Abstract. Permafrost thawing of northern peatlands can cause the local collapse of peat plateaus into much wetter thermokarst bogs and fens, dominated by Sphagnum mosses and graminoids, respectively. However, permafrost thaw can also improve landscape drainage and, thus, lead to the regional drying of peatlands. How gradual drying of these thawing permafrost peatlands affects the subsequent microbial

Abstract. Open drainage ditch (i.e. open drain) damming aims to raise the water table in agricultural grassland peat soils thereby reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A current knowledge gap is how to examine the spatial and temporal effectiveness of such an action i.e., assessing the behaviour of the water table in the adjoining field. To address this gap, at a drained agricultural grassland

Abstract. Plant processes regulating the quantity and quality of soil organic carbon inputs such as photosynthesis, above- and below-ground plant growth, and root exudation are integral to our understanding of soil carbon dynamics. However, based on a bibliometric analysis including more than 55 000 scientific papers, we found that plant physiology has been severely underrepresented in global soil

Abstract. The transfer of radiocaesium (137Cs) from soil to crops is the main long-term radiation risk after nuclear accidents. The prevailing concept is that 137Cs sorption in soil – and, hence, its bioavailability – is controlled by soil clay content (0–2 µm). This study tested this assumption using 24 soils collected worldwide. The radiocaesium interception potential (RIP), i.e., 137Cs adsorption

Abstract. Soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in alpine environments is influenced by multiple factors including temperature and substrate quality. As climate change will have an impact on both factors, it is essential to improve our knowledge, how, e.g., warming will modify carbon cycling in these environments to better prepare soil management for future conditions, even in alpine regions. This

Abstract. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an efficient in situ approach to combat pollutants and generate electricity. This study constructed a soil MFC (SMFC) to reduce Cr(VI) in paddy soil and to investigate its influence on microbial community and microbial resistance characteristics. Ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, as the cathodic catalyst, effectively boosted power generation (0.97 V

Abstract. Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in semi-arid grasslands is threatened by both climate change and land degradation, impacting food production and climate regulation. Improved management has been proposed to increase SOC stocks and overcome these challenges. However, the benefits of improved management practices in semi-arid regions are in question. Little is known about the effects of management

Abstract. Enhanced Weathering using basalt rock dust is a scalable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technique, but quantifying rock weathering and CDR rates poses a critical challenge. Here, we investigated inorganic CDR and weathering rates by treating mesocosms planted with corn with basalt (0, 10, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 t ha⁻¹) and monitoring them for 101 days. Surprisingly, we observed no significant

Abstract. Numerical models can quantify subsoil compaction’s hydrological impacts, useful to evaluate water management measures for climate change adaptations on compacted subsoils (e.g., augmenting groundwater recharge). Compaction also affects vegetation growth, which, however, is often parameterized using only limited field measurements or relations with other variables. Our study shows that uncertainties

Abstract. Impacts of nutrient enrichment on soil carbon cycling have been extensively studied in temperate and tropical regions where intensive agriculture and land development has led to large increases in anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). However, how soil carbon sequestration and soil–atmosphere gas exchanges in cold regions respond to greater inputs of N and P remains poorly

Abstract. Soil moisture, an essential parameter for hydroclimatic studies, exhibits considerable spatial and temporal variability, which complicates its mapping at high spatiotemporal resolutions. Although current remote sensing products offer global estimates of soil moisture at fine temporal resolutions, they do so at a coarse spatial resolution. Deep learning (DL) techniques have recently been employed

Abstract. Although soil C is a critical component of soil health, studies robustly exploring the agronomic and pedoclimatic effects on soil C are limited, especially at the landscape scale. Therefore, a dataset of 1511 samples from agricultural fields across Ontario was used to evaluate the impacts of agronomic and pedoclimatic factors on eight soil C indicators including chemistry and thermal stability

Abstract. Adding mineral fertilizers and nutrients is a common practice in conventional farming and is fundamental to maintain optimal yield and crop quality; nitrogen is the most applied fertilizer and is often used excessively, leading to adverse environmental impacts. To assist farmers in optimal fertilization and crop management, non-invasive geophysical methods can provide knowledge about the

Abstract. Priming effects in soil science describe the influence of labile carbon inputs on rates of microbial soil organic matter mineralisation, which can either increase (positive priming) or decrease (negative priming). While both positive and negative priming effects occur in natural ecosystems, the latter is less documented in the peer-reviewed literature and the overall impact of priming effects

