Search Results (734)

Tillage practices regulate soil health by influencing soil’s physico-chemical qualities and its capacity to sequester organic carbon. Maintaining soil health contributes to ecosystem stability and fluidity in the soil–plant–atmosphere relationship. This study aimed to evaluate soil porosity (SP), aeration limit (SAL), soil capillary capacity (SCC), soil total capacity (STC), soil temperature (Ts), air temperature (Ta), nutrient availability, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil organic matter (SOM) under three different tillage systems: no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and conventional tillage (CT), based on a short-term field experiment. This research was conducted on Cambic Chernozem soil using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed a significant effect of tillage systems on all evaluated properties. SP reached a higher value under MT (60.01%), NT (56.74%) and CT (53.58%), respectively. This observation is similar with regard to SAL, SCC, and STC. It might be due to the reduced soil disturbance characteristics of conservation systems, thereby maintaining the soil’s natural state. There is a positive regression between these two properties across all three systems, with the highest R² = 0.8308 observed under MT. The highest carbon stocks were recorded in NT (2.82%) and MT (2.91%) compared to 2.01% in CT at surface depths of 0–5 and 5–10 cm. This can be explained by the accumulation of organic residues and a reduction in their oxidation. Nutrient availability (TN, P, and K) increased at depths of 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm, with the highest values in conservation systems. Furthermore, the results demonstrate a significant relationship and positive synergy between soil depth, tillage practices, and key physical and chemical soil properties, especially carbon stock, across the two cropping seasons. Full article

Straw returning, a core practice in conservation tillage, promotes sustainable intensification; however, it faces challenges such as inefficient decomposition, nutrient competition, and pathogen accumulation. To address these limitations, this study aimed to develop a multifunctional microbial consortium specifically designed for straw-incorporating cropping systems. The consortium comprises four Bacillus strains with complementary enzymatic systems, isolated from diverse ecological niches. It exhibited robust lignocellulolytic enzyme production, with manganese peroxidase (7709.33 U/L), laccase (450.65 U/L), endo-β-1,4-glucanase (154.67 U/mL), and filter paper activity (309.18 U/L). The consortium significantly enhanced rice straw degradation by 37.18% and increased nitrogen (N) release by 16.13% compared to the control. Moreover, the consortium exhibited a 67.56% inhibition rate against Magnaporthe oryzae and reduced both the incidence rate and disease index of leaf blast and panicle blast. Field trials revealed increases in the rice grain yield of 9.63% and 6.94% when applied alone and 6.75% and 5.18% when co-applied with straw residues. These findings highlight the multifunctional agricultural potential of the consortium and provide a sustainable strategy to overcome the limitations of straw-incorporating farming systems. Full article

Research on the characteristics and functions of ancient Juntun (military tillage) has paid limited attention to the distribution patterns and influencing factors of Juntun in specific regions. This study employs a comprehensive approach integrating GIS technology and the multi-scale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model to quantitatively analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of Ming Dynasty Juntun in Fujian. The study reveals that Juntun were primarily located in flat areas near water systems, while exhibiting a U-shaped distribution pattern away from garrison forts, reflecting a synergy between agricultural foundations and military defense. MGWR analysis further indicates that fiscal and taxation factors had a stronger influence on their distribution than arable land resources, highlighting their non-purely agriculturally driven nature. This research provides a quantitative basis for understanding the organizational logic and spatial strategy of ancient military settlements, offering valuable insights for the conservation and study of military heritage. Full article

