Special Issue "Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services: Towards a New Perspective of Soil Use and Management"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2022.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ugo De Corato
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ENEA, Italian National Agency for the New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Bioenergy, Biorefinery and Green Chemistry (DTE-BBC-BIC), Territorial Office of Bari – Via Giulio Petroni 15/F, 70124, Bari, Italy
Interests: applied soil ecology; biocontrol agent; compost; soil-borne plant disease control; soil microbiology; soil microbiota

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A natural balance of all soil components is needed between the physical, chemical, and biological properties that characterize a healthy soil ecosystem. The focus of this Special Issue is to give a general description of ecosystem services and representative indicators for a selection of specific soil types in relation to land use. The scope of the Special Issue is aimed at developing a rational soil use and management for a systematic approach for identifying the highest-risk scenarios in land use in view of environmental stressors, based on vulnerability assessment of indicators for ecosystem services. The purpose of this Special Issue is to cover all the aforementioned aspects and mechanisms governing the natural and anthropogenic processes which affect soil systems. It will document the sustainable use and management of soil resources and cover specific key points, such as the complex ecological roles of soil organisms and their multiple interactions in relation to sustainability and productivity, nutrient cycling, soil structure formation and modification affected by soil biota and other soil processes, the maintenance of soil functions, the impact of human activities on soil ecosystems, and bio(techno)logical control of soil-inhabiting plant pests, plant diseases, and weeds. In addition, specific papers focused on biocontrol of soil-borne plant pathogens by use of organic amendments by agricultural waste recycling (e.g., compost, biochar, digestate, sewage sludge) are particularly welcomed regarding a specific topic to satisfy the soil quality and ecosystem service requirements.

This Special Issue will supplement the existing literature through interdisciplinary studies, e.g., linking soil with climate change, biodiversity, global health, and the sustainable development goals, with strong novelty, wide implications, and unexpected outcomes.

Dr. Ugo De Corato
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1900 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

  • Applied soil ecology
  • Ecosystem service
  • Land use
  • Soil-borne plant pathogen
  • Soil biota
  • Soil indicator
  • Soil quality

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Editorial

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Editorial
Towards New Soil Management Strategies for Improving Soil Quality and Ecosystem Services in Sustainable Agriculture: Editorial Overview
Sustainability 2020, 12(22), 9398; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12229398 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 659
Abstract
The major issues related to indiscriminate land use are overall related to topsoil depletion, groundwater contamination, plant disease outbreaks, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, global vision focused on the environmental impact and use of eco-friendly strategies are increasing. The design of [...] Read more.
The major issues related to indiscriminate land use are overall related to topsoil depletion, groundwater contamination, plant disease outbreaks, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, global vision focused on the environmental impact and use of eco-friendly strategies are increasing. The design of new agroecosystems and food systems are fundamental to make more sustainability in soil management systems by improving the release of advanced ecosystems services for farmers. Sustainable agriculture utilizes natural renewable resources in the best way due to their intrinsic features by minimizing harmful impact on the agroecosystems. Farmers should sustain or even increase the soil organic matter (SOM) content overall in depleted, semiarid and arid soils. Nutrients recycled from agro-waste into the soil using residual biomass sources should be endorsed by diversified agriculture and governmental policies in which livestock and crop production are spatially integrated. Many good agricultural practices that growers may use to promote soil quality and soil health by minimizing water use and soil pollution on farms are yet available from past years. Exploration of the natural soil biodiversity and manipulation of soil microbiota by continuous amendment with compost, biochar and digestate represents a pre-requisite to develop more efficient microbial consortia useful for soils and crops. On the other hand, more attention is proven regarding the sustainable use of useful microorganisms employed as pure inoculants in rhizosphere. Among them, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biological control agents cover the major groups of tailored inoculants in order to rationalize the internal recycling of nutrients and their energy recovery, or to improve the soil quality and plant health thanks to their diversified mechanisms of action and complex interactions between SOM, microbiota and plant roots in the rhizosphere. Full article

