Search Results (38)

Soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition is a critical biogeochemical process that regulates the carbon cycle, nutrient availability, and agricultural sustainability of cropland systems. Recent progress in multi-omics and microbial network analyses has provided us with a better understanding of the decomposition process at different spatial and temporal scales. Climate factors, such as temperature and seasonal variations in moisture, play a critical role in microbial activity and enzyme kinetics, and their impacts are mediated by soil physical and chemical properties. Soil mineralogy, texture, and structure create different soil microenvironments, affecting the connectivity of microbial habitats, substrate availability, and protective mechanisms of organic matter. Moreover, different microbial groups (bacteria, fungi, and archaea) contribute differently to the decomposition of plant residues and SOM. Recent findings suggest the paramount importance of living microbial communities as well as necromass in forming soil organic carbon pools. Microbial functional traits such as carbon use efficiency, dormancy, and stress tolerance are essential drivers of decomposition in the soil. Furthermore, the role of microbial necromass, alongside live microbial communities, in the formation and stabilization of persistent SOM fractions is increasingly recognized. Based on this microbial perspective, feedback between local microbial processes and landscape-scale carbon dynamics illustrates the cross-scale interactions that drive agricultural productivity and regulate soil climate. Understanding these dynamics also highlights the potential for incorporating microbial functioning into sustainable agricultural management, which offers promising avenues for increasing carbon sequestration without jeopardizing soil nutrient cycling. This review explores current developments in intricate relationships between climate, soil characteristics, and microbial communities determining SOM decomposition, serving as a promising resource in organic fertilization and regenerative agriculture. Specifically, we examine how nutrient availability, pH, and oxygen levels critically influence these microbial contributions to SOM stability and turnover. Full article

An increasing number of soils, including those in EU countries, are affected by organic matter deficiency and the deterioration of nutrients, and using mineral fertilizers is often associated with negative environmental impacts. One of the basic recommendations for sustainable agriculture is to increase the proportion of organic fertilizers in crop production and preserve soil biodiversity. An increasingly common organic fertilizer is biogas plant digestate, the physical and chemical properties of which depend primarily on the waste material used in biogas production. However, the fertilizer value of this additive and its effects on the soil environment, including beneficial organisms, remain insufficiently studied. Soil macrofauna, particularly earthworms, play a crucial role in soil ecosystems, because they significantly impact the presence of plant nutrients, actively participate in forming soil structures, and strongly influence organic matter dynamics. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of fertilizing a silt loam soil with the solid fraction of digestate in monoculture crop production on earthworm community characteristics and the resulting changes in selected soil physicochemical properties. The research was conducted at a single site, so the original soil characteristics across the experimental plots were identical. Plots were treated annually (for 3 years; 2021–2023) with different levels of digestate: DG100 (100% of the recommended rate; 30 t ha⁻¹), DG75 (75% of the recommended rate; 22.5 t ha⁻¹), DG50 (15 t ha⁻¹), DG25 (7.5 t ha⁻¹), and CL (a control plot without fertilizer). An electrical method was used to extract earthworms. Those found at the study site belonged to seven species representing three ecological groups: Dendrodrilus rubidus (Sav.), Lumbricus rubellus (Hoff.), and Dendrobaena octaedra (Sav.) (epigeics); Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.), Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.), and Octolasion lacteum (Örley) (endogeics); and Lumbricus terrestris (L.) (anecics). Significant differences in the abundance and biomass of earthworms were found between the higher level treatments (DG100, DG75, and DG50), and the lowest level of fertilization and the control plot (DG25 and CL). The DG25 and CL plots showed an average of 24.7% lower earthworm abundance and 22.8% lower biomass than the other plots. There were no significant differences in the earthworm metrics between the plots within each of the two groups (DG100, DG75, and DG50; and DG25 and CL). The most significant influence on the average abundance and average biomass of Lumbricidae was probably exerted by soil moisture and the annual dosage of digestate. A significant increase in the abundance and biomass of Lumbricidae was shown at plots DG100, DG75, and DG50 in the three successive years of the experiment. The different fertilizer treatments were found to have different effects on selected soil parameters. No significant differences were found among the values of the analyzed soil traits within each plot in the successive years of the study. Full article

