The combined application of green manure and rice straw (GMS) effectively enhances carbon sequestration in paddy fields. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing straw carbon incorporation into soil organic carbon (SOC) pools under this practice remain unclear. A two-year study was conducted based on a long-term field experiment to investigate soil organic carbon storage, decomposition patterns

Larger, heavier agricultural machinery compacts subsoil, degrading structure, impairing hydraulic properties, and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The impacts of traffic-induced compaction can be assessed in the laboratory or the field, though results from these methods often differ. This study aimed to quantify changes in subsoil properties caused by field traffic using lab and field methods

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a globally significant staple crop and a primary source of food. Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization in wheat farming systems has resulted in lower N use efficiency (NUE) in arid regions of China. We hypothesize that prolonged N fertilization alters the fate of fertilizer-derived N, thus affecting NUE. To test this hypothesis, we conducted two on-farm 15N tracer experiments

Due to the lack of high-resolution data on soil compaction using proximal sensing technology, mouldboard (MB) ploughing is carried out at uniform speed and depth, which does not necessarily respond to tillage needs due to compaction level and depth that are spatially variable across the field area. This study aims at simulating the comparative performance of different site specific tillage (SST) schemes

The increased nitrogen (N) deposition can regulate ecosystem stability by enhancing plant photosynthesis, elevating transpiration, acidifying soil, and altering microbial metabolic limitations. Higher N deposition can alleviate ecosystem-level N limitation, yet its impact on microbial phosphorus (P) limitations in both the bulk and rhizospheric soils remains debated. For this study, we conducted a

The Soil Quality Index (SQI) serves as a comprehensive assessment tool, encompassing various soil properties and providing a holistic measure of soil health and productivity. This study aimed to analyze the spatial variation of SQI at the regional level in the agricultural areas of Khuzestan province, employing a random forest (RF) machine learning (ML) algorithm along with environmental covariates

It is crucial to enhance crop climate resilience using simple but efficient farming strategy. A two-year maize field experiment was conducted to examine the potentials of ridge-furrow mulching (RFM) and flat mulching (FM) with plastic films in a semiarid rainfed site, with flat planting without mulching as CK. Five sowing dates (SD1–5) were arranged with interval of two weeks, and SD2 was normal sowing

Accurate identification of crop row orientation (CRO) is crucial for agricultural management. Most current CRO identification methods rely on image texture features from very-high-resolution (VHR) images, but their recognition accuracy still remains challenging, especially for large-scale mapping. To achieve rapid, cost-effective, and accurate large-scale CRO identification, an adaptive method was

Soil pH measured by laboratory standard method does not accurately reflect its actual acidity. In this study, we compared the pH values of anaerobic and aerobic farmland soils in Langxi, Yujiang, and Jinggangshan Counties in subtropical China, measured using in-situ and laboratory standard methods. The results showed that the in-situ pH values of anaerobic Ultisol-derived paddy soils were significantly

In agricultural ecosystems, long-term fertilization significantly alters soil mesofaunal diversity and composition. However, how fertilization shifts the relative contributions of deterministic and stochastic processes in the community assembly remains unclear. We examined mesofaunal co-occurrence networks, community assembly processes, and key drivers after 33 years of fertilization. Fertilization

Maize (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) intercropping systems have been widely promoted in China due to their potential to enhance agricultural land use efficiency through crop complementarity. However, the complex interactions between environmental conditions and management practices create significant challenges for understanding and accurately predicting nitrogen (N) use efficiency

The change in the forward direction surface slope (FDSS) has a significant influence on the sowing depth operating performance (SDOP) of the mechanical profiling maize seeder sowing depth adjustment device (SDAD).This study analyses and identifies the main factors affecting the SDOP of the SDAD. RecurDyn simulation of FDSS and spring initial increment (SII) on SDAD downforce show that, taking the non-tilting

In order to effectively reduce nonpoint source pollutants in agricultural areas within a watershed, a combination of Best Management Practices (BMPs) is selected based on their economic and environmental effectiveness. However, determining the optimal combination can be challenging due to the implementation costs and the consideration of decision makers' preferences. This research presents a methodology

Biochar, a widely adopted soil amendment, has been widely recognized for its potential to improve crop yields and soil nutrients significantly. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the crucial role of soil microorganisms, whose contribution to soil fertility is significant and often underappreciated. However, the effects of varying biochar application rates on soil functional biota, particularly

Soil pore structure determines particulate organic matter (POM) decomposition by influencing water and gas transport. The accumulation of POM due to nitrogen (N) fertilization has been reported in many studies. However, the effects of N fertilization and straw management on POM and pores as well as the relationship between these two factors remain inconclusive. Therefore, a 15-year (2008–2023) N fertilization