Research

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Article
Metadata Analysis to Evaluate Environmental Impacts of Wheat Residues Burning on Soil Quality in Developing and Developed Countries
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6356; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116356 - 03 Jun 2021
Viewed by 628
Abstract
Crop residues are widely considered as a biofuel source and used in livestock feeding, or are burned off to clean the field for tillage and planting. Nonetheless, crop residue burning poses serious threats to the soil stability and sustainability of the food chain. [...] Read more.
Crop residues are widely considered as a biofuel source and used in livestock feeding, or are burned off to clean the field for tillage and planting. Nonetheless, crop residue burning poses serious threats to the soil stability and sustainability of the food chain. This study aimed to investigate the potential environmental impacts of wheat residues burning on declines in soil quality in developing (Iran) and developed (Italy) countries by analyzing metadata of the last 50 years. All metadata were provided from the ‘Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) including wheat harvested area, annual production, and biomass burning, to assess the potential impact of crop residue burning on soil quality. In detail, the greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission, and energy and nutrient losses by the wheat residues burning were estimated. Our results showed a robust interdependence between wheat residues burning and environmental effects in both developed and developing systems. Accordingly, the global warming potential increased in Iran (4286 to 5604 kg CO2eq) and decreased in Italy (3528 to 1524 kg CO2eq) over the last 50 years. Amongst all nutrient losses, nitrogen represents the higher lost value in both countries, followed by potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus. Full article
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Article
Locally Available Organic Waste for Counteracting Strawberry Decline in a Mountain Specialized Cropping Area
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3964; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073964 - 02 Apr 2021
Viewed by 472
Abstract
Crop decline caused by soil borne fungal pathogens affects specialized cropping systems such as fruit trees and strawberry. A study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of pre-plant application of waste-derived biomasses in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) to reduce that [...] Read more.
Crop decline caused by soil borne fungal pathogens affects specialized cropping systems such as fruit trees and strawberry. A study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of pre-plant application of waste-derived biomasses in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) to reduce that phenomenon. A field experiment was carried out in an alpine strawberry specialized valley in South Tyrol (Italy), in a long term cultivated field selected for yield reduction over recent years. In July 2018, one month before strawberry transplanting, a field experiment with four soil treatments was set up: anaerobic digestate (solid fraction) of liquid manure, compost from anaerobic digestate of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), untreated control and Dazomet as chemical control. Plants were grown for two cycles (2019 and 2020). Dazomet always gave a significant (over 50%) increase in marketable yield per plant in both the years, anaerobic digestates did not improve strawberry production; compost from OFMSW gave phytotoxic effects in the first year, but improved strawberry yield like Dazomet in the second. Changes of rhizosphere bacterial populations and difference in root pathogen abundance, especially that of Dactylonectria torresensis, were correlated to the crop response to treatments. Findings suggest that waste-derived biomasses are a promising eco-friendly option for counteracting strawberry yield decline. Their positive impact was mostly linked to functional improvements induced by microbial variations. However, the use of such organic amendment requires careful evaluation of composition, doses and above all application times to reduce phytotoxic effects that in some cases can occur in the first months after application. Full article
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Article
Sustainable Management of Soil-Borne Bacterium Ralstonia solanacearum In Vitro and In Vivo through Fungal Metabolites of Different Trichoderma spp.
Sustainability 2021, 13(3), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13031491 - 01 Feb 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 673
Abstract
The efficacy of traditional control measures for the management of plant pathogens is decreasing, and the resistance of these pathogens to pesticides is increasing, which poses a serious threat to global food security. The exploration of novel and efficient management measures to combat [...] Read more.
