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Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Soil Systems (ISSN 2571-8789).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 12676

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Dr. Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki

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Center of Technology Development, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas 96010-610, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil
Interests: soil physics; soil and water management and conservation; soil-plant relations; soil-machine relations; soil education
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue follows the publication of the first edition on “Research on Soil Management and Conservation”.

The soil is the base of a sustainable agricultural system; it is the key for food and energy production, a reservoir of water and nutrients, and a filter for water and contaminants. However, inadequate soil management may significantly negatively impact the environment, crop development and yield, natural resources such as air and water, and human and animal health. Soil management practices that favor soil and water conservation and the improvement of soil functions and structure are preferable. The diversity of soil uses and types, climate, relief, and origin material make the study of better soil management practices a worldwide challenge. Thus, we invite you to collaborate in this Special Issue to present your new findings on “Soil Management and Conservation”, addressing topics such as soil tillage, the influence of machinery on soil structure, erosion processes, control practices, the influence of plants on soil structure, soil fertility and biology improvement, techniques and practices to recover soil degradation and contamination, soil quality, soil health, soil management, and practices used for soil conservation and the improvement of soil structure. Additionally, strategies to avoid soil structure degradation, such as studies on precompression stress and the compression index, are welcome.

Dr. Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki
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. Soil Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1800 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 tillage
erosion and sediments
soil structure
soil conservation
no-tillage
soil compaction
soil structure–machine relationship
water and air fluxes in the soil
water retention
soil–plant relationship

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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8 pages, 210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Effects of Cover Crops and Tillage Management on Soil Physical Properties on Silt Loam Soil

by David Scott Patton, Vern Steven Green, Dennis Keith Morris and Calvin R. Shumway

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040122 - 26 Nov 2024

Viewed by 422

Abstract

Silt loam soils in the mid-southern United States are prone to soil erosion, crusting, and general soil degradation. A field experiment was established at three field sites in northeast Arkansas to evaluate the effect of cover crop and tillage management on cash crop yield and the physical properties of soil health, specifically infiltration rate and aggregate stability. Cover crop management included cereal rye, wheat and crimson clover, and a winter fallow. Tillage management included tillage and no-tillage. During the two-year study, yield was not significantly influenced by different tillage treatments. The cover crop treatment had greater yield than the no-cover crop treatment (5091 vs. 4264 kg ha⁻¹) at one site in one of the years. Water infiltration was significantly improved with cover crops compared to with no-cover crops, with a 52% and 64% increase at Walcott and Magnolia, respectively. Soil aggregate stability was significantly improved with no-tillage as compared with tillage in both years at Walcott, with a 16% and 58% increase in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Both cover crop and tillage management can have significant impacts on soil physical properties in a short period of time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

14 pages, 4518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Soil Texture on Carbon Stocks in Deciduous and Coniferous Forest Biomass in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Oka–Don Plain

by Sergey Sheshnitsan, Gennadiy Odnoralov, Elena Tikhonova, Nadezhda Gorbunova, Tatiana Sheshnitsan, Otilia Cristina Murariu and Gianluca Caruso

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040118 - 17 Nov 2024

Viewed by 569

Abstract

Forests play a crucial role in climate change mitigation by acting as a carbon sink. Understanding the influence of soil properties on carbon stocks in forests is essential for developing effective forest management strategies. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of soil texture on carbon stocks in the biomass of deciduous and coniferous tree stands of a forest-steppe ecotone. Soil samples were collected from 55 soil pits, and forest inventory data were obtained from eight permanent sample plots. The results showed that the distribution of mechanical particles in soils, particularly the stocks of silt and clay, significantly influenced the accumulation of carbon in tree stands. The stock of silt and clay was shown to increase with an increase in the diversity of tree species in forests and carbon stocks in forest stands. While soil organic carbon stocks did not exhibit a clear relationship with tree stand carbon stocks, a strong positive correlation (r = 0.802, p < 0.05) was found between the stocks of fine particles in the 2 m root-inhabited soil layer and the carbon stocks in tree biomass. The study provides a classification of forest types based on soil texture, which can facilitate differentiated forest management strategies for enhancing the carbon sequestration potential of forest ecosystems in the forest-steppe zone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 1210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cultivable Rhizosphere Microbial Community Structure in the Yaqui Valley’s Agroecosystems

by Valeria Valenzuela Ruiz, Edgar Cubedo-Ruiz, Maria Maldonado Vega, Jaime Garatuza Payan, Enrico Yépez González, Fannie Isela Parra Cota and Sergio de los Santos Villalobos