Abstract. Peatlands are Earth's most carbon-dense terrestrial ecosystems and their carbon density varies with the depth of the peat layer. Accurate mapping of peat depth is crucial for carbon accounting and land management, yet existing maps lack the resolution and accuracy needed for these applications. This study evaluates whether digital soil mapping using remotely sensed data can improve existing

Abstract. Ink disease caused by the soil-borne Phytophthora cambivora and Phytophthora cinnamomi is threatening sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) groves in Europe. This study aims to explore whether soil morphology and its related properties influence the development of chestnut ink disease considering the whole soil depth. In C. sativa stand in Northern Italy, along a small altitudinal transect, soil

Abstract. The Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon, characterized by a low annual rainfall, faces challenges in soil fertility preservation due to agricultural intensification and unsustainable practices. This study aims to evaluate the effect of trachyte and basalt powders inputs on soil and maize yield in Guiring experimental farm. Fieldwork involved collecting and describing samples of trachyte, basalt

Abstract. Subsurface soil acidity severely limits crop growth and is challenging to adjust by surface liming. There have been several proposals for subsurface liming using the combination of lime and an organic amendment, as organic anions may migrate deeper in acid subsoil than carbonates. This study aimed to identify mechanisms of subsurface liming, postulating that it is hindered by dissolved organic

Abstract. Microbial necromass carbon(MNC) is a significant source of soil organic carbon (SOC), the quantitative contribution of MNC to distinct SOC fractions and its regulatory mechanisms across various grassland types remain largely unexplored. This study through a comprehensive investigation of soil profiles (0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–100 cm) across four grassland types in Ningxia, China, encompassing

Abstract. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) are valuable tools for predicting soil properties using large datasets. However, a common challenge in soil sciences is the uneven distribution of soil samples, which often results from past sampling projects that heavily sample certain areas while leaving similar yet geographically distant regions under-sampled. One potential solution to this problem is

Abstract not available

Abstract. Permafrost soils are particularly vulnerable to climate change. To assess and improve estimations of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) budgets it is necessary to accurately map soil carbon and nitrogen in the permafrost region. In particular, soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks have been predicted and mapped by many studies from local to pan-Arctic scales. Several studies have been carried out at

Abstract. Living cover crops play a key role in reducing nitrogen leaching to groundwater during fallow periods. They also enhance soil microbial activity through root exudates, improving soil structure and increasing organic matter content. While the degradation of pesticides in soil relies primarily on microbial biodegradation, the extent to which cover crops influence this degradation remains poorly

Abstract. A plant's development is strongly linked to the water and carbon (C) flows in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Ongoing climate shifts will alter the water and C cycles and affect plant phenotypes. Comprehensive models that simulate mechanistically and dynamically the feedback loops between water and C fluxes in the soil-plant system are useful tools to evaluate the sustainability of

Abstract. Accurate delineation of management zones is essential for optimizing resource use and improving yield in precision agriculture. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) provides a rapid, non-invasive method to map soil variability, while the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) obtained with remote sensing captures above-ground crop dynamics. Integrating these datasets may enhance management

Abstract. Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) in soils is used to estimate the balance of CO2 respired by heterotrophs versus the accumulation of organic carbon (C). While most CUE studies assume that aerobic respiration is the predominant degradation process of organic C, anoxic microniches are common inside soil aggregates. Microorganisms in these microniches carry out fermentation and anaerobic

Abstract. Soils are the largest terrestrial carbon (C) pool on the planet, and targeted grassland management has the potential to increase grassland C sequestration. Appropriate land management strategies, such as organic matter addition, can increase soil C stocks and improve grasslands' resilience to drought by improving soil water retention and infiltration. However, soil carbon dynamics are closely

Abstract. Soil respiration (Rs) is an important carbon flux in terrestrial ecosystems, and knowledge about this CO2 release process and the drivers involved is a key topic in the context of global change. However, temporal and spatial variability has not been studied extensively in semi-arid systems such as olive groves. In this study, we show a full year of continuous measurements of Rs with six automatic

Abstract. Soil erosion threatens soil fertility and food security worldwide, with agriculture being both a cause and a victim. Vineyards are particularly at risk due to the often steep slopes and detrimental management practices such as fallow interlines and bare soil under the vines. Therefore, the search for alternative management practices becomes vital, and vegetation covers, including mosses,

Abstract. Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is an important component of the organic carbon pool in boreal ecosystems. However, the biodegradability of WSOC across various soil depths in boreal ecosystems remains unclear. Here, based on spectroscopic techniques, we conducted a 28-day laboratory incubation to analyze the molecular composition, biodegradability, and compositional changes of WSOC at

