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Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2025 | Viewed by 5646

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jie Zhou

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Guest Editor

College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: soil C sequestration; soil health; plant–microorganism–soil interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xiquan Wang

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Guest Editor Assistant

College of Agronomy, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010019, China
Interests: agriculture; crop production; soil fertility; soil health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Low soil fertility is a common problem in many regions around the world. For example, the soils of arid and semi-arid regions often have low water retention capacity and inadequate nutrient supply levels for most agricultural plants. Anthropic activities, including intensive agricultural practices and rapid industrialization, may also magnify soil degradation. Soil degradation leads to conditions that threaten soil function and productivity, including salinization, desertification, erosion, nutrient depletion, etc. There is increasing interest in rehabilitating low-fertility soils to improve crop yield and sustainability. The addition of organic amendments (i.e., manure, green manure, straw, biochar, biofertilizer) to low-fertility soils has become a common practice over the last few decades to improve soil microenvironment and consequently soil health. Since a single process cannot represent the complexity of agroecosystems in the real world, it is still unclear how organic amendments impact soil quality and ecosystem multifunctionality. Moreover, recent studies confirmed that the application of a combination of organic ameliorants presents more benefits to increase nutrient utilization and microbial activities, thus improving soil health. Nevertheless, the effects of the combination of organic amendments on low-fertility soil health are still unclear.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, the articles (original research papers, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, reviews, modeling approaches and methods) focus on the effect of organic amendments on soil organic carbon, greenhouse gas emission, microbial biodiversity, and subsequently soil health and crop production. It is intended to provide a better understanding of potential soil reclamation practices in low-fertility soils.

Dr. Jie Zhou
Guest Editor

Dr. Xiquan Wang
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

soil carbon sequestration
microbial community
greenhouse gas emission
crop production
straw
manure
green manure
biochar
biofertilizer

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 5713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationships Between Carbon Fractions and Soil Nutrients in Organic Cassava Cultivation in the Sandy Soil of Northeastern Thailand

by Suphathida Aumtong, Chanitra Somyo, Kanokorn Kanchai, Thoranin Chuephudee and Chakrit Chotamonsak

Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051069 - 28 Apr 2025

Viewed by 195

Abstract

This research investigated the interaction between the labile and stable fractions of soil organic carbon (SOC) during the cultivation of organic cassava in sandy soil in northeastern Thailand over a period of five years. We collected surface soil samples (0–30 cm) from this sandy region, utilizing a combination of cow and chicken manure along with dried distilled grains (DDGs) from cassava fermentation for ethanol production, to monitor and compare the effects of continuous mixed organic fertilization on SOC, carbon fractions, soil pH, and nitrogen and phosphorus levels throughout a five-year period of varying land use ages (LUA) to the pre-fertilization state. This study proposed that the use of a combination of organic fertilizers could increase soil organic carbon levels. This study indicates that the continuous application of organic fertilizers over five years does not lead to a significant increase in soil carbon; however, it may result in temporary alterations in different organic carbon fractions. The study showed that the mixed organic fertilization could the increase carbon fractions. Labile carbon (LBC) fraction was at its lowest before fertilization, peaking at LUA 3 and increasing by 5.44–25.50% after organic fertilizer addition. The first year revealed high non labile carbon (NLBC) levels, exceeding 60%, in comparison to the pre-fertilizer period. In the second year, NLBC levels declined to LUA 5, a change that was not statistically significant. After pre-fertilization, the concentration of recalcitrant carbon (REC) did not significantly decrease. Nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) concentrations exhibited no significant fluctuation pre-and post-fertilization. Furthermore, the Bray II-extractable phosphorus (P(B)) decreased (i.e., LUA 1 and 4). The pH levels dropped after the addition of organic fertilizer, particularly in the second year. We found strong positive links between SOC and carbon fractions such as NLBC (r = 0.54 ***) and POXC (r = 0.49 ***). However, neither LBC nor less labile carbon fraction (LLBC) showed any significant correlations with SOC. The negative correlations were observed between ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) and NO₃⁻-N with labile carbon types, such as LBC, LLBC, and POXC, while positive correlations were noted with stable carbon fractions, such as NLBC, and REC. From the application of this organic fertilizer, there are various amounts of organic carbon which cause the following effects: The inclusion of LBC from mixed organic fertilization seems to enhance SOC decomposition rather than accumulation. NLCB may persist in sandy soil for a longer duration than LBC, resulting in the retention of SOC in sandy soil. Our results suggested the implementation of a systematic soil testing strategy to monitor temporal variations in carbon fractions and nutrient levels. Using the right amounts of both LBC and NLBC would improve soil health and help store carbon through organic fertilizers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects)

