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Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition

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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: 28 August 2026 | Viewed by 4964

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Eugenija Bakšienė

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Voke Branch of Institute of Agriculture of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Žalioji a. 2, LT 02232 Vilnius, Lithuania
Interests: ecology; organic fertilizers; soil science; agrochemistry; production of agricultural and bioenergy crops; plants phenological observations
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Prof. Dr. José De la Rosa

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Guest Editor

Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IRNAS-CSIC), Reina Mercedes Av. 10, 41012 Seville, Spain
Interests: climate and environment; carbon sequestration; soil quality; soil organic matter; soil amendments; biochar; analytical and applied pyrolysis
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Dr. Vaida Steponavičienė

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Guest Editor

Bioeconomy Research Institute, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaičio Street 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania
Interests: tillage systems; agroecosystem sustainability; CO₂ emissions
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the Special Issue “Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy/special_issues/I27KM430G7) in Agronomy, we are pleased to announce the launch of a second edition of this Special Issue.

Healthy soil is the foundation of sustainable and productive agroecosystems. The soil must perform a variety of agronomic and ecosystem functions, support biological productivity, maintain environmental quality and promote plant and animal health.

Anthropogenic factors, including the use of agricultural technologies and systems, have a significant impact on soil health, environmental protection and climate change. As civilization grows, waste accumulates, and this greatly affects the quality of the environment. Therefore, waste is increasingly used to fertilize the soil, which is not always beneficial. In order to reduce the negative impacts of this practice, greater attention should be paid to the interaction between growing plants and various physicochemical and biological soil properties.

The collection of specific scientific information in this Special Issue will address gaps in our knowledge and enhance our understanding of this problem as a whole. This Special Issue therefore welcomes the submission of original research (full articles or brief reports), reviews and opinions regarding the properties of soil in changing conditions.

Dr. Eugenija Bakšienė
Prof. Dr. José De la Rosa
Dr. Vaida Steponavičienė
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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 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 health
properties
environment

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 4324 KB

Open AccessArticle

Rhizosphere Microbiota Shifts Correlate with Nutrient Composition of Soils and Fruit Metabolite Content in Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Under Different Cultivation Systems

by Mengjiao Wang, Duyen Bui, Yinku Liang and Zhimin Xu

Agronomy 2026, 16(6), 652; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16060652 - 20 Mar 2026

Viewed by 288

Abstract

This study investigated highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) plants cultivated in distinct cultivation systems (greenhouse vs. open field) to determine if they exhibited significant differences in rhizosphere microbiota, soil nutrient profiles, and fruit metabolites. A clear metabolic trade-off was observed: open-field cultivation significantly enhanced fruit secondary metabolites, including anthocyanins (9.5% higher), flavonoids (56.0% higher), and ascorbic acid (15.6% higher). In contrast, greenhouse fruits were enriched in primary metabolites such as water-soluble sugars (28.3% higher) and total organic acids (30.2% higher) (p < 0.01 for all comparisons). These divergent metabolite profiles were correlated with distinct rhizosphere microenvironments. The open field soil exhibited higher organic carbon and microbial α-diversity, while the greenhouse soil was characterized by a niche with high availability of cations, lower pH, higher electrical conductivity, and elevated levels of exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and available potassium. These contrasting niches were correlated with shifts in the rhizosphere microbiota assembly. Notably, the greenhouse soil was associated with a higher relative abundance of copiotrophic bacterial taxa such as Streptomyces and Bacillus, whose abundances showed strong positive correlations with cation availability (e.g., Streptomyces vs. Ca²⁺, correlation coefficient r = 0.827, p < 0.01). Multivariate analysis integrated these patterns, revealing that soil cations were negatively correlated with fruit antioxidants but positively linked to sugars and acids. This correlative study suggests that cultivation systems are strongly associated with fruit quality, potentially through their association with functionally specific rhizosphere microbiota that covaries with a shift in the plant’s resource allocation between growth (primary metabolism) and defense (secondary metabolism). Our findings provide an integrative framework for understanding how agricultural practices are associated with the soil–plant–microbe continuum to correlate with crop quality in perennial systems and generate testable hypotheses for future mechanistic research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition)

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24 pages, 5923 KB

Open AccessArticle

UAV-Based Soil Erosion Assessment in Mediterranean Agricultural Orchards

by Tijs de Pagter, João Nuno Gomes Vicente Canedo, Anton Pijl, Luisa Coelho, João Pedro Nunes and Sergio Prats