Soil compaction in grassland and agricultural soils reduces water infiltration, root growth and ecosystem services. Conventional deep tillage and coring can alleviate compaction but are energy intensive and strongly disturb the turf. This study proposes an earthworm-inspired subsurface robot as a low-disturbance loosening tool for compacted grassland soils. Design principles are abstracted from earthworm body segmentation, anchoring–propulsion peristaltic locomotion and corrugated body surface, and mapped onto a robotic body with anterior and posterior telescopic units, a flexible mid-body segment, a corrugated outer shell and a brace-wire steering mechanism. Kinematic simulations evaluate the peristaltic actuation mechanism and predict a forward displacement of approximately 15 mm/cycle. Using the finite element method and a Modified Cam–Clay soil model, different linkage layouts and outer-shell geometries are compared in terms of radial soil displacement and drag force in cohesive loam. The optimised corrugated outer shell combining circumferential and longitudinal waves lowers drag by up to 20.1% compared with a smooth cylinder. A 3D-printed prototype demonstrates peristaltic locomotion and steering in bench-top tests. The results indicate the potential of earthworm-inspired subsurface robots to provide low-disturbance loosening in conservation agriculture and grassland management, and highlight the need for field experiments to validate performance in real soils. Full article

Soil carbon (C) sequestration is a key component of European climate change mitigation strategies, and it forms part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC) standards. Using national data for Romania (2005–2024), this paper aims to quantify how crop type, tillage system (conventional, minimum-till and no-till), and nitrogen fertilization influence soil humic carbon (Ch) in wheat, maize, sunflower and rapeseed cropping systems. Carbon inputs from residues, roots, and rhizodeposition were calculated in R based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) coefficients, then tested in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (factorial ANOVA, multiple regression, Pearson correlations). The results showed that both crop type and tillage systems significantly influence humic carbon values, with the highest values obtained in oilseed crops and in conservation systems (minimum-till and no-till). Among the quantitative factors, nitrogen fertilization had the most pronounced positive effect on carbon fluxes, while yield and precipitation had less influence. The conclusions indicate that the adoption of conservative soil management, in line with CAP objectives and GAEC standards, can support the increase of carbon stocks, with the need for contextual assessment of economic performance and pedoclimatic conditions. Full article

Steep olive orchards in northwest Syria are experiencing severe land degradation as a result of unsustainable uphill–downhill tillage, which accelerates erosion and reduces productivity. To address this problem, three tillage systems, no-till natural vegetation strips (NVSs), contour tillage, and uphill–downhill tillage, were evaluated at two research sites, Yakhour and Tel-Hadya, NW Syria. The adoption of no-till NVSs significantly increased soil organic matter (SOM) at both sites, outperforming uphill–downhill tillage. While contour tillage resulted in lower SOM levels than NVSs, it still performed better than the conventional uphill–downhill practice. Contour soil flux (CSF) was lower in Yakhour, where mule-drawn tillage on steep slopes (31–35%) was practiced, compared to higher CSF values in Tel-Hadya, where tractor tillage was applied on gentler slopes (11–13%), which highlights the influence of slope steepness on soil fluxes. Over four years, net soil flux (NSF) indicated greater soil loss under tractor tillage, confirming that mule-drawn tillage is less disruptive. Olive trees with no-till NVSs benefited from protected root systems, improved soil structure through SOM accumulation, reduced erosion risk, and improved surface runoff buffering, which resulted in increased water infiltration and soil water retention. This study was carried out using a participatory technology development (PTD) framework, which guided the entire research process, from diagnosing problems to co-designing, field testing, and refining soil conservation practices. In Yakhour, farmers actively identified the challenges of degradation. They collaboratively chose no-till natural vegetation strips (NVSs) and contour tillage as key interventions, valuing NVSs for their ability to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and pests, and increase olive productivity. The farmer–scientist co-learning network positioned PTD not only as an outreach tool but also as a core research method, enabling locally relevant and scalable strategies to restore soil functions and combat land degradation in northwest Syria’s hilly olive orchards. Full article

