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Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2023) | Viewed by 20858

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adriano Sofo

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Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences (DAFE), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano 20, 85100 Potenza, Italy
Interests: agricultural and environmental chemistry; environmental botany; soil ecology
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Dr. Anamaria Mălinaș

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Protection and Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăştur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: plant ecology; plant invasions; natural protected areas; sustainability; climate change
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Dr. Magdalena Szymura

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Institute of Agroecology and Plant Production, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 53-363 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: ecology; plant invasions; Solidago species; goldenrods; biodiversity; semi-natural meadows, grasslands; methods of invasion control
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, many studies have been focused on safeguarding the soil resources which forms the basis of plant growth and development. On the other hand, climate change is rapidly causing soil degradation and has deleterious effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock and biodiversity, that is closely interconnected with the production of food and energy, the protection and security of water supply and wild habitats, and a wide range of other ecosystem services related to soil. It is important to keep in mind that the impact of climate change on plant growth has an important impact on our existence. Thus, safeguarding natural and cultivated soils in a climate change scenario represents a strategic challenge for the future achievement of the 17th Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all 193 Member States of the United Nations. Many wild plants and crops are at risk due to increasingly adverse abiotic and biotic factors. Furthermore, climate change can potentially decrease the effectiveness of plant defensive mechanisms and increase the risk of diseases, through growth and physiology alteration of the host plant. Under such a changing scenario, this Special Issue aims to communicate the main scientific evidence and the best strategies for safeguarding soils and plants threatened by climate change, highlighting, in particular, their economic and social impacts. Original research and review papers are welcome. Papers chosen for publication will be selected by a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of rapid dissemination of the research results.

Key topics in this Special Issue include, but are not limited, to the following:

Soil biodiversity;
Sustainable agricultural practices;
Breeding, germplasm conservation and cryopreservation;
Soil biological activity;
Soil organic matter;
Effect of climate changes on plant productivity and soil biodiversity;
Plant-soil-microorganisms crosstalk;
Innovative agricultural technologies

Prof. Dr. Adriano Sofo
Dr. Anamaria Mălinaș
Dr. Magdalena Szymura
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

soil biodiversity
soil sustainable management
soil protection and pollution
soil organic carbon
plant secondary metabolites
nutraceutics
climate change
abiotic stresses
deforestation
plant–microbe interactions
plant and soil ecology
root growth and development
soil bioremediation

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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19 pages, 5478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanobiochar Associated Ammonia Emission Mitigation and Toxicity to Soil Microbial Biomass and Corn Nutrient Uptake from Farmyard Manure

by Muhammad Imtiaz Rashid, Ghulam Abbas Shah, Zahid Iqbal, Muhammad Ramzan, Mohammad Rehan, Nadeem Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Ahmad Summan, Iqbal M. I. Ismail and Gabrijel Ondrasek

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1740; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091740 - 23 Apr 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2269

Abstract

The unique properties of NB, such as its nano-size effect and greater adsorption capacity, have the potential to mitigate ammonia (NH₃) emission, but may also pose threats to soil life and their associated processes, which are not well understood. We studied the influence of different NB concentrations on NH₃ emission, soil microbial biomass, nutrient mineralization, and corn nutrient uptake from farmyard manure (FM). Three different NB concentrations i.e., 12.5 (NB1), 25 (NB2), and 50% (NB3), alone and in a fertilizer mixture with FM, were applied to corn. NB1 alone increased microbial biomass in soil more than control, but other high NB concentrations did not influence these parameters. In fertilizer mixtures, NB2 and NB3 decreased NH₃ emission by 25% and 38%, respectively, compared with FM alone. Additionally, NB3 significantly decreased microbial biomass carbon, N, and soil potassium by 34%, 36%, and 14%, respectively, compared with FM. This toxicity to soil parameters resulted in a 21% decrease in corn K uptake from FM. Hence, a high NB concentration causes toxicity to soil microbes, nutrient mineralization, and crop nutrient uptake from the FM. Therefore, this concentration-dependent toxicity of NB to soil microbes and their associated processes should be considered before endorsing NB use in agroecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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18 pages, 2649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Earthworm-Driven Changes in Soil Chemico-Physical Properties, Soil Bacterial Microbiota, Tree/Tea Litter Decomposition, and Plant Growth in a Mesocosm Experiment with Two Plant Species

by Adriano Sofo, Mohammad Yaghoubi Khanghahi, Maddalena Curci, Francesco Reyes, Maria J. I. Briones, Judith M. Sarneel, Domenico Cardinale and Carmine Crecchio

Plants 2023, 12(6), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061216 - 7 Mar 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2424