Accurate and non-destructive detection of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and total potassium (TK) levels in soil is crucial for precise soil testing and fertilization in modernized precision agriculture. Traditional methods for soil composition analysis are expensive, time-consuming, and destructive. This research aims to establish a low-cost, high-precision, and non-destructive method

The fixed ammonium (NH4+–N) pool can serve as a stable transitional reservoir for nitrogen (N) retention and supply in agroecosystems. However, the dynamics of clay mineral–mediated NH4+–N fixation (ANH4) and subsequent release (RNH4ads) processes during the agricultural transition from conventional intensive cultivation to conservation tillage (CT) practices, particularly no–tillage with straw retention

Mollisols in Northeast China have gradually shifted from a highly productive agroecosystem to a degraded landscape due to severe soil erosion. However, there is a notable lack of long-term monitoring studies on runoff and soil loss across various land management practices, as well as insufficient model calibration and validation efforts aimed at mitigating land degradation. This study conducted in

The cracking behavior of purple soil during wetting-drying cycles is a common natural phenomenon in subtropical monsoon regions, posing risks of soil erosion and geological hazards such as landslides. The addition of salts changes the physicochemical properties of purple soil, which has a significant influence on the crack dynamics. Traditionally, NaCl is employed as a representative salt to investigate

Hydraulic properties of agricultural soils fluctuate spatially and temporally due to factors like field management (e.g., tillage and irrigation) and weather change, particularly variations in precipitation and temperature. Changes in hydraulic properties may also stem from fluctuations of salinity and sodicity due to irrigation, especially when soil is exposed to rainwater, enhancing the soil’s sensitivity

Studying the variation of root traits along the elevational gradients can offer valuable insights into plant adaptations to environmental changes. However, the coupled effect of grazing-related degradation and elevation on root traits at the community level remains underexplored, especially in alpine grasslands. To investigate how increased degradation severity affects root traits along the elevational

The deep-banding of nutrient-rich organic amendments has been shown to improve crop yields and to ameliorate soil physicochemical constraints present in dense clay subsoils. However, the management practice needs further validation on a range of these constrained cropping soils, with different crops grown in different climates. This study involved a series of soil measurements undertaken at a high

Increasing evidence shows that the interaction of heterogeneous constituents with soil minerals critically controls soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, the impact of long-term fertilization on the distinct allocation of microbial- and plant-derived components in physically separated fractions is still uncertain. Using amino sugars and lignin phenols, the retention of microbial necromass

Organo-mineral interactions are crucial for soil carbon sequestration, but the stabilization of mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) to fresh carbon inputs remains uncertain. Using 13C isotope tracing, we investigated the destabilization potential of contrasting carbon substrates (glucose versus oxalic acid) on MAOC persistence in three cropland soils (black, paddy, and loess soils). The cumulative

Characterisation of clay-sized minerals in soils is critical for assessing soil quality and function. However, the lack of high-throughput methods to quantify clay-sized minerals limits the incorporation of such information into large-scale soil surveys and assessments. This study aimed to predict the quantity of clay-sized minerals and the dominant mineral types using mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy

Nano-bubble water irrigation can increase soil oxygen content, alter soil chemical and microbial properties, and enhance crop yields. However, there is limited research about the impacts of nitrogen fertilizer reduction coupling with different micro-nano bubbles (MNBs) irrigation frequency. In this study, a two-year field experiment with three MNBs irrigation frequencies (2, 4 and 8 times/d) and two

Permanent gully caused by high-intensity agricultural activities and water erosion have severely degraded croplands in the Northeast China, a global critical black soil regions. The precise differential characteristics of the primary factors contributing to the formation of permanent gully across diverse regions and at varying scales remain unclear. It is necessary to select representative regions

Leguminous crops are beneficial for enhancing crop yields and agricultural sustainability. However, the impacts of legume crops with optimal nitrogen (N) fertilization on the subsequent crop yield and N use efficiency (NUE) are unclear. Thus, a two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of three cropping systems (FW: fallow–wheat, SW: soybean–wheat, and MW: maize–wheat) and three

Soil erosion resistance, a critical parameter for assessing soil erosion, is influenced by farmland abandonment and bedrock strata dips through modifying soil properties and root traits. However, the influence of abandoned farmland on soil erosion resistance in karst trough valleys featuring bedding and inverse slopes as well as unique geological structures remains unclear. Therefore, to further explore

This study investigates the effects of forest-to-farmland and forest-to-rangeland conversion on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) biodiversity and soil properties in Ultisols of the Western Black Sea Region, Turkey. Using a factorial design with three land-use types (forest, rangeland, and conventional tillage) and two soil depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm), we analysed soil samples for AMF community

