb-S soils, while the lowest was recorded for ZT-MWMb-N soils. Under high salt conditions, soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, etc.) declined significantly compared to normal soils, affecting soil chemical and physical conditions. Microbial population and enzyme activities decreased with increasing salt stress across all cropping systems. These findings suggest that adopting efficient crop management practices can help mitigate the adverse effects of soil salinity on microbial diversity and soil health, thereby enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity in salt-affected regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different shrub plants on the structure and diversity of inter-root soil bacterial communities, in order to provide scientific support for ecological restoration and revegetation of the Mu Us Desert. Methods: Three major shrub plants (Artemisia ordosica, Salix psammophila, Caragana microphylla) in the Mu Us Desert were selected for this study. Using high-throughput sequencing technology, the bacterial community structure and diversity in the inter-root soils of these plants were analysed in depth, and combined with the determination of soil physicochemical and microbiological properties, the response characteristics of the bacterial diversity in the inter-root soils of the different plants were assessed comprehensively. Results: It was found that although the soil pH did not show significant differences among different plant growths, the SOC, TN and TP contents were higher in Salix psammophila sample plot and Artemisia ordosica sample plot, which indicated that the plant growths had a positive effect on the soil nutrient contents. Through Venn diagram analysis, it was observed that the number of OTUs of bacteria in the soils of different shrubland sites varied, and all of them were higher than those in the soils of the sample sites where no plants grew, which indicated that plants had an effect on soil bacterial diversity. The bacterial Chao1 index were higher in the Artemisia ordosica sample plot sample site, suggesting that the growth of Artemisia ordosica contributes to the enhancement of soil bacterial richness. Soil bacterial communities showed compositional differences among different sample plots, especially the higher relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria in the Artemisia ordosica sample plot sample plot, which may be related to the increase of soil organic matter content. Conclusion: The results of the study revealed that specific plants, such as Artemisia ordosica, can significantly improve the soil nutrient status of windy sandy soils, increase soil organic matter and nitrogen content, and thus enhance the diversity and abundance of soil microorganisms. The bacterial community structure in the inter-root soils of different plants differed significantly, with changes in the relative abundance of the dominant phyla, such as Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria, reflecting the differences in soil nutrient status. These findings emphasise the important role of plants on soil chemical properties and microbial community structure, providing an important basis for soil management and ecological restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective to examine the effect of management systems on root dry weight, the percentage distribution of root weight in the soil profile, and the soil carbon content. Treatments consisted of 13 management systems established 22 years ago: degraded pasture; continuous pasture, fertilised, and intercropped with a legume species; continuous pasture with fertilisation; continuous pasture without fertilisation; pasture for four years followed by soybean cropping for four years; pasture for four years followed by soybean cropping for four years, with eucalyptus; soybean cropping for four years followed by pasture for four years; soybean cropping for four years followed by pasture for four years, with eucalyptus; soybean cropping for one year followed by pasture for three years; soybean cropping for one year followed by pasture for three years; continuous summer soybean cropping under conventional cultivation; continuous summer soybean cropping under conservation farming; and continuous no-till summer soybean cropping. Except for degraded pastures, pasture systems have higher root dry mass than soybean cropping systems. The integrated production systems increase the dry weight of the roots, and the carbon content of the soil and reduce aluminum saturation and soil acidity. The highest percentages of roots are found in the 0–0.10 m range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the potential quantity of soil lead (Pb) remediation in a typical karst region of China, an area where previous research on the potential remediation quantity of Pb in soil has been scarce. In this study, 12,547 surface soil samples and 54 sets of soil-profile samples were collected. This analysis investigated the sources, concentrations, distribution, and reserve properties of soil Pb in the study region. Building upon these findings, a formula for calculating the potential remediation quantity of Pb in karst soils was derived. The results disclose variations in Pb content within the surface soil, with values spanning from 9.4 to 376.4 mg/kg and a background level of 72.97 mg/kg. Additionally, the Pb content in deep soil shows a spectrum from 1.6 to 160.9 mg/kg. Principal component analysis showed that the sources of Pb in karst soil were related to the geological background, agricultural fertilization, and mineral resources. Single-factor variance analysis demonstrated significant influences of topography, parent rock type, soil utilization, and soil type on soil Pb content. The spatial distribution of soil Pb, as determined by principal component analysis, was influenced by mineral distribution, geological background, and agricultural fertilization. The soil profile analysis showed that Pb concentrations followed a logarithmic distribution pattern with increasing depth. A formula for the potential remediation quantity of Pb was derived using a logarithmic model. This rational and representative formula establishes a foundation for the management of Pb-influenced soils in karst regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field zones at risk of low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) can be identified by analyzing in-field spatial variability. This hypothesis was validated by analyzing soil mineral nitrogen (Nmin) and several plant and soil N management indices. The research was conducted in Karmin (central Poland) during two growing seasons, with winter oilseed rape (2018/2019) and winter wheat (2019/2020). The study showed that the crop yield was positively related to Nmin. However, this N trait did not explain all the observed differences in the spatial variation of crop yield and plant N accumulation. In addition, the soil N management indices were more spatially variable during the growing season than the plant N management indices. Particularly high variability was found for the indices characterizing the N surplus in the soil-plant system. The calculated N surplus (Nb = N fertilizer input − N seed output) ranged from −62.8 to 