Abstract not available

Abstract. Knowledge of the status and influential factors of soil nutrients including soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and acidification is the basis for sustainable management of tea plantations and thus the sustainability of the tea industry. However, a national-level study addressing this topic is lacking. Thereby, we assessed the status, spatial variations

Abstract. Global warming could potentially increase the decomposition rate of soil organic matter (SOM), not only in the topsoil (< 20 cm) but also in the subsoil (> 20 cm). Despite its low carbon content, subsoil holds on average nearly as much SOM as topsoil across various ecosystems. However, significant uncertainties remain regarding the impact of warming on SOM decomposition in subsoil, particularly

Abstract. Land planning projects aiming to maximize soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks are increasing in number and scope, often in line with the objective to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. In response, a rising number of studies assesses where additional SOC could be stored over regional to global spatial scales. In order to provide realistic values transferrable beyond the scientific community, studies

Abstract. Land use change is causing substantial loss of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, little is known regarding how this loss of SOC influences the composition of carbon (C) functional groups and their microscale distribution, with this being critical to the protection and storage of SOC. In this study, we examined the mechanisms influencing preservation of C forms and their distribution by

Abstract. Quantifying the impact of biochar on carbon persistence across soil textures is complex, owing to the variability in soil conditions. Using artificial soils with precise textural and mineral compositions, we can disentangle the effects of biochar from the effects of soil particle size. We can show that biochar application significantly reduces the early-stage carbon mineralization rates of

Abstract. Subtropical forests store significant amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC) and are important in the global C cycle. Current understandings based on controlled experiments indicate that phosphorus (P) availability promotes SOC decomposition by alleviating microbial P limitation or rendering SOC available for microbial decomposition. While no alternative mechanism is currently known, it is

Abstract. With climate change expected to intensify the occurrence and severity of droughts, the impacts of the groundwater table (GWT) depth and capillary rise on topsoil moisture may become critical drivers of biological activity. Consequently, the GWT depth could influence topsoil carbon (C) mineralization. In this study, undisturbed 200 cm long soil columns with three different textures (loamy

Abstract. Substantial input of exogenous organic matter (EOM) may be required to offset the projected decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in croplands caused by global warming. However, information on the effectivity of the EOM application dose in preserving SOC stocks is surprisingly limited. Therefore, we set up a 90 d incubation experiment with large soil volumes (sandy loam and silt loam)

Abstract. Understanding phenolic-pollutant interactions with soil colloids has been a focus of extensive research, primarily under controlled conditions. This study addresses the need to explore these processes in a more natural, complex soil environment. We aim to shed light on the underlying mechanisms of hydroquinone (a representative phenolic pollutant) oxidation in ambient, MnO2-rich sandy soil

Abstract. Colloidal particles are the most active soil components, and they vary in elemental composition and environmental behaviors with the particle size due to the heterogeneous nature of natural soils. The purposes of the present study are to clarify how particle size affects the physicochemical properties and aggregation kinetics of soil colloids and to further reveal the underlying mechanisms

Abstract. Breeding climate-robust crops is one of the needed pathways for adaptation to the changing climate. To speed up the breeding process, it is important to understand how plants react to extreme weather events such as drought or waterlogging in their production environment, i.e. under field conditions in real soils. Whereas a number of techniques exist for aboveground field phenotyping, simultaneous

Abstract. Regenerative agriculture is emerging as a strategy for carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. However, for sequestration efforts to be successful, long-term stabilisation of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is needed. This can be achieved either through the uplift in recalcitrant carbon stocks, and/or through physical protection and occlusion of carbon within stable soil aggregates

Abstract. Soil underpins the functioning of all terrestrial ecosystems. Sustainable soil management is crucial to preventing further degradation of the non-renewable soil resources and achieving sustainability. The soil health concept has gained popularity as a means to this end and has been integrated into the policies of many countries and supranational organisations. We need an accurate definition

Abstract. It is still difficult to precisely quantify and predict the effects of drying–rewetting cycles (DWCs) on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) release due to the paucity of studies using constant moisture conditions equivalent to the mean water content during DWC incubation. The present study was performed to evaluate overall trends in the effects of DWCs on CO2 release and to explore environmental and

Abstract. Soil bioturbation plays a key role in soil functions such as carbon and nutrient cycling. Despite its importance, fundamental knowledge on how different organisms and processes impact the rates and patterns of soil mixing during bioturbation is lacking. However, this information is essential for understanding the effects of bioturbation in present-day soil functions and on long-term soil