Various groundwater table levels in paddy soil aggravate the complexity of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration under redox conditions. We investigated a long-term experimental field consisting of two groundwater tables (SWT, shallow groundwater table; DWT, deep groundwater table) and three straw application rates (NPK, without straw return; LOM, low rate of straw return; HOM, high rate of straw

Sloping farmland constitutes the primary source of soil and water loss in Southwest China. However, research and practice on organic mulching, one of the key soil and water conservation measures, have been relatively limited in karst regions. The questions of whether there are significant differences in the effectiveness of various types for organic mulches in diminishing runoff and sediment on karst

Groundwater contamination in agriculturally intensive utilization areas is serious and widespread. Understanding the leaching of pollutants into groundwater is necessary, particularly the roles of preferential flow with macropores and solute transport in agricultural landscapes. However, limited studies focus on the quantitative effect of preferential flow on soil water and pollutants transport under

Assessing soil quality indices (SQI’s) is a fundamental approach for agricultural and natural resources as well as sustainable management practices. This study addresses the digital mapping of SQI’s, with the objective of comparing the efficacy of four variable selection methods in Hamadan Province (west of Iran). The following methods were utilized to evaluate the predictive power of three machine

Reduced soil disturbance and diversified crop rotations are practices that can enhance organic matter and soil health. Understanding how these practices influence seasonal soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) variability during the growing season is critical for agroecosystem sustainability. We assessed temporal dynamics of soil C and N pools at six sampling dates over a maize (Zea mays L.) growing season

Phosphorus-loaded iron-modified biochar (Fe-BP) can be used as farmlands' slow-release phosphorus (P) fertilizer. This study aimed to explore the effects of Fe-BP on soil P composition, phosphatase activity, peanut P accumulation, and P fertilizer utilization efficiency in sandy soil. The two-year experiment was a randomized complete block design including no biochar and no P fertilizer (B0P0), no

In response to the challenge of high cutting resistance experienced by the blade during tillage operations, this study proposes a resistance reduction method based on ultrasonic vibration-assisted cutting. Five types of soil with different moisture contents were selected as the research objects, and a dynamic model of the blade and soil particles under ultrasonic vibration was constructed. The simulations

Soil organic matter (SOM) and soil organic carbon (SOC) influence soil behaviour, quality, and applications. While conversion equations exist, the GlobalSoilMap Science Committee (2015) determined that no universal equation is viable due to regional soil variability. Instead, region-specific equations are required. This study presents SOM and SOC data from 75 sites for soils at 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depth

Controlled-release fertilizers are recognized for improving nitrogen efficiency, but they are significantly affected by environmental factors and often leading to suboptimal results. Nitrogen fertilizer synergists, due to their water solubility, exhibit limited persistence in the soil and cannot achieve the desired effect. Therefore, we incorporated nitrogen fertilizer synergists into the film of controlled-release

The stability of carbon (C) stocks in peatlands is closely linked to phosphorus (P) bioavailability. Plant plays a crucial role in modulating P bioavailability. However, the mechanisms by which different plant functional types (PFTs; mainly Sphagnum moss, shrub, and graminoid) modulate P bioavailability in peatlands remain unknown, especially the vertical stratification related to plant belowground

Maximizing agricultural tractor energy efficiency is crucial for sustainable farming. Tractors are one of the most popular machines in use in agriculture, and much of their use is dedicated to drawbar operations. Under these conditions, only up to 70 % of engine power is transferred to the soil, and this may even drop to 50 % on soils with poor mechanical properties. Recently, tyres which meet very

Vegetation carbon (C), phosphorus (P), and C:P ratio of alpine grassland is vital for understanding forage quality and yield. Visible and near-infrared reflectance (VNIR) spectroscopy is an effective approach to analyzing the vegetation growing status in low-altitude region. However, the feasibility of applying VNIR spectroscopy for vegetation biochemical parameters monitoring in high altitude regions

Accurately predicting soil erosion rate on covered slopes can help formulate reasonable vegetation restoration schemes to prevent soil erosion. To study the impacts of vegetation and litter cover on slope soil erosion, this study conducted indoor artificial rainfall experiments under 15° and five rainfall intensities (RI = 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 1.75, and 2.00 mm min−1). Three different treatments were

Crop residue serves an important role in agricultural systems as high levels of fractional crop residue cover (fR) can reduce erosion, preserve soil moisture, and build soil organic carbon. However, the ability to accurately quantify fR at scale has been limited. In this study we produced annual maps of fR for farmland in Maryland, USA using WorldView-3 (WV3) imagery paired with on-farm photographs