To optimize the flow stability and improve application accuracy of the PWM intermittent variable-rate spraying system, which suffers from insufficient flow stability and response delays during changes in travel speed, this study proposes an intelligent control method based on an improved Adaptive Neural Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS). Flow characteristic data of the solenoid valve were collected under four pressure conditions (0.2–0.5 MPa), drive frequencies (5–20 Hz), and duty cycles (10–90%) using an indoor test system. An ANFIS controller architecture was constructed with target flow rate and actual travel speed as input variables and PWM frequency-duty cycle combinations as output variables. This controller enhances the traditional single-output mode of ANFIS by achieving multi-output collaborative optimization through shared premise parameters, thereby strengthening the system’s nonlinear modeling and control capabilities. To validate the system’s practical performance, a field simulation test platform based on a spraying robot was constructed. By analyzing preset prescription map information, the system achieved precise variable-rate spraying operations during movement. Test results demonstrate that the steady-state error remains within 5.03% under various speed-varying conditions. This research provides a high-precision intelligent control solution for variable-rate spraying systems, holding significant implications for reducing pesticide application rates and advancing precision agriculture. Full article

Microtopography regulates soil erosion by shaping surface heterogeneity, but the mechanism of loess slope soil loss remains insufficiently quantified. This study combined laboratory rainfall simulations and machine learning to investigate how tillage-induced microtopography modulates soil loss through surface heterogeneity and hydrodynamic processes. Simulations used loess soil (silty loam) with a 5° slope, 60 mm/h rainfall intensity, and 5–30 min rainfall durations (RD). Results indicated that the mean weight diameter (MWD) and aggregate stability index (ASI) of structural, transition, and depositional crusts under micro-terrain decreased by 36~65% and 41~60%, respectively, while the fractal dimension (D) increased by 10~19%. Negative relationships were observed between ASI/MWD and D (R² = 0.83~0.98). Horizontal cultivation (T_HC, surface roughness [SR] = 1.76, average depression storage [ADS] = 2.34 × 10⁻² m³) delayed runoff connectivity and reduced cumulative soil loss (LS) by 42–58% compared to hoeing cultivation (T_HE, SR = 1.47, ADS = 3.23 × 10⁻⁴ m³). Abrupt hydrodynamic transitions occurred at 10 min RD (T_HE) and 15 min RD (artificial digging [T_AD]), driven by trench connectivity and depression overflow. LS exhibited a significant positive correlation with D and RD and was inversely correlated with ASI, MWD, and SR. A three-hidden-layer BPNN exhibited high predictive accuracy for LS (mean square error = 0.07), verifying applicability in complex scenarios with significant microtopographic heterogeneity and multi-factor coupling. This study demonstrated that surface roughness and depression storage were the dominant microtopographic controls on loess slope soil loss. BPNN provided a reliable tool for soil loss prediction in heterogeneous microtopographic systems. The findings provide critical insights into optimizing tillage-based soil conservation strategies for sloping loess farmlands. Full article

Soil conservation technologies are widely studied for their effects on soil organic carbon (SOC) preservation, yet their impact on the composition of soil organic matter (SOM) remains underinvestigated. This study evaluated the effects of two non-inversion tillage systems, MP and NT, on agro-physical and chemical properties and SOM composition (including water-extractable matter) in Haplic Chernozem Pachic. After 12 years, non-inversion tillage showed no significant differences in SOC, WEOC, and soil structure condition compared to MP. Only NT treatment distinctly enhanced the coefficient of soil structuring (K_str) and mean diameter of water-stable aggregates (MWD_WSA), by 1.5 and 2 times, respectively. Differences in SOM composition were clearly pronounced between treatments in the 0–10 cm layer. Non-inversion tillage favored microbial-derived stable SOM, whereas NT enriched SOM with fresh plant material. Our findings revealed that non-inversion tillage shifts the composition of SOM toward recalcitrant components even more than MP due to limited fresh OM input and enhanced mineralization of unprotected SOM during tillage. This poses carbon loss risks. Periodic moldboard plowing may be a way to improve carbon retention in non-inversion tillage, as it allows plant residues to be incorporated into the soil profile and replenish organic matter. Full article

