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Agriculture
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Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment
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Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Soils".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2025 | Viewed by 3151

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cara Irina Gabriela

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute for Agriculture and Environment, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 14, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700789 Iasi, Romania
Interests: environment management; soil, plant, and water analysis; heavy metals; pesticides; AAS; GC/LC-MS analysis; agriculture resources
Prof. Dr. Gerard Jitareanu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pedotechnics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Science, 3, Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania
Interests: soil and water conservation; soil management; agricultural soil compaction; cover cropping; crop rotation; experimental design
Dr. Iuliana Motrescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Exact Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3 Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania
Interests: plasma agriculture; physics for life sciences; X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy; scanning electron microscopy; soil analysis; green technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil health can be regarded as soil’s ability to perform diversified services and functions, including sustainability in plants’ production along with environmental improvements or/and maintenance. Common farming techniques in agriculture, such as the application of pesticides or fertilizers and monocropping practices, can depreciate soil over time, leading to a series of challenges that require the use of more inputs, which further contribute to climate change. Understanding the vital role of soil, especially with changing environments, has been attracting the scientific community’s growing attention and has been the target of relevant research. Sustainable methods (crop rotation, no-until or low-until practice, cover cropping, and sustainable pest management techniques) connected with regenerative farming systems (use of compost, adding animals to the farm system) can improve the soil environment, concurrently enhancing crop quality.

Considering that not all of the challenges have been addressed by multiple literature reports pertinent to the current topics, there are still many concerns that need to be discussed. In this respect, a deeper understanding is of crucial importance regarding how to manipulate farming practice and the soil’s physical (bulk density, water-holding capacity, soil aggregate stability), chemical (pH, organic carbon and nutrient status), and biological (microbial diversity and composition, soil enzymes, respiration, etc.) indicators, with the aim to build healthier ecosystems.

This Special Issue focuses on the development and assessment of multiple methods which relate to the functional soil processes/practices used to evaluate soil health status. For this reason, we welcome highly interdisciplinary quality articles from different research fields including agriculture, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering that focus on innovative methods and their interactions that lead to high yield performances.

Dr. Cara Irina Gabriela
Prof. Dr. Gerard Jitareanu
Dr. Iuliana Motrescu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil fertility
  • soil health
  • soil quality
  • soil analysis
  • microbial composition and diversity
  • soil organic carbon
  • physic-chemical properties

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1652 KiB  
Article
Long-Term Effect of Tillage Practices on Soil Physical Properties and Winter Wheat Yield in North-East Romania
by Segla Serginho Cakpo, Tudor George Aostăcioaei, Gabriel-Dumitru Mihu, Cosmin-Costel Molocea, Cosmin Ghelbere, Ana Ursu and Denis Constantin Țopa
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 989; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15090989 - 2 May 2025
Viewed by 315
Abstract
Soil quality, characterized by its physical, chemical, and biological properties, is closely linked to soil management. Reducing soil disturbance can limit soil degradation; however, tillage is still considered essential, particularly on poorly drained soils. This study aimed to identify the optimal tillage practices [...] Read more.
Soil quality, characterized by its physical, chemical, and biological properties, is closely linked to soil management. Reducing soil disturbance can limit soil degradation; however, tillage is still considered essential, particularly on poorly drained soils. This study aimed to identify the optimal tillage practices for winter wheat crops following long-term no tillage practice and crop rotation (2020–2023). Additionally, it highlights the considerable advantages of particular tillage practices in emphasizing their role in enhancing soil health and sustainable agriculture. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications and two tillage practices: no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT). The research was carried out on a cambic chernozem soil type. The results revealed that physical properties such as bulk density (BD) can increase or decrease under NT, while soil water content (SWC) increased under the same system. The status of water-stable aggregates (WSAs) also improved in NT (88.41%) due to the incorporation of cover crop or plant residues in the 0–10 cm depth. Notably, the highest SWC value at harvest was obtained in the 0–10 cm soil depth, under NT, reaching 24.47%. Grain yields over four years of research were also influenced by tillage systems, resulting in mean yields of 6070 kg/ha for CT and 4285.25 kg/ha for the NT system. The Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated for the soil physical properties considered in pairs. Between BD and water-stable aggregates (WSAs), there was a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.458**) and statistical significance, but no linear correlation between BD and SWC (r = 0.089), and between WSAs and SWC (r = 0.026). Generally, using NT, which reduces soil disturbance and maintains residues on the surface, could contribute to land sustainability and climate mitigation in north-east Romania. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment)
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20 pages, 5728 KiB  
Article
Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Farming Sustainability Under Different Plum Orchard Management Practices in the Pedoclimatical Conditions of Moldavian Plateau
by Mariana Rusu, Manuela Filip, Irina Gabriela Cara, Denis Țopa and Gerard Jităreanu
Agriculture 2025, 15(5), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15050509 - 26 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 596
Abstract
Soil health is essential for sustainable agriculture, influencing ecosystem health and orchard productivity of plum orchards. Global challenges such as climate change and soil contamination threaten to affect fertility and food security, requiring sustainable practices. The study assessed the effect of different orchard [...] Read more.
Soil health is essential for sustainable agriculture, influencing ecosystem health and orchard productivity of plum orchards. Global challenges such as climate change and soil contamination threaten to affect fertility and food security, requiring sustainable practices. The study assessed the effect of different orchard management practices on soil quality and nutrient distribution in Prunus domestica L. orchard located on the Moldavian Plateau in northeastern Romania under temperate humid subtropical climate conditions. Two systems were analyzed: conventional (herbicide-based) and conservative (cover crop-based). Soil samples (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm) were analyzed for soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (Nt), available phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Results showed that conservative management improved soil health by increasing SOC nutrient cycling, mainly through organic matter inputs. Compared to 2022, the effectiveness of phosphorus in the conservative management system significantly increased (by 6%) in 2023, while potassium content decreased (by 30%), suggesting potential nutrient competition or insufficient replenishment under organic practices. SOC levels remained stable, supporting long-term carbon inputs. Conventional management maintained phosphorus and potassium but showed lower SOC levels and higher risks of soil fertility depletion. Strong correlations between SOC and nutrient indicators emphasize the critical role of organic inputs in nutrient mobilization. The findings indicate that cover crops are essential for sustainable soil management by enhancing carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling, thereby supporting the long-term sustainability of agricultural systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment)
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Review