80.0 kg N ha−1 (coefficient of variation, CV = 181.2%) in the rape field and from −123.5 to 8.2 kg N ha−1 (CV = 60.2%) in the wheat field. The spatial distribution maps also confirm the high variability of the parameters characterizing the post-harvest N surplus, as well as the total N input (soil + fertilizer) to the field with rape. The results obtained indicate that a field N balance carried out in different field zones allows a more accurate identification of potential N losses from the soil-plant system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation soil management strategies, particularly no-tillage and cropping strategies, have become an effective and widely adopted practice that has a direct influence on root parameters and mitigation of greenhouse gasses. However, the effect of different tillage and cropping strategies on root growth in field conditions is rarely studied. The study aimed to quantify and characterise the relationship between root network development and CO2 emission and how these parameters are affected by different cropping and tillage strategies. Five different crop rotations were tested, with or without the inclusion of catch crops (CC), by growing them in the soil where different tillage practices were applied. Selected cropping strategies differed among themselves in terms of the frequency of CC grown per rotation. The data revealed that in NT treatments, the CO2 emission (both autotrophic and heterotrophic simultaneously) was 25% higher than in CT. The cropping strategies were identified as an important factor influencing CO2 emissions. An increase in CO2 emission varied between 30 and 35% depending on the share of legume and CC inclusion. The frequency of CC grown per rotation has had an effect on the rate of CO2 emission. The cropping strategy when CC was grown every year showed the lowest amount of CO2 (by 26%), while in other cropping strategies, when CC was grown once or twice per rotation, significantly higher CO2 emissions were observed. Root growth and their development were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by soil depth and cropping strategies concerning root length and root volume changes. The inclusion of CC into the rotations led towards a decrease in root volume (by 21%). Root length (R2 = 0.45; p < 0.05) and root volume (R2 = 0.82; p < 0.05) had a significant impact on soil CO2 emissions. The results collected from 2021 to 2023 experiments indicated that cropping strategies and CC management areas are important tools not only for the improvement of root parameters but also for understanding how they affect CO2 emissions. The main message for stakeholders is that the cropping strategies diversification with the inclusion of CC every year in a winter oil-seed rape, spring wheat and pea crop rotation (R/W/P + CC) had demonstrated the possibilities to reduce CO2 emission and improve the root network parameters as compared to the monoculture strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security, a crucial issue for the development of humankind, is often severely constrained by water scarcity. As a globally recognized most advanced agricultural water-saving technology, drip irrigation under plastic mulch (DIPM) has played a significant role in grain production. However, a comprehensive review of the dual impacts of this practice in farmland remains lacking. This study has conducted an exhaustive review of DIPM research from 1999 to 2023 and employed CiteSpace software to perform a co-occurrence and clustering analysis of keywords in order to reveal research hotspots and trends. The results show that the attention to DIPM technology has increased annually and reached a peak in 2022. China leads in the number of publications in this field, reflecting its emphasis on agricultural water-saving technologies. This study critically discusses the dual impacts of DIPM on farmland. On the positive side, DIPM can improve soil temperature and moisture, enhance nutrient availability, promote water and nutrient absorption by roots, and increase the crop growth rate and yield while reducing evaporation and nitrogen loss, suppressing weed growth, decreasing herbicide usage, and lowering total greenhouse gas emissions. On the negative side, it will cause pollution from plastic mulch residues, damage the soil structure, have impacts on crop growth, and lead to increased clogging of drip irrigation systems, which will increase agricultural costs and energy consumption, hinder crop growth, hamper soil salinization management, and further reduce the groundwater level. The future development of DIPM technology requires optimization and advancement. Such strategies as mechanized residual-mulch recovery, biodegradable mulch substitution, aerated drip irrigation technology, and alternate irrigation are proposed to address existing issues in farmland triggered by DIPM. This review advocates for the active exploration of farming management practices superior to DIPM for future agricultural development. These practices could lead to higher yields, water–nitrogen efficiency, and lower environmental impact in agricultural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron in soil exists in various valence states and is prone to changes with alterations in soil environmental conditions. Its migration and transformation are crucial for soil formation and understanding soil evolution. This study focuses on Quaternary red soils found in woodland, sparse forest grassland, grassland, and cultivated land located in the semi-humid region of the middle temperate zone. For comparison, buried Quaternary red soil was also examined. A soil reconstruction model was used to quantitatively calculate the variation of different forms of iron in order to analyze various forms of iron composition, migration, and transformation within the soil profile, as well as the evolutionary traits of Quaternary red soils influenced by diverse land use activities. This study found that after exposure and use, iron from the topsoil of buried Quaternary red soil migrated to the subsoil, altering the iron distribution. Free iron and crystalline oxides decreased in the topsoil but increased in specific subsoil layers, with woodland and grassland showing the most significant changes. Silicate-bound iron pooled in the soil weathered to form free iron under different land uses, and poorly crystalline iron oxides transformed into crystalline oxides, with grassland exhibiting the highest transformation intensity. Conversion processes predominated over iron migration in the Quaternary red soils. The evolution of Quaternary red soils can be divided into three stages, marked by changes in iron composition and crystallization due to anthropogenic land use activities. Initially, during 140−94 ka BP, iron composition was stable. Then, between 94–24 ka BP, plant decomposition formed iron–metal complexes, releasing and crystallizing poorly crystalline iron oxides. Finally, from 24 ka BP to the present, anthropogenic activities intensified, increasing the formation and conversion rates of these oxides. This study quantifies iron migration and transformation in Quaternary red soils, providing insights for sustainable soil management, especially in regions where human activities have