In Kazakhstan’s Akmola Region, rural households face heightened vulnerability from climate change, driven by reliance on weather-dependent resources and amplified risks of extreme precipitation events, prolonged dry spells, and progressive soil degradation—further intensified by limited adaptive capacity and inequities affecting women-led or ethnic minority families. This study conducted stratified household surveys across four agricultural districts, developed a tailored Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) incorporating shelterbelt presence, condition, and perceived effects, alongside readiness for hydrological surface recovery (contour–strip organisation, swales/valokany, and tree–shrub planting). Results revealed an average LVI of 0.45–0.55, which was higher (+10–15%) in marginalized groups; testing pathways showed correlations (r = 0.65, p < 0.05) with water security, soil condition, income stability, and hazard reduction, with potential LVI reductions of 15–25% through integrated measures. District-specific recommendations include implementing the Potapenko–Lukin method on slopes <5% with valokany (width 80 cm, depth 1.5 m, spacing 100–500 m), endemic plantings, and biomaterial, supported by subsidies (488,028 tenge/ha/year) and GIS monitoring, to enhance resilience and equity in steppe and forest–steppe farming. Full article

Soil degradation threatens agricultural sustainability by impairing soil structure, hydrological function, and ecosystem services. While conservation tillage and cover cropping have been extensively studied, the role of perenniality remains underexplored, particularly regarding its impacts on soil physical and hydraulic properties. This review addresses three key objectives: (1) assessing the effects of perenniality on soil structure and hydrology, (2) synthesizing its contributions to water quality, soil conservation and climate mitigation, and (3) identifying barriers to its adoption in agricultural systems. This study synthesized over two decades of interdisciplinary evidence from peer-reviewed literature across diverse agroecosystems to understand how perennial crops influence soil systems. Findings indicate that perennial crops restore soil structure through continuous root activity and organic matter inputs, enhancing aggregate stability, reducing compaction, and stabilizing pore networks. These structural improvements enhance water infiltration capacity, increase soil water retention, and reduce erosion, thus contributing to improved water quality and climate mitigation through reduced nutrient losses and greater carbon sequestration. Despite these benefits, perenniality adoption is constrained by agronomic, economic, and policy barriers. Continued long-term, multidisciplinary research is essential to guide management decisions and support broader adoption of perennial agriculture. Full article

Soil erosion threatens agricultural sustainability and water quality in Mediterranean watersheds, necessitating effective Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) for mitigation. This study applied the InVEST Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) model to assess erosion patterns and evaluate NBS effectiveness in the Carapelle watershed (506 km²). The SDR model was calibrated and validated using measured sediment yield data from 2007 and 2008. Model validation achieved a 4.3% deviation from observed data after parameter optimization. Four NBS scenarios were evaluated: contour farming (CF), no-tillage (NT), cover crops (CCs), and combined practices (Comb). Baseline soil loss varied from 2.43 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (2007) to 3.88 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (2008), with sediment export ranging from 0.86 to 1.30 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. NT demonstrated the highest individual effectiveness, reducing sediment export by 72.2% on average. The Comb approach (NT + CCs) achieved a superior performance with a 75.9% sediment export reduction and a 70.5% soil loss reduction. Spatial analysis revealed that high-retention zones were concentrated in forest and shrubland, while agricultural zones showed the greatest potential for NBS implementation. NBSs significantly enhance sediment retention services in Mediterranean agricultural watersheds. The InVEST SDR model proves to be effective for watershed-scale assessment. The results provide actionable guidance for sustainable land management and soil conservation policy in erosion-prone Mediterranean environments. Full article

