Journal Description
Soil Systems
Soil Systems
- formerly Soils - is an international, scientific, peer-reviewed, open access journal on soil science, published quarterly online by MDPI. The Italian Society of Soil Science (SISS) is affiliated with Soil Systems and its members receive discounts on the article processing charges.
- Open Access— free for readers, with article processing charges (APC) paid by authors or their institutions.
- High Visibility: indexed within Scopus, ESCI (Web of Science), AGRIS, PubAg, GeoRef, CAPlus / SciFinder, and other databases.
- Journal Rank: CiteScore - Q1 (Earth-Surface Processes)
- Rapid Publication: manuscripts are peer-reviewed and a first decision is provided to authors approximately 27.7 days after submission; acceptance to publication is undertaken in 3.5 days (median values for papers published in this journal in the second half of 2023).
- Recognition of Reviewers: reviewers who provide timely, thorough peer-review reports receive vouchers entitling them to a discount on the APC of their next publication in any MDPI journal, in appreciation of the work done.
Impact Factor:
3.5 (2022)
Latest Articles
Verification of the Solid–Liquid Separation of Waterlogged Reduced Soil via a Centrifugal Filtration Method
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020061 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
The efficient separation of solid and liquid phases of soil under reductive conditions is of the utmost importance to study soil chemistry and to predict the mobility and bioavailability of nutrients and toxic contaminants in waterlogged reduced soils (WRSs). However, there is no
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The efficient separation of solid and liquid phases of soil under reductive conditions is of the utmost importance to study soil chemistry and to predict the mobility and bioavailability of nutrients and toxic contaminants in waterlogged reduced soils (WRSs). However, there is no established method for efficiently separating the solid and liquid phases of WRS within a short time while maintaining its reductive conditions. This study aimed to verify the applicability of a simple centrifugal filtration method (CFM) for the efficient separation of solid and liquid phases of a WRS and examine the CFM-extracted soil solution to confirm that the reductive condition was maintained during the solid–liquid separation process. Incubation experiments were performed under reductive conditions with or without ethanol/molasses used as additional organic material (OM), while the soil solution was collected by both a suction method and CFM at different centrifugation speeds (700, 2760, and 11,000 rpm) and times (1–7 min). The results showed that the soil pH increased with time while the Eh decreased, indicating that its reducing state was enhanced during the incubation experiments. The addition of OM promoted the reductive conditions in the first days of the experiments. Centrifugation speed, rather than time, was found to be the key to extract the maximum amount of soil solution, while a higher centrifugation speed (11,000 rpm), which represents the permanent wilting point, was found to be most effective for extracting the maximum amount of soil solution. The results exhibited no significant difference in solute (As, Fe(II), and Mn) concentrations when varying amounts of CFM-extracted soil solution were measured. The statistical analysis also indicated no significant (p > 0.05) difference between the solute concentrations in the CFM-extracted soil solution and the solute concentrations in the soil solution extracted by the suction method, confirming that the reductive condition was maintained during solid–liquid separation by CFM. This study suggests that CFM operating at a higher centrifugation speed could potentially be employed as a simple and highly effective technique to efficiently separate the solid and liquid phases of WRS (sandy clay loam) within a short time while maintaining its reductive conditions.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Heavy Metals in Soils and Sediments)
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Open AccessArticle
Impact of Pot Farming on Plant-Parasitic Nematode Control
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Silvia Landi, Beatrice Carletti, Francesco Binazzi, Sonia Cacini, Beatrice Nesi, Emilio Resta, Pio Federico Roversi and Sauro Simoni
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020060 (registering DOI) - 30 May 2024
Abstract
In the Pistoia Nursery-Ornamental Rural District (Italy), a leader in Europe in ornamental nurseries covering over 5200 hectares with over 2500 different species of plant, plant-parasitic nematodes represent a serious concern. The potential efficacy of a pot cultivation system using commercial substrates to