accelerated iron evolution. Based on these findings, the following policy recommendations are proposed: implement sustainable land use practices, encourage land management strategies that preserve natural vegetation, promote research on soil management techniques, develop and implement regulatory policies, and support educational programs to maintain the health and stability of Quaternary red soils, particularly in regions prone to accelerated iron evolution due to anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to evaluate the spatiotemporal trends of soil erosion, to reveal the contributions of driving factors, to elucidate the impacts of ecological restoration policies, and to provide a scientific basis for the management of soil erosion on the Tibetan Plateau. [Methods] This study assessed the temporal and spatial characteristics of soil erosion by water on the Tibetan Plateau from 1990 to 2020, and identified the contribution of climatic, anthropogenic and topographic factors to soil erosion by Random Forest Regression. [Results] (1) The average soil erosion rate on the Tibetan Plateau was 305.78 t/km², and more than 80% of the area was slightly erosion during 1990-2020. Soil erosion decreased before 2010 and increased after 2010, showing a nonlinear variation. (2) Climate factors had a greater impact on soil erosion than anthropogenic factors in the Tibetan Plateau, and annual precipitation was the main factor on soil erosion. In addition, since 2010, the influence of anthropogenic factors on soil erosion gradually increased. [Conclusion] Climate factors are the primary driving force inducing soil erosion in the Tibetan Plateau. The ecological restoration policies implemented in the Tibetan Plateau have initially achieved results, but the impact of climate change on soil erosion is more significant. Additionally, Random Forest Regression is effective for exploring the driving factors on soil erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Forest management practices affect soil carbon dynamics, particularly by changing the diversity of aboveground plant functional groups. However, we have a limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms for how plant management affects soil respiration in planted forest ecosystems. Methods: We conducted a 3-year manipulation experiment of plant functional groups that included understory removal, tree root trenching, and fertilization treatments in 2-year-old and 6-year-old Eucalyptus plantations in the subtropical region, to explore the responses of soil carbon emission and microbial community composition. Results: Soil respiration was significantly suppressed by understory removal (-38%), tree root trenching (-41%), and their interactions (-54%), but fertilization alone and in interactions had no significant effect. Soil bacterial and fungal diversity was negatively affected by understory removal and tree root trenching, respectively. Soil respiration and microbial diversity were lower in younger plantations. Reductions in soil carbon emissions were associated with losses of plant functional groups and soil microbial diversity, while increases in soil respiration were associated with soil physicochemical factors, soil temperature, and plantation age. Conclusions: The results indicated that understory removal and tree root trenching strongly affected soil respiration, while the power effects were regulated by soil microbial community and soil properties in contrast plantation ages. Our findings highlight that plant management is of great significance to the soil carbon emission processes in afforested plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Management can largely influence the sustainability and functionality of forest plantations. However, the role of biogas-slurry and biochar application in supporting soil's multifunctionality during afforestation remains poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a six-year field experiment to examine the responses of soil ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) to the application of biogas-slurry applied annually as four treatments, and a single initial application of four treatments of biochar in a new poplar plantation based on a reclaimed coastal area. The EMF was calculated as the standardized average of multiple soil surrogates of soil functions linked with C, N, and P cycles. Results: Both biogas-slurry and biochar had significantly positive effects on EMF and individual functions, with biogas-slurry having the strongest positive effect, thus promoting carbon stocks and nutrient availability. Furthermore, interactions between biochar and biogas-slurry produced a substantial synergistic effect on soil multifunctionality. The application of biogas-slurry significantly and directly increased the C, N, and P cycle multifunctionality (CCMF, NCMF, and PCMF, respectively). In contrast, a single application of biochar profoundly increased the CCMF but decreased the NCMF, thus requiring a trade-off of multiple elements of soil multifunctionality. Conclusions: We show that organic management has the potential to boost multiple ecosystem functions during afforestation. These findings further highlight the importance of rational fertilization strategies for long-term forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that long-term chemicalised agricultural practices harmfully affect soil health and prevent sustainable management of fertility in crop fields, including that of plantation crops. Accordingly, an investigation was carried out to check how soil fertility characteristics such as soil pH, soil mineral nutrient and organic carbon content are altered in long-term chemicalised rubber plantations of Kerala, located in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats of South India. Soil fertility status concerning soil types in the Rubber fields (USDA soil orders - suborders) such as Inceptisols - Oxic Dystrudepts (IOD), Ultisols - Ustic Haplohumults (UUH), Ultisols - Typic Kandiustults (UTK) and Mollisols - Pachic Argiustolls (MPA) involving six soil series are critically analysed. A negative impact of long-term chemicalised agriculture was visible in low soil pH and nutrient levels. In general, rubber fields in the region, even in the generally alkaline Mollisols, showed a pH of 6.23. The soils showed reduced nutrient and carbon content and a comparatively poor soil fertility index specific to soil types. The soil available NPK and soil total cations were found to be comparatively low and soil specific. However, rubber fields in Mollisols were significantly higher in STK, STMg, STCa, and STNa while those in Ultisols were significantly higher in SAP and SAK than other soil orders. The Inceptisols were significantly higher in SAN, STP, and soil organic carbon than others. Therefore, balanced fertilizer application concerning soil types per proper soil fertility monitoring has become significant to sustainable soil productivity management in rubber plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resource pool diversity hypothesis (RPDH) posits that organic systems that include diverse crop rotations, green manure and organic fertilizers have a greater diversity of resource pools that can alleviate weed–crop competition compared