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Land
Special Issues
Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC
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Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 June 2025 | Viewed by 3749

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Lúcia Barão

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c), University of Lisbon, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: environment; soil science; nutrient cycles; silicon cycle; biogeochemistry; agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is a key resource for food production, while also providing other important regulating and cultural ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, pest and diseases control, flood control, carbon storage and water recycling, and aesthetic and heritage values, among others.

The land use and land cover (LULC) currently adopted worldwide significantly affects the soil biogeochemical properties, inducing changes in micro, meso, and macro fauna, soil pH, texture, water retention capacity, electrical conductivity, mineralogy, and organic matter content. Such alterations, although conducted under a potential benefit, will impact the soil functioning capacity. With time, the ability of soil to store carbon, store water and nutrients, maintain biodiversity, and produce biomass may become limited, jeopardising the ecosystem service potential of this resource. In this context, assessing the ecological risk associated with different LULC is crucial for understanding and quantifying the losses of soil ecosystem services at local, regional, and global scales, as well as its social and economical impacts on these scales.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to give insights about (1) both existing and new methodologies, their benefits and applicability to successfully quantify the soil ecological risk assessment (soil functions, soil threats, and soil ecosystem services), and (2) the soil ecological risk associated with different LULC for different soil types, parent materials, and geographical and climate conditions.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Existing methods for quantifying soil ecological risk assessment, their benefit, limitations, and application ranges when used due to LULC impacts.
  • New methods developed to assess the soil ecological risk associated with LULC and their link to soil functions and soil ecosystem services.
  • Soil ecological risk assessments due to different LULC and their impacts.
  • Soil ecological risk assessment and its link to economical and social impacts.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Lúcia Barão
Guest Editor

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. Land 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

  • risk assessment
  • ecosystem services
  • soil functioning
  • land use/land cover
  • soil threats

