Buffers are commonly employed in soil enzyme assays to maintain a constant pH during the assay incubation, but soils are already buffered and buffer can alter apparent Vmax and Km. To test for potential artifacts of buffer on soil enzyme activities, we selected 32 soils to furnish a broad range of physiochemical characteristics and assayed soil β-glucosidase (BG) and phosphomonoesterase (PME) activities

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal structures, such as spores, vesicles, extra- and intra- radical hyphae, are home to diverse communities of prokaryotic (bacterial and archaeal) taxa and can have significant impact on the movement and behavior of those microbes within the soil. The ability to disperse via fungal hyphae, known as the fungal highway effect, was first observed in ectomycorrhiza and later

Predicting soil phosphorus (P) bioavailability requires an understanding of organic P mineralization (Pmin) but assessing Pmin rates is challenging. Recent advances in the use of radioisotopic P labeling enable estimates of Pmin rates in soil. However, there is yet no standardization of radioisotopic dilution methods, potentially compromising comparison of results among studies. We conducted a systematic

Aims In this study, we investigated the activities of ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid) deaminase-secreting plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) in watermelon grafted onto different rootstocks exposed to water stress. Methods The effects of two PGPR species (P. aurescens-B1 and P. polychromogenes-B2) on yield, actual evapotranspiration (ETa), and CWSI values of the Crimson Tide (CT)

Runoff erosion response associated with sediment transport as influenced by erosive energy variability is a highly scale‐dependent process. Identifying the spatial scale effect on erosive runoff energy is important to understand the spatial pattern of sediment flow behavior across various sites. This issue was resolved by establishing thresholds for erosive runoff based on frequency analysis, which

Land degradation (LD) threatens the food security and general welfare of many people globally. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is a pivotal goal within the global sustainability agenda, particularly under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.3.1, which measures the proportion of land that is degraded over total land area. Romania, with its diverse landscapes and significant agricultural sector,

Aims Fertilization significantly impacts soil chemical and microbial properties, ultimately influencing soil productivity and crop yield. However, the effects of long-term (40 years) fertilization strategies on soil microbial communities in crop-rotation systems are not well understood. Methods This study examines changes in soil chemical properties, microbial communities, and faba bean yield under

Background and aims Microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) play crucial roles in plant growth regulation and induce systemic resistance. Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain PS3 exhibits significant plant growth-promoting effects on various plants. This study aimed to elucidate the roles and mechanisms by which R. palustris mVOCs promote the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana and Chinese cabbage, and

Fine‐grained hypermonosulfidic sediments are widespread on the coastal plains of the northern Baltic Sea that when drained, cause the formation and dispersion of acid and toxic‐metal species. In this study, a 30‐month laboratory oxidation experiment with such a sediment was performed in incubation cells. To minimize or prevent acidification, limestone was applied in two grain sizes: agricultural limestone

Cattle farming is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and plays a crucial role in food security, especially in developing countries and in systems that use part of the production for self‐consumption. However, it is not completely clear how production processes impact on the environment. This research aimed to analyse the generation of greenhouse gasses and associated production factors

Soil compaction has been found to deform soil structures and alter water flows. Although previous studies have suggested that a load exceeding the critical stress, determined by static load application, can be applied for a short duration without causing substantial damage to the soil structure, the immediate consequences of short loading times on structural integrity and the subsequent influence on

Background and Aims Many studies have considered whether all forms of rare earth elements (REEs) in the soil are potentially bioavailable. The general consensus is that the exchangeable and carbonate-bound mineral pool is bioavailable. However, within the rhizosphere, site-specific geochemical conditions and biological weathering (due to plants, animals and microbes) may cause insoluble pools of REEs

Background and aims Afforestation or reforestation with mixed tree species is a promising strategy for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. However, whether soil organic carbon (SOC) stability in mixed-species forests (MF) is higher than that of monoculture forests (PF) is unclear. Methods The origin and stability of SOC were investigated using soil samples (1 m in depth) obtained from

The use of supplemental irrigation could stabilise crop yields in the Pampean region in the face of climate variability. However, inadequate management of this practice could compromise soil quality. The effect supplemental irrigation on soil salinity and sodicity, nutrients, organic carbon and some physical properties was studied on a farm, with production of grains and oilseeds, in the Pampean region