Abstract

Earthworms and soil microorganisms contribute to soil health, quality, and fertility, but their importance in agricultural soils is often underestimated. This study aims at examining whether and to what extent the presence of earthworms (Eisenia sp.) affected the (a) soil bacterial community composition, (b) litter decomposition, and (c) plant growth (Brassica oleracea L., broccoli; Vicia faba L., faba bean). We performed a mesocosm experiment in which plants were grown outdoors for four months with or without earthworms. Soil bacterial community structure was evaluated by a 16S rRNA-based metabarcoding approach. Litter decomposition rates were determined by using the tea bag index (TBI) and litter bags (olive residues). Earthworm numbers almost doubled throughout the experimental period. Independently of the plant species, earthworm presence had a significant impact on the structure of soil bacterial community, in terms of enhanced α- and β-diversity (especially that of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Myxococcota, and Verrucomicrobia) and increased 16S rRNA gene abundance (+89% in broccoli and +223% in faba bean). Microbial decomposition (TBI) was enhanced in the treatments with earthworms, and showed a significantly higher decomposition rate constant (k_TBI) and a lower stabilization factor (S_TBI), whereas decomposition in the litter bags (d_litter) increased by about 6% in broccoli and 5% in faba bean. Earthworms significantly enhanced root growth (in terms of total length and fresh weight) of both plant species. Our results show the strong influence of earthworms and crop identity in shaping soil chemico-physical properties, soil bacterial community, litter decomposition and plant growth. These findings could be used for developing nature-based solutions that ensure the long-term biological sustainability of soil agro- and natural ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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16 pages, 1526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil and Foliar Applications of Wood Distillate Differently Affect Soil Properties and Field Bean Traits in Preliminary Field Tests

by Michelangelo Becagli, Iduna Arduini, Valentina Cantini and Roberto Cardelli

Plants 2023, 12(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010121 - 26 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2213

Abstract

Natural products such as wood distillate (WD) are promising alternatives to xenobiotic products in conventional agriculture and are necessary in organic farming. A field study gave insight into the effectiveness of WD applied as foliar spray (F-WD), soil irrigation (S-WD), and their combination as growth promoters for field beans. The soil fertility and quality parameters, plant growth, nutrient uptake, and resource partitioning within plants were evaluated. In a pot trial, we tested the effect of S-WD on root nodule initiation and growth. S-WD increased DOC and microbial biomass by approximately 10%, prompted enzyme activities, and increased nitrate and available phosphorus in soil, without affecting the number and growth of nodules in field beans. In contrast, the F-WD slightly reduced the DOC, exerted a lower stimulation on soil enzymes, and lowered the soil effect in the combined distribution. In field beans, the F-WD reduced the stem height but increased the number of pods per stem; S-WD increased the N and P concentrations of leaves and the N concentration of the pods. Moreover, all WD treatments retarded plant senescence. The WD revealed itself to be promising as a growth promoter for grain legumes, but further research is needed to understand the interference between the combined soil and foliar applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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12 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Foliarly Applied 24-Epibrassinolide Modulates the Electrical Conductivity of the Saturated Rhizospheric Soil Extracts of Soybean under Salinity Stress

by Victoria Otie, Ali Ibrahim, Itohowo Udo, Junichi Kashiwagi, Asana Matsuura, Yang Shao, Michael Itam, Ping An and Anthony Egrinya Eneji

Plants 2022, 11(18), 2330; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11182330 - 6 Sep 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1586

Abstract

The accumulation of salts within the rhizosphere is a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid regions where irrigation water is high in salts. A previous study established the ameliorative effect of foliarly applied 24-epibrassinolide (BR) on soybean under salinity stress. As a follow-up to that study, this work evaluated the effects of BR on the electrical conductivity of saturated soil extracts (EC_ses) under soybean exposed to salt stress. Three salinity levels (3.24, 6.06 and 8.63 dS/m) in a factorial combination with six frequencies of BR application—control, seedling, flowering, podding, seedling + flowering and seedling + flowering + podding—were the treatments, and the rhizospheric EC_se was monitored from 3 to 10 weeks after the commencement of irrigation with saline water (WAST). The principal component analysis revealed that samples in saline BR treatments clustered together based on the BR application frequencies. There was a significant increase in EC_se with increases in salinity and WAST. The frequent application of BR significantly reduced EC_se to 5.07 and 4.83 dS/m relative to the control with 6.91 dS/m, respectively, at week 10. At 8.63 dS/m, the application of BR (seedling + flowering + podding) reduced EC_se by 31.96% compared with the control. The underlining mechanism is a subject for further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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17 pages, 2855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Climate Change on Phenology of Two Heat-Resistant Wheat Varieties and Future Adaptations

by Muhammad Ishtiaq, Mehwish Maqbool, Mahnoor Muzamil, Ryan Casini, Abed Alataway, Ahmed Z. Dewidar, Ahmed M. El-Sabrout and Hosam O. Elansary

Plants 2022, 11(9), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11091180 - 27 Apr 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2661