to conventional systems. To test the RPDH, wheat (Triticum aestivum) and wild oats (Avena sterilis) in winter, and maize (Zea mays) and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in summer, were grown in pots in soils from organic (ORG) and conventional (CONV) fields, with contrasting number of estimated resource pools. A replacement series design with proportions of crop: weed of 0:1, 0.25:0.75, 0.5:0.5, 0.75:0.25 and 1:0 was used. Half of the pots received an organic‐mineral fertilizer (F) and the other half did not (NF). Aerial biomass of all plants was measured. Relative Crowding Coefficient (RCC) and the product of RCC (RCCP) for each crop and weed biomass were estimated by modelling the biomass across crop: weed proportions. RCCP larger than one was used as an indicator of overyielding. In the winter experiment, wheat always outcompeted wild oats and we did not detect overyielding across fields with different number of pools, system or fertilizer. In the summer experiment, we found overyielding in ORG NF fields. Functionally different species like maize and Palmer amaranth may have been extracting nutrients from diverse pools in organic NF fields whereas with the addition of fertilizer, Palmer amaranth outcompeted maize. Biomass of monoculture crop and weed in both experiments were positively correlated with number of estimated pools, even if none of the competition indexes were. Our results provide some support for the RPHD in species that are functionally different but also question the definition and nature of the nutrient pools, as well as emphasize the need for more research in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIt is possible to boost nutrient accumulation in grain, enhance grain production, and enhance the soil’s physical characteristics through the use of bio-fertilizers, zinc delivery methods, and organic and inorganic fertilizers integrated in a balanced manner. Often, zinc (Zn) is insufficient in soil due to a lack of organic matter additions to the soil. The world’s food supply is secured by Zn, a crucial micro nutrient. The effect of different zinc application methods and integrated nutrient management methods were tested on wheat crops based on crop production, nutrient uptake, and soil physico-chemical characteristics. Three distinct bio fertilizers, namely Azotobacter, Phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and Zn solubilizing bacteria were used in the experiment. There was a significantly greater number of effective tillers m−2 to the tune of 385 and 388 tillers m−2 and DTPA exchangeable Zn in the final soil of about 0.70 mg/kg with the soil and foliar application of zinc compared with the other treatments. A variety of integrated nutrient management treatments increased crop productivity and soil physico-chemical parameters by increasing soil nutrient availability. The current study indicates that adding organic manure is essential to sustainably preserving soil quality and crop productivity. It should therefore be included in nutrient management plans for crops that require a lot of nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient management in coffee-based agroforestry systems plays a critical role in soil nitrogen (N) cycling, but has not been well documented. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of coffee canopy management and fertilization on soil N dynamics. This study used a randomized complete block design (2 × 3 × 2) with four replications. There were three factors: 1) coffee canopy management (T1: Pruned, T2: Unpruned), 2) fertilizer type (O: Organic, I: Inorganic; M: 50% Organic + 50% Inorganic), and 3) fertilizer dose (D1: low, D2: medium, D3: high). Soil N dynamic indicators (i.e., total N, ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), net N-NH4+, net N-NO3−, soil microbial biomass N) were measured at two soil sampling depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm). Results showed that pruning increased soil total N and microbial biomass N (MBN) by 10–56% relative to unpruned coffee trees. In contrast, the unpruned coffee canopy had 15–345% higher NH4+, NO3−, net N-NH4+, net N-NO3−, and microbial biomass N concentration than pruned coffee. Mixed fertilizer application increased NO3− and net N-NH4+ accumulation by 5–15% relative to inorganic and organic fertilizers. In addition, medium to high dose fertilization led to a 19–86% higher net N-NO3− concentration and microbial biomass N as compared to low dose fertilization. The treatment of no pruning and mixed fertilizer at low to medium doses was the optimal management strategy to maintain soil available N, while pruning combined with organic fertilizer has the potential to improve soil total N and MBN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity and the number of bacteria present in the soil are two of the main parameters of soil quality, especially for agricultural purposes. Analysis of the low-fertilized soils suggested that the number and diversity of the bacterial communities in this soil are low. Hence, various methods have been used to stimulate bacterial activity and improve agricultural soil conditions. One of the popular methods is the inoculation of bacteria such as B. subtilis and R. erythropolis. These bacteria are potential species as bio-inoculants in soil management. However, the effectiveness of these bacteria in stimulating the activity of bacterial communities and improving soil properties of the low-fertilized soil is still sparsely explored. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the impact of the inoculation of B. subtilis and R. erythropolis on the bacterial community structure and soil properties of low-fertilized soil. The soil used is agricultural soil for tobacco farming activities using agrochemicals. Bacterial community structures were analyzed using the environmental DNA (eDNA) method. The soil properties analyzed were total nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous, potassium, and pH. This study suggests that B. subtilis and R. erythropolis may affect the bacterial community structure and increase the number of bacteria to reach the ideal limit for fertile soil. Adding bacterial inoculants could stimulate the growth of bacteria and the nutrient cycle in the soil environment, resulting in improved soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfires are complex natural phenomena that exert significant impacts on landscapes, societies, and economies. Understanding the concept of resilience is crucial in mitigating its possible negative impacts, as it involves preparing for, responding to, and recovering from wildfires. This research aims to demonstrate the utility of in situ soil profile description in assessing land use resilience using an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) through an expert panel survey. The study examines a catchment located in the Balearic Islands, considering two fire occurrences (once and twice), comparing abandoned agricultural terraces and natural hillslopes. The results demonstrated that the priority ranking of variables to assess soil profile resilience against wildfires, determined by a panel of 10 experts, identified horizon depth (25.1%), slope inclination (21.5%), and hydrological