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Soil Systems
Special Issues
Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes
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Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 19314

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Adilson Pacheco De Souza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Sinop 78557-287, MG, Brazil
Interests: agricultural sciences; environmental sciences; water and soil conservation; hydrology; environmental monitoring
Dr. Frederico Terra De Almeida

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Sinop 78557-287, MG, Brazil
Interests: water and soil engineering; water resources; erosion and sedimentation; hydrology; remote sensing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The conversion of natural ecosystems into agricultural production systems with different forms of soil management promote changes in their physical, chemical and biological properties and, consequently, in the various biophysical and/or biochemical processes that occur in soils. After changes in land use/land cover (LULC), the rational use of this finite natural resource (soil) must be guided by the search for technological alternatives that allow adequate management and, consequently, promote sustainable agriculture. Although many scientists have worked on related topics, more efforts are still needed to acquire detailed knowledge of soil use/management change and its effects on soil properties and processes.

In this Special Issue, we invite conceptual, empirical, review or exploratory papers that contribute to our understanding of the relationships between LULC, and soil proprieties and processes. Research themes may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Influences of changes in cover and management on physical soil properties;
  • Relationships between soil use/management with infiltration, surface runoff, erodibility and sediment production;
  • Losses of soil, water, nutrients and carbon (erosion) due to changes in soil cover and management;
  • Effects of different agricultural production systems on soil properties and processes;
  • Environmental applications involving soil properties and processes (modeling, new techniques, big data analysis).  

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Adilson Pacheco De Souza
Dr. Frederico Terra De Almeida
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. 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 management
  • water and soil engineering
  • sustainable agriculture
  • environmental sciences
  • knowledge, use and conservation of natural resources soil physical properties
  • soil degradation
  • soil management
  • water management
  • water and soil conservation
  • soil erosion
  • sustainable agriculture (cover crops, rotation crops, tillage)
  • land use and land cover (LULC)
  • integrated production systems

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 1311 KiB  
Article
Influence of Annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) as Cover Crop on Soil Water Dynamics in Fragipan Soils of Southern Illinois, USA
by Amitava Chatterjee, Dana L. Dinnes, Daniel C. Olk and Peter L. O’Brien
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040126 - 3 Dec 2024
Viewed by 423
Abstract
Fragipans are dense subsurface soil layers that severely restrict root penetration and water movement. The presence of shallow fragipan horizons limits row crop production. We hypothesized that the roots of cover crop might improve soil physiochemical properties and biological activity, facilitating drainage and [...] Read more.
Fragipans are dense subsurface soil layers that severely restrict root penetration and water movement. The presence of shallow fragipan horizons limits row crop production. We hypothesized that the roots of cover crop might improve soil physiochemical properties and biological activity, facilitating drainage and increasing effective soil depth for greater long-term soil water storage. To evaluate annual ryegrass as one component of a cover crop (CC) mix for promoting the characteristics and distribution of soil water, on-farm studies were conducted at Marion and Springerton in southern Illinois, USA. Soil samples were collected at 15 cm increments to 60 cm (Marion) and 90 cm (Springerton) depths during the fall of 2022. Both sites had low total soil carbon and nitrogen contents and acidic soil pH (≤6.4). A soil water retention curve was fitted using the van Genuchten equation. At Springerton, the CC treatment increased saturated (thetaS) and residual (thetaR) soil water contents above those of the no cover crop (NCC) at the 60–75 cm and 75–90 cm depths. Changes in volumetric soil water content were measured using a multi-depth soil water sensor for the Springerton site during late July to early August of the soybean growing phase of 2022; NCC had higher soil water than CC within the 0–15 cm depth, but CC had higher soil water than NCC at the 30–45 cm depth. These findings indicate that cover crop mix has the potential to improve soil water movement for soils with restrictive subsoil horizon, possibly through reducing the soil hydraulic gradient between the surface and restrictive subsurface soil layers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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27 pages, 6370 KiB  
Article
Soil Physical Properties, Root Distribution, and “Ponkan” Tangerine Yield Across Different Rootstocks in a Deep Tillage Ultisol
by Pedro Antônio Namorato Benevenute, Laura Beatriz Batista Melo, Samara Martins Barbosa, Mariany Isabela Soares Domingues, Isabela Cristina Filardi Vasques, Everton Geraldo de Morais, Lucas Roberto de Castro, Geraldo César de Oliveira, Ester Alice Ferreira and Bruno Montoani Silva
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(4), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8040110 - 25 Oct 2024
Viewed by 2129
Abstract
Deep soil tillage and proper rootstock selection mitigate the root development limitations in Ultisol’s Bt horizon, enhancing the citrus yield potential. This study evaluates the root spatial distribution of three Ponkan tangerine rootstocks in Ultisol under deep tillage alongside the physical-hydric attributes and [...] Read more.