The efficacy of traditional control measures for the management of plant pathogens is decreasing, and the resistance of these pathogens to pesticides is increasing, which poses a serious threat to global food security. The exploration of novel and efficient management measures to combat plant disease is an urgent need at this time. In this study, fungal metabolites from three Trichoderma spp. (T. harzianum, T. virens and T. koningii) were prepared on three different growth media (STP, MOF and supermalt (SuM)). The fungal metabolites were tested in vitro and in vivo from March–April 2020 under greenhouse conditions in a pot experiment utilizing completely randomized design to test their management of the bacterial wilt disease caused by R. solanacearum in tomato plants. The effect of the fungal metabolites on bacterial cell morphology was also investigated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. In vitro investigation showed that the fungal metabolites of T. harzianum obtained on the STP medium were the most effective in inhibiting in vitro bacterial growth and produced a 17.6 mm growth inhibition zone. SEM analysis confirms the rupture of the cell walls and cell membranes of the bacterium, along with the leakage of its cell contents. Generally, fungal metabolites obtained on an STP medium showed higher activity than those obtained on the other two media, and these metabolites were then evaluated in vivo according to three application times (0 days before transplantation (DBT), 4 DBT and 8 DBT) in a greenhouse trial to examine their ability to manage R. solanacearum in tomato plants. Consistent with in vitro results, the results from the greenhouse studies showed a level of higher anti-bacterial activity of T. harzianum metabolites than they did for the metabolites of other fungi, while among the three application times, the longest time (8 DBT) was more effective in controlling bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants. Metabolites of T. harzianum applied at 8 DBT caused the maximum decrease in soil bacterial population (1.526 log cfu/g), resulting in the lowest level of disease severity (area under disease progressive curve (AUDPC) value: 400), and maximum plant freshness (with a resulting biomass of 36.7 g, a root length of 18.3 cm and a plant height of 33.0 cm). It can be concluded that T. harzianum metabolites obtained on an STP medium, when applied after 8 DBT, can suppress soil bacterial population and enhance plant growth, and thus can be used as a safe, environmentally-conscious and consumer-friendly approach to managing bacterial wilt disease in tomato plants and possibly other crops. Full article
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Article
Influence of Acacia mangium on Soil Fertility and Bacterial Community in Eucalyptus Plantations in the Congolese Coastal Plains
Sustainability 2020, 12(21), 8763; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12218763 - 22 Oct 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 796
Abstract
Productivity and sustainability of tropical forest plantations greatly rely on regulation of ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling, i.e., the link between plant growth, nutrient availability, and the microbial community structure. So far, these interactions have never been evaluated in the Acacia and Eucalyptus [...] Read more.
Productivity and sustainability of tropical forest plantations greatly rely on regulation of ecosystem functioning and nutrient cycling, i.e., the link between plant growth, nutrient availability, and the microbial community structure. So far, these interactions have never been evaluated in the Acacia and Eucalyptus forest planted on infertile soils in the Congolese coastal plains. In the present work, the soil bacterial community has been investigated by metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene in different stands of monoculture and mixed-species plantation to evaluate the potential of nitrogen-fixing trees on nutrient and bacterial structure. At the phylum level, the soil bacterial community was dominated by Actinobacteria, followed by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Acidobacteria. A principal coordinate analysis revealed that bacterial communities from pure Eucalyptus, compared to those from plantations containing Acacia in pure and mixed-species stands, showed different community composition (beta-diversity). Regardless of the large variability of the studied soils, the prevalence of Firmicutes phylum, and lower bacterial richness and phylogenic diversity were reported in stands containing Acacia relative to the pure Eucalyptus. Distance-based redundancy analysis revealed a positive correlation of available phosphorus (P) and carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio with bacterial community structure. However, the Spearman correlation test revealed a broad correlation between the relative abundance of bacterial taxa and soil attributes, in particular with sulfur (S) and carbon (C), suggesting the important role of soil bacterial community in nutrient cycling in this type of forest management. Concerning mixed plantations, a shift in bacterial community structure was observed, probably linked to other changes, i.e., improvement in soil fertility (enhanced P and C dynamics in forest floor and soil, and increase in soil N status), and C sequestration in both soil and stand wood biomass with the great potential impact to mitigate climate change. Overall, our findings highlight the role of soil attributes, especially C, S, available P, and C/N ratio at a lesser extent, in driving the soil bacterial community in mixed-species plantations and its potential to improve soil fertility and to sustain Eucalyptus plantations established on the infertile and sandy soils of the Congolese coastal plains. Full article
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Review

