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Soil Syst., Volume 9, Issue 2 (June 2025) – 5 articles

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21 pages, 1350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Chemical Variation Along a Four-Decade Time Series of Reclaimed Water Amendments in Northern Idaho Forests

by Temesgen G. Wedajo, Eureka Joshi, Ruifang Hu, Daniel G. Strawn and Mark D. Coleman

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020032 (registering DOI) - 3 Apr 2025

Abstract

Application of municipal reclaimed water to forests for water reclamation is a pragmatic approach that provides water and nutrients to soil and lowers the liability of reclaimed water disposal, yet little is known about the long-term impacts of reclaimed water amendment on forest soil chemical properties. We hypothesized that reclaimed water constituents will increase plant nutrient availability in soil with the magnitude of response depending on the facility establishment date. We collected samples from three mineral soil depths to 75 cm from treated and control plots at five water reuse facilities that represent a four-decade time series. Depth explained most of the observed variation. Several plant nutrients increased in soil at the different sites in response to reclaimed water treatments, including N, Ca, Fe, S, and B concentration as well as B content, while P was not significantly affected. Increases in cation concentrations positively correlated with pH and salinity. The treatment response was significantly greater at all facilities for total N, B and Na. However, the treatment response only occurred at long-established facilities for NO₃-N and Ca concentrations and for Fe and S content. The outcomes of this study are useful for guiding future management of soil at forest water reclamation facilities and for limiting the risk of downstream environmental impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)

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25 pages, 2839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variability of Soil Water Repellency in Urban Parks of Berlin

by Ehsan Razipoor, Subham Mukherjee and Brigitta Schütt

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020031 - 2 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Urban green spaces are important components of city spaces that are vulnerable to degradation in soil–water–climate processes. This vulnerability is exacerbated by current climate change and park usage density. This study examines the dynamics of soil water repellency in the topsoils of selected urban parks in Berlin, aiming to assess the relationships between weather conditions, soil water content, and soil water repellency. This study is based on monthly sampled soils from spots originating from three selected parks—Fischtal Park, Stadtpark Steglitz, and Rudolph-Wilde Park—between September 2022 and October 2023; two of the parks are exclusively rainwater fed, and one is irrigated during summer months. For each sample soil, water repellency persistence and severity were analyzed. Time series analysis was conducted including soil water content. In addition, the total organic carbon content (TOC) and sample texture were analyzed. The results show that the rainfall amount, number of dry days, and maximum temperature during different time intervals prior to the sampling date predominantly control the variation in the soil water repellency via the soil water content. Soil water repellency variations observed appear more event-related than monthly or seasonal, as rainfall is evenly distributed through the years without a distinct dry or wet season in Berlin. The non-repellency of the soil samples was usually observed when the associated water content was increased, which is linked to high cumulative rainfall and short dry periods. Low rainfall amounts and long dry periods in summer result in the re-establishment of the soil water repellency, possibly affecting increased runoff generation and soil erosion risk. Spatially, the repellency properties were observed at locations under healthy vegetation cover, while soils located on the upper slope locations and on the pathways lacked repellency characteristics. Full article

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17 pages, 4870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microbial Diversity and Heavy Metal Resistome in Slag-Contaminated Soils from an Abandoned Smelter in Chihuahua, Mexico

by Gustavo Montes-Montes, Zilia Y. Muñoz-Ramírez, Leonor Cortes-Palacios, Javier Carrillo-Campos, Obed Ramírez-Sánchez, Ismael Ortiz-Aguirre, Laila N. Muñoz-Castellanos and Román González-Escobedo

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020030 - 1 Apr 2025

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Abstract

Heavy metal(loid) (HM) contamination in soils from smelting activities poses significant environmental and public health risks, as well as disruptions in microbial community dynamics and HM resistance gene profiles. This study investigates the microbial diversity, resistome, and physicochemical properties of soils from the abandoned Avalos smelter in Chihuahua, Mexico. Through soil analyses, we identified elevated concentrations of certain HMs, which pose serious environmental and health hazards. The metagenomic analysis of the microbial community, composed of bacteria, archaea, and fungi, was dominated by genera such as Streptomyces, Bradyrhizobium, Halobaculum, Nitrosocosmicus, Fusarium, and Aspergillus in rhizospheric soil. Furthermore, a diverse array of metal resistance genes (MRGs) were detected, associated with copper, arsenic, iron, lead, cadmium, zinc, and other HMs. Additionally, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) revealed the presence of functional genes linked to HM resistance, providing deeper insights into the ecological roles and metabolic capabilities of microbial taxa. These findings highlight the significant impact of smelting-derived contamination on microbial diversity and functional potential, offering valuable insights for the development of bioremediation strategies in HM-contaminated environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Structure and Function in Soils)