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In the Pistoia Nursery-Ornamental Rural District (Italy), a leader in Europe in ornamental nurseries covering over 5200 hectares with over 2500 different species of plant, plant-parasitic nematodes represent a serious concern. The potential efficacy of a pot cultivation system using commercial substrates to control plant-parasitic nematodes was assessed. On two different plant species, two different pot cultivation managements, potted plants, and potted plants previously cultivated in natural soil were compared to plants only cultivated in natural soil. The entire soil nematode structure with and without plants was evaluated. The relationship between soil properties and soil nematode community was investigated. All the studied substrates were free from plant-parasitic nematodes. Regarding free-living nematodes, Peat–Pumice showed nematode assemblage established by colonizer and extreme colonizer bacterial feeders, whereas Peat–Perlite included both bacterial and fungal feeders, and, finally, coconut fiber also included omnivores and predators. In farming, the substrates rich in organic matter such as coconut fiber could still play an important role in suppressing plant-parasitic nematodes because of the abundance of free-living nematodes. In fact, they are of crucial importance in both the mineralization of organic matter and the antagonistic control of plant-parasitic nematodes. Potting systems equally reduce virus-vector nematodes and improve the prey/predator ratio favoring natural control.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)
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Determining Drought and Salinity Stress Response Function for Garlic
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Jean Bosco Nana, Hassan M. Abd El Baki and Haruyuki Fujimaki
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020059 - 28 May 2024
Abstract
Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important crop cultivated in arid and semi-arid climates. To quantify the tolerance of garlic to drought and salinity stresses in terms of parameter values of the stress response function, we conducted pot experiments in a greenhouse
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Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is an important crop cultivated in arid and semi-arid climates. To quantify the tolerance of garlic to drought and salinity stresses in terms of parameter values of the stress response function, we conducted pot experiments in a greenhouse for two years. Nine 1/5000a Wagner pots were used for three treatments, namely drought-treated, salinity-treated, and control pots, for estimating the relative transpiration. Daily transpiration rates were observed by weighing pots, and the soil surface of each pot was covered. The soil water contents were measured hourly using two soil moisture probes for drought-treated pots, and two salinity probes for both soil water content and bulk electrical conductivity were monitored for salinity-treated pots. When the ratio of actual to potential transpiration fell below 50%, the root length distributions were obtained by dismantling the pots. The parameter values for both drought-stress and salinity-stress functions were estimated using inverse-analysis and bulk-analysis methods. The parameter values of drought-stress and salinity-stress functions obtained by the simpler and cheaper bulk method gave similar results to the inverse method when the root length distributions were relatively uniform.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Response to Soil and Water Salinity)
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Fungal and Prokaryotic Communities in Soil Samples of the Aral Sea Dry Bottom in Uzbekistan
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Alexandra Šimonovičová, Eva Pauditšová, Sanja Nosalj, Medetbay Oteuliev, Nikola Klištincová, Francesca Maisto, Lucia Kraková, Jelena Pavlović, Katarína Šoltys and Domenico Pangallo
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020058 - 21 May 2024
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Due to the falling water level in the Aral Sea and Muynak Lake, the content of salts dissolved in the water has gradually increased, and toxic elements have been deposited at the lake’s bottom and subsequently washed into the Aral region by the
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Due to the falling water level in the Aral Sea and Muynak Lake, the content of salts dissolved in the water has gradually increased, and toxic elements have been deposited at the lake’s bottom and subsequently washed into the Aral region by the river. Bacteria, archaea and fungi are crucial for the cycling of several important inorganic nutrients in soils. From 15 genera and 31 species of recovered microscopic filamentous fungi, a big group was melanized, of which most of them were also phytopathogenic. The second group consisted of keratinophilic species. Isolated bacteria mainly included members of the genera Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Massilia, Rhodococcus and Nocardiopsis. High-throughput sequencing analysis permitted a better view of the mycobiome and prokaryotic communities (comprising archaea). The cultivation and sequencing approaches were shown to be complementary. The aim of the work was to identify soil microorganisms, including the order Halobacteriales, and to discover the differences in species diversity depending on soil salinity and the presence of PTEs in soil.