This study presents an integrated approach to sustainable soil and crop management by evaluating the individual and combined effects of cow manure (CM), rice husk biochar (RHB), and potassium humate (KH)—three underutilized, low-cost organic amendments derived from agricultural byproducts. Uniquely, it investigates how these amendments simultaneously affect soil physical and chemical properties, plant growth, and the accumulation of bioactive compounds in sunflower sprouts, thereby linking soil health to crop nutritional quality. The application of 2% w/w KH alone resulted in the greatest increases in macroaggregation (+0.51), soil pH (from 6.8 to 8.6), and electrical conductivity (+298%). The combination of 1% w/w CM and 2% KH led to the highest increases in soil organic carbon (OC, +62.9%) and soil respiration (+56.4%). Nitrate and available phosphorus (P) peaked with 3% w/w RHB + 2% KH (+120%) and 1% w/w CM + 0.5% KH (+35.5%), respectively. For plant traits, 0.5% w/w KH increased the total leaf area by 61.9%, while 1% w/w CM enhanced shoot and root biomass by 60.8% and 79.0%, respectively. In contrast, 2% w/w KH reduced chlorophyll content (−43.6%). Regarding bioactive compounds, the highest total phenolic content (TPC) was observed with 1% w/w KH (+21.9%), while the strongest DPPH antioxidant activity was found under 1% w/w CM + 1% w/w KH (+72.6%). A correlation analysis revealed that biomass production and secondary metabolite accumulation are shaped by trade-offs arising from resource allocation under stress or nutrient limitations. Potassium, P, soil microbial respiration, and OC emerged as key integrators connecting soil structure, fertility, and plant metabolic responses. Overall, the combination of 1% w/w CM with 0.5–1% w/w KH proved to be the most effective strategy under the tested conditions. Full article

Oats (Avena sativa L.) are forage grasses moderately tolerant to saline-alkali soil and are widely used for the improvement and utilization of saline-alkali land. Using the oat varieties collected from the Qaidam Basin as experimental materials, based on the analysis data of the main agronomic traits, quality, and soil physical and chemical properties of different oat varieties at the harvest stage. The hay yield of Molasses (17,933.33 kg·hm⁻²) was the highest (p < 0.05), the plant height (113.59 cm) and crude fat (3.02%) of Qinghai 444 were the highest (p < 0.05), the fresh-dry ratio (2.62), crude protein (7.43%), and total salt content in plants (68.33 g·kg⁻¹) of Qingtian No. 1 were the highest (p < 0.05), and the Relative forage value (RFV) of Baler (122.96) was the highest (p < 0.05). In the 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm soil layers of different oat varieties, the contents of pH, EC, total salt, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and HCO₃⁻ showed a decreasing trend at the harvest stage compared to the seedling stage, while the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, Cl⁻, and SO4²⁻ showed an increasing trend. The contents of K⁺ and Na⁺ maintained a relatively balanced relationship between the seedling stage and the harvest stage in the two soil layers. Qingtian No. 1, Qingyin No. 1, and Molasses all rank among the top three in terms of production performance and soil physical and chemical properties, and they are the oat varieties suitable for cultivation in the research area. Full article

