Soil Organic Matter and Humin: Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Protection
A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 12
Special Issue Editors
Interests: phosphorus sorption and behaviour in soil; organic and mineral soil colloids in sorption processes; role and transformations of soil organic matter in changing environmental conditions; soil chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: plant physiology; photosynthesis; abiotic stress; adaptations of plants to the low availability and poor mobility of soil phosphorus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: the retention properties of mineral and organic soils in terms of their protection; water repellence and the sorption of organic and mineral soils; the spatial variability of selected soil properties; biotic and abiotic risk factors in soil protection; forest fires, soil contamination with crude oil and soil CO2 emissions; the analysis of changes in ecosystem services as a tool for environmental management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Soil organic matter (SOM), especially its most recalcitrant fraction, humin, has long been recognized as a cornerstone of maintaining soil health and fertility, supporting plant productivity, and regulating ecosystem functions and stability. Historically, SOM has been studied for its role in nutrient retention and soil structure, but its global importance as a major terrestrial carbon pool and buffer against degradation is now fully recognized. Concerns about SOM loss through intensive agriculture and climate-driven mineralisation underscore the need for sustainable management strategies and, as global environmental challenges intensify, SOM has re-emerged as a crucial component in addressing soil degradation, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem resilience. Organic soils, particularly in peatlands and forest systems, represent massive global carbon pools, and their stability is key to mitigating climate change.
The aim of this Special Issue is to advance our understanding of SOM and humin in the context of sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. We seek to integrate insights across disciplines—soil chemistry, plant–soil interactions, and landscape ecology—to highlight the role of SOM in maintaining plant productivity, regulating mineralisation processes, and preserving ecologically important areas.
We will focus on SOM degradation, mineralisation processes, and strategies to enhance SOM stability under different land use and climate regimes. Special concern will be given to innovative uses of organic residues, composts, and recycled biomass as tools to rebuild SOM stocks and support circular bioeconomy principles.
We welcome original research and reviews on the following topics:
- SOM and humin structure, dynamics, and stabilization mechanisms;
- The role of SOM in supporting plant growth and soil health;
- SOM mineralisation under different land uses and climatic conditions;
- SOM degradation and mineralisation pathways;
- Plant-mediated SOM processes;
- Organic waste reuse to restore SOM;
- SOM strategies in climate-resilient agriculture and conservation areas;
- Organic soil management and protection in agroecosystems and protected areas;
- Innovations in SOM monitoring and modelling at multiple spatial scales.
This Special Issue will foster interdisciplinary dialogue and practical solutions for carbon-smart, resilient land management.
Dr. Magdalena Dębicka
Dr. Piotr Stępień
Dr. Edyta Hewelke
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. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 organic matter (SOM)
- humic soil
- soil humus
- soil humin
- soil health
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