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Open AccessArticle
Growth Responses of Holcus lanatus L. (Velvet Grass) in Soils Contaminated with Cesium or Strontium
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Bayezid M. Khan, M. Ferdous Alam, Zinnat A. Begum and Ismail M. M. Rahman
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020057 - 17 May 2024
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Radiocesium (r-Cs) and radiostrontium (r-Sr) released from nuclear accidents (e.g., Chornobyl, Fukushima) and routine operations (reactors, reprocessing) pose environmental and health concerns. Their primary pathway to humans is through plant uptake and subsequent bioaccumulation within the food chain. While soil amendments with potassium
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Radiocesium (r-Cs) and radiostrontium (r-Sr) released from nuclear accidents (e.g., Chornobyl, Fukushima) and routine operations (reactors, reprocessing) pose environmental and health concerns. Their primary pathway to humans is through plant uptake and subsequent bioaccumulation within the food chain. While soil amendments with potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) are known to mitigate r-Cs and r-Sr uptake, respectively, the impact on plant growth remains unclear. This study investigates the effects of Cs and Sr on the growth of Holcus lanatus L. seedlings under hydroponic and soil conditions with varying Cs and Sr concentrations. Stable isotopes of Cs and Sr served as non-radioactive analogs. Seedling growth was assessed across a range of Cs and Sr concentrations (≤1 and ≥4 mg L−1). The impact of the addition of K and Ca on Cs/Sr uptake in amended soils was also evaluated. Additionally, this study examined how Cs and Sr amendments affected the influx rates of other nutrients in H. lanatus. Higher Cs and Sr concentrations (≥4 mg L−1) significantly inhibited seedling growth, while lower concentrations had no effect. Notably, H. lanatus exhibited moderate Cs tolerance and strong Sr tolerance. Furthermore, K and Ca supplementation in Cs/Sr-amended soils demonstrably reduced plant uptake of these elements. This study also observed alterations in the uptake rates of other nutrients within H. lanatus due to Cs/Sr addition. This study suggests that H. lanatus exhibits moderate tolerance to Cs and Sr contamination, potentially making it suitable for revegetation efforts in contaminated grasslands. Additionally, K and Ca amendments show promise as a strategy to mitigate plant uptake of these radioisotopes further. These findings contribute to the development of safer revitalization strategies for areas impacted by nuclear accidents.
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Open AccessArticle
X-ray Fluorescence Core Scanning for High-Resolution Geochemical Characterisation of Soils
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Shayan Kabiri, Nick M. Holden, Rory P. Flood, Jonathan N. Turner and Sharon M. O’Rourke
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020056 - 17 May 2024
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X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanners are commonly used for fine-scale geochemical analysis in sediment studies, but data are semi-quantitative and require calibration to convert geochemical element counts to concentrations. Application of XRF core scanning in soil science remains largely untapped. This study employed
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X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanners are commonly used for fine-scale geochemical analysis in sediment studies, but data are semi-quantitative and require calibration to convert geochemical element counts to concentrations. Application of XRF core scanning in soil science remains largely untapped. This study employed an ITRAX core scanner to scan grassland soil cores and developed a novel calibration method based on a chemometric approach to characterise soil geochemistry. As soil samples are collected based on depth sampling, this study investigated whether higher resolution element concentrations could be inferred from lower resolution reference samples and if regression models from multiple cores could apply to a new core at the same resolution. Reference concentrations were obtained for all cores at 10 cm intervals, with validation conducted at 1 cm for a single core. Two calibration curve types were proposed: one based on the single core’s 10 cm data to validate references at 1 cm intervals; and another using all cores, with each core serving as a test item after exclusion from the training set. Various preprocessing measures and feature selection techniques were tested. Results showed successful calibration for elements Ca, P, Zn, Sr, and S, with high values of 0.94, 0.93, 0.93, 0.92 and 0.91, respectively. The study presents a novel method for calibrating XRF core scanning element counts, demonstrating its potential for high-resolution soil analysis.
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Open AccessArticle
Assessing Soil Prediction Distributions for Forest Management Using Digital Soil Mapping
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Gonzalo Gavilán-Acuna, Nicholas C. Coops, Guillermo F. Olmedo, Piotr Tompalski, Dominik Roeser and Andrés Varhola
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020055 - 16 May 2024
Abstract
Texture, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil depth (SoD) are crucial properties in forest management because they can supply spatial information on forest site productivity and guide fertilizer applications. However, soil properties possess an inherent uncertainty that must be mapped to enhance decision
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Texture, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil depth (SoD) are crucial properties in forest management because they can supply spatial information on forest site productivity and guide fertilizer applications. However, soil properties possess an inherent uncertainty that must be mapped to enhance decision making in management applications. Most digital soil mapping predictions primarily concentrate on the mean of the distribution, often neglecting the estimation of local uncertainty in soil properties. Additionally, there is a noticeable scarcity of practical soil examples to demonstrate the prediction uncertainty for the benefit of forest managers. In this study, following a digital soil mapping (DSM) approach, a Quantile Regression Forest (QRF) model was developed to generate high-resolution maps and their uncertainty regarding the texture, SoD, and SOM, which were expressed as standard deviation (Sd) values. The results showed that the SOM (R2 = 0.61, RMSE = 2.03% and with an average Sd = 50%), SoD (R2 = 0.74 and RMSE = 19.4 cm), clay (R2 = 0.63, RMSE = 10.5% and average Sd = 29%), silt (R2 = 0.59, RMSE = 6.26% and average Sd = 33%), and sand content (R2 = 0.55, RMSE = 9.49% and average Sd = 35%) were accurately estimated for forest plantations in central south Chile. A practical demonstration of precision fertilizer application, utilizing the predictive distribution of SOM, effectively showcased how uncertainty in soil attributes can be leveraged to benefit forest managers. This approach holds potential for optimizing resource allocation and maximizing economic benefits.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Contemporary Applications of Geostatistics to Soil Studies)
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Biofertilization with Liquid Vermicompost-Activated Biochar Enhances Microbial Activity and Soil Properties
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Pablo Carril, Michelangelo Becagli, Silvia Celletti, Riccardo Fedeli, Stefano Loppi and Roberto Cardelli
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020054 - 16 May 2024
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Biochar (Bc) and liquid vermicompost extracts (LVEs) are increasingly being used as biofertilizers in agriculture to promote soil-microbe-crop interactions. However, although both these products can potentially act synergistically due to their complementary characteristics, their co-application in different soils has not yet been investigated.