connectivity (16.6%) as the most crucial factors. Other variables, such as number and size of roots, structure of pedal soil material, size class structure, and rock fragments, also contributed to resilience but to a lesser extent, with scores ranging from 5.7% to 9.6%. Analyzing the priorities established by the experts using AHP, the results showed that the least resilient soil horizon was H1 of the control hillslope, especially under high and low connectivity processes, which aligned with the loss of superficial soil horizons after one and two wildfires. Hillslopes showed greater changes in resilience after occurring wildfires compared to terraces, with the most significant alterations occurring after the second wildfire event. This study addresses a significant knowledge gap in the field by highlighting the interconnectedness of wildfires, resilience, and land use, providing insights into land management strategies for wildfire-prone regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collapsing erosion is a unique phenomenon commonly observed on the granite residue hillslopes in the tropical and subtropical regions of southern China, characterized by its abrupt occurrence and significant erosion volumes. However, the impacts of soil crust conditions on the erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residual soils have only been studied to a limited extent. To address this issue, this study investigates the impacts of three soil crust conditions (i.e., without crust, 10-minute crust, and 20-minute crust) on gully morphology, rainfall infiltration, and runoff and sediment yield during slope erosion of colluvial deposits with granite residues (classified as Acrisols) in Yudu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China, using simulated rainfall tests and photographic methods. The results showed that as the strength of the soil crust increased, the capacity of moisture infiltration and the width and depth of the gully as well as the sediment concentration and yield ratio decreased; at the same time, the runoff ratio increased. The sediment yield in the without-crust test was found to be 1.24 and 1.43 times higher than that observed in the 10-minute crust and 20-minute crust tests, respectively. These results indicate that soil crusts can effectively prevent slope erosion and moisture infiltration, while providing valuable insights for the management of soil erosion in natural environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The influence of tropical fruticulture that was established in Amazonian dark earth was investigated by considering changes in soil physical and chemical properties. Soil samples were collected at two layers (0–0.1 and 0.1–0.2 m) under two dissimilar conditions: naturalized archaeological site (Amazonian dark earth) vs. tropical fruticulture. Material and methods: We evaluated soil texture (clay, sand, and silt contents), bulk density, soil porosity, soil resistance, carbon stock (C stock), soil moisture, geometric mean diameter, weighted average diameter, average diameter < 2 mm, average diameter > 2 mm, soil pH, exchangeable cations (Al3+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+), potential acidity, soil organic carbon (SOC), and available P. Results and discussion: Our results emphasized the soil physico-chemical changes as influenced by tropical fruticulture in the Amazonian dark earth. The PCA and SEM showed that the tropical fruticulture had an overall negative effect on available P, Ca2+, GMD, soil aggregation, SOC, C stock, bulk density, and soil resistance. Conclusion: The results of our study highlighted the importance of considering the Amazonian dark earth as an archaeological site, and when necessary for food production, we must consider soil management practices to promote soil ecosystem avoiding soil quality loss. Thus, long-term experiments in the studied sites considering soil management may exploit different feedback among tropical fruticulture and the Amazonian dark earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of soil management has been recognized internationally. In Japan, the interest in soil management has recently been increasing as the compost input into agricultural land has been decreasing. Owing to recent increases in chemical fertilizer prices, increased production costs in agriculture have become a challenge. Furthermore, the current strategy of the Japanese and European Commission for Sustainable Food Systems is to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. From this perspective, there are considerable expectations for soil management and fertilizer reduction using organic matter. This review focuses on cover crops for soil management and for green manuring, an organic material that is advantageous in terms of transportation costs and the application of labor. First, the results of scientific research on the function of cover crops in improving the soil environment in the surface layer (organic matter accumulation, erosion control, and improvement of soil biological properties) and in the subsurface soil layer (physical properties) are reviewed. Next, the mechanisms of cover crops in supplying nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus) to cash crops as green manure are reviewed. Finally, I reviewed the ways in which the benefit of cover crops can be enhanced (species selection, growth stage of incorporation, and methods and timings of seeding the following crops). Because the effects of the introduction of cover crops on soil quality and cash crop production have been indicated quantitatively, the use of cover crops is expected to expand and contribute to reducing chemical fertilizer use and improving soil quality in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities like overgrazing, deforestation and mismanaged land use accelerate soil erosion (SE), causing nutritional and organic matter loss. In this study, we predicted the annual rate of soil loss in the Salt Range, extending south from the Pothohar plateau, Pakistan, using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The RUSLE model parameters and erosion probability zones were estimated using remote sensing and Geo‐Spatial methods. The annual average soil loss rates were calculated by considering five geo‐environmental factors, that is, slope length and steepness (LS), rainfall erosivity (R), cover management (C), soil erodibility (K), and conservation practice (P) range from 0–559 527, 1404–4431, 0–1, −0.14 to 1.64, and 0.2–122 t.ha−1.year−1$$ \left(t.{ha}^{-1}.{year}^{-1}\right) $$ respectively. This research determined that the yearly average rate of SE in the Salt Range varies from over 50 to above 350 t.ha−1.year−1$$ \mathrm{t}.{\mathrm{ha}}^{-1}.