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13 pages, 529 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Biochar and Industrial Hemp for Remediation of Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil: Root Uptake and Translocations for Cd, Pb, and Zn

by Sophie Sward, Kristofor R. Brye, David M. Miller and Dietrich V. Thurston

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020029 - 28 Mar 2025

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Abstract

Phytoremediation has been reported as a more energy-efficient, and therefore cost-effective, method of environmental restoration compared to traditional remediation methods for heavy-metal-contaminated soils. Biochar has been shown to have variable effects on remediation potential in heavy-metal-contaminated soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of soil contamination level (i.e., low, medium, and high), industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivar (i.e., ‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’), biochar rate (i.e., 0, 2, 5, and 10% by volume), and their interactions on root tissue Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations and uptakes; whole-plant Cd, Pb, and Zn uptakes; and translocation factors after 90 days of hemp growth in contaminated soil from the Tar Creek Superfund Site near Picher, Oklahoma. Hemp removal of Cd, Pb, and Zn differed between soil contamination levels (p < 0.01), but was unaffected (p > 0.05) by the hemp cultivar or biochar rate, except for total Zn uptake. Total Zn uptake was affected (p = 0.02) by the biochar rate in the medium- and high-contaminated soils, where total plant Zn uptake in the high-contaminated soil was numerically the largest with 10% biochar (0.28 mg cm⁻²) and in the medium-contaminated soil was numerically the largest with 2% biochar (0.07 mg cm⁻²), but was unaffected (p > 0.05) by the biochar rate in the low-contaminated soil. The translocation factor for Zn uptake in the low and medium soils was >1, indicating industrial hemp as a potential Zn hyper-accumulator up to a threshold soil contamination level. Results demonstrate that biochar amendment has the potential to enhance hemp’s remediation capability of heavy-metal-contaminated soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Bioremediation)

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16 pages, 31477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Saline Water Irrigation on Soil Salinity, Growth, and Productivity of Triticale in Sandy Soil

by Hassan M. Abd El Baki, Haruyuki Fujimaki, Kristina Toderich, Jean Bosco Nana and Asad S. Qureshi

Soil Syst. 2025, 9(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems9020028 - 24 Mar 2025

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Abstract

Salinity and water scarcity are among the major environmental challenges requiring the use of non-conventional water sources and the adoption of salt-tolerant crops. We assessed the impact of irrigation with different concentrations of NaCl: 50 mM and 150 mM on the growth parameters and yield of triticale, soil salinity, distribution of active root density, and concentrations of Na⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions at harvest compared to freshwater under zero leaching conditions. Irrigation was applied on a daily basis based on weight measurements of micro-lysimeter pots. Growth parameters, including plant height, LAI, number of leaves, number of tillers, and soil salinity, were observed across the growing season. Spatial distributions of soil salinity, normalized root length density (NRLD), concentrations of Na⁺ and NO₃⁻ in soil profile were measured in two dimensions. The results indicate that irrigating with 150 mM of NaCl H₂O significantly affected the crop growth, causing salts, particularly Na⁺, to reside in the topsoil, reducing NRLD with soil depth, crop water demand, and NO₃⁻ uptake. The application of 150 mM and 50 mM of NaCl H₂O reduced crop water use by 4 and 2.6 times as well as grain yield by 97% and 42%, respectively, compared to freshwater. This shows that irrigation with concentration equal to or higher than 150 mM NaCl will result in very low production. To achieve higher yield and crop water productivity, irrigation with NaCl concentration of 50 mM or less is recommended to grow triticale in marginal regions with limited freshwater resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Health and Nutrient Management for Crop Productivity)

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