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Biochar (Bc) and liquid vermicompost extracts (LVEs) are increasingly being used as biofertilizers in agriculture to promote soil-microbe-crop interactions. However, although both these products can potentially act synergistically due to their complementary characteristics, their co-application in different soils has not yet been investigated. Therefore, firstly, an LVE-activated biochar (BLVE) was experimentally formulated and the persistence of LVE bacteria over a 60-day storage period was determined. The total number of LVE bacteria increased by 10-fold after 7 days and was stable throughout the entire biochar storage period. In addition, changes in the composition of the bacterial community were observed after 30 days of storage, indicating that taxa less represented in pure LVE may be advantaged upon biochar colonization. Secondly, a microcosm experiment was performed to evaluate whether the biological fertility and enzyme activities of two soils, differing in organic matter content, could be enhanced by the addition of LVE-activated biochar. In this experiment, three different doses of Bc, LVE, and BLVE against the carbon-related biological fertility index (i.e., biological fertility index, BFI) and three enzyme activities over a 21-day incubation period were tested. The BLVE treatment yielded the best results (i.e., BFI +32%, enzyme activities +38%). This indicates that Bc and LVEs can act synergistically to promote soil fertility, quality, and microbial activity. By integrating LVE-activated biochar into their soil management practices, farmers could achieve higher crop yields and healthier products.
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Open AccessArticle
Influence of Agro-Industrial Waste Composts on Soil Characteristics, Growth Dynamics, and Yield of Red Cabbage and Broccoli
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Angela Maffia, Federica Marra, Santo Battaglia, Mariateresa Oliva, Carmelo Mallamaci and Adele Muscolo
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020053 - 15 May 2024
Abstract
In this work, environmentally sound technologies for converting organic wastes into fertilizers to improve soil sustainability and crop yield have been identified and assessed. Wet wastes were combined with 50% wood sawdust and 50% wet wastes (Compost 1) or (10% Straw + 90%
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In this work, environmentally sound technologies for converting organic wastes into fertilizers to improve soil sustainability and crop yield have been identified and assessed. Wet wastes were combined with 50% wood sawdust and 50% wet wastes (Compost 1) or (10% Straw + 90% wet wastes) (Compost 2) to produce soil improvers with a balanced level of nutrients, and their effectiveness on soil ecosystem functioning have been tested and compared to horse manure (HM) and nitrogen–phosphorous–potassium (NPK) fertilizers. Unfertilized soil was used as a control. Soil chemical and biological properties have been detected after the harvesting of broccoli and red cabbage (90 days from the initial treatments). Three independent experiments have been conducted in an open field in a randomized complete block design with three replications (n = 9). The results showed that Compost 1 had the highest C/N ratio and cation exchange capacity (CEC), indicating a better humification of the wet material. Compost 1, even if it contained a minor amount of organic carbon, as well as less activity of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and dehydrogenase (DHA) than Compost 2, was the most effective in improving soil quality, significantly increasing the labile fraction of organic matter, the oxidative enzyme (DHA), microbial biomass, and crop yield. Both composts increased crop productivity.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fertilizer Technologies and Use to Improve Nutrient Efficiency and Minimize Environmental Impacts)
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Open AccessArticle
Irrigation Practices and Their Effects on Soil Quality and Soil Characteristics in Arid Lands: A Comprehensive Geomatic Analysis
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Mohamed E. Fadl, Yasser A. Sayed, Ahmed I. El-Desoky, Eltaher M. Shams, Mohammedi Zekari, Elsayed A. Abdelsamie, Marios Drosos and Antonio Scopa
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020052 - 7 May 2024
Abstract
Comprehension of the long-term effects of irrigation on basic soil characteristics and quality is essential for sustainable land management and agricultural production, particularly in arid regions where water availability is limited. This study aimed to investigate long-term irrigation effects on soil quality, soil
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Comprehension of the long-term effects of irrigation on basic soil characteristics and quality is essential for sustainable land management and agricultural production, particularly in arid regions where water availability is limited. This study aimed to investigate long-term irrigation effects on soil quality, soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen (N) stocks in the arid lands of Egypt. Seventy soil samples were collected and analyzed to determine various soil properties. A soil quality index (SQI), SOC, and N stocks were computed. ANOVA and PCA analyses were used to identify significant differences between alluvial soils in the southwest part of the investigated area and coastal marine soils in the northeast of the study area. The results demonstrated that most of the studied soil parameters had significantly greater values in alluvial compared to coastal marine soils. Long-term irrigation led to an 8.00% increase in SOC and 7.22% increase in N stocks compared to coastal marine soils production. Furthermore, a 39.53% increase was found in the SQI upon long-term irrigation practice. These results suggest that shifting from rain-fed in coastal marine areas to irrigated production systems in alluvial fields can improve soil quality, SOC, and N stocks. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the impact of additional factors, such as irrigation method and salinity status of sub-surface soil layers, to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainable land use.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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Evaluation of Almond Hull and Shell Amendments across Organic Matter Management of Orchard Soils
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Leah Wolff Hartman, Ellie M. Andrews, Erini G. Galatis, Amélie C. M. Gaudin, Patrick H. Brown and Sat Darshan S. Khalsa
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020051 - 4 May 2024
Abstract
Hulls and shells are an abundant by-product from almond production with potential as an organic matter amendment (OMA). A combination of incubation study and field research was conducted in 2019–2021 to evaluate the impacts of three practices in combination on orchard soils’ C
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Hulls and shells are an abundant by-product from almond production with potential as an organic matter amendment (OMA). A combination of incubation study and field research was conducted in 2019–2021 to evaluate the impacts of three practices in combination on orchard soils’ C and N cycling, including a 210-day period of laboratory incubation with hulls and shells, and field sampling of orchard soils with and without historic applications of green waste compost as an OMA; with hulls and shells and with and without off-ground harvest where orchard soils remain undisturbed year round. Hulls and shells increased microbial biomass carbon in the field study by 248 μg g−1 dry soil after one year (p < 0.001) and during incubation, and increased cumulative respiration in soils with and without historic OMA (p < 0.001). Historic OMA resulted in double the total soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) compared to soil without resulting in significantly higher respiration and N mineralization when amended with hulls and shells. The decomposition of hull and shell biomass following surface application progressed at similar rates in the laboratory and field (1.7 g kg−1 d−1 during incubation (R2 = 0.84) and 1.3 g kg−1 d−1 in the field trial (R2 = 0.91). Our results highlight the suitability of hulls and shells as a by-product source of OMA for improving soil health in orchards with historic OMA and transitioning to organic matter management.
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(This article belongs to the Topic Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Agro-Ecosystems and Other Anthropogenically Maintained Ecosystems)
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Open AccessArticle
Soils on Recent Tephra of the Somma–Vesuvius Volcanic Complex, Italy
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Antonella Ermice and Carmine Amalfitano
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020050 - 30 Apr 2024
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The Somma–Vesuvius volcanic complex emitted huge quantities of volcanic materials over a period from before 18,300 years BP to 1944. The activity during the last period, from post-AD 1631 to 1944, primarily produced lava and pyroclastics via effusive and strombolian eruptions. We investigated
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The Somma–Vesuvius volcanic complex emitted huge quantities of volcanic materials over a period from before 18,300 years BP to 1944. The activity during the last period, from post-AD 1631 to 1944, primarily produced lava and pyroclastics via effusive and strombolian eruptions. We investigated the pedogenesis on rocks formed from post-AD 1631 to 1944, occurring on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius up to Gran Cono Vesuviano and in the northern valley separating Vesuvius from the older Mt. Somma edifice. Pertinent morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical (XRD and FT-IR) soil properties were studied. The results indicated the existence of thin and deep stratified soils on lava, as well as the presence of loose detritic covers formed via pyroclastic emplacement and redistribution. The soils showed minimal profile differentiation, frequently with layering recording the episodic addition of sediments. We found that the dominant coarse size of primary mineral particles was preserved, and there was a low level of clay production. The main mineralogical assemblage present in sands also persisted in clays, indicating the physical breaking of the parent material. Chemical weathering produced mineral modifications towards the active forms of Al and Fe and was also attested in selected soils by glass alteration, allophane production, and the presence of analcime in clay as a secondary product from leucite. The differences in glass alteration and analcime production found in the selected soils on lava were related to soil particle size and soil thickness. Concerning the youngest soil present on Gran Cono Vesuviano, other factors, such as the substratum’s age and site elevation, appeared to be implicated.
