Abstract Purpose Soil bulk density and hydraulic conductivity are two of many key factors for vegetation establishment and the other way around. Variations in them may cause patchy vegetation distribution in arid and semiarid areas. Characterizing their spatial variations in relation to quasi-circular vegetation patches (QVPs) is important for the effective revegetation of wetlands in the Yellow River

Abstract Purpose Despite its wide application in determining litter decomposition rates, the litterbag method has not well been examined involving some criteria, especially the sample weight and placement of litterbags. Materials and methods A comprehensive database of leaf litter decomposition in China was established, including 877 datasets, to examine the controlling factors of litterbag method

Abstract Purpose The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is one of the main native soil faunas on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and plays a key role in the terrestrial ecosystem there. However, few studies have analysed the macroporosity of soils disturbed by plateau pikas in alpine meadows. The objective of this study was to examine the soil macropores in different parts of an alpine meadow in the Qinghai

Abstract Purpose Oil hydrocarbons are widespread pollutants in soil which pose serious threats to ecological environment. Thus, this study carried out the bioremediation of oil-contaminated soil by using the efficient petroleum-degrading bacteria and soil conditioner, to investigate the changes of physicochemical properties of contaminated soil during bioremediation, reveal the relationship among the

Abstract Purpose The aims of this study were to investigate how short-term agricultural practices varying in vegetation cover, tillage, and organic amendments affected the chemistry of aggregate-associated C and particulate organic matter (POM) after 8-year soil restoration from parent material (PM) of a Mollisol. The research allowed indicating the effects of perennialization and organic amendments

Abstract Purpose Sediment transport plays a vital role in the development of soil erosion process models. The primary purpose of this study is to establish new sediment transport capacity formulas and evaluate their applicability to sediment. Materials and methods In this study, we collected three different soil types from Loess Plateau. Simulated sediment transport experiments were carried out in

Abstract Purpose The influence of iron and aluminium (hydr)oxide on soil aggregation is still not sufficiently understood. Therefore, we undertook a study on the effects of Al and Fe forms on soil structure and their mutual relationships in sandy soil under long-term fertilisation experiments near Skierniewice (Poland). Materials and methods In this study, we examined three treatments of soil under

Abstract Purpose In the rice-wheat rotation area, Cd contamination affects food safety of rice and wheat. However, there have been conflicting results and different conclusions on the difference in Cd accumulation capacity of rice and wheat, and the factors that led to the difference were not clear. Materials and methods A field survey study was conducted by collecting 60 soil and grain samples in

Abstract Purpose Understanding the underlying mechanism of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) accumulation is of great significance for soil C sequestration and climate change mitigation, as well as soil fertility improvement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of C and N accumulation in aggregates and fine soil particles to long-term mineral fertilizer and manure application. Materials

Abstract Purpose: Erosion processes spatially redistribute soil particles and the associated carbon across landscapes. Their spatial redistribution pattern is governed by the transport distances of individual displaced soil particles, which is not only dependent on their settling velocity, but also affected by slope topography. However, the potential impacts of fine-scale variation of slope topography

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to compare the feeding activity of soil fauna in forest floor soil and in soil layer developing on dead cedar logs in temperate ancient rainforest of North British Columbia (Canada) inlands. Materials and methods Bait–lamina test was applied to study the soil fauna feeding activity. On each of ten plots, measurements were conducted on a dead tree trunk (log)

Abstract Purpose Understanding ecosystem processes such as litter decomposition in response to dramatic land-use change is critical for modeling and predicting carbon (C) cycles. However, the patterns of litter decomposition along with long-term secondary succession (over 100 years) are not well reported, especially concerning nutrient limitations on litter decomposition. Materials and methods To clarify

Abstract Purpose Purple paddy soils cover about 66% of the paddy soils in Sichuan Basin. Complex interactions made the effects of potassium fertilizer application on NH4+ adsorption more complicated and the behavior of NH4+ and K+ interaction in purple paddy soils has rarely been evaluated. We hypothesize that correct management of these soils can enhance the efficiency of ammonium and potassium fertilizers

Abstract Purpose Humic substances, which are integral components of total organic carbon (TOC), influence soil quality. The study aimed to investigate whether humic and non-humic fractions exhibit early, consistent, and measurable changes and affect TOC sensitivity and storage in a tropical sandy loam soils amended with corn cob biochar. Materials and methods There were four treatments with four replicates

Abstract Purpose Magnetic removal techniques using functionalized magnetic nanoparticles as adsorbents have been frequently tested for use in the removal of heavy metals in aqueous solution, but seldom in farmland soil. Here, a novel magnetic microparticle solid chelator (MSC) was employed as the adsorbent for magnetic removal and/or immobilization of Cd and Zn in a paddy soil (PS), an upland soil

Abstract Purpose Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been frequently discussed as a strategy for meeting CO2 emission reduction and its targets. However, some critical issues have been raised with regard to the potential hazards to near-surface environments by CO2 leakage. Hence, this study was conducted to examine the effects of soil moisture content on the potential risks associated with a high

Abstract Purpose Biochars produced from different feedstocks (such as wood, pig manure) possess varying physical and chemical properties, which have influence on crack and evaporation rate of biochar-amended soil (BAS). Furthermore, influence of compaction state and drying-wetting cycles on evaporation rate and cracking of BAS has not been investigated comprehensively. The objective of this study was

Abstract Purpose Intra-storm temporal distributions of rainfall intensity (storm patterns) greatly affect soil erosion process within flat tillage systems, but limited information is available about its influence on the distribution characteristics of soil aggregate, especially within contour ridge system. Materials and methods In this study, a laboratory study of 12 rainfall simulation experiments

Abstract Purpose Combining biodegradable chelating agents with phytoextraction is an efficient technique to amend metal-contaminated soils, but most studies have addressed remediation efficiency rather than a comprehensive understanding of the interactions among plant stress, metal accumulation, and metal bioavailability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biodegradable chelating agents

Purpose Association of element concentrations for the escarpment soils of northeastern North Dakota formed from different geologic parent materials was determined based on geochemical data. These soils overlie the Cretaceous Pierre Formation, and parent materials consist of shale rich glacial till, residual shale, and colluvial materials. Materials and methods Samples were analyzed for cadmium and

PURPOSE The sorption behavior of the herbicide 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) to three different artificial soil mixtures was investigated. Artificial soils serve as model systems for improving understanding of sorption phenomena. MATERIALS AND METHODS The soils consisted of quartz, ferrihydrite, illite, montmorillonite, and charcoal. In a previous study, several selected mixtures had been