{\mathrm{year}}^{-1} $$. The distribution of land area across different SE probability zones reveals that a small portion (2.11%) is classified as High, a moderate portion (7.13%) falls under the category of Moderate, while the majority (90.7%) is classified as Low in terms of proneness towards erosion. The land devoid of vegetation and characterized by steep slopes is especially prone to SE. The Salt Range is highly vulnerable to SE risk due to climatic variations and improper land use practices. The result provides a spatial distribution of SE across the salt range, utilized for management planning processes and conservation at the policy level among decision‐makers and land‐use planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penetrometers and penetrographers are widely used to measure soil resistance to penetration, but the results are associated with other soil properties (such as bulk density, water content, and particle size distribution). Thus, for an adequate interpretation of results, site-specific studies are necessary to identify which properties are more related to soil resistance. We aimed to measure the resistance to penetration of a Typic Paleudalf under distinct soil uses and to identify soil properties that influence soil resistance. The soil uses in this study included anthropized forest (composed of tree and shrub species), pasture (5-year-old pasture), Eucalyptus 20 (a 20-year-old Eucalyptus saligna stand), and Eucalyptus 4.5 (a 4.5-year-old Eucalyptus saligna under the second rotation). Soil resistance to penetration was measured with an impact penetrometer, and the data were correlated with other physical and mechanical properties of soil, such as the particle size, soil moisture, air permeability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity, bulk density, precompression stress, and compressibility index. We observed that a resistance of 1.3 MPa matches with other soil property values corresponding to soil compaction, and values greater than 1.3 MPa were verified at depths of 0–8 cm for pasture and 8–30 cm for Eucalyptus 4.5. Analyzing all soil uses together, the correlation was significant (p < 0.05) with gravel (r = 0.34), silt (r = −0.32), clay (r = 0.26), gravimetric moisture (r = −0.27), macroporosity (r = 0.24), and soil bulk density at the end of the compressibility test (r = 0.27). The penetrometer is useful for evaluating the physical conditions of soil, but we highlight that soil resistance is influenced by factors such as particle size and soil moisture, as examples. We recommend using a set of soil properties for a better interpretation of penetration resistance data and to support decision-making regarding soil management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runoff and sediment (RAS) are important indicators of soil erosion in a watershed, playing a significant role in the migration of surface material and landform development. Previous studies have extensively documented the effects of trees, shrubs, herbs, and soil on runoff and sediment during erosive rainfall; however, the precise interactions among these factors and their influence on RAS yield within the vegetation hierarchy remain unclear. Using the random forest algorithm and the structural equation model, this research aimed to quantify the interaction of numerous variables within diverse vegetation hierarchies and how they affect RAS, as well as to identify critical indicators that influence RAS. The structural equation model results show that the grass properties have a direct effect on soil properties, and the grass properties and soil properties both affect the canopy properties directly; the soil properties and canopy properties are the main factors influencing runoff and sediment directly. In addition, the grass properties could affect RAS by influencing the soil properties indirectly, and the soil properties could also affect RAS indirectly by influencing the canopy properties. Height difference (HD) between two layers of vegetation had the highest weight of 1.043 among the canopy variables, showing that HD has a substantial effect on RAS. Among the soil properties, soil bulk density and maximum field capacity have a significant impact on RAS. We conclude that canopy properties have the greatest impact on RAS. In the future, more Caragana microphylla Lam and Robinia pseudoacacia Linn plants should be planted to prevent soil erosion. This study provides a scientific basis for vegetation planting management and soil erosion control on the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adoption of a no-till system presents difficulties in maintaining the potential crop yield under long-term conditions when compacted soil layers are observed in the field. The research objective was to assess the benefits of soil intervention in a traditional area of no-till system while considering the production parameters of corn (Zea mays L.) under tropical conditions. The area was installed considering 24 experimental units, including 6 treatments, a 3 × 2 scheme, and 4 repetitions (3 soil management systems and 2 crop hybrids). The soil scarification was carried out at two depths, 0.15 m and 0.30 m, to compare its influence on corn yield. The number of days of plants' emergence, seed depth, longitudinal distribution of seedlings, phytotechnical parameters, and crop yield in the field were evaluated. The dataset was subjected to the F Test and Tukey test (p < 0.05) to compare the means by each attribute and treatment. The adopted hybrids, as well as soil-management systems in the experimental area, did not interfere with the quality of the sowing and quantitative parameters of the crop (CV = 15% for normal distribution on plants' spacing within rows). So, there is no need to scarify soil with the aim of increasing corn yield under the evaluated field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensifying soil health means managing soils to enable sustainable crop production and improved environmental impact. This paper discusses soil health intensification by reviewing studies on the relationship between soil structure, soil organic matter (SOM), and ecosystem carbon budget. SOM is strongly involved in the development of soil structure, nutrient and water supply power, and acid buffering power, and is the most fundamental parameter for testing soil health. At the same time, SOM can be both a source and a sink for atmospheric carbon. A comparison of the ratio of soil organic carbon to clay content (SOC/Clay) is used as an indicator of soil structure status for soil health, and it has shown significantly lower values in cropland than in grassland and forest soils. This clearly shows that depletion of SOM leads to degradation of soil structure status. On the other hand, improving soil structure can lead to increasing soil carbon sequestration. Promoting soil carbon sequestration means making the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) positive. Furthermore, to mitigate climate change, it is necessary to aim for carbon sequestration that can improve the net greenhouse gas balance (NGB) by serving as a sink for greenhouse gases (GHG). The results of a manure application test in four managed grasslands on Andosols in Japan showed that it was necessary to apply more than 2.5 tC ha−1 y−1 of manure to avoid reduction and loss of SOC in the field. Furthermore, in order to offset the increase in GHG emissions due to N2O emissions from increased manure nitrogen input, it was necessary to apply more than 3.5 tC ha−1y−1 of manure. To intensify soil health, it is increasingly important to consider soil management with organic fertilizers that reduce chemical fertilizers without reducing yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the effect of biochar as an agricultural soil