The sustained intensification of agricultural production to meet increasing food, feed and fibre demands has aggravated soil deformation, thereby accelerating soil degradation. The conversion of some of these degraded arable lands to permanent grassland has been recommended to recover the soil functions. However, there is still a considerable gap in understanding the timeline for the effective recovery

Background and aims Understanding of the influences of soil moisture changes on plant phenological shifts on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is insufficient mainly because previous studies focused on the climatic factors. We explored the role of soil moisture in regulating plant autumn phenology on the QTP. Methods Based on long-term ground observations of soil moisture, plant phenology, and meteorology

Plastic film mulching combined with nitrogen application is a prime chief strategy for enhancing maize yields in rain-fed agricultural areas. However, how the practice affects the productivity and functions of soil by altering nitrogen transformation mediated by rhizosphere microorganisms in the Loess Plateau, remains unclear. In this research, an 7-year field location experiment was conducted to ascertain

Microbial nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) reflects the allocation of microbially-acquired N between growth (anabolism) and the release of inorganic N to the environment (catabolism), and is central to understanding soil N cycling. However, the effects of N addition on microbial NUE are unclear. We determined microbial NUE in surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface (10–20 cm) soils in a temperate forest by the

Background and aims Rhizosphere serves as a hotspot for phosphatase exudation, which is instrumental in organic P mineralization and thereby facilitates enhanced P uptake by plants. However, further exploration is required to elucidate mechanisms of P transformation regulated by microorganisms in rhizosphere hotspots. Methods Soil zymography was used to visualize rhizosphere hotspots associated with

Saline-alkali soils are widely distributed worldwide and pose significant threats to food security and environmental safety. Rice cultivation is an effective strategy for ameliorating saline-alkali soils, increasing grain productivity, promoting soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and sustaining soil health in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China. This study investigated changes in microbial carbon

The black soil region in Northeast China is an important commodity grain base. In recent years, with the intensification of agricultural activities, the formation and development of gullies on sloping farmland have accelerated, severely affecting food and ecological security. In order to effectively control regional soil erosion, this study comprehensively utilized historical databases of gullies,

Soil salinization is associated with soil productivity and food stocks, and hazards to the sustainable development of agriculture economics and the ecological environment. Hence, to evaluate the improvement and underlying mechanisms of agricultural amelioration practices on salinity alleviation, soil fertility improvement and crop growth, the organic fertilizer and soil amendments were applied to the

As important structuring force in ecosystems, ants play crucial roles in driving source-sink processes of soil methane (CH4) through a series of biotic and abiotic pathways. However, there is still uncertainty about how different ant species regulate CH4 fluxes in slash-burn tropical soils. This study aimed to identify the pathways by which the different ant species (i.e., Pheidole capellini-honeydew

Incorporating the green manure (GM) approach in agroecosystems enhances phosphorus (P) availability and reduces mineral P-fertilizer input. Despite global promotion, a comprehensive global synthesis of the GM effect on soil P fractions is lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a meta-analysis of 48 published studies to evaluate the impact of climatic, edaphic, and agronomic variables on soil P

Pedosphere is the largest terrestrial carbon reservoir. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a critical attribute for soil quality and crop productivity, being directly linked to climate change mitigation and food security. Brazil boasts a significant agricultural production area and substantial potential for carbon sequestration. Nevertheless, the spatial-temporal distribution of SOC across the country is

Understanding the stability and movement of biochar in soil is pivotal for its effective use in soil improvement and carbon sequestration projects. Building on a previous study that evaluated the migration of three size fractions of maize biochar carbon (BC) after 4.5 years in a Zambian loamy sand soil using δ13C isotopes, this study compares the results with those using chemothermal oxidation (CTO)

To be commercially viable, soil carbon project developers need to be able to measure soil carbon stocks across large scales (e.g., 100,000 to 1,000,000 ha). These measurements need to be accurate, unbiased, inexpensive, and fast. One potential measurement modality for carbon markets is visible and near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (VisNIR). VisNIR has been widely used to predict soil properties

Intensified slash‐and‐burn cultivation and forest clearing have caused severe land degradation in the Khasi Hills (Meghalaya plateau, NE India). Despite very high annual rainfall, the region faces severe water scarcity during the dry season. Local initiatives aim to restore forests through assisted natural regeneration (ANR) in this hydrologically poorly known area. As a first step towards assessing