Deep soil tillage and proper rootstock selection mitigate the root development limitations in Ultisol’s Bt horizon, enhancing the citrus yield potential. This study evaluates the root spatial distribution of three Ponkan tangerine rootstocks in Ultisol under deep tillage alongside the physical-hydric attributes and plant measurements. The experimental area underwent furrow creation, subsoiling, and hole opening for planting. The treatments included three rootstocks: “Cravo Santa Cruz” (CSC), “Sunki Tropical” (ST), and “Citrandarin Índio” (CI). Under the Ultisol preparation, these rootstocks were compared to a native forest area (FA). Three years post-initial tillage, soil samples were collected at depths of 0–0.05, 0.35–0.40, and 0.45–0.50 m from the pre-established positions. The evaluation encompassed soil dispersive clay, available water, crop water use, plant measurement, and crop yield. The root evaluation utilized the crop profile method and 2D images, with subsequent surface mapping of the root variables, number (NR), and diameter (RD) analyzed via kriging geostatistical analysis. The Ultisol showed significant changes in its physical-hydric attributes regarding structural change and more excellent clay dispersion, with a considerable contribution to the micropore volume. Deep tillage effectively improved the root spatial distribution, especially concerning the number and diameter of roots, and enhanced the water use, reflected in the vegetative growth and yield, with the rootstock CSC standing out. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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14 pages, 2044 KiB  
Article
Change in Land Use Affects Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics and Distribution in Tropical Systems
by Selvin Antonio Saravia-Maldonado, María Ángeles Rodríguez-González, Beatriz Ramírez-Rosario and Luis Francisco Fernández-Pozo
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(3), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8030101 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1089
Abstract
Anthropogenic land cover change is directly responsible for the deforestation and degradation of tropical forests. In this context, assessing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is key to understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities on SOC so that we can implement management practices that [...] Read more.
Anthropogenic land cover change is directly responsible for the deforestation and degradation of tropical forests. In this context, assessing soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is key to understanding the impact of anthropogenic activities on SOC so that we can implement management practices that effectively reduce emissions or promote carbon sequestration. Our objective was to assess the effect of land-use change on the dynamics and distribution of SOC in three systems (agriculture, pasture and agroforestry) after 40 years of deforestation in a tropical dry forest in the central–eastern region of Honduras. For this purpose, the bulk density, percentage of coarse fragments (>2 mm) and soil organic carbon content were determined at three depths (0.00–0.10 m, 0.10–0.20 m and 0.20–0.30 m). The results showed an increase in bulk density for all new uses, although soil compaction had not yet occurred. In terms of total soil organic carbon (TOC) stocks, deforestation caused a decrease from 17% to 48% in agricultural and agroforestry soils, respectively; on the other hand, grasslands did not show significant differences compared to tropical dry forest, suggesting that they have a high potential as carbon sinks in deforested tropical areas. However, this did not imply a better state of the system, as the greatest increases in bulk density were found in pastures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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20 pages, 4613 KiB  
Article
Irrigation Practices and Their Effects on Soil Quality and Soil Characteristics in Arid Lands: A Comprehensive Geomatic Analysis
by Mohamed E. Fadl, Yasser A. Sayed, Ahmed I. El-Desoky, Eltaher M. Shams, Mohammedi Zekari, Elsayed A. Abdelsamie, Marios Drosos and Antonio Scopa
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020052 - 7 May 2024
Viewed by 2746
Abstract
Comprehension of the long-term effects of irrigation on basic soil characteristics and quality is essential for sustainable land management and agricultural production, particularly in arid regions where water availability is limited. This study aimed to investigate long-term irrigation effects on soil quality, soil [...] Read more.
Comprehension of the long-term effects of irrigation on basic soil characteristics and quality is essential for sustainable land management and agricultural production, particularly in arid regions where water availability is limited. This study aimed to investigate long-term irrigation effects on soil quality, soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen (N) stocks in the arid lands of Egypt. Seventy soil samples were collected and analyzed to determine various soil properties. A soil quality index (SQI), SOC, and N stocks were computed. ANOVA and PCA analyses were used to identify significant differences between alluvial soils in the southwest part of the investigated area and coastal marine soils in the northeast of the study area. The results demonstrated that most of the studied soil parameters had significantly greater values in alluvial compared to coastal marine soils. Long-term irrigation led to an 8.00% increase in SOC and 7.22% increase in N stocks compared to coastal marine soils production. Furthermore, a 39.53% increase was found in the SQI upon long-term irrigation practice. These results suggest that shifting from rain-fed in coastal marine areas to irrigated production systems in alluvial fields can improve soil quality, SOC, and N stocks. Therefore, further studies are required to investigate the impact of additional factors, such as irrigation method and salinity status of sub-surface soil layers, to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainable land use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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16 pages, 1851 KiB  
Article
Water Infiltration in Different Soil Covers and Management in the Cerrado–Amazon Ecotone, Brazil
by Marco Aurélio Barbosa Alves, Daniela Roberta Borella, Rhavel Salviano Dias Paulista, Frederico Terra de Almeida, Adilson Pacheco de Souza and Daniel Fonseca de Carvalho
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010031 - 8 Mar 2024
Viewed by 2122
Abstract
Soil water infiltration is an important component of the hydrological cycle, and it is best evaluated when the raindrop impacts the ground surface. For this reason, it is affected by changes in land use and land cover and by the characteristics and physical–hydric [...] Read more.