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12 pages, 3104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rheological Characterization of Structural Stability for Black Soils from Northeast China

by Jian Sun, Lin Zhou, Yuyang Yan, Chenyang Xu, Zhe Liu, Zhenghong Yu, Jiangwen Li and Feinan Hu

Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051050 - 27 Apr 2025

Viewed by 131

Abstract

Soil structural stability is fundamentally linked to soil functionality and sustainable productivity. Rheological properties describe the deformation and flow behavior of soil under external stress, playing a crucial role in understanding soil structure stability. Despite their importance, the studies about rheological properties of black soils in Northeast China remain limited. This study aims to assess the rheological properties of two kinds of black soil with different degrees of degradation in Northeast China. The rheological parameters of these soils under various water contents and shearing were quantified by conducting Amplitude Sweep Tests (ASTs) and Rotational Sweep Tests (RSTs). Both AST and RST results showed that as soil water content and shear rate increased, shear strength, viscosity, and hysteresis area all decreased in Keshan and Binxian black soils. The increase in soil water content reduces the friction between soil particles, leading to a decrease in soil structure stability. Additionally, the viscosity and hysteresis area of the two soils decreased with the increase in water content, making it more flowable and exhibiting shear-thinning behavior. Keshan black soil exhibited stronger recovery and shear strength compared to Binxian black soil; this is mainly due to the higher organic matter content in Keshan soil, which could increase structural stability by bonding the soil particles at the micro-level. These findings enhance our understanding about the structure stability of the black soils based on the rheological parameters via rheometer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects)

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18 pages, 3886 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Combined Application of Desulfurization Gypsum and Soil Amendment KIA on Saline-Alkali Soil Improvement

by Qinghong Xiao, Wei Wei, Hao Wu, Kunyue Wu, Xue Gong, Meng Li, Shiwen Wang and Lina Yin

Agronomy 2025, 15(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15010053 - 28 Dec 2024

Viewed by 912

Abstract

Saline-alkali soil imposes severe adverse effects on soil utilization and agriculture production worldwide. Amelioration of saline-alkali soil is crucial to ensure global food security and promote sustainable agricultural development. Here, the effects of the combined application of soil amendment desulfurization gypsum (G) and KIA (K, an industrial organic by-product) on soil improvement and plant growth were investigated. Two experiments, a soil column leaching test and a pot experiment for plant growth, were carried out. The results showed that the combined application of G and K reduced soil pH significantly. Although the soil Na⁺ contents had no change in the combined treatments, the K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ contents were significantly higher, and the HCO₃⁻ and Cl⁻ contents were significantly lower, compared to the control. Furthermore, maize plants exhibited a higher photosynthetic rate and greater dry weight in the combined treatments. Additionally, after plant growth, the soil enzyme activities increased. These results showed that the combined application of G and K could have a more favorable impact on soil improvement by reducing soil pH, enhancing soil ion exchange, increasing soil nutrient contents, and promoting plant growth. Our study suggests that KIA is an effective and eco-friendly soil amendment for improving saline-alkali soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects)

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18 pages, 7464 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Nitrogen Dynamics: Effects of Maize Straw Incorporation Under Contrasting Nitrogen Fertilization Levels

by Zhengyu Wang, Jiaxin Shang, Xuelian Wang, Rongqi Ye, Dan Zhao, Xiangyu Li, Yadong Yang, Hongyu Zhang, Xiangwei Gong, Ying Jiang and Hua Qi

Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2996; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122996 - 16 Dec 2024

Viewed by 846

Abstract

Straw is widely incorporated into conservation agriculture around the world. However, its effects on greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and nitrogen dynamics under soils formed by the long-term application of different amounts of nitrogen (N) fertilizer are still unclear. An incubation experiment was conducted on soils collected from a field study after 6 years of contrasting N fertilization of 0 (low N), 187 (medium N), and 337 kg N ha⁻¹ (high N), with and without maize straw. Straw amendment significantly stimulated both nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes (p < 0.05), and increased cumulative emissions by 0.8 and 19.0 times on average compared to those without straw incorporation. Medium-N soil observably weakened N₂O emissions (23.8 μg kg⁻¹) compared to high-N soil (162.7 μg kg⁻¹), and increased CO₂ emissions (1.9 g kg⁻¹) compared to low-N soils (2.3 g kg⁻¹) with straw amendment. Soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N invariably increased with rising soil N level, whereas straw promoted the turnover of mineral N by enhancing soil N fixation capacity. From the first day until the end of incubation, NH₄⁺-N decreased by 79.0% and 24.7%, while NO₃⁻-N showed a decrease of 58.8% or an increase of 75.2%, depending on whether straw was amended or not, respectively. Moreover, partial least squares path modeling and random forest mean predictor importance were used to find that straw affected GHGs by altering the N turnover capacity. Straw amendment increased GHGs and diminished the risk of losing mineral N by enhancing its turnover. Combining straw with medium-N soil could mitigate the greenhouse effect and improve the N and carbon (C) balance in farming systems compared to low- and high-N soils. This is recommended as a farmland management strategy in Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects)