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040112 - 31 Oct 2024

Viewed by 734

Abstract

Agricultural practices affect the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil in agroecosystems. This study evaluated the impact of food production strategies on the rhizosphere microbial communities in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico, on key crops (Medicago sativa, Brassica oleracea, Asparagus officinalis, Phaseolus vulgaris, Citrus sinensis, Zea mays, Solanum tuberosum, Triticum durum, and an undisturbed native ecosystem). Soil samples were collected from 30 cm depths across one-hectare fields and analyzed for bulk density, pH, organic matter content, and electrical conductivity. Standardized methods were used for these analyses, along with microbial isolation through culturing, PCR amplification, and DNA sequencing for microbial identification. The use of synthetic fertilizers in the region was linked to increased salinity and soil compaction. Organic matter content was notably low at ≤1.4%, which negatively impacted microbial diversity. A total of 317 microbial strains were isolated, with bacteria comprising 73% and fungi 27%. Bacillus was the most dominant bacterial genus (41% of isolates), while Aspergillus was the most abundant fungal genus (31% of isolates). Crop-specific microbial strains were identified. This study provides the first detailed insight into how agricultural practices shape microbial communities in the Yaqui Valley’s major crops, highlighting the link between soil properties and microbial diversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 7106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lowland Integrated Crop–Livestock Systems with Grass Crops Increases Pore Connectivity and Permeability, Without Requiring Soil Tillage

by Jordano Vaz Ambus, Amanda Romeiro Alves, Douglas Leandro Scheid, Antonio Celso Dantas Antonino and José Miguel Reichert

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040111 - 30 Oct 2024

Viewed by 562

Abstract

Enhancing integrated crop–livestock systems (ICLSs) to improve land-use efficiency is a critical goal. Understanding the ICLS impacts on lowland soils is key to sustainable agricultural practices. Our objective was to test whether adopting ICLSs in lowlands improves soil structure, pore connectivity, and water and air permeability. This study was conducted in a long-term field trial, consisting of the following production systems with flood-irrigation rice: rice–fallow–rice, under conventional tillage and absence of grazing (RFR-ct); rice-grazed ryegrass–rice, under no-tillage and grazing (RGrR-nt); rice-grazed ryegrass–soybean-grazed ryegrass–rice, under no-tillage and grazing (RGrS/RGrR-nt); and a grazed pasture-consortium (winter) and succession field (summer), with no-till rice every 4 years (P4R-nt). Core samples were collected after grazing (October 2018), harvesting (March 2019), and grazing (October 2019). We analyzed soil air permeability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, pore connectivity by computed tomography. Soil tillage in a semi-direct system generated discontinuous porosity. Systems with intense trampling or less surface protection are affected by shearing on topsoil, reducing pore continuity. ICLSs are mainly composed of ryegrass–rice mitigated the harmful effects of trampling, and improved soil structure and functioning. Systems without soil tillage exhibited higher pore connectivity and pores with vertical orientation. Finally, soil tillage is not required to improve structural quality in ICLSs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 3976 KiB

Open AccessArticle

No-Till and Crop Rotation Are Promising Practices to Enhance Soil Health in Cotton-Producing Semiarid Regions: Insights from Citizen Science

by Tirhas A. Hailu, Pawan Devkota, Taiwo O. Osoko, Rakesh K. Singh, John C. Zak and Natasja van Gestel

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040108 - 21 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1059

Abstract

This on-farm study was conducted to assess the impact of six prevalent crop management practices adopted by growers in West Texas on various indicators of soil health. This study is a part of a citizen science project, where we collaborated with cotton growers who helped with standardized sample and data collection from 2017 to 2022. This project aimed to identify soil management practices that increase carbon sequestration, enhance biological activities, and improve overall soil health. We monitored soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM), inorganic nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N) and other exchangeable nutrients, and soil microbial abundances as obtained via fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in 85 fields, incorporating different management practices during the cotton growing season. In our study, volumetric moisture content (VWC) was increased by no-till, irrigation, and crop rotation, but the addition of residue decreased VWC. No-till, irrigation, and crop rotation increased SOM, but a cover crop decreased SOM. No-till and residue retention also increased microbial biomass carbon (MBC). Tillage, irrigation, and crop rotation influenced the abundance of the main microbial groups, including bacterial, fungi, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Additionally, water content, SOM, and microbial abundances are correlated with clay percentage. Our results indicate that no-till and crop rotation are the two most crucial soil management approaches for sustainable soil health. As such, implementing both no-till and crop rotation in the cropping systems has the most promising potential to increase the soil resilience in dryland cotton production in semiarid regions, thereby helping growers to maintain cotton production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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23 pages, 4101 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Edaphic Bioindicators to Mitigate Environmental Impact and Improve Agricultural Research and Training

by Ana Cano-Ortiz, José Carlos Piñar Fuentes, Juan Peña-Martínez and Eusebio Cano

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040107 - 18 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1264