Agronomy 2026, 16(6), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16060645 - 19 Mar 2026

Viewed by 299

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery has become an important tool for erosion monitoring, but little is known about its application in Mediterranean agricultural systems such as vineyards and olive groves. In this study, drone flights were conducted in vineyards and olive groves where mulch and biochar treatments had been applied. Digital terrain models (DTMs) and orthomosaics were constructed using a photogrammetry workflow, and model error was determined via global positioning system (GPS) transects. Erosion was assessed using Digital elevation models of Difference (DoD) and compared with field-based erosion plot measurements. Explanatory variables for erosion (soil roughness, slope length, steepness, vegetation cover) were derived from DTMs and orthomosaics and were evaluated in a multiple linear regression model. Although direct measurement of erosion from the DoDs was difficult, this was primarily influenced by the unexpectedly low erosion rates during the study period, and the high root mean square error (RMSE) of the DTMs. Significant differences in DTM-derived variables were found between study areas, and especially between areas with organic and integrated management, even though treatments showed similar patterns. The multiple linear regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power, accounting for a large part of the variation in measured erosion using the UAV-derived variables (R² = 0.81). Slope and slope length were the most important predictors of erosion together with the interaction between these two variables. The results suggest that soil erosion in the study areas was mostly determined by topographic and management factors, rather than the applied treatments. This study highlights the value of UAV imagery in advancing the understanding of erosion processes in Mediterranean agricultural systems, while also identifying the challenge of accurately measuring erosion from DoDs under conditions of low erosion rates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 6126 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Agricultural Practices for Managing Rice Crops to Minimize Environmental Contamination from the Pesticide Imazamox

by Antonio López-Piñeiro, Luis Vicente, Manuel Pérez, Damián Fernández-Rodríguez and David Peña

Agronomy 2026, 16(6), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16060609 - 12 Mar 2026

Viewed by 344

Abstract

Weed management is crucial for the sustainable production of rice (Oryza sativa L.), although herbicides such as Imazamox (IZX) can persist in soils, posing risks to soils and water resources. This two-year study evaluated the effects of soil physicochemical properties under different irrigation and tillage practices, with and without compost derived from olive mill waste, on IZX behavior. The treatments implemented were as follows: no-tillage and sprinkler (NT-S), conventional tillage and sprinkler (T-S), conventional tillage and flooding (T-F), and the corresponding regimes with compost amendment (NT-SC, T-SC, and T-FC). Sorption–desorption, dissipation, and leaching of the herbicide were assessed. The IZX adsorption was lower under soil collected from sprinkler irrigation, especially in NT-S, while compost reduced the adsorption under T-SC and T-FC. Dissipation was faster in NT-S and T-S soils, in which the half-life of IZX declined up to 30% relative to T-F. Furthermore, compost further accelerated herbicide dissipation, correlating with higher organic carbon content and microbial activity. The IZX losses via leaching were significantly reduced in soils irrigated by sprinkler in combination with compost, with values ≤ 48.5% of the IZX applied. These results indicate that the irrigation regime and organic amendment strongly influence soil physicochemical properties, then influencing the environmental fate of IZX. Integrated management using sprinkler irrigation and compost can mitigate IZX persistence and leaching, improve soil health, and reduce the risk of water contamination, representing a sustainable strategy for rice cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition)

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24 pages, 7207 KB

Open AccessArticle

Continental Patterns of Electrical Conductivity and Soil Aggregates in European Wheat Agroecosystems

by Manuel Conde-Cid, Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo, Antía Gómez-Armesto, José Ángel Cid-Fernández, Paula Pérez-Rodríguez, Daniel Arenas-Lago, Manuel Arias-Estévez, Irene Ollio, Eva Lloret, Silvia Martínez-Martínez, Raúl Zornoza, Lieven Waeyenberge, Stefan Schrader, Kristian Koefoed Brandt, Merrit Shanskiy, Krista Peltoniemi and David Fernández-Calviño

Agronomy 2026, 16(5), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16050561 - 3 Mar 2026