Human activities have increased the imbalance in atmospheric N and P deposition, which changes soil nutrient availability and subsequently affects the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. Dioecious plants are important parts of terrestrial ecosystems and are characterized by sex-related differences in their response to the external environment and always exhibit a skewed sex ratio, which makes them more vulnerable to climate change and increases their risk of extinction. However, little attention has been paid to the effects of unbalanced N and P deposition on these plants, especially on their defense traits. In this study, we used dioecious Populus cathayana to investigate the influence of gradient N and P deposition on the correlation between growth and defense traits. The results showed that although the different rates of N and P deposition enhanced biomass accumulation in both sexes to varying degrees, the most substantial biomass increment was noted under a lower-nitrogen and higher-phosphorus (LNHP) treatment regimen, with females showing an approximately 112% increase and males a 47% increase in total biomass. In response to varying levels of simulated N and P deposition, males and females adopt distinct strategies for biomass allocation. Although declines in root biomass were observed in both sexes as nutrient availability increased, the decrement was more marked in males; under the LNHP treatment, it dropped by about 11%, while under a high-nitrogen and high-phosphorus (HNHP) treatment, the decrease was about 35%. Conversely, females demonstrated a heightened propensity to allocate biomass towards leaf development. Furthermore, with increasing N and P deposition, there was a general reduction in the concentrations of physical and chemical defense substances within the leaves of both sexes. Nonetheless, the correlations between defense substances, nutrient element content, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) content, and dry biomass were more pronounced in males, suggesting a greater sensitivity to defense substance responses in males than in females. Overall, these results indicate that there is sexual dimorphism in the accumulation of chemical substances in male and female P. cathayana under unbalanced N and P deposition and they provide a technical and theoretical basis for predicting the population dynamics of dioecious plants, maintaining the stability of poplar populations, and constructing high-productivity poplar plantations globally in the future. Full article

Considerable losses are inflicted by plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) due to their obligate parasitism; serious damage occurs in many susceptible crops, and the parasites have a broad distribution worldwide. As most PPNs have a subterranean nature, the complexity of soils in the plant rhizosphere and the structures and functions of the soil food webs necessitate a grasp of the relevant biotic/abiotic factors in order to ensure their effective control. Such factors frequently lead to the inconsistent performance and untapped activity of applied bionematicides, hindering efforts to develop reliable ones. Research efforts that take these factors into account to back the usage of these bionematicides by combining the disease-suppressive activities of two or more agricultural inputs are highlighted herein. These combinations should be designed to boost useful colonization in the rhizosphere, persistent expression of desirable traits under a wide range of soil settings, and/or antagonism to a larger number of plant pests/pathogens relative to individual applications. Relevant ecological/biological bases with specific settings for effective PPN management are exemplified. Determining the relative sensitivity or incompatibility of some biologicals entails studying their combinations and reactions. Such studies, as suggested herein, should be conducted on a case-by-case basis to avoid unsatisfactory outputs. These studies will enable us to accurately define certain outputs, namely, the synergistic, additive, neutral, and antagonistic interactions among the inputs. In optimizing the efficiencies of these inputs, researchers should consider their multi-functionality and metabolic complementarity. Despite previous research, the market currently lacks these types of safe and effective products. Hence, further explorations of novel integrated pest management plans that boost synergy and coverage to control multiple pathogens/pests on a single crop are required. Also, setting economic incentives and utilizing a standardized regulation that examines the authentic risks of biopesticides are still called for in order to ease cost-effective formulation, registration, farmer awareness, and usage worldwide. On the other hand, tank mixing that ensures legality and avoids physical and chemical agro-input-based incompatibilities can also provide superior merits. The end in view is the unraveling of the complexities of interactions engaged with in applying multiple inputs to develop soundly formulated, safe, and effective pesticides. Sophisticated techniques should be incorporated to overcome such complexities/limitations. These techniques would engage microencapsulation, nanopesticides, volatile organic compounds as signals for soil inhabitants, bioinformatics, and RNA-Seq in pesticide development. Full article

Future climate conditions may jeopardize the suitability of traditional grape-growing areas in the Mediterranean. However, precise vineyard management is a crucial component of adaptation strategies aimed at optimizing resource efficiency, which is essential for sustainable farming practices. A fine-scale characterization, based on the spatial variability of soil’s physical–chemical and hydrological traits combined with temporal variability of vine canopy temperature extracted from UAV thermal images has been adopted in a rainfed vineyard of central Italy, for better understanding the impact of soil and climate abiotic factors in the vineyard for planning precision adaptation strategies encouraging sustainable resource use. This study identifies significant soil heterogeneity within the tested vineyard, affecting water retention, nutrient availability, and vine water stress. We combined ground-based measurements with remote sensing-enhanced data spatialization and helped to advocate for site-specific management techniques as short- and long-term strategies (such as canopy management, deficit irrigation, and compost application) to counter climate emergencies, restore soil health, and preserve vine function and economic yields. Full article