Abstract

The world is currently experiencing unsustainable development, which poses significant risks to global society. In response, there is a growing advocacy for sustainable development across all sectors, driven by social resilience. This shift is fostering substantial socio-environmental tensions. However, the combined power of scientific research and social education has the potential to reverse this trend. Transitioning from an unsustainable territorial model to a sustainable one is both feasible and economically profitable. This transition can be achieved through knowledge of soil bioindicators, which provide valuable information about soil nutrient content. By understanding these indicators, nutrient inputs can be tailored, reducing or eliminating pollutants such as excessive fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Training experts and raising social awareness through education on new research are essential steps in this process. For decades, it has been recognized that globalization, industrialization, and population growth have driven unsustainable development, leading to degraded agroecosystems. To address this issue, government institutions are promoting sustainability through ecological agriculture and CO₂ reduction, both of which can be supported by the use of soil bioindicators. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 3104 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Residue Addition Can Mitigate Soil Health Challenges with Climate Change in Drylands: Insights from a Field Warming Experiment in Semi-Arid Texas

by Pawan Devkota, Rakesh K. Singh, Nicholas G. Smith, Lindsey C. Slaughter and Natasja van Gestel

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040102 - 24 Sep 2024

Viewed by 865

Abstract

Texas cotton production is facing challenges from increased temperatures and extended droughts. We sought to determine whether applying a multi-species grass mulch on the surface of cotton fields in a semiarid region would mitigate some of the negative effects of climate change. We used open-top chambers (OTCs) to mimic climate warming and compared whether the effects of residue addition were similar between dryland and irrigated cotton fields located in the High Plains region of Texas during the summer of 2021. The OTCs raised the average air temperature by 2 °C. Under experimental warming, residue addition increased moisture content in non-irrigated (i.e., dryland) soils (+9.2%) and reduced the daily temperature range (by −1.4 °C) relative to uncovered soils. Furthermore, when pooled across irrigation and warming treatments, the addition of residue increased microbial biomass, soil respiration (+78.2%), and cotton yield (+15.2%) relative to uncovered soils. OTCs further enhanced the residue effects on microbial biomass by 34.9%. We also observed higher soil organic matter, microbial biomass, cotton biomass, and yield in irrigated fields compared to dryland, irrespective of residue addition. Our findings suggest that residue addition in dryland agriculture can mitigate the adverse effects of warming by stabilizing soil microclimates and promoting microbial growth and biomass by providing a more labile source of carbon, which, in turn, could boost the yield of cotton plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 8595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Vertical Distribution of Carbon and Nitrogen in Pastures Fertilized with Broiler Litter or Mineral Fertilizer with Two Drainage Classes

by Anish Subedi, Dorcas Franklin, Miguel Cabrera, Natalia Espinoza, Nandita Gaur, Dee Pederson, Lawton Stewart and Chad Westmoreland

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(3), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8030085 - 25 Jul 2024

Viewed by 768

Abstract

Nitrogen cycling in pasture soils differing in drainage characteristics and fertilization legacy needs more research to determine efficient nutrient management strategies. This study compared differences in nitrate (NO₃⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), inorganic N (IN = NO₃⁻ + NH₄⁺), potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), loss-on-ignition carbon (C), and soil pH in 10, 0.7 ha pastures in Eatonton, Georgia, historically fertilized with the same amount of N as either broiler litter (BL; >15 years, 6 pastures) or mineral fertilizer (Min; 4 pastures). We sampled to 90 cm (0–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–90 cm) on a 20 m grid. An analysis of variance indicated that below 5 cm BL pastures had significantly greater amounts of NO₃⁻, IN, PMN, and soil pH compared to Min pastures. Comparisons of drainage classes (well drained~WD, moderately well drained~MWD, and somewhat-poorly drained~SPD) for each BL and Min were analyzed using linear regression for C:IN, C:PMN, pH: NO₃⁻, and pH: NH₄⁺ with all depths combined. In MWD soils, BL had 0.1 and 0.2 mg N kg⁻¹ greater PMN and IN, respectively, for each unit increase in C. In WD soils NO₃⁻ decreased in BL by 7.4 and in Min by 12.1 mg N kg⁻¹, while in MWD soils, this level decreased in BL by 7.8 and in Min by 4.5 mg N kg⁻¹ for each pH unit. Five years after N fertilization stopped, BL soils have retained more inorganic N but are losing more NO₃⁻ at a greater rate in the MWD soils when all depths are considered. These losses are a combination of plant uptake, emissions, runoff and leaching. While more research is needed, these results strongly suggest the need to design N fertilization practices with drainage class and fertilization legacy in mind to improve N-use efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 1939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in the Composition of Soil Organic Matter after the Transformation of Natural Beech Stands into Spruce Monoculture

by Saven Thai, Lenka Pavlů, Petra Vokurková, Bunthorn Thet, Kateřina Vejvodová, Ondřej Drábek and Václav Tejnecký

