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Agriculture
Special Issues
Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Conservation in Agriculture
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Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Conservation in Agriculture

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 1813

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Beata Kołodziej

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Environment Engineering and Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczyńskiego 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
Interests: soil; soil chemical properties; soil physical properties; soil classification; pedology; water balance; soil structure; environment; waste
Prof. Dr. Monika Skowrońska

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 15, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Interests: soil; plant; carbon; nitrogen; nutrients; sequestration; fertilization; wastes; environment; greenhouse gases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil chemistry, which deals with the chemical composition, properties, and reaction of soils, is crucial not only for soil health and crop production but also for sustaining life on Earth. The chemical reactions among nutrients and/or contaminants influence soil, water, air, and food quality. Most of the global challenges faced today, e.g., climate change, unhealthy soil conditions, improper quality of water, and food security, are strictly linked to the soil chemical reactions and processes. This Special Issue focuses both on the traditional approach to agricultural soil chemistry, mainly based on the chemical reactions in soils that affect plant nutrition and growth, as well as environmental soil chemistry. The latter includes chemical reactions and processes related to important nutrients, metal(loid)s, radionuclides, organic chemicals, and other pollutants in the environment.

This Special Issue invites submissions of interdisciplinary studies embracing all disciplines, from agriculture and soil science to the environment. All types of articles, such as original research and reviews, are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Beata Kołodziej
Prof. Dr. Monika Skowrońska
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 chemistry
  • soil quality
  • soil protection
  • soil health
  • soil degradation
  • soil reclamation
  • soil contaminants
  • nutrient cycling
  • use and management of agricultural soils

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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36 pages, 6206 KiB  
Article
Geochemical Characterization of Soil and Water in an Agricultural Area for the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
by Ana C. González-Valoys, Tamir Chong, Jonatha Arrocha, Javier Lloyd, Jorge Olmos, Fidedigna Vergara, Medin Denvers, Juan Jaén, Samantha Jiménez-Oyola and Francisco Jesús García-Navarro
Agriculture 2025, 15(7), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070702 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 462
Abstract
The Herrera township (86.0 km2), located in La Chorrera, is Panama’s leading pineapple production area. Ensuring sustainable agricultural management in this region is crucial for long-term productivity, resource conservation, and environmental protection. This study evaluates soil and irrigation water quality to [...] Read more.
The Herrera township (86.0 km2), located in La Chorrera, is Panama’s leading pineapple production area. Ensuring sustainable agricultural management in this region is crucial for long-term productivity, resource conservation, and environmental protection. This study evaluates soil and irrigation water quality to provide insights into improved management practices. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, EC, OM, SM, CEC, texture, and content of Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, N, P, Si, Sr, and Zn. Water samples, including surface water and groundwater, were assessed for Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, N, HCO3, SO4, PO4, NO3-N, and salinity. Soil quality was evaluated using the Igeo, and geospatial techniques were applied to map the soil parameter distribution. The water quality analysis confirmed its suitability for irrigation, though groundwater in the central area requires caution due to elevated Na levels and a moderate risk of salinization. Soil maps indicate adequate levels of essential nutrients but highlight the need for N amendments. This study is the first comprehensive assessment of an agricultural township in Panama, providing critical data for decision-making and the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices that enhance resource management and mitigate climate change impacts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Conservation in Agriculture)
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14 pages, 2473 KiB  
Article
Crop Rotation of Sainfoin on the Longzhong Loess Plateau Has a Positive Effect on Enhancing Soil Carbon Sequestration Potential
by Hang Xiang, Jingjing Xu, Shaochong Wei, Hang Yang, Jianchao Song and Xiaojun Yu
Agriculture 2024, 14(12), 2160; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14122160 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 696
Abstract
The impact of various crop rotation systems on the potential for soil carbon sequestration and stoichiometric characteristics is not yet fully understood, which poses challenges for effective land management and utilization. This study selected three typical crop rotation methods in the Longzhong Loess [...] Read more.
The impact of various crop rotation systems on the potential for soil carbon sequestration and stoichiometric characteristics is not yet fully understood, which poses challenges for effective land management and utilization. This study selected three typical crop rotation methods in the Longzhong Loess Plateau: maize–alfalfa rotation (MA), maize–sainfoin rotation (MS), and maize–wheat rotation (MW). Soil physical and chemical indices were measured, and the soil carbon density and soil stoichiometry were calculated and analyzed. The results show that the soil C/N of the surface soils was low across the rotation methods, indicating a rapid rate of organic matter decomposition and mineralization, which may hinder soil nutrient accumulation. The soil N/P was found to be lower than the national average of 8.0, indicating that nitrogen is a limited nutrient in the soil under the three crop rotation systems in this region. The soil total nitrogen content can be increased by rotation with leguminous forage. Sainfoin rotation can enhance the soil total carbon and organic carbon content, thereby improving the soil’s carbon sequestration potential. The research findings provide a theoretical foundation for the selection of appropriate rotation methods and the maintenance of the stability of agricultural ecosystems in semi-arid regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Conservation in Agriculture)
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Review

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23 pages, 1334 KiB  
Review
Research Progress on the Improvement of Farmland Soil Quality by Green Manure
by Yulong Wang, Aizhong Yu, Yongpan Shang, Pengfei Wang, Feng Wang, Bo Yin, Yalong Liu, Dongling Zhang and Qiang Chai
Agriculture 2025, 15(7), 768; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15070768 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 351
Abstract
Long-term intensive agricultural management practices have led to a continuous decline in farmland soil quality, posing a serious threat to food security and agricultural sustainability. Green manure, as a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cover crop, plays a significant role in enhancing soil [...] Read more.
Long-term intensive agricultural management practices have led to a continuous decline in farmland soil quality, posing a serious threat to food security and agricultural sustainability. Green manure, as a natural, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly cover crop, plays a significant role in enhancing soil quality, ensuring food security, and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The improvement of soil quality by green manure is primarily manifested in the enhancement of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Specifically, it increases soil organic matter content, optimizes soil structure, enhances nutrient cycling, and improves microbial community composition and metabolic activity. The integration of green manure with agronomic practices such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilizer application, and organic material incorporation demonstrates its potential in addressing agricultural development challenges, particularly through its contributions to soil quality improvement, crop yield stabilization, water and nutrient use efficiency enhancement, fertilizer input reduction, and agricultural greenhouse gas emission mitigation. However, despite substantial evidence from both research and practical applications confirming the benefits of green manure, its large-scale adoption faces numerous challenges, including regional variability in application effectiveness, low farmer acceptance, and insufficient extension technologies. Future research should further clarify the synergistic mechanism between green manure and agronomic measures such as intercropping, crop rotation, conservation tillage, reduced fertilization and organic material return to field. This will help explore the role of green manure in addressing the challenges of soil degradation, climate change and food security, develop green manure varieties adapted to different ecological conditions, and optimize green manure planting and management technologies. Governments should comprehensively promote the implementation of green manure technologies through economic incentives, technology extension, and educational training programs. The integration of scientific research, policy support, and technological innovation is expected to establish green manure as a crucial driving force for facilitating the global transition towards sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Chemical Properties and Soil Conservation in Agriculture)
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