Soil water infiltration is an important component of the hydrological cycle, and it is best evaluated when the raindrop impacts the ground surface. For this reason, it is affected by changes in land use and land cover and by the characteristics and physical–hydric properties of the soil. This study aimed to evaluate soil water infiltration in areas occupied by annual crops (soybean and corn) and pastures in two watersheds of the Teles Pires River-MT, using simulated rainfall, physical models, and principal component analysis. Infiltration rates were evaluated based on simulated rainfall with an average intensity of 75 mm h−1, with four repetitions per region (upper, middle, and lower) of the hydrographic sub-basins of the Caiabi and Renato rivers, and soil use with cover, without cover, and disturbed. Soil tillage provided higher water infiltration rates into the soil, especially in pasture areas in the two hydrographic sub-basins. There were significant adjustments to the mathematical models based on the infiltration rate data for all land use and land cover conditions. The soil attributes that most interfered with the infiltration rate were microporosity, bulk density, and total porosity in the crop areas of the middle Caiabi and microporosity, clay content, total porosity, and silt content in the areas farming at the source of the Renato River. The Horton and Philip models presented the best adjustments in the hydrographic sub-basins of the Caiabi and Renato Rivers, which are recommended for estimating the water infiltration rate into the soil in different uses, coverages, and regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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23 pages, 5915 KiB  
Article
Possible Integration of Soil Information into Land Degradation Analysis for the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Concept: A Case Study of the Contiguous United States of America (USA)
by Elena A. Mikhailova, Hamdi A. Zurqani, Lili Lin, Zhenbang Hao, Christopher J. Post, Mark A. Schlautman and George B. Shepherd
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010027 - 27 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2888
Abstract
Soil makes important contributions to the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) concept and targets; however, currently, soil is not integrated into measurable information (e.g., indicators, metrics) to monitor land degradation (LD) patterns and trends. This study examines the role of soil [...] Read more.
Soil makes important contributions to the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) concept and targets; however, currently, soil is not integrated into measurable information (e.g., indicators, metrics) to monitor land degradation (LD) patterns and trends. This study examines the role of soil in LDN in the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 15: Life on Land). This study is specifically focused on the LDN and biodiversity loss as they relate to an indicator 15.3.1 Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area. Tracking of LD status can be improved by using detailed soils databases combined with satellite-derived land cover maps. This study has applied these newly improved methods to quantify and map the anthropogenic LD status and trends in the contiguous United States of America (USA), as well as to identify potential land areas for nature-based solutions (NBS) to compensate for LD. Anthropogenic LD in 2016 in the contiguous USA affected over two million square kilometers, about one-third of the country’s total area, with high variability by state. Between 2001 and 2016, LD in the USA showed an overall increase of 1.5%, with some states exhibiting increases in degraded land while other states had overall improvements to their land. All ten soil orders present in the contiguous USA have been anthropogenically degraded, with Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols having the highest LD levels. Compensating for LD requires a variety of strategies and measures (e.g., NBS), which often require additional land. In 2016, the potential land area for NBS was over two million square kilometers, an area approximately equal to that of degraded land. Some of the states that have high proportions of land available for potential NBS are dominated by soils (Aridisols) typical of deserts and therefore may have less promise for NBS. The variability of LD needs to be evaluated at finer spatial scales for realistic LDN analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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17 pages, 2741 KiB  
Article
Effects of Agricultural Expansion on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Stocks in the Amazon Deforestation Arc
by Jorge Cardoso de Azevedo, Abmael da Silva Cardoso, Nauara Moura Lage Filho, Cristian Faturi, Thiago Carvalho da Silva, Felipe Nogueira Domingues, Vladimir Eliodoro Costa, Ana Cláudia Ruggieri, Ricardo Andrade Reis and Aníbal Coutinho do Rêgo
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010025 - 19 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2387
Abstract
Typical successions in land use affect the dynamics of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the soil. This study aimed to determine the effects of land use change on soil organic carbon and N content and stocks in pastures, crops, and forests in [...] Read more.