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 8497 KiB  
Article
Estimating the Economic Cost of Land Degradation and Desertification in Morocco
by Anas Laamouri and Abdellatif Khattabi
Land 2025, 14(4), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040837 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 574
Abstract
Desertification affects over 90% of Moroccan territory, leading to soil degradation that reduces agricultural productivity, diminishes biodiversity, and alters environmental functions. This study estimates the total economic cost of desertification in Morocco using a zonal approach based on regional sensitivity. The methodology includes [...] Read more.
Desertification affects over 90% of Moroccan territory, leading to soil degradation that reduces agricultural productivity, diminishes biodiversity, and alters environmental functions. This study estimates the total economic cost of desertification in Morocco using a zonal approach based on regional sensitivity. The methodology includes two stages: quantifying productivity losses from water and wind erosion, salinization, overgrazing, silting of dams, carbon storage loss, and land-use changes; and monetizing impacts using methods such as productivity change, replacement cost, and the social cost of carbon. The total cost is estimated at USD 2.1 billion per year, with 78.02% from agricultural and grazing land productivity losses, 2.95% from dam silting, 18.47% from carbon storage loss, and 0.56% from land-use changes. These findings underscore the urgency of public policies, including land use planning, sustainable agriculture, irrigation modernization, and community engagement. Drawing on successful initiatives in the MENA region and globally, Morocco can mitigate desertification’s impacts and foster sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC)
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19 pages, 8529 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Evolution of Water-Regulating Ecosystem Services Values in Morocco’s Protected Areas: A Case Study of Ifrane National Park
by Oumayma Sadgui, Abdellatif Khattabi and Zouhir Dichane
Land 2025, 14(4), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040831 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
Water-Regulating Ecosystem Services (WRES) play a crucial role in maintaining water quality and preventing soil erosion, particularly in watershed areas that are vulnerable to Land Use Land Cover Changes (LULCC) and climate change. This study focuses on the Upper Beht Watershed, the most [...] Read more.
Water-Regulating Ecosystem Services (WRES) play a crucial role in maintaining water quality and preventing soil erosion, particularly in watershed areas that are vulnerable to Land Use Land Cover Changes (LULCC) and climate change. This study focuses on the Upper Beht Watershed, the most ecologically significant basin of the Ifrane National Park (INP). The main objective is to understand how WRES values respond to the challenges posed by grasslands degradation, agricultural intensification, and urban expansion before and after the park’s creation. In this research, we first analyzed historical Land Use Land Cover (LULC) data from 1992 to 2022 using Google Earth Engine platform. We then employed the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST 3.10.2) models to quantify and map the impacts of ongoing LULCC on the watershed’s capacity to retain sediments and nutrients. Finally, we used the damage costs avoided method for economic assessment of WRES. Our findings demonstrate a notable improvement in the economic value of WRES following the establishment of the park, reaching USD 10,000 per year. In contrast, prior to its creation, this service experienced a decline of USD −7000 per year. This positive trend can be attributed to the expansion of forest cover in areas prioritized for reforestation and conservation interventions. The study highlights the critical importance of continuous WRES monitoring, providing park managers with robust data to advocate for sustained conservation efforts and increased investment in restoration initiatives within protected areas. Moreover, the findings can be used to raise awareness among local communities and encourage their active engagement in sustainable development initiatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC)
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19 pages, 5520 KiB  
Article
Effects of Management Practices on Soil Microbial Diversity and Structure on Eucalyptus Plantations
by Yuanyuan Xue, Wei Liu, Qi Feng, Jutao Zhang, Lingge Wang, Zexia Chen, Xuejiao Li and Meng Zhu
Land 2025, 14(4), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040692 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 201
Abstract
Soil microbes are critical in regulating the growth and function of eucalyptus plantations. The mechanisms underlying soil microbial communities’ response to different eucalyptus plantation management practices remain elusive. In this study, we compiled datasets containing 2744 observations across global eucalyptus-planted regions and analyzed [...] Read more.
Soil microbes are critical in regulating the growth and function of eucalyptus plantations. The mechanisms underlying soil microbial communities’ response to different eucalyptus plantation management practices remain elusive. In this study, we compiled datasets containing 2744 observations across global eucalyptus-planted regions and analyzed the effects of five management practices (i.e., burning, residual removal, fertilization, mixed planting, and controlling planting years) on soil microbial biomass, diversity, and structures. Our results showed that fungal community alpha diversity responds more sensitively to management practices than bacterial community alpha diversity on eucalyptus plantations. Although the implementation of management practices significantly increased the content of most soil nutrients and microbial biomass elements (excluding burning), these practices did not necessarily improve soil microbial biomass and diversity, particularly among fungal communities. Burning, fertilization, and mixing eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing species significantly decreased the diversity of fungal communities, which were mainly impacted by soil organic carbon and total potassium content. Compared to the four other management practices, mixing eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing species favored the growth of bacterial communities and the storage of microbial biomass nitrogen, making it the most effective management practice. However, attention should also be paid to the protection of fungal communities. In addition, these management practices significantly changed microbial community structures, which were positively correlated with the microbial biomass elements carbon and nitrogen and, to a lesser extent, soil microbial alpha diversity. Our results highlight the importance of prioritizing mixing eucalyptus with nitrogen-fixing species as a management practice and safeguarding fungal community diversity during its implementation and suggest that microbial diversity development associated with soil organic carbon and potassium contents should be given priority in eucalyptus plantation management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC)
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20 pages, 6874 KiB  
Article
Edaphic Diversity, Polychemical Soil Status of the Prinevskaya Lowland and Prospects for Soils Use
by Ekaterina Yu. Chebykina, Timur I. Nizamutdinov, Evgeny V. Abakumov and Natalia V. Dinkelaker
Land 2025, 14(1), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010186 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 724
Abstract
There will be a significant increase in anthropogenic load on the soils of the Prinevskaya lowland in the nearest decade due to the fact that a significant territory is occupied by St. Petersburg. The main objective is a study of the sanitary-hygienic state [...] Read more.
There will be a significant increase in anthropogenic load on the soils of the Prinevskaya lowland in the nearest decade due to the fact that a significant territory is occupied by St. Petersburg. The main objective is a study of the sanitary-hygienic state and soil diversity of the Prinevskaya lowland in case of a high degree of agricultural soil development there and the significant role of the lithological factor. Soils were studied at the following land use and land cover: agricultural and fallow soils of agrolandscapes; forest soils; and soils of industrial areas. Studies were carried out using morphological descriptions and analyses of chemical, physical, and biological properties. The most vulnerable land use are forest and agricultural and fallow zones, where active accumulation of priority toxicants of anthropogenic origin can occur. Geochemical peculiarities of studied soils are deficit of Mn, Cu, Mo, and Zn in soil-forming rock materials and accumulation of strontium and lead in arable horizons. The soils examined show minimal contamination with trace elements, as verified by a range of individual and combined ecotoxicological indicators. Urban development planning, particularly in St. Petersburg, should prioritize the preservation of biodiversity and soil resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC)
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15 pages, 1415 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Soil Organic Matter and Its Microbial Role in Selected Locations in the South Bohemia Region (Czech Republic)
by David Kabelka, Petr Konvalina, Marek Kopecký, Eva Klenotová and Jaroslav Šíma
Land 2025, 14(1), 183; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010183 - 17 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1060
Abstract
Organic matter has a very important function in soil, without which, soil formation processes cannot take place properly. It can be divided and classified based on several aspects; the most general division is between the living and non-living parts of organic matter. The [...] Read more.
Organic matter has a very important function in soil, without which, soil formation processes cannot take place properly. It can be divided and classified based on several aspects; the most general division is between the living and non-living parts of organic matter. The results presented in this paper specifically refer to the living microbial part of organic matter. This research was carried out in the years 2021–2024 in the South Bohemia region located in the Czech Republic. Two types of land use (four permanent grassland areas, two forest areas) were evaluated. Based on laboratory soil analyses, some significant dependencies were found. For example, in grasslands with statistically identical pH, there was a dependence (p-value 0.05) between soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon of microbial biomass (MBC) and microbial basal respiration (MBR). Additionally, coniferous forest experimental locations had a lower pH, which, in turn, slowed the activity of microorganisms and promoted the accumulation of SOC in the soil. The results from this experiment support the current knowledge of organic matter and are important for a better understanding of the soil organic matter cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecological Risk Assessment Based on LULC)
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