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17 pages, 2260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of a Single Lignite Humic Acid Application on Soil Properties and Microbial Dynamics in Aeolian Sandy Soils: A Fourth-Year Study in Semi-Arid Inner Mongolia

by Lei Zhou, Junqi Chu, Yufen Zhang, Qi Wang, Yanting Liu and Baoping Zhao

Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2581; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112581 - 1 Nov 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1340

Abstract

Humic acid (HA) is considered a promising soil amendment for improving soil fertility. However, the effects of HA application on the microbial community, especially in aeolian sandy soils of semi-arid regions, remain insufficiently elucidated. To address this gap, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the changes in soil properties, bacterial and fungal diversity, and community structure in a buckwheat field in the fourth year after a single application of lignite humic acid (L-HA) at 0 (L-HA0), 2 (L-HA1), 4 (L-HA2), and 6 (L-HA3) ton·ha⁻¹ in an aeolian sandy soil in Inner Mongolia, China. The results demonstrated that four years after L-HA application, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in soil pH, accompanied by an increase in soil water content and nutrient levels, including organic matter and total N, available P, and K. Additionally, the application of L-HA enhanced microbial biomass C and N and stimulated enzyme activities, such as urease and invertase, with these effects being more pronounced at higher application rates (L-HA2 and L-HA3). However, HA addition did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect soil microbial biomass P or alkaline phosphatase activity. The L-HA amendment enhanced the α-diversity indices of soil bacteria but did not significantly (p < 0.05) affect soil fungal diversity. The addition of L-HA induced significant changes in the composition of the soil microbial community at both the phylum and genus levels, with significant variability in microbial responses observed across the different L-HA application rates. The incorporation of L-HA notably enriched the composition of bacterial and fungal communities at the phylum level, particularly those involved in carbon cycling, including the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteriota and the fungal phyla Ascomycota and Rozellomycota. At the genus level, higher L-HA application rates, specifically L-HA2 and L-HA3, exerted statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects on most bacterial and fungal genera. Specifically, these treatments increased the abundance of bacterial genera, such as Rokubacterium and fungal genera, including Plectosphaerella, Tausonia, Talaromyces, and Clonostachys. Conversely, the relative abundance of the bacterial genera Vicinamibacter and Subgroup_7, as well as the fungal genus Niesslia, was significantly reduced. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that bacterial community compositions were closely associated with soil parameters, such as available P (AP), microbial biomass carbon (SMC), microbial biomass nitrogen (SMN), microbial biomass phosphorus (SMP), and invertase, while all tested soil parameters, except for alkaline phosphatase, significantly influenced the fungal community structure. Given that the changes in these soil parameters were highly correlated with the amounts of L-HA addition, this suggests that the impacts of long-term L-HA amendment on the soil bacterial and fungal communities were linked to alterations in soil physicochemical and biological properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects)

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Review

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13 pages, 1238 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Biochar on Gaseous Carbon and Nitrogen Emissions in Paddy Fields: A Review

by Yidi Sun, Xuetao Wang, Chenxia Yang, Xiaoping Xin, Junlin Zheng, Tao Zong and Chaoyin Dou

Agronomy 2024, 14(7), 1461; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071461 - 5 Jul 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1292

Abstract

The paddy field is a major source of gaseous carbon and nitrogen emissions, and reducing these emissions is of great significance for mitigating greenhouse effects and non-point source pollution in farmland. Biochar, derived from agricultural waste, possesses a stable structure, large specific surface area, abundant pore structures, and surface functional groups. These characteristics could enhance soil physicochemical properties and microbial activity, thereby facilitating the dual goals of increasing crop yield and reducing emissions. Based on numerous studies, this review summarizes the effects of biochar on the emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and ammonia volatilization (NH₃), as well as on global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI). It elucidates the mechanism of emission reduction by biochar amendment from the perspective of carbon and nitrogen conversion processes and soil physicochemical and biological properties. Numerous studies showed the application of 5~40 t ha⁻¹ biochar reduced CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ emissions by 1.64~89.6%, 8.6~89.6%, 10~90%, and 12.27~53%, respectively. A small number of studies found that the application of 5~48 t ha⁻¹ biochar increased CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and NH₃ emissions by 12~37%, 19.85~176%, 13~84.23%, and 5.47~70.9%, respectively. Most scholars have found that biochar has varying degrees of emission reduction capabilities in different parts of the world. Therefore, future research directions have been suggested for utilizing biochar to reduce carbon and nitrogen emissions in paddy fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Organic Amendments to Low-Fertility Soils: Current Status and Future Prospects)

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