This study aims to determine the effects of four different biostimulation treatments—composed of microorganisms, seaweed, and plant extracts—on the yield and quality traits of table grapes. Those treatments are compared with an untreated control treatment and tested under two different irrigation schedules: (i) Farmer Irrigation (FI), according to farmer criteria, and (ii) a deficit irrigation program, Precision Irrigation (PI), irrigated as FI, except during the post-veraison period when a 10% soil water depletion was allowed to mitigate the lixiviation. The water inputs in the treatments under PI were reduced by 30% without affecting the total yield but still promoting harvest precocity—an effect that was enhanced by the biostimulated treatments. This deficit irrigation program also stimulated berry growth and a higher maturity index. The different biostimulation treatments led to an improvement in the physical and chemical quality traits of the grapes; under FI, they showed a bigger size and a greater weight than the non-biostimulated treatment, while under PI, they showed a higher soluble sugar concentration and maturity index. Regardless of the irrigation program, the commercial berry color proportion was increased in all the biostimulated treatments, reducing the percentage of green berries. The combined use of biostimulation and PI can promote more efficient and sustainable farming practices, promoting fruit yield precocity and quality of the grapevine in drought-prone regions. Full article

Amid urbanization, studying leaf functional traits of woody plants in urban environments is essential for understanding how urban green spaces function and how they can be effectively managed sustainably. In this study, we investigated the effects of different growing conditions on the morpho-physiological traits of Populus laurifolia and Ulmus pumila across five contrasting urban sites. The leaf area (LA), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), leaf biomass (LB), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf chlorophyll concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, leaf water potential at predawn (Ψ_pd) and midday (Ψ_md), leaf performance index (PI_abs), and phenotypic plasticity index (PPI) were compared across five contrasting urban sites. The soil chemical and physical properties were also compared between sites. There were significant differences in soil physicochemical characteristics between sites. We found significant effects of site on most of the morpho-physiological traits measured, except for Ψ_md. The leaf chlorophyll concentration of P. laurifolia and U. pumila varied significantly between sites. The Ψ_pd was significantly different between years and sites. In U. pumila, the mean PPI for morphological traits (0.20) was lower than that for physiological traits (0.21). In conclusion, we revealed significant variations in the morpho-physiological traits of P. laurifolia and U. pumila across the five urban sites. Hence, long-term, large-scale studies are recommended to examine how diverse species respond to different urban growing conditions and to include other ecologically important plant traits for a better understanding of urban trees in a changing environment. Full article

The large-scale surface hardening has changed the urban environment and affected the normal growth of urban plants. However, it is still unclear how the urban hardened surface affects the functional urban plant traits. To explore whether the urban hardened surface affects the ecological strategies of plants by changing the urban soil properties and reflecting them on the plant traits, we studied the physical and chemical properties and plant functional traits of three different types of hardened surface in Shandong Province, China. Our results showed that the physical and chemical properties (soil bulk density, soil total porosity, capillary porosity, non-capillary porosity, soil moisture content, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, available phosphorus, and available potassium) of urban soils showed obvious differences with the increase of hardening strength. In this case, the plant functional traits (branch diameter, branch length, leaf thickness, branch weight, internode length, leaf dry weight, leafing intensity, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) were also differentiated to varying degrees. Meanwhile, there was a strong correlation among plant functional traits. Nevertheless, hardened surfaces break the quantitative relationship among functional traits of urban trees. They do not affect their stable correlation: as the hardening intensity gradually increases, its correlation weakens. In addition, plant functional traits have a significant response mechanism to soil physicochemical properties. There was a transformation of plant resource utilization strategy by changing plant functional traits to adapt to the hardened environment. Urban trees exhibit strong and rapid resource-allocation strategies. They are mainly reflected in the reduction of branch diameter, branch weight, leaf dry matter content, leaf area, mass ratio of branches and leaves, and the improvement of leafing intensity and leaf thickness. Overall, there were tight connections among urban soil properties, plant branches, and leaves functional properties. This finding reveals that urban trees can change their functional traits and the plasticity of their trait combinations under the background of hardened urban surface expansion, which is conducive to survival and growth. Full article