Background and aims White lupin (Lupinus albus) mobilize inaccessible phosphorus (P) by producing cluster root that can secrete carboxylates and enhance the phosphatase activity. Blue lupin (L. angustifolius) and yellow lupin (L. luteus) are classified in the same legume genus as white lupin, this study investigates whether blue and yellow lupins can evoke adaptation strategies under P scarcity. Methods

Background and aims Exploring plant community assembly mechanisms is of central interest to infer community dynamics and succession in the context of global change and intensive human activities. Our aim was to understand the grassland community assembly mechanisms and how species’ functional compositions and groups might change under ongoing climate change and shrub encroachment. Methods Here, we

Background and Aims Roots of plants have been shown to be effective in reinforcing soils against slope failures. Two key mechanical properties in such reinforcement are the root’s tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM). However, knowledge on the combined effects of root moisture content (RMC) and root diameter on these properties is scarce. The study aims to quantify these relationships for

Background and aims Shrubs of the genus Baccharis are considered key nurse plants for the Chilean matorral, but some species have allelopathic compounds in their leaves. These compounds can leach into the soil, casting doubt on their nurse role. We assessed the nurse effect of B. paniculata, a species with allelopathic compounds in their leaves, in a central Chilean matorral site by determining the

Drought stress is a key factor limiting crop growth and production. Although a variety of crops can improve their survival and drought resistance as a result of interactions with their rhizosphere microbiota, the mechanisms related to plant–rhizosphere microbiota interactions under drought stress are not fully understood, especially regarding the mechanisms in habitats with droughts. Here, the molecular

Understanding the feedback mechanisms between roots and soil, and their effects on microbial communities, is crucial for predicting carbon cycling processes in agroecosystems. Process-based modeling is a valuable tool for quantifying biogeochemical processes and identifying regulatory mechanisms in the rhizosphere. A novel one-dimensional axisymmetric rhizosphere model is used to simulate the spatially

Recycling nutrients in agroecosystems is becoming increasingly important to promote agricultural sustainability. Struvite and nitrogen (N)-enriched zeolites produced via wastewater treatment offer the potential for nutrient recycling. However, their effects on soil properties, particularly on microbial physiology, remain largely unknown; especially regarding microbial feedback, from which losses or

Abandonment of farmland has become a widespread land use phenomenon worldwide. However, the spatial pattern and driving factors of abandoned farmland in different scales and regions in China are still unclear, which limits the government in formulating relevant policies. This study is based on the statistical data of abandoned farmland in county level in 2020, and examines the spatial patterns and

Natural social systems provide opportunities for human survival, living, and development, but such development may be of less benefit to farmers in low‐income and remote rural settlements because they lack money and complete infrastructure. Introducing the concept of resilience can help explore the development potential of rural areas and add vitality to the realization of high‐quality rural development

Salinization and alkalization contribute significantly to soil degradation. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation is an effective approach to remediate saline‐alkali soil. However, how rice straw (RS), rice straw biochar (RSB), and rice straw ash (RSA) impact soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation and stability in saline‐alkali soil remains unknown. Herein, SOC and SOC fractions contents in bulk soil

Considering the meaning of the hydric resource regarding the formation of territories and its connection to agriculture development, present review paper aims to analyze the actual context of rural water systems in Colombia. For this, scientific information was acquired using Scopus through the search formula: “sustainability AND aqueduct” as well as information gather from national and regional public

Intercropping with green manure is recognized as a sustainable and ecological agricultural practice that regulates soil microbial activity and promotes plant growth. Despite its potential benefits, the impact of tea plants intercropping green manure on organic plantations remains largely unexplored. This study primarily evaluated the effects of intercropping summer green manure and winter green manure

Soil quality index (SQI) can be an effective parameter to evaluate soil quality based on plant growth and ecosystem services at a large scale. According to the European Commission, around 60%–70% of the European soil is not healthy due to degradation and rapid conversion of land uses; however, detailed studies on soil quality according to different land uses in the entire Europe are very limited. We

Background and aims While agroecological transition towards sustainable cropping systems has proposed the integration of nitrogen (N)-fixing-legumes to reduce N inputs, current agriculture faces primary limitations of water and N. It is therefore crucial to identify and hierarchize key drivers of legumes water and mineral (hydromineral) acquisition under limiting conditions, especially the underexplored