Abstract

Climate change (CC) is a global threat to the agricultural system. Changing climatic conditions are causing variations in temperature range, rainfall timing, humidity percentage, soil structure, and composition of gases in environment. All these factors have a great influence on the phenological events in plants’ life cycle. Alternation in phenological events, especially in crops, leads to either lower yield or crop failure. In light of respective statement, the present study is designed to evaluate the climatic impacts on two heat-resistant wheat varieties (Sialkot–2008 and Punjab–2018). During the study, impacts of CC on wheat phenology and annual yield were predicted considering six climatic factors: maximum temp, minimum temperature, precipitation, humidity, soil moisture content, and solar radiation using two quantitative approaches. First, a two-year field experimental plot was set up at five different sites of study—each plot a bisect of two sites. Phenological changes of both varieties were monitored with respect to climatic factors and changes were recorded in a scientific manner. Secondly, experimental results were compared with Global climate models (GMC) models with a baseline range of the past 40 years (1970–2010) and future fifty years (2019–2068) under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 model analysis. Field experiment showed a (0.02) difference in maximum temperature, (0.04) in minimum temperature, (0.17) in humidity, and about (0.03) significant difference in soil moisture content during 2019–2021. Under these changing climatic parameters, a 0.21% difference was accounted in annual yield. Furthermore, the results were supported by GMC model analysis, which was analyzed by Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model. Results depicted that non-heat-resistant wheat varieties could cause up to a 6~13% reduction in yield during future 50 years (2019–2068)) compared with the last 40 years (1970–2010). A larger decline in wheat grain number relative to grain weight is a key reducer of wheat yield, under future climate change circumstances. Using heat-tolerant wheat varieties will not only assist to overcome this plethora but also provide a potential increase of up to 7% to 10% in indigenous environment. On the other hand, it was concluded that cultivating these heat-resistant varieties that are also ripening late culminates into enhanced thermal time chucks during the grain-filling period; hence, wheat yield will increase by 8% to 12%. In changing climatic conditions and varieties, ‘Punjab–2018′ will be the better choice for peasants and farm-land owners to obtain a better yield of wheat to cope with the necessities of food on the domestic and national level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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26 pages, 1681 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quinoa Response to Application of Phosphogypsum and Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria under Water Stress Associated with Salt-Affected Soil

by Moshira A. El-Shamy, Tarek Alshaal, Hossam Hussein Mohamed, Asmaa M. S. Rady, Emad M. Hafez, Abdullah S. Alsohim and Diaa Abd El-Moneim

Plants 2022, 11(7), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11070872 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3368

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the impact of soil amendments (i.e., phosphogypsum and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)) separately or their combination on exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), soil enzymes’ activity (urease and dehydrogenase), pigment content, relative water content (RWC), antioxidant enzymatic activity, oxidative stress, productivity, and quality of quinoa under deficient irrigation conditions in two field experiments during the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 seasons under salt-affected soil. Results revealed that ESP, soil urease activity, soil dehydrogenase activity, leaf chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids, leaf K content, RWC, SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), and POD (peroxidase) activities were declined, resulting in overproduction of leaf Na content, proline content, and oxidative stress indicators (H₂O₂, malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage) under water stress and soil salinity, which negatively influence yield-related traits, productivity, and seed quality of quinoa. However, amendment of salt-affected soil with combined phosphogypsum and seed inoculation with PGPR under deficient irrigation conditions was more effective than singular application and control plots in ameliorating the harmful effects of water stress and soil salinity. Additionally, combined application limited Na uptake in leaves and increased K uptake and leaf chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids as well as improved SOD, CAT, and POD activities to ameliorate oxidative stress indicators (H₂O₂, MDA, and electrolyte leakage), which eventually positively reflected on productivity and quality in quinoa. We conclude that the potential utilization of phosphogypsum and PGPR are very promising as sustainable eco-friendly strategies to improve quinoa tolerance to water stress under soil salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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Review

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45 pages, 634 KiB

Open AccessReview

Allelopathic Properties of Lamiaceae Species: Prospects and Challenges to Use in Agriculture

by A. K. M. Mominul Islam, Thiti Suttiyut, Md. Parvez Anwar, Abdul Shukor Juraimi and Hisashi Kato-Noguchi

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111478 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4252

Abstract

Herbicide resistance due to the increasing reliance on herbicides is a near-term challenge for the world’s agriculture. This has led to a desire to develop new herbicides with a novel mode of action, to address resistance in weed species. Lamiaceae, a large dicotyledonous plant family, is very well known for the multitudinous pharmacological and toxicological properties of its member species. Moreover, many species of this family are significant for their allelopathic activity in natural and laboratory settings. Thus, plants in Lamiaceae have the potential to be sources of alternative herbicides. However, gaps in our knowledge need to be addressed prior to adopting these allelopathic activities in agriculture. Therefore, we review the existing state of knowledge about the Lamiaceae family, the reported allelopathic properties of plant extracts, and their isolated allelochemicals under laboratory, greenhouse, and field conditions. In addition, we offer a perspective on existing challenges and future opportunities for adopting the allelopathic properties of Lamiaceae plant species for green agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Environment under Climate Change: Effects on Plant Growth)

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