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Open AccessArticle
Effect of pH, Carbonate and Clay Content on Magnesium Measurement Methods on Hungarian Soils
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Renátó Kalocsai, Zsolt Giczi, Tamás Szakál, Csaba Centeri, Zsolt Biró, Márton Vona, Lajos Kubina, Sándor Zsebő, István Kulmány and Viktória Vona
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020049 - 29 Apr 2024
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More exact information on soil nutrient management is crucial due to environmental protection, nature conservation, decreasing sources for mining, general precaution, etc. Soil magnesium (Mg) analytical methods of potassium chloride (KCl), Mehlich 3 (M3), water (WA) and cobalt hexamine (CoHex) extractions are compared
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More exact information on soil nutrient management is crucial due to environmental protection, nature conservation, decreasing sources for mining, general precaution, etc. Soil magnesium (Mg) analytical methods of potassium chloride (KCl), Mehlich 3 (M3), water (WA) and cobalt hexamine (CoHex) extractions are compared with an elemental analysis and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The ratio of the available to the total Mg content was calculated and compared on the whole dataset. The results showed that the linear regressions between all the pairs of Mg content measurement methods were significant. The linear relationship between the KCl and CoHex methods has the highest determination coefficient (R2 = 0.96), followed by WA–M3 (R2 = 0.68), M3–CoHex (R2 = 0.66) and M3–KCl (R2 = 0.60). The M3 solution demonstrated a greater capacity for extracting Mg from the soil. The second part is the analysis of the influence of CaCO3, pH, soil texture and clay content on the measurable magnesium content of soils. It was established that the extraction methods, the soil and the classification method of the soil properties affect the evaluation. These results may help through the nutrient replenishment and the melioration of soils. These results can help the examination of mineral nutrients, especially the Mg uptake.
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Open AccessArticle
Estimating Soil Erodible Fraction Using Multivariate Regression and Proximal Sensing Data in Arid Lands, South Egypt
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Alaa H. Abd-Elazem, Moatez A. El-Sayed, Mohamed E. Fadl, Mohammedi Zekari, Salman A. H. Selmy, Marios Drosos, Antonio Scopa and Ali R. A. Moursy
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020048 - 29 Apr 2024
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Estimating soil erodible fraction based on basic soil properties in arid lands is a valuable research topic in the field of soil science and land management. The Proximal Sensing (PS) technique offers a non-destructive and efficient method to assess wind erosion potential in
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Estimating soil erodible fraction based on basic soil properties in arid lands is a valuable research topic in the field of soil science and land management. The Proximal Sensing (PS) technique offers a non-destructive and efficient method to assess wind erosion potential in arid regions. By using Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) models and combining soil texture and chemical properties, determined through Visible-Near Infrared (vis-NIR) spectroscopy in 96 soil samples, this study aims to predict soil erodibility, soil organic matter (SOM), and calcium carbonate equivalent (CaCO3) in arid lands located in Elkobaneyya Valley, Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Results showed that the soil erodibility fraction (EF-Factor) had the highest values and possessed a strong relationship between slope and SOM of 0.01% in determining soil erodibility. The PLSR model performed better than SVM for estimating SOM, CaCO3, and EF-Factor. Furthermore, the results showed that the spectral responses of CaCO3 were observed in separate places in the wavelengths of 570, 649, 802, 1161, 1421, 1854, and 2362 nm, and the wavelengths with SOM parameter were 496, 658, 779, 1089, 1417, 1871, and 2423 nm. The EF-factor shows the highest significant correlation with spectral reflectance values at 526, 688, 744, 1418, 1442, 2292, and 2374 nm. The accuracy and performance of the PLSR model in estimating the EF-Factor using spectral reflectance data and the distribution of data points for both the calibration and validation data-sets indicate a good accuracy of the PLSR model, with RMSE values of 0.0921 and 0.0836 Mg h MJ−1 mm−1, coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.931 and 0.76, and RPD values of 2.168 and 2.147, respectively.