supplement on soil quality indicators, specifically enzyme activity in Missouri regions. While the benefits of biochar on soil bulk density, soil organic carbon, and infiltration have been established, its effect on soil enzyme activity has remained underexplored in this region. A three-year field investigation was conducted with six treatments (compost, biochar, compost + biochar, biochar + compost tea, fescue, and control) to evaluate the effects on enzymes such as β-glucosidase (BG), acid and alkaline phosphatases (ACP-ALP), arylsulfatase (ARS), dehydrogenases (DG), arylamidase (AMD), cellulase (CLS), and urease (URS). Furthermore, soil pH, organic matter (OM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined. The results showed that compost and biochar treatments considerably increased soil enzyme activity compared to other treatments, with nitrogen application further increasing enzyme activity. Soil pH, OM, and CEC were all important determinants in determining enzyme activity, with BG demonstrating strong positive associations with ACP and AMD (99.5%). This study shows that compost and biochar amendments significantly improve soil physicochemical and biological properties, thereby enhancing soil health and assisting farmers' sustainable soil management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qinling region in central China, known as the 'Dragon Vein of China', is a vital ecological barrier facing significant soil erosion challenges. This study aims to enhance soil erosion management and analyse the spatiotemporal changes of soil erosion in the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains. We collected data on precipitation, terrain, land use types, and soil in the designated region. Using GIS technology and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, we created a detailed soil erosion map and analysed its evolution from 2018 to 2022. Results show a significant reduction in soil erosion in 2020–2021 despite a general upward trend in other years. Innovation includes integrating remote sensing with RUSLE for high-precision mapping and introducing a hierarchical approach for erosion risk assessment. The study found erosion peaks in summer and autumn, with higher levels in the southern parts compared to the northern parts. Influential factors include climate variables, human activities, soil, and vegetation types. The average soil erosion modulus in 2023 is 233.515 t/(km2·a), with total soil erosion of 85,233.046 t/a, mainly concentrated in the valley and mountain basin areas. This research provides a theoretical basis for improving the natural environment and implementing comprehensive soil and water conservation measures in the Qinling region, offering a model for similar ecological regions globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The conversion of farmland to forest in China has been recognized for its positive impact on above-ground vegetation and carbon sequestration. However, the impact on soil quality during land conversion, particularly in vulnerable karst areas, has received less attention. In this study conducted in a karst area of southwest China, eight different farmland conversion strategies were investigated to assess improvements in surface soil carbon, nitrogen, and ecosystem multi-functionality (EMF). Our results showed that farmland converted to afforestation areas or farmland that was abandoned contained higher amounts of carbon (total, organic, active) and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) in the soil compared to farmland converted to grassland or maize crop. Soluble organic carbon levels were higher in afforestation and grassland areas compared to maize crop controls. By contrast, soil from grassland and abandoned land exhibited higher levels of nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) compared to afforestation land or maize crop controls. There were no differences in NH4+-N content between any condition, except for afforestation land that specifically contained the Zenia insignis plant species. Afforestation land consistently exhibited higher EMF values than grassland. Pearson correlation analysis revealed positive relationships between soil indices and EMF scores, except for NO3--N.Random forest analysis explained 95% of the variation in soil EMF and identified specific soil factors: total carbon, organic carbon, active labile organic carbon, total nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen, as the main drivers of soil multi-functionality. Our studies show how various reforestation strategies can enhance soil nutrient sequestration and improve soil multi-functionality of farmland in the karst areas.These findings provide insight into sustainable soil management practices for converting farmland into natural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reclamation of disturbances from oil sands mining requires effective soil management to ensure successful plant establishment and to promote recovery of native plant communities. In this study we investigated the effects of salvage depths (shallow vs. deep) and placement depths (shallow vs. deep) of forest topsoil on plant establishment, species richness, and soil properties in two substrate types (sand and peat-mineral). Shallow salvage led to greater tree stem densities and higher canopy cover for most plant groups, although there was no significant difference in species richness between shallow and deep salvages. Deep placement generally resulted in greater canopy cover, while its effect on plant density was very small for most plant groups. On peat-mineral substrate, fewer differences were detected between shallow and deep salvage, and multiple treatments resulted in greater cover. Findings suggest that a balance between maximizing the area over which propagules are redistributed and providing sufficient resources for successful plant establishment is necessary. Forest topsoil from shallow salvages and deep placements is recommended when targeting increased site productivity and species diversity. In contrast, deep salvage should be used when the primary objective is to obtain maximum reclamation material volume. Salvage depth effects may be influenced by substrate type, with peat-mineral substrate providing more favourable conditions for plant establishment. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impacts of different salvage and placement depths on plant community development and the potential effects of substrate properties on soil and plant response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation is a serious problem for Ethiopia's productive capacity for land resources. To reverse these environmental dynamics, slow down soil degradation, and raise smallholder farmers’ agricultural yields, watershed management interventions have been implemented in Ethiopia since the 1980s. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the effects of watershed management interventions on soil erosion reduction by using the InVEST model in the Yezat watershed, north-west Ethiopia. The modified ecosystem services valuation model (InVEST) was employed to evaluate soil loss reduction in response to watershed management interventions. Different watershed management intervention scenarios (baseline scenarios, afforestation scenarios, soil/stone bund scenarios, and integrated scenarios) were also applied to evaluate the effectiveness of watershed management interventions on soil loss reduction. The result of the study indicated that a high amount of mean annual soil loss (111 tons ha−1 year−1) was observed in 2000 in the study area due to the expansion of cultivated land and built-up area at the expense of forest, shrubland, and grassland. However, the mean annual soil loss decreased from 111 tons per year in 2000 to 79 tons per year in 2021 in the study area due to different watershed management interventions. Additionally, at the baseline scenario, the estimated mean annual soil loss of the watershed was 111 tons ha-1 yr-1. Conversely, it was reduced to 49.3 ton ha-1 yr-1 in the reforestation scenario, 16.49 ton ha-1 yr-1 in the soil bund scenario, and 8.26 ton ha-1 yr-1 in the integrated scenario. The watershed covered by the very severe soil erosion severity class was reduced in all watershed management intervention scenarios. Among others, the highest soil erosion reduction was observed in the integrated (bio-physical) scenarios of watershed management interventions. Therefore, watershed management interventions and scenarios were the best mechanisms for soil loss reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In recent years, the frequency and intensity of anthropogenic wildfires have drastically increased, significantly altering terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. These fires not only devastate vegetative cover but also impact soil environments and microbial communities, affecting ecosystem structure and function. The extent to which fire severity, soil depth, and their interaction influence these effects remains unclear, particularly in Pinus tabulaeformis forests. Methods: This study investigated the impact of wildfire intensity and soil stratification on soil physicochemical properties and microbial diversity within P. tabulaeformis forests in North China. Soil samples were collected from different fire severity zones (Control, Light, Moderate, High) and depths (topsoil: 0-10 cm; subsoil: 10-20 cm). Analyses included measurements of soil pH, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and other nutrients. Microbial diversity was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Our findings revealed significant variations in soil pH, SOC, TN, and other nutrients with fire severity and soil depth, profoundly affecting microbial community composition and diversity. Soil pH emerged as a critical determinant, closely linked to microbial α-diversity and community structure. We found that fire severity significantly altered soil pH (p =0.001), pointing to noteworthy changes in acidity linked to varying severity levels. Topsoil microbial communities primarily differentiated between burned and unburned conditions, whereas subsoil layers showed more pronounced effects of fire severity on microbial structures. Analysis of bacterial phyla across different fire severity levels and soil depths revealed significant shifts in microbial communities. Proteobacteria consistently dominated across all conditions, indicating strong resilience, while Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota showed increased abundances in high-severity and light/moderate-severity areas, respectively. Verrucomicrobiota were more prevalent in control samples and decreased significantly in fire-impacted soils. Chloroflexi and Bacteroidota displayed increased abundance in moderate and high-severity areas, respectively. Correlation analyses illustrated significant relationships between soil environmental factors and dominant bacterial phyla. Soil organic carbon (SOC) showed positive correlations with total nitrogen (TN) and alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen (AN). Soil pH exhibited a negative correlation with multiple soil environmental factors. Soil pH and available phosphorus (AP) significantly influenced the abundance of the phylum Myxococcota. Soil water content (WC) significantly affected the abundances of Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota. Additionally, ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) jointly and significantly impacted the abundance of the phylum Chloroflexi. Discussion: This study highlights the significant long-term effects of anthropogenic wildfires on soil microenvironment heterogeneity and bacterial community structure in P. tabulaeformis forests in North China, 6 years post-fire. Our findings demonstrate that fire severity significantly influences soil pH, which in turn affects soil nutrient dynamics and enhances microbial diversity. We observed notable shifts in the abundance of dominant bacterial phyla, emphasizing the critical role of soil pH and nutrient availability in shaping microbial communities. The results underscore the importance of soil stratification, as different soil layers showed varying responses to fire severity, highlighting the need for tailored management strategies. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring to further elucidate the temporal dynamics of soil microbial recovery and nutrient cycling following wildfires. Studies investigating the roles of specific microbial taxa in ecosystem resilience and their functional contributions under varying fire regimes will provide deeper insights. Additionally, exploring soil amendments and management practices aimed at optimizing pH and nutrient availability could enhance post-fire recovery processes, supporting sustainable ecosystem recovery and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To reveal the present situation and problems of soil in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei fruit and vegetable base. [Method] Taking soil of Raoyang fruit and vegetable base as the evaluation object in Hebei Province, 12 soil samples were collected, the main physical and chemical property indicators were determined, the soil salinity was evaluated, and correlation analysis was carried out; the fuzzy evaluation method was used to evaluate the soil fertility; the status of soil heavy metals was evaluated by the comprehensive quality impact index evaluation method. [Result] The soil in Raoyang fruit and vegetable base was alkaline, and the soil appeared weak secondary salinization. The electrical conductivity increased with the increase of salt content, and the phenomenon of alkalization occurred at the same time as the salinization. The soil fertility level was at a moderate level. The evaluation results of soil heavy metal pollution showed that different degrees of heavy metal accumulation occurred in the study area, which may be related to the unreasonable fertilization methods, which had potential risks and needs to be paid attention to. The conversion of orchards to greenhouse vegetable cultivation significantly reduced the content of soil organic matter and increased the risk of soil salinization. [Conclusion] The research results provide scientific basis for the rational use of land, rational fertilization, soil nutrient management and high-quality fruit and vegetable production in the fruit and vegetable base of Raoyang County. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]