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(3), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8030074 - 3 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1259

Abstract

The composition of soil organic matter is considered to have a key influence on C sequestration and global climate change and can be associated with changes in vegetation cover in the terrestrial ecosystem. Our study aimed to evaluate the soil chemical structures and various organic components from available or reactive to more stable forms in forest soils affected by acidification and after conversion from fairly close to natural beech (Fagus sylvatica) stands to a spruce (Picea abies) monoculture. Our results revealed that the beech stands had higher contents of dissolved organic carbon and low molecular mass organic acid compared to the spruce stands. The aliphatic CH groups within the soluble alkaline-extractable organic substance (AEOS) gradually disappeared with deeper soil horizons under both forest species, while the presence of aliphatic CH groups in the low-solubility AEOS was more pronounced in the A horizon under spruce and relatively increased with depth under beech stands. The carboxylic groups were more prevalent in deeper soil horizons, while polysaccharide chains and nitrogen functional groups decreased with depth under both forest stands but were more prevalent under beech than under spruce stands. These findings suggest that the stability of organic matter through the forest soil profiles increased due to the transformation of various organic compounds from litter to more stable organic matter with higher amounts of lignin components to greater amounts of carboxylic groups and aromatic groups in deeper soil horizons. Furthermore, a higher number of mobile components of soil organic matter and carboxylic acids, together with lower pH and cation exchange capacity under spruce, resulted in the leaching of nutrients, releasing risk elements into the soil solution and accelerating the podzolization process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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18 pages, 2159 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergistic Effects of Urea, Poultry Manure, and Zeolite on Wheat Growth and Yield

by Abdul Khaliq, Muhammad Shehzad, Mahwish Khan Huma, Majid Mahmood Tahir, Hafiz Muhammad Rashad Javeed, Muhammad Farhan Saeed, Aftab Jamal, Adil Mihoub, Emanuele Radicetti and Roberto Mancinelli

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010018 - 28 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2037

Abstract

The agricultural sector faces the dual challenge of enhancing crop productivity and mitigating environmental impacts. Optimizing nutrient management is vital for sustainable agriculture, particularly in sloping terrains like the Himalayan region, where damaged soils require restoration. This study explores the synergistic effects of urea, poultry manure, and zeolite on wheat growth and yield in degraded mountainous soils. A total of twelve treatments were implemented in a randomized complete block design, replicated three times. The treatments included a control (T1); urea nitrogen at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ (UN₁₂₀) (T2); poultry manure (PM) at 120 kg N ha⁻¹ (T3); zeolite-1 (Z1) at 5 t ha⁻¹ (T4); zeolite-2 (Z2) at 5 t ha⁻¹ (T5); UN₁₂₀ + Z1 (T6); PM + Z1 (T7); UN₁₂₀ + Z2 (T8); PM + Z2 (T9); ½ UN + ½ PM + Z1 (T10); ½ UN + ½ PM + Z2 (T11); and ½ UN + ½ PM + ½ Z1 + ½ Z2 (T12). The UN₁₂₀ treatment demonstrated significant improvements in wheat growth, with notable increases in shoot length (79.7%), shoot fresh weight (50.8%), root length (50.6%), chlorophyll content (53.6%), and leaf area (72.5%) compared to the control. Wheat yield and its components experienced significant improvements when treated with urea nitrogen (UN) and zeolites. Among these treatments, UN₁₂₀ exhibited the highest efficacy. Nutrient content analysis revealed substantial increases in shoot nitrogen (70.6%), phosphorus (33.3%), and potassium (15.6%) with UN₁₂₀ treatment compared to the control. The concoction of UN and PM with zeolites further enhanced nutrient levels. Integrating mineral nitrogen sources with organic amendments and zeolites proved effective in enhancing wheat productivity in degraded mountainous soils. Despite positive results, further research is essential for widespread recommendations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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Review

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22 pages, 3598 KiB

Open AccessReview

Strategies and Public Policies for Soil and Water Conservation and Food Production in Brazil

by Luis Eduardo Akiyoshi Sanches Suzuki, Helvio Debli Casalinho and Idel Cristiana Bigliardi Milani

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020045 - 15 Apr 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

There is an urgent demand to change our intensive crop production systems, replacing them with soil use and management systems that recover, preserve, or improve soil health and are environmentally sustainable, producing healthy and good-quality food. In this work, we compile and present strategies and public policies aimed toward soil and water conservation and food production in Brazil. The results presented may help Brazilian farmers adopt practices to recover, maintain, or improve soil health and politicians to create or modify public policies for healthy soil and food, without the necessity of increasing agricultural areas. Food insecurity was also addressed, with family farming playing an important role in food production and decreasing food insecurity. But these challenges need the combined efforts and engagement of the whole society. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Soil Management and Conservation: 2nd Edition)

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