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Open AccessArticle
A Practicable Guideline for Predicting the Thermal Conductivity of Unconsolidated Soils
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David Bertermann, Mario Rammler, Mark Wernsdorfer and Hannes Hagenauer
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020047 - 18 Apr 2024
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For large infrastructure projects, such as high-voltage underground cables or for evaluating the very shallow geothermal potential (vSGP) of small-scale horizontal geothermal systems, large-scale geothermal collector systems (LSCs), and fifth generation low temperature district heating and cooling networks (5GDHC), the thermal conductivity (λ)
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For large infrastructure projects, such as high-voltage underground cables or for evaluating the very shallow geothermal potential (vSGP) of small-scale horizontal geothermal systems, large-scale geothermal collector systems (LSCs), and fifth generation low temperature district heating and cooling networks (5GDHC), the thermal conductivity (λ) of the subsurface is a decisive soil parameter in terms of dimensioning and design. In the planning phase, when direct measurements of the thermal conductivity are not yet available or possible, λ must therefore often be estimated. Various empirical literature models can be used for this purpose, based on the knowledge of bulk density, moisture content, and grain size distribution. In this study, selected models were validated using 59 series of thermal conductivity measurements performed on soil samples taken from different sites in Germany. By considering different soil texture and moisture categories, a practicable guideline in the form of a decision tree, employed by empirical models to calculate the thermal conductivity of unconsolidated soils, was developed. The Hu et al. (2001) model showed the smallest deviations from the measured values for clayey and silty soils, with an RMSE value of 0.20 W/(m∙K). The Markert et al. (2017) model was determined to be the best-fitting model for sandy soils, with an RMSE value of 0.29 W/(m∙K).
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Open AccessArticle
Uncovering Hidden Microbial Diversity in Nitrate/Iodide Deposits (NIDs) in the Domeyko District, Atacama Desert, Chile
by
Mayra Cortés, Priscilla Avendaño, Olga Encalada, Camila Salazar-Ardiles, David C. Andrade, Benito Gómez-Silva, Daniel Contreras, Norman Toro, Dayana Arias and Lorena V. Escudero
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020046 - 16 Apr 2024
Abstract
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Unique worldwide, nitrate/iodine deposits (NIDs) are located along a 700 km geological belt in the Atacama Desert, Chile. They serve as the primary source of mineral ores for the extraction of iodine, sodium, and potassium nitrates. NIDs have been relatively underexplored from a
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Unique worldwide, nitrate/iodine deposits (NIDs) are located along a 700 km geological belt in the Atacama Desert, Chile. They serve as the primary source of mineral ores for the extraction of iodine, sodium, and potassium nitrates. NIDs have been relatively underexplored from a biological perspective. To address this, we collected sixteen soil samples from abandoned mines in Oficinas Pissis and Savona for chemical, mineralogical, and metagenomic analyses. The soils primarily consisted of halite and darapskite, with only one sample being predominantly composed of thenardite. Deliquescence and water activity measurements yielded values ranging from 0.02% to 0.40% and 0.47 to 0.62, respectively. To investigate the presence, identification, relative abundance, and diversity of microbial life in NID soils, we employed MiSeq high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools. The dominant phyla observed were Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, with Actinobacteria and Cyanobacteria being predominant in two soil samples. Furthermore, we detected nitrate/perchlorate-reducing bacterial activity in enriched cultures from the soil samples. This study sheds light on the resilience of microbial life in the Atacama Desert NIDs, providing compelling evidence for its existence and offering insight into factors that could facilitate it within this unique environment.
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Open AccessReview
Strategies and Public Policies for Soil and Water Conservation and Food Production in Brazil
by
Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki, Helvio Debli Casalinho and Idel Cristiana Bigliardi Milani
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020045 - 15 Apr 2024
Abstract
There is an urgent demand to change our intensive crop production systems, replacing them with soil use and management systems that recover, preserve, or improve soil health and are environmentally sustainable, producing healthy and good-quality food. In this work, we compile and present
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There is an urgent demand to change our intensive crop production systems, replacing them with soil use and management systems that recover, preserve, or improve soil health and are environmentally sustainable, producing healthy and good-quality food. In this work, we compile and present strategies and public policies aimed toward soil and water conservation and food production in Brazil. The results presented may help Brazilian farmers adopt practices to recover, maintain, or improve soil health and politicians to create or modify public policies for healthy soil and food, without the necessity of increasing agricultural areas. Food insecurity was also addressed, with family farming playing an important role in food production and decreasing food insecurity. But these challenges need the combined efforts and engagement of the whole society.