Typical successions in land use affect the dynamics of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the soil. This study aimed to determine the effects of land use change on soil organic carbon and N content and stocks in pastures, crops, and forests in the Amazon. Soil C and N stocks were assessed at depths of 30 and 100 cm to determine 13C isotopic abundance. The concentrations of C and N in crops were lower (p < 0.05) than those in other land use types. Soil organic C and soil N stocks for pasture (67.6, 144.8, 5.7, and 13.3) and forest (77.1, 137.5, 6.3, and 13.8) systems were similar, but greater than those of the crop area (36.4, 63.9, 3.0, and 6.0), regardless of depth (30 and 100 cm for C and N). Land use change for pastures in the Arc of Deforestation region of the Amazon maintains SOC and N stocks in the soil and is more sustainable than the agricultural system with black pepper, as long as the conditions of soil, climate, and cultivation are similar. Part of the C3-derived carbon from the forest was replaced by C4-derived C from grasses at soil depths up to 100 cm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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27 pages, 3396 KiB  
Article
Effects of Land Use on Soil Physical-Hydric Attributes in Two Watersheds in the Southern Amazon, Brazil
by Francielli Aloisio Moratelli, Marco Aurélio Barbosa Alves, Daniela Roberta Borella, Aline Kraeski, Frederico Terra de Almeida, Cornélio Alberto Zolin, Aaron Kinyu Hoshide and Adilson Pacheco de Souza
Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040103 - 14 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2071
Abstract
Changes in land use can cause degradation of soil physical quality with negative effects on the environment and agricultural production. The effects of different land uses on soil physical-hydric attributes were studied in the Renato River and Caiabi River watersheds in the southern [...] Read more.
Changes in land use can cause degradation of soil physical quality with negative effects on the environment and agricultural production. The effects of different land uses on soil physical-hydric attributes were studied in the Renato River and Caiabi River watersheds in the southern Brazilian Amazon. Three conditions of land use were evaluated: native forest, crops, and pasture in the headwater, middle, and mouth of each watershed. Particle size, particle density, bulk density, total porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, water contents at field capacity and permanent wilting point, and available water capacity in soil were evaluated in three soil layers down to 0.4 m. Data collected were subjected to the Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test and Pearson’s correlations. Multivariate analyses were also performed using the principal component method. In the Renato watershed, in comparison with native forest, conventional management of pasture and crops caused soil physical degradation, increasing soil density in the surface layer and reducing macroporosity and total porosity. In the Caiabi watershed, converting native forest areas into pasture and crops altered water quality, influencing the water dynamics in the soil, by reducing soil water conductivity. Soil attributes varied by watershed, with texture variations between the headwater and mouth, indicating that changes in soil properties result from both management and the granulometric composition of the soil in different regions of the same watershed. Adoption of crop and pasture conservation practices can improve soil physical attributes in regions bordering agricultural areas in the southern Amazon. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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12 pages, 2682 KiB  
Article
Soil and Water Losses with Simulated Rainfall Considering Experimental Plots and Rainfall Patterns
by Daniel Fonseca de Carvalho, Amanda Sales Alves, Pietro Menezes Sanchez Macedo, Paulo Tarso Sanches de Oliveira and Nivaldo Schultz
Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040087 - 17 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1979
Abstract
Rainfall simulators are important pieces of equipment to investigate hydrological processes and soil erosion. Here, we investigated the operational characteristics, the rainfall characteristics, and the soil erosion process under collecting plots and rainfall patterns using the InfiAsper simulator. We evaluated the standard plot [...] Read more.
Rainfall simulators are important pieces of equipment to investigate hydrological processes and soil erosion. Here, we investigated the operational characteristics, the rainfall characteristics, and the soil erosion process under collecting plots and rainfall patterns using the InfiAsper simulator. We evaluated the standard plot of the simulator in a rectangular shape (1.0 × 0.7 m), as well as a circular plot (0.8 m diameter), and four precipitation patterns, characterized as advanced (AV), intermediate (IN), delayed (DL), and constant (CT). In the laboratory, uniformity and water consumption tests were carried out for shutter-disk rotations from 138 to 804 rpm, and in the field, simulated rains were applied on a Dystric Acrisol. Rains with different patterns were simulated and presented a uniformity coefficient above 83% for the circular plot and 78.2% for the rectangular plot. The soil erosion varied as a function of the precipitation patterns and, to a lesser extent, according to the shape of the experimental plot. However, runoff and soil loss in AV were 2.1 and 3.5 times greater when using a circular plot. Concerning IN and DL, the length of the rectangular plot may have influenced the formation of small furrows throughout most of the simulated rainfall event, providing greater runoff (13.1 mm) and soil loss (13.6 g m−2). The results obtained are promising, but plots with different shapes associated with rainfall patterns simulated by InfiAsper must be evaluated in other classes and soil use and cover conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Use and Management on Soil Properties and Processes)
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