The soil microbiota is a key component of agroecosystems, and understanding its traits is crucial for effective agronomic management. Among beneficial microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) are mutually associated with grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), enhancing the ability of this cropping system to adapt to soil conditions and bolstering its resistance and resilience against abiotic stresses, particularly drought, by promoting root growth and enhancing the roots’ absorption surface. The objective of this on-field study was to determine AMF species richness and diversity along with their relation to soil chemical, physical, and biological characteristics in two adjacent organic vineyards in Central Italy. The two tested vineyards of the autochthonous cv. Aleatico differed by the presence of grafted (Vitis berlandieri × V. riparia rootstock; AL-420) or own-rooted (ungrafted V. vinifera L.; AL-ORV) vines. To this aim, soil and root samples were collected and geo-referenced. Analysis of the AMF species colonizing roots of both AL-ORV and AL-420 revealed the presence of four species: Scutellospora alterata, Paraglomus laccatum, Acaulospora laevis, and A. baetica, with S. alterata being the most frequent. Mycorrhization parameters were higher in the roots of grafted plants compared to ungrafted ones. A high beta-glucosidase (BG):N-acetylglusosaminidase (NAG) ratio in two tested vineyards indicated that microbes utilized more cellulose than chitin and peptidoglycan as dominant C resources. A negative correlation between mycorrhization rate (MyCP) and BG was observed, likely because AMFs form mutualistic relationships with plants, depending on the host plant for carbon. Results revealed a positive correlation between the degree of mycorrhizal association and the species involved, with the presence of copper and nickel among metals. Negative correlations were found concerning soil clay content along with beta-glucosidase. In conclusion, the grapevine root system was characterized by a differential symbiotic relationship with AMF species, whose development is influenced by the root genotype, soil texture, and biochemistry. Specifically, the increased frequency of AMFs in relation to copper content strengthens the evidence of their role in maintaining a vine’s production capacity in the event of soil contamination by this element. Full article

Soil health encompasses the effects the uppermost part of the land have on human wellbeing in a broad sense, because soil is where most food ultimately comes from, and because it more inconspicuously fulfils other ecological functions, as important as feeding, for our planet’s welfare, which is ours. Viticulture exploits the soil’s resources from which wine, its most valuable produce, boasts to obtain some of its unique quality traits, which are wrapped within the terroir concept. However, using conventional methods, viticulture also has harsh impacts on the soil, thus jeopardizing its sustainability. How long will the terroir expression remain unchanged as vineyard soil degradation goes on? While this question is difficult to answer because of the complex nature of terroirs, it is undeniable that conventional soil management practices in viticulture leave, in general, ample room for improvement, in their impact on vineyards as much as on the environment. In response, viticulture must adopt practices that enable the long-lasting preservation of its grounds for both on-farm and off-farm benefits. In this regard, the increase in the soil’s organic matter alongside the enhancement of the soil’s biological community are key because they benefit many other soil properties of a physical, chemical, and biological nature, thus determining the soil’s healthy functioning, where the vines may thrive for a long time, whereas its surroundings remain minimally disturbed. In the present review, the importance of soil health as it relates to vineyards is discussed, the soil degradation factors and processes that threaten winegrowing areas are presented, successful soil-health enhancement practices are shown, and future research trends are identified for the benefit of researchers and stakeholders in this special agricultural industry. Full article