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)
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Open AccessArticle
Fractions of Organic Matter and Soil Carbon Balance in Different Phases of an Agroforestry System in the Cerrado: A Ten-Year Field Assessment
by
Juscelina Arcanjo dos Santos, Anselmo de Deus dos Santos, Camila Rodrigues Costa, Alyson Silva de Araujo, Gilberto Gonçalves Leite, Thais Rodrigues Coser and Cícero Célio de Figueiredo
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020044 - 10 Apr 2024
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Integrated production systems composed of trees, crops and pastures have shown good results in improving soil quality and the capacity to store carbon in the soil, being efficient in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, changes in carbon stocks and soil organic matter
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Integrated production systems composed of trees, crops and pastures have shown good results in improving soil quality and the capacity to store carbon in the soil, being efficient in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Despite this, changes in carbon stocks and soil organic matter fractions in the initial stages of implementing an agroforestry system remain unclear. This study evaluated the carbon balance and the dynamics of soil organic matter fractions in an agroforestry system conducted over a decade. Total carbon, labile carbon, carbon from particulate organic matter, organic carbon associated with minerals and inert carbon were determined at depths 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–40 cm. Soil carbon stocks were also estimated for the 0–40 cm depth. Total carbon increased in the agroforestry system compared with a low-productivity pasture. The total carbon stock in the last growing season (68.57 Mg ha−1) was close to the original soil stocks under native Cerrado vegetation (76.5 Mg ha−1). After 10 years, there was a positive balance in the soil carbon stock of both the total carbon and the soil organic matter fractions. The successional agroforestry system is a good alternative to increasing soil total carbon stocks and labile and non-labile fractions of soil organic matter.
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Open AccessArticle
The Loss of Soil Parent Material: Detecting and Measuring the Erosion of Saprolite
by
Daniel L. Evans, Bernardo Cândido, Ricardo M. Coelho, Isabella C. De Maria, Jener F. L. de Moraes, Anette Eltner, Letícia L. Martins and Heitor Cantarella
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020043 - 9 Apr 2024
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Soil parent material is a fundamental natural resource for the generation of new soils. Through weathering processes, soil parent materials provide many of the basic building blocks for soils and have a significant bearing on the physico-chemical makeup of the soil profile. Parent
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Soil parent material is a fundamental natural resource for the generation of new soils. Through weathering processes, soil parent materials provide many of the basic building blocks for soils and have a significant bearing on the physico-chemical makeup of the soil profile. Parent materials are critical for governing the stock, quality, and functionality of the soil they form. Most research on soil parent materials to date has aimed to establish and measure the processes by which soil is generated from them. Comparatively little work has been performed to assess the rates at which soil parent materials erode if they are exposed at the land surface. This is despite the threat that the erosion of soil parent materials poses to the process of soil formation and the loss of the essential ecosystem services those soils would have provided. A salient but unanswered question is whether the erosion of soil parent materials, when exposed at the land surface, outpaces the rates at which soils form from them. This study represents one of the first to detect and measure the loss of soil parent material. We applied Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Structure-From-Motion (UAV-SfM) photogrammetry to detect, map, and quantify the erosion rates of an exposed saprolitic (i.e., weathered bedrock) surface on an agricultural hillslope in Brazil. We then utilized a global inventory of soil formation to compare these erosion rates with the rates at which soils form in equivalent lithologies and climatic contexts. We found that the measured saprolite erosion rates were between 14 and 3766 times faster than those of soil formation in similar climatic and lithological conditions. While these findings demonstrate that saprolite erosion can inhibit soil formation, our observations of above-ground vegetation on the exposed saprolitic surface suggests that weathered bedrock has the potential to sustain some biomass production even in the absence of traditional soils. This opens up a new avenue of enquiry within soil science: to what extent can saprolite and, by extension, soil parent materials deliver soil ecosystem services?
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Open AccessEditorial
Research on Soil Management and Conservation
by
Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020042 - 5 Apr 2024
Abstract
The soil is the base of a sustainable agricultural system; it is the key for food and energy production, a reservoir of water and nutrients [...]
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(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation)
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