Abstract. To build confidence in the efficacy of soil carbon (C) crediting programs, precise quantification of soil organic carbon (SOC) is critical. Detecting a true change in SOC after a management shift has occurred, specifically in agricultural lands, is difficult as it requires robust soil sampling and soil processing procedures. Informative and meaningful comparisons across spatial and temporal

Abstract. Uncertainty quantification is a crucial step for the practical application of soil spectral models, particularly in supporting real-world decision making and risk assessment. While machine learning has made remarkable strides in predicting various physiochemical properties of soils using spectroscopy, predictions devoid of quantified uncertainty offer limited utility in guiding critical decisions

Abstract. Fertilised soils are a significant source of nitrous oxide (N2O), a highly active greenhouse gas and a stratospheric ozone depleter. Nitrogen (N) fertilisers, while boosting crop yield, also lead to N2O emissions into the atmosphere, impacting global warming. We investigated relationships between mineral N fertilisation rates and additional manure amendment with different crop types through

Abstract. Simulation models are potentially useful tools to test our understanding of the processes involved in the turnover of soil organic carbon (SOC) and to evaluate the role of management practices in maintaining stocks of SOC. We describe here a simple model of SOC turnover at the soil profile scale that accounts for two key processes determining SOC persistence (i.e. microbial energy limitation

Abstract. In southern China, Hainan Island faces land degradation risks due to poor soil physical properties, such as a high proportion of microaggregates (< 0.25 mm), low soil organic matter (SOM) content, and frequent uneven rainfall. The cohesive force between soil particles, which is influenced by plant root properties and root-derived SOM, is essential for improving soil aggregate stability and

Abstract. The Ecological Survey of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), undertaken in the 1930s under the leadership of Colin G. Trapnell, was a seminal exercise to relate soil, vegetation, and agricultural practices through intensive field observation. In this article, we examine early activities of the survey in the Upper Valley region around the Kafue Flats and the neighbouring plateau, where Trapnell

Abstract. Addressing the complex challenges of soil and food security at international and local scales requires moving beyond the boundaries of individual disciplines and knowledge systems. The value of transdisciplinary research approaches is increasingly recognised, including those that value and incorporate Indigenous knowledge systems and holders. Using a case study at Pōhatu, Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract. It is unequivocal that human activities have increased emissions of greenhouse gases, that this is causing warming, and that these changes will be irreversible for centuries to millennia. Whilst previous studies have broadly examined the contribution of agriculture or land use change to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the contribution of soil itself remains unclear, with quantifying

Abstract. Monitoring soil structure is of paramount importance due to its key role in the critical zone as the foundation of terrestrial life. Variations in the arrangement of soil components significantly influence its hydro-mechanical properties and therefore its impact on the surrounding ecosystem. In this context, soil compaction resulting from inappropriate agricultural practices not only affects

Abstract. Seasonal freeze–thaw processes alter soil formation and lead to changes in soil structure of alpine ecosystems. Soil aggregates are basic soil structural units and play a crucial role in soil organic carbon (SOC) protection and microbial habitation. However, the impact of seasonal freeze–thaw processes on pore structure and their impact on SOC fractions have been overlooked. This study characterized

Abstract. The transfer of radiocaesium (137Cs) from soil to crops is the main long-term radiation risk after nuclear accidents. The prevailing concept is that 137Cs sorption in soil, and hence its bioavailability, is controlled by soil clay content (0–2 µm). This study tested this assumption using 24 soils collected worldwide. The Radiocaesium Interception Potential (RIP), i.e., 137Cs adsorption, was

Abstract. Plant processes regulating the quantity and quality of soil organic carbon inputs such as photosynthesis, above- and belowground plant growth, and root exudation are integral to our understanding of soil carbon dynamics. However, based on a bibliometric analysis including almost 50 000 scientific papers, we found that plant physiology has been severely underrepresented in global soil organic

Abstract. Raising the water table is an effective way to abate greenhouse gas emissions from cultivated peat soils. We experimented a gradual water table rise at a highly degraded agricultural peat soil site with plots of willow, forage and mixed vegetation (set-aside) in southern Finland. We measured the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) for 4 years. The mean

Abstract. Calcium (Ca) may contribute to the preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in more ecosystems than previously thought. Here we provide evidence that Ca is co-located with SOC compounds that are enriched in aromatic and phenolic groups, across different acidic soil-types and locations with different ecosystem properties. In turn, this co-localised fraction of Ca-SOC is removed through cation-exchange