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39 pages, 3222 KiB  
Review
Sustainable Practices for Enhancing Soil Health and Crop Quality in Modern Agriculture: A Review
by Denis-Constantin Țopa, Sorin Căpșună, Anca-Elena Calistru and Costică Ailincăi
Agriculture 2025, 15(9), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15090998 - 5 May 2025
Viewed by 667
Abstract
Soil health is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, serving as the foundation for crop productivity, environmental resilience, and long-term ecosystem stability. Contemporary agricultural methods, characterized by excessive pesticide and fertilizer application, monoculture, and intensive tillage, have resulted in extensive soil degradation, requiring novel [...] Read more.
Soil health is the cornerstone of sustainable agriculture, serving as the foundation for crop productivity, environmental resilience, and long-term ecosystem stability. Contemporary agricultural methods, characterized by excessive pesticide and fertilizer application, monoculture, and intensive tillage, have resulted in extensive soil degradation, requiring novel strategies to restore and sustain soil functionality. This review examined sustainable practices to enhance soil health and improve crop quality in modern agricultural systems. Preserving soil’s physical, chemical, and biological characteristics is essential for its health, achievable through various agronomic strategies. Practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, no-till or carbon farming, conservation agriculture (CA), and the use of organic amendments were explored for their ability to restore the soil structure, increase organic matter, and promote biodiversity. These initiatives seek to preserve and enhance soil ecosystems by aligning agricultural practices with ecological principles, ensuring long-term productivity and environmental stability. Enhancing soil health will improve soil functions, supporting the concept that increasing the soil organic carbon (SOC) is necessary. This study determined that conservation tillage is more advantageous for soil health than conventional tillage, a topic that is still controversial among scientists and farmers, and that various tillage systems exhibit distinct interactions. These strategies, through the integrated management of the interaction of plant, soil, microbial, and human activities, would enhance soil health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment)
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40 pages, 7102 KiB  
Review
Evaluating Soil Degradation in Agricultural Soil with Ground-Penetrating Radar: A Systematic Review of Applications and Challenges
by Filipe Adão, Luís Pádua and Joaquim J. Sousa
Agriculture 2025, 15(8), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15080852 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 788
Abstract
Soil degradation is a critical challenge to global agricultural sustainability, driven by intensive land use, unsustainable farming practices, and climate change. Conventional soil monitoring techniques often rely on invasive sampling methods, which can be labor-intensive, disruptive, and limited in spatial coverage. In contrast, [...] Read more.
Soil degradation is a critical challenge to global agricultural sustainability, driven by intensive land use, unsustainable farming practices, and climate change. Conventional soil monitoring techniques often rely on invasive sampling methods, which can be labor-intensive, disruptive, and limited in spatial coverage. In contrast, non-invasive geophysical techniques, particularly ground-penetrating radar, have gained attention as tools for assessing soil properties. However, an assessment of ground-penetrating radar’s applications in agricultural soil research—particularly for detecting soil structural changes related to degradation—remains undetermined. To address this issue, a systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. A search was conducted across Scopus and Web of Science databases, as well as relevant review articles and study reference lists, up to 31 December 2024. This process resulted in 86 potentially relevant studies, of which 24 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final review. The analysis revealed that the ground-penetrating radar allows the detection of structural changes associated with tillage practices and heavy machinery traffic in agricultural lands, namely topsoil disintegration and soil compaction, both of which are important indicators of soil degradation. These variations are reflected in changes in electrical permittivity and reflectivity, particularly above the tillage horizon. These shifts are associated with lower soil water content, increased soil homogeneity, and heightened wave reflectivity at the upper boundary of compacted soil. The latter is linked to density contrasts and waterlogging above this layer. Additionally, ground-penetrating radar has demonstrated its potential in mapping alterations in electrical permittivity related to preferential water flow pathways, detecting shifts in soil organic carbon distribution, identifying disruptions in root systems due to tillage, and assessing soil conditions potentially affected by excessive fertilization in iron oxide-rich soils. Future research should focus on refining methodologies to improve the ground-penetrating radar’s ability to quantify soil degradation processes with greater accuracy. In particular, there is a need for standardized experimental protocols to evaluate the effects of monocultures on soil fertility, assess the impact of excessive fertilization effects on soil acidity, and integrate ground-penetrating radar with complementary geophysical and remote sensing techniques for a holistic approach to soil health monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Soil Health Assessment Methods for Changing Agricultural Environment)
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