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Soil Ecology and Carbon Cycle
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Soil Ecology and Carbon Cycle

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 March 2026 | Viewed by 1652

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Renyong Shi

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Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
Interests: soil acidification; soil remediation; sustainable agriculture; soil surface electrochemistry
Dr. Ni Ni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Pesticide Environmental Assessment and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Nanjing, China
Interests: soil contamination process; soil remediation; soil microorganisms; adsorption
Dr. Shi Yao

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Hazardous Factors and Risk Control of Agri-Food Quality Safety, Anhui Agricultural University, School of Resources and Environment, Hefei, China
Interests: soil contamination process; soil microorganisms; microplastics; adsorption

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As a critical natural resource, soil plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting human existence. With rapid industrial and agricultural development, global land resources are facing unprecedented pressures. Sustainable use of land resources is essential for the well-being of all humanity. Maintaining healthy soil ecosystems is crucial for ecological balance. Soil degradation or contamination can have significant adverse effects on soil biodiversity, soil microbial communities, and ecological balance. Carbon cycling plays a crucial role in regulating soil microbial communities and biodiversity. Sound carbon cycling helps maintain the balance of soil ecosystems and enhances soil productivity and long-term sustainability.

This Special Issue focuses on soil ecology and sustainable soil management, and publishes research on experimental, theoretical, and technological studies related to soil ecology and carbon cycle. The aim is to enhance the understanding of soil ecology and management and to promote scientific predictions and impact assessments of global land resource changes and developments.

This Special Issue will summarize and highlight the latest research advances, in order to better clarify the research lineage concerning soil ecology and carbon cycle, and to point out cutting-edge directions.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Soil degradation;
  • Soil contamination;
  • Soil carbon cycling and footprint;
  • Biotechnologies for soil remediation;
  • Response and evolution of soil ecosystems.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Dr. Renyong Shi
Dr. Ni Ni
Dr. Shi Yao
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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 ecology
  • sustainable soil management
  • soil microorganism
  • soil remediation
  • food security
  • soil contamination process
  • soil management policy

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2016 KiB  
Article
The Synergistic Effects of Rice Straw-Pyrolyzed Biochar and Compost on Acidity Mitigation and Carbon Sequestration in Acidic Soils: A Comparative Study
by Xiaoying Pan, Tianchu Shu, Renyong Shi, Xiaoxia Mao, Jiuyu Li, Jackson Nkoh Nkoh and Renkou Xu
Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4408; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104408 - 13 May 2025
Viewed by 665
Abstract
Straw biochar and compost can mitigate soil acidity and enhance carbon sequestration in acidic soils. However, their differential synergistic effects and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this gap, an incubation experiment was conducted in which rice straw biochar (BC) and compost [...] Read more.
Straw biochar and compost can mitigate soil acidity and enhance carbon sequestration in acidic soils. However, their differential synergistic effects and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this gap, an incubation experiment was conducted in which rice straw biochar (BC) and compost (DC) were incorporated into an Ultisol at rates of 1% and 3%. BC outperformed DC in elevating the soil pH (0.39 vs. 0.28 units), reducing the exchangeable acidity (69% vs. 62%), and decreasing the potential active aluminum pool (35.1% vs. 25.2%) due to its higher alkalinity. Additionally, BC enhanced the soil organic carbon more effectively than DC (83.7% vs. 64.0%). While 3% BC treatment reduced the readily oxidizable and dissolved organic carbon in the soil, DC increased these parameters. This contrasting effect is attributed to BC’s lower carbon reactivity, higher alkalinity, and greater C/N ratio compared to DC. Compared with the control, BC and DC also increased the soil exchangeable K+ (14.0-fold vs. 12.3-fold), Ca2+ (5.4-fold vs. 4.9-fold), and Mg2+ (3.7-fold vs. 5.2-fold). Overall, BC demonstrated superiority in mitigating acidity and sequestering carbon, while DC showed greater potential for improving fertility in acidic soils. Elucidating the distinct benefits of biochar versus compost provides valuable insights into the sustainable amelioration of acidic soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecology and Carbon Cycle)
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Review

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17 pages, 1792 KiB  
Review
The Response Mechanism of Soil Microbial Carbon Use Efficiency to Land-Use Change: A Review
by Zongkun Li and Dandan Qi
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 7023; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17157023 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 584
Abstract
Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) is an important indicator of soil organic carbon accumulation and loss and a key parameter in biogeochemical cycling models. Its regulatory mechanism is highly dependent on microbial communities and their dynamic mediation of abiotic factors. Land-use change (e.g., [...] Read more.
Microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) is an important indicator of soil organic carbon accumulation and loss and a key parameter in biogeochemical cycling models. Its regulatory mechanism is highly dependent on microbial communities and their dynamic mediation of abiotic factors. Land-use change (e.g., agricultural expansion, deforestation, urbanization) profoundly alter carbon input patterns and soil physicochemical properties, further exacerbating the complexity and uncertainty of CUE. Existing carbon cycle models often neglect microbial ecological processes, resulting in an incomplete understanding of how microbial traits interact with environmental factors to regulate CUE. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the microbial regulation mechanisms of CUE under land-use change and systematically explores how microorganisms drive organic carbon allocation through community compositions, interspecies interactions, and environmental adaptability, with particular emphasis on the synergistic response between microbial communities and abiotic factors. We found that the buffering effect of microbial communities on abiotic factors during land-use change is a key factor determining CUE change patterns. This review not only provides a theoretical framework for clarifying the microbial-dominated carbon turnover mechanism but also lays a scientific foundation for the precise implementation of sustainable land management and carbon neutrality goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Ecology and Carbon Cycle)
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