Crop residue management in no–tillage under conservation agriculture is crucial for maintaining soil health and optimizing crop yields. This study presents a residue cleaning mechanism specially designed for no–tillage sowing to overcome challenges posed by crop residues left by combine harvesters. This research involved design, development and field–evaluation of a residue cleaning unit attached to

Soil structure evaluation is one of the main tools for diagnosing changes in soil physical quality under contrasting land-use systems. Visual assessment methods have been proposed as a low cost and practical alternative to traditional methods for evaluating soil structural quality. The Rapid Diagnosis of Soil Structure (DRES) is one of the most recent visual methods proposed for assessing the structural

Revealing regional-scale differences in microbial community structure and metabolic strategies across different land use types and soil types and how these differences relate to soil carbon (C) cycling function is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in agroecosystems. However, our understanding of these knowledge still remains unclear. Here, we employed

The Northeast Black Soil Region is a key grain production area in China, facing significant pesticide runoff risks due to extensive agricultural activity. Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are crucial for reducing diffuse pollution, but their effectiveness is compromised by concentrated flow (CF) and shallow water table (SWT) conditions. Quantitatively assessing the negtive effects of these hydrological

The development of soil structure is a complex process driven by the interplay of physical, biological, and chemical factors. Plant roots play an important role in shaping the porous soil architecture; however, their relative contribution is hard to quantify. This study assessed root-driven structural (bio-)pore formation, its impact on hydraulic properties (e.g., infiltration capacity), and how it

Straw-related carbon (C) dynamics are central for soil organic C (SOC) accrual in soils. However, the underlying microbial groups driving straw decomposition and accumulation in particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) remain elusive. This study effectively isolated POM and MAOM by using ultrasonic energy (kept below 80 J mL−1) and size-density fractionation that

Excessive fertilizer and agrochemical applications cause many environmental problems. Some studies in Japan have indicated that high yields can be obtained without fertilizers and agrochemicals and with frequent inter-tillage weeding. After conversion from conventional cultivation, we evaluated the plant conditions and soil nutrients of this cultivation system for five years (2018–2022) under three

The agricultural sector plays a vital role in mitigating soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhancing carbon sequestration. One promising approach is wood biochar produced through gasification, which generates both syngas and stable biochar. This study evaluates the effects of wood gasification biochar (WGB) on subalkaline soil under Mediterranean climate conditions. A field experiment was conducted

Within the wood supply chain, timber harvesting plays a crucial role, especially with the growing importance of bioeconomy. This study focused on the effects of a fully mechanized timber harvesting system using a harvester and forwarder on various soil properties in a mixed stand dominated by Picea abies located in Upper Austria. Using portable wheel load scales, we measured the load per wheel of both

Malan loess is widely distributed on the Chinese Loess Plateau and poses great challenges to geotechnical, ecological, and agricultural practices due to its unique structure and collapsibility. It is essential to understand the evolution of these properties with depth to assess soil stability and reduce engineering risks in the area. This study investigates the mechanical properties and microstructural

Spectroscopic analysis of soil using visible-near infrared (VisNIR) and mid infrared (MIR) regions is a rapid, low-cost, and nondestructive tool which has the potential of substituting or complementing conventional laboratory methods. Numerous studies have used different data acquisition, preprocessing, and modeling techniques to predict different soil attributes, but their impact on prediction accuracies

Multiple approaches have been employed to improve predictions of soil properties using vis-NIR-SWIR and mid-IR spectra, including techniques for extracting/enhancing spectral features and various types of regression models. However, only a few studies have conducted statistical comparative analyses to evaluate the impact of spectral fusions and different algorithms in enhancing prediction performances

Mapping the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) content with high spatial resolution is important for sustainable soil management. Remote sensing variables (RSV) and environmental covariates (ECs) have been widely used for SOC content prediction and mapping. The spatial resolution mismatch between RSV and ECs, where ECs typically have lower resolution, introduces a scale effect. For example

Nitrogen (N) management practices have the potential to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and ammonia (NH3) volatilization while enhancing maize (Zea mays L.) productivity. However, the specific effect of N rate and source remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate, during the maize growing season, the effect of both N rate and source on i) gaseous losses through NH3 volatilization and N2O emissions

Intercropping is considered an effective practice to improve farmland productivity and root plasticity is a major reason for the high yields from intercropping. Understanding the changes in root systems is crucial for optimizing intercropping systems. Previous investigations of intercropping root systems have focused mainly on the impact of interspecific interactions on root distributions, with relatively

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is a key driver for improving sugar beet production, however, the comprehensive effect of the N application rate on beet yield and socio-ecological benefits across various sugar beet-producing regions in China is remains unclear. To address this issue, a comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted on 256 data sets from 87 studies published between 1980 and 2024. The goal was to