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Review
Microbiota Management for Effective Disease Suppression: A Systematic Comparison between Soil and Mammals Gut
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7608; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147608 - 07 Jul 2021
Viewed by 439
Abstract
Both soil and the human gut support vast microbial biodiversity, in which the microbiota plays critical roles in regulating harmful organisms. However, the functional link between microbiota taxonomic compositions and disease suppression has not been explained yet. Here, we provide an overview of [...] Read more.
Both soil and the human gut support vast microbial biodiversity, in which the microbiota plays critical roles in regulating harmful organisms. However, the functional link between microbiota taxonomic compositions and disease suppression has not been explained yet. Here, we provide an overview of pathogen regulation in soil and mammals gut, highlighting the differences and the similarities between the two systems. First, we provide a review of the ecological mechanisms underlying the regulation of soil and pathogens, as well as the link between disease suppression and soil health. Particular emphasis is thus given to clarifying how soil and the gut microbiota are associated with organic amendment and the human diet, respectively. Moreover, we provide several insights into the importance of organic amendment and diet composition in shaping beneficial microbiota as an efficient way to support crop productivity and human health. This review also discusses novel ways to functionally characterize organic amendments and the proper operational combining of such materials with beneficial microbes for stirring suppressive microbiota against pathogens. Furthermore, specific examples are given to describe how agricultural management practices, including the use of antibiotics and fumigants, hinder disease suppression by disrupting microbiota structure, and the potentiality of entire microbiome transplant. We conclude by discussing general strategies to promote soil microbiota biodiversity, the connection with plant yield and health, and their possible integration through a “One Health” framework. Full article
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Review
Soil Microbiome Manipulation Gives New Insights in Plant Disease-Suppressive Soils from the Perspective of a Circular Economy: A Critical Review
Sustainability 2021, 13(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010010 - 22 Dec 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3297 | Retraction
Abstract
This review pays attention to the newest insights on the soil microbiome in plant disease-suppressive soil (DSS) for sustainable plant health management from the perspective of a circular economy that provides beneficial microbiota by recycling agro-wastes into the soil. In order to increase [...] Read more.
This review pays attention to the newest insights on the soil microbiome in plant disease-suppressive soil (DSS) for sustainable plant health management from the perspective of a circular economy that provides beneficial microbiota by recycling agro-wastes into the soil. In order to increase suppression of soil-borne plant pathogens, the main goal of this paper is to critically discuss and compare the potential use of reshaped soil microbiomes by assembling different agricultural practices such as crop selection; land use and conservative agriculture; crop rotation, diversification, intercropping and cover cropping; compost and chitosan application; and soil pre-fumigation combined with organic amendments and bio-organic fertilizers. This review is seen mostly as a comprehensive understanding of the main findings regarding DSS, starting from the oldest concepts to the newest challenges, based on the assumption that sustainability for soil quality and plant health is increasingly viable and supported by microbiome-assisted strategies based on the next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods that characterize in depth the soil bacterial and fungal communities. This approach, together with the virtuous reuse of agro-wastes to produce in situ green composts and organic bio-fertilizers, is the best way to design new sustainable cropping systems in a circular economy system. The current knowledge on soil-borne pathogens and soil microbiota is summarized. How microbiota determine soil suppression and what NGS strategies are available to understand soil microbiomes in DSS are presented. Disturbance of soil microbiota based on combined agricultural practices is deeply considered. Sustainable soil microbiome management by recycling in situ agro-wastes is presented. Afterwards, how the resulting new insights can drive the progress in sustainable microbiome-based disease management is discussed. Full article
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Other

Retraction
Retraction: De Corato, U. Soil Microbiome Manipulation Gives New Insights in Plant Disease-Suppressive Soils from the Perspective of a Circular Economy: A Critical Review. Sustainability 2021, 13, 10
Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1688; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041688 - 04 Feb 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 690
Abstract
The journal retracts the article “Soil Microbiome Manipulation Gives New Insights in Plant Disease-Suppressive Soils from the Perspective of a Circular Economy: A Critical Review” by Ugo De Corato [...] Full article
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