Viewed by 617

Abstract

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) and aggregate-size distribution are critical indicators of soil salinity risk, structural integrity, and overall soil health. We assessed the status of these properties in 188 wheat plots across nine European pedoclimatic zones to quantify the influence of climate and agricultural management. Most soils (~88%) were non-saline, 9% slightly saline, and 3% moderately saline, with the highest salinity in Mediterranean regions. EC was generally lower under organic management, reflecting higher soil organic carbon, improved porosity, and enhanced cation retention. Soils were dominated by small macroaggregates (250–2000 µm) and large microaggregates (53–250 µm), together accounting for an average of 73% of total aggregates. Climate was the primary determinant of both EC and aggregate distribution, with drier and warmer conditions promoting salinization and smaller aggregate sizes, whereas wetter conditions favored macroaggregate formation. Agricultural management had a secondary but context-dependent effect, particularly on soil aggregation, with organic farming, integrated organomineral fertilization, crop residue incorporation, and legume rotations enhancing macroaggregate formation, especially in low-SOC soils. These results indicate that pedoclimatic conditions largely shape soil salinity and structure, but adopting targeted, site-specific management practices can sustain soil health and mitigate risks related to salinity and structure, particularly under projected climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 1972 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Insights on Carbon Sequestration and Yield Improvement in Oat Fields with 30% Organic Nitrogen Substitution in the Tibetan Plateau

by Lianxue Duan, Zeliang Ju, Xiang Ma, Jing Pan, Wenting Ma and Zhifeng Jia

Agronomy 2026, 16(2), 184; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16020184 - 12 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 413

Abstract

To evaluate the optimal substitution ratio of organic fertilizer for chemical nitrogen fertilizer and its underlying mechanisms, a pot experiment was conducted in the rhizosphere soil of oat (Avena sativa) on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Five treatments were established: CK (control), T1 (chemical fertilizer alone), T2 (100% organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen fertilizer), T3 (30% organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen fertilizer), and T4 (60% organic fertilizer substitution for chemical nitrogen fertilizer). We analyzed soil carbon fractions, microbial community structure, carbon-cycling enzyme activities, and yield responses and applied partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to identify key regulatory pathways. The results showed that 30% organic substitution (T3) was associated with optimized soil carbon pools, improved microbial community composition, and enhanced carbon-cycling enzyme activities, while reducing the abundance of potentially harmful fungi. Structural equation modeling indicated that β-glucosidase activity and the relative abundance of Proteobacteria were the primary drivers of yield, together explaining 76% of its variation. The ecosystem multifunctionality index (EMF) was significantly and positively correlated with yield. In summary, under the conditions of this experiment, 30% organic fertilizer substitution achieved a favorable balance between soil ecological functions and crop yield, providing a valuable reference for sustainable nutrient management in oat production in high-altitude cold regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 2719 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Randomness in Data Partitioning and Its Impact on Digital Soil Mapping Accuracy: A Comparison of Cross-Validation and Split-Sample Approaches

by Dorijan Radočaj, Mladen Jurišić, Ivan Plaščak and Lucija Galić

Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2495; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112495 - 28 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1215

Abstract

Digital soil mapping has become increasingly important for large-scale soil organic carbon (SOC) assessments, yet the choice of accuracy assessment method significantly influences model performance interpretation. This study investigates the impact of cross-validation fold numbers on accuracy metrics and compares cross-validation with split-sample validation approaches in national-scale SOC mapping. Five machine learning algorithms (Random Forest, Cubist, Support Vector Regression, Bayesian Regularized Neural Networks, and ensemble modeling) were evaluated to predict SOC content across France (539,661 km²) and Czechia (78,873 km²) using 2731 and 445 soil samples, respectively. Environmental covariates included satellite imagery (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and MODIS), climate data (CHELSA), and topographic variables. Four cross-validation approaches (k = 2, 4, 5, 10) were utilized with 100 repetitions each and the results were compared with the existing literature using both cross-validation and split-sample methods. Ensemble models consistently produced the highest prediction accuracy and lowest variance per fold across all validation approaches. Higher fold numbers (k = 10) also produced higher accuracy estimates compared to lower folds (k = 2) and had the greatest value ranges of accuracy assessment metrics. This confirmed the observations from previous studies, in which split-sample validation reported higher R² values (0.10–0.90) compared to cross-validation studies (0.03–0.68), suggesting a strong effect of randomness in training and test data split in the split-sample approach. This suggests that k-fold cross-validation should preferably be used in reporting prediction accuracy in similar studies, with the split-sample approach being strongly affected by value properties from training and test data from particular splits used for validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Health and Properties in a Changing Environment—2nd Edition)

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