Background and aims Despite the widespread co-occurrence of subsoil acidity and compaction, the interaction between these factors and their combined effects on root system development under water-limited conditions is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate how the removal of soil strength and acidity influenced root development and examine relationships between root system properties and

Background and Aims Mutualistic root symbioses, particularly those involving mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, are pivotal to ecosystem productivity and stability. Plant-soil feedbacks (PSFs) and climate serve as primary regulators of these symbiotic interactions, determining their establishment, maintenance, and diversity. PSFs, encompassing the complex interactions between plants and

Background and aims Anthropogenic activities have substantially elevated nitrogen (N) deposition globally and affect ecosystem processes, including soil carbon (C) storage potential. Phosphorus (P) can become a limiting factor for plant production in instances of N deposition, yet the responses of ecosystem C cycles to P enrichment are poorly understood, particularly in sensitive alpine ecosystems

The molecular diversity of soil organic matter (SOM) is recognised as a key factor influencing soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation, and the molecular diversity of SOM may change as SOC content changes during land use change. However, the relationship between SOM molecular diversity and SOC before and after natural wetland reclamation remains unclear. Here, we selected seven groups of natural wetland–reclaimed

Soil salinization is a major threat to global arable productivity. Chemical amendments are widely used to improve salt-affected soils and have been proven to be effective. However, the effectiveness of amendments varies across different regions and depends on field management practices. To quantify the improvement effects of different amendments on salt-affected soils and how amendment application

The development of renewable energy technologies is growing rapidly, with solar energy being the most promising source. Agrivoltaics in particular offers the advantage to combine crop and energy production on the same land. While many studies have looked at the impact of ground-mounted solar power panels on uncultivated grassland, very few have focused on agrivoltaic structures, and none on dual axis

Unfrozen water plays a crucial role in thermophysical processes occurring in frozen ground. Measurement difficulties require approximate approaches to describe the relationship between unfrozen water content (θ) and soil temperature, known as soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC). Despite significant progress, model characteristics, freezing-thawing hysteresis, and phase equilibrium remain challenging

The integration of pollinators and flower strips into agricultural landscapes has emerged as a key strategy for addressing current challenges in agricultural sustainability and biodiversity conservation. This study presents a comprehensive global bibliometric analysis of research trends in this field from 2009 to 2023, offering an in‐depth overview of progress and remaining gaps. By reviewing 155 publications

Background Efficient microbe-assisted phytoremediation is urgently needed for coping with heavy metal-polluted environments. Methods In this study, a new strain of rhizobacteria from Cd-contaminated soil was screened, and its environmental adaptability, physiological characteristics, and effects on Cd phytoextraction were investigated. Furthermore, genomic sequencing and transcriptomic analysis were

Aims Perennial forages in rotation with annual crops can improve agricultural resilience by increasing soil organic carbon. However, how nitrogen (N) sources interact with rotation diversity to influence soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is not well understood. Methods During three snow-free seasons, N2O emissions, crop yields, and ancillary variables were measured at three experimental sites with

Aims Soil contaminated with heavy metals not only affects human health and safety but also poses a potential threat to the ecological balance of soil microbes. Ryegrass effectively extracts heavy metals from soil. Straw can increase the biomass of ryegrass, but the effects of straw addition on heavy metal absorption and changes in soil microbial community structure remain unclear. Our objective was

Background and aims According to the carbon (C) saturation concept, the capacity of soils to accumulate stabilized organic C is limited by the number of binding sites on mineral surfaces. The concept and its application are highly debated. Therefore, we aimed at testing this theory using field experimental data. Methods Soils were sampled from four long-term field experiments with different amounts

Rice–crayfish coculture (RC) has emerged as a transformative agricultural practice in China, significantly influencing soil microorganisms and enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. However, the contribution of plant residues and microbial necromass to the increased SOC within RC systems remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), microbial necromass

This study investigated changes in soil physical quality and water dynamics arising from continuous cropping at the Morrow Plots, the oldest agricultural experiment in North America. The objectives were to examine the effects of continuous cultivation on soil water retention and determine the optimum water content for tillage (θOPT) in a prime agricultural soil. Soil samples collected at 0–5, 5–10