Soil sodicity is a major constraint to seedling emergence and crop production, potentially reducing plant growth due to physical and chemical constraints. Studying responses to ion imbalances may help identify genotypes tolerant to chemical constraints in sodic soils, thereby improving productivity. We evaluated the performance of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes in solutions with five sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) ranging from 0 to 60. For all four genotypes, seedling emergence and shoot dry matter (DM) decreased significantly with increasing SARs. A significant positive correlation was observed between Ca concentration in roots as well as both root and shoot DM for all genotypes. At SAR values > 20, the more tolerant genotype (EGA Gregory) displayed higher Ca concentrations in root tissues, whereas the more sensitive genotype (Baxter) exhibited Na-induced Ca deficiency. Thus, the selection of genotypes that are able to accumulate Ca in roots in sodic conditions may be a useful trait for selecting genotypes tolerant of soils with high ESP values. However, for soils that restrict plant growth at ESP (SAR) values of 6–10%, it is likely that growth is restricted by physical constraints rather than by a Na-induced Ca deficiency. Full article

We aimed to study the effects of mycorrhizal and extraradical hyphae on soil physical and chemical properties and enzyme activity characteristics in a subtropical plantation and to explore its indicative effect on the effectiveness of soil nutrients. In this study, three native afforestation tree species, Cunninghamia lanceolata, Schima superba, and Liquidambar formosana, with different biological characteristics, root functional traits, and nutrient acquisition strategies in subtropical regions were selected as the research objects. Based on the method of in-growth soil cores, the nylon mesh with different pore sizes was used to limited the root system and hypha into the soil column. The soil physical and chemical properties of five kinds of hydrolase related to the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles were determined in this study. The correlation of different tree species, roots, and mycelia with soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activity, and stoichiometric ratios was analyzed. The results revealed that mycorrhizal treatment significantly affected the soil total carbon (TC) and pH but had no significant effect on hydrolase activity and its stoichiometric ratio. Tree species significantly affected soil physical and chemical properties, soil β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), β-1,4-glucosidase (βG), and cellobiohydrolase (CB) activities and soil enzyme stoichiometric ratios. The soil enzyme activity and stoichiometric ratio of the Chinese fir forest had higher values than in monoculture broad-leaved stands of both Schima superba and Liquidambar formosana. There was no significant interaction effect of mycorrhizal treatments and tree species on all soil properties, enzyme activities, and stoichiometric ratios. In addition, the soil enzyme activity and stoichiometric characteristics were mainly affected by the pH. In this study, the soil enzyme activity ratios In(BG + CB):In(AP) and In(NAG + LAP):In(AP) were lower values than the global scale, while the ratios of In(βG + CB):In(NAG + LAP) were higher than the average, indicating that the soil microorganisms in this area were limited by C and P. Moreover, the soil enzyme activity and chemical metrology characteristics were mainly affected by the pH change. In conclusion, differences in litter quality and root functional traits of tree species affected the soil enzyme activity and its stoichiometric characteristics through the shaping of the forest environment by organic matter input, and the influence of pH was the main regulating factor. Full article

Soil CO₂ efflux is a pivotal component of agro-ecosystem C budgets. It is considered a proxy indicator of biological activity and a descriptor of soil quality that is strongly linked to agricultural soil management. We investigated the effects of soil fertilization practices (organo-mineral (OMN) versus chemical (C)) on soil under-vine CO₂ efflux (TSR) in an Italian rainfed vineyard (cv Chardonnay). The TSR was measured using the chamber technique as follows: a close multi-chamber system (prototype) was placed under a vine. Data (CO₂, temperature, and moisture) were acquired hourly during two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) from flowering to berry ripening. Physical–hydrological soil parameters were determined, and the seasonal trends of the TSR, soil temperature, and soil moisture were assessed. The TSR measurements fluctuated for the 2021 season, ranging from 1.03 to 1.97 µmol CO₂∙m⁻²∙s⁻¹ for the C treatment, while for the OMN treatment, the TSR measurements ranged from 1.24 to 1.71 µmol CO₂∙m⁻²∙s⁻¹. Extreme weather conditions (2022) highlighted the differences between the two agronomical practices, and a decoupling was found between the TSR and the soil water content, with the TSR being controlled primarily by the soil temperature. At the daily scale, the findings showed that the TSR reached its minimum in the early morning hours (5:00–8:00). The results promote organic–mineral nutrition as an improved practice for soil carbon storage (restoration of the organic fraction) by reducing the TSR, permitting the preservation of soil quality and stabilizing the hydrological traits by preserving the biotic activities. Full article