Understanding how carbon is stored and stabilized in temperate agricultural soils is central to addressing one of the defining environmental challenges of our time—climate change. In this review, we bridge quantitative bibliometric insights with a qualitative synthesis of the mechanisms, regional differences, management practices, and models governing soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. We systematically analyzed 481 peer-reviewed publications published between 1990 and 2024, retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science, using bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer to map research trends, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution. The bibliometric analysis revealed a marked increase in publications after 2010, coinciding with growing global interest in climate-smart agriculture and carbon sequestration policies. Comparative synthesis across temperate sub-regions—such as the humid temperate plains of Europe, the semi-arid temperate zones, and the temperate black soil region of Northeast China—reveals that the effectiveness of common practices varies with soil mineralogy, texture, moisture regimes, and historical land-use. Reduced tillage (average SOC gain of 0.25 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), cover cropping (0.32 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and organic amendments such as compost and biochar (up to 1.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) consistently enhance SOC accumulation, but with region-specific outcomes driven by these contextual factors. Recognizing such heterogeneity is essential for developing regionally actionable management recommendations. Recent advances in machine learning, remote sensing, and process-based modeling are enabling more accurate and scalable monitoring of SOC stocks, yet challenges remain in integrating micro-scale stabilization processes with regional and global assessments. To address these gaps, this review highlights a multi-method integration pathway—combining field measurements, mechanistic modeling, data-driven approaches, and policy instruments that incentivize adoption of evidence-based practices. By combining quantitative bibliometric analysis with regionally informed mechanistic synthesis, this review provides a holistic understanding of how knowledge about SOC in temperate agroecosystems has evolved and where future opportunities lie. The findings underscore that temperate agricultural soils, when supported by appropriate scientific practices and enabling policy frameworks, represent one of the most accessible natural climate solutions for advancing climate-resilient and sustainable food systems. Full article

Sustainable agriculture is a key pillar of the transition to agri-food systems that ensure global food security and the preservation of resources and ecosystems. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of different soil management practices in an agricultural system producing energy crops (maize and sorghum), using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, comparing conventional tillage, minimum tillage and no-tillage agricultural practices. The results show no significant differences between conventional and minimum tillage in most impact categories, while no-tillage shows a significant reduction in environmental impact of almost 50%. The hotspot analysis shows that organic fertilisation, especially the application of digestate, is the main contributor to environmental impacts, particularly in the Climate Change and Eutrophication categories. The results highlight key methodological challenges in LCA, such as the allocation of impacts between digestate and biogas production, and the need to integrate biological and chemical soil processes. While conservation agriculture can improve soil health, its environmental benefits are not fully captured by LCA. This study highlights the need to integrate LCA methodologies with complementary analyses to better assess the sustainability of agricultural practices and support informed decision-making. Full article

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.), a typical dryland crop, has a high nutrient uptake capacity, which can lead to rapid soil nutrient depletion. Establishing soil conservation strategies compatible with the high yield traits of hybrid millet is crucial. Although organic fertilization and deep tillage are proven measures for maintaining soil productivity, their effects on dryland crops like millet remain understudied. This study investigated Zhangzagu 10 under five treatments: rotary tillage without fertilization (RT), rotary tillage with compound fertilizer (RTC), rotary tillage with organic fertilizer (RTO), deep tillage with organic fertilizer at 20–30 cm (DT1O), and deep tillage with organic fertilizer at 30–40 cm (DT2O). Soil physicochemical properties were measured at seven sampling periods and four tillage layer depths in a two-year field experiment. Compared to RT, RTO increased organic carbon and total nitrogen in mechanically stable macro-aggregates (0–20 cm) by up to 141.2% and 135.14%, respectively. Corresponding increases in water-stable aggregates reached 105.9% for organic carbon and 193.33% for total nitrogen. RTO also enhanced the pH buffering capacity of the topsoil while reducing soil bulk density and solid volume fraction in the surface layer during the late growth stages of foxtail millet. Combining organic fertilization with deep tillage (DT1O and DT2O) further optimized subsoil (20–40 cm) structure, increasing macro-aggregate content and stability, with effects intensifying at greater tillage depths. The integration of organic fertilization and deep tillage synergistically improved soil structure and nutrient distribution, offering a sustainable approach for dryland foxtail millet production. Full article