Physiological and Biochemical Properties of Forest Soils: Microbial, Nutrient and Structural Perspectives
A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Soil".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 165
Special Issue Editors
Interests: forest soil and ecology; litterfall production and decomposition; soil-plant-microbe interactions; nutrient dynamics in forest ecosystems; biogeochemical responses to canopy inputs; soil microbial biomass and microbial respiration; soil bacterial community composition; ecosystem-based forest soil indicators
Interests: soil biochemistry; soil biochemical responses to biochar application; sorption mechanisms and isotherm modeling in soil and environmental systems; soil and environmental chemistry; soil health
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forest soils are key regulators of ecosystem functions, including nutrient cycling, microbial activity, and plant productivity, and they are influenced by physiological and biochemical processes shaped by interactions among vegetation, climate, and topography.
This Special Issue aims to gather together high-quality studies on microbial, biochemical, and physiological processes in forest soils, and we particularly welcome contributions that address enzymatic activities, nutrient fluxes, microbial diversity, litter fall-driven nutrient dynamics, the effects of soil organic matter on soil microbial indices, and canopy-to-soil biogeochemical linkages.
Topics of interest include soil–plant–atmosphere interactions, the effects of forest management and climate change, and ecological and soil-based indicators for ecosystem planning. Contributions on diverse forest types and climate regions are encouraged.
This Special Issue supports the mission of Forests mission to promote interdisciplinary research across soil science, forest ecology, and ecosystem management. We welcome original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and case studies that enhance our understanding of forest soil function under both natural and anthropogenic conditions.
We encourage submissions on various forest types and climate zones, in the form of original research articles, reviews, and case studies. We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Soil biochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus);
- Microbial functional diversity and metagenomics;
- Soil–plant–microbe interactions in forest ecosystems;
- Soil enzymatic activities and indicators of soil health;
- The effects of forest management and climate change on soil function;
- Soil–plant–atmosphere interactions;
- Seasonal nutrient transfer from canopy to soil;
- Litter fall-driven nutrient dynamics in forest soils;
- Soil physiological responses to environmental stressors (e.g., salinity, drought, and nutrient imbalances);
- Biochar or other applications and their effects on forest soil structure and nutrient cycling;
- Ecological and soil-based indicators for ecosystem planning and monitoring.
Dr. Emre Babur
Dr. Ozlem Ustundag
Dr. Ekrem Ozlu
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. Forests 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
- forest soils
- soil physiology
- microbial ecology
- litterfall
- soil organic carbon
- nutrient dynamics
- soil–plant–climate interactions
- biogeochemical cycling
- soil enzymes
- forest canopy effects
- climate–soil feedbacks
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