Search Results (97)

This study investigates the spatial heterogeneity of carbon pools in young Betula sp. stands on former arable lands in the southern Moscow region, Russia. The findings could be useful for the current estimates and predictions of the carbon balance in such forest ecosystems. The research focuses on understanding the interactions between plant cover and the environment, i.e., how environmental factors such as stand density, tree diameter and height, light conditions, and soil properties affect ecosystem carbon pools. We also studied how heterogeneity in edaphic conditions affects the formation of plant cover, particularly tree regeneration and the development of ground layer vegetation. Field measurements were conducted on a permanent 50 × 50 m sampling plot divided into 5 × 5 m subplots, in order to capture variability in vegetation and soil characteristics. Key findings reveal significant differences in carbon stocks across subplots with varying stand densities and light conditions. This highlights the role of the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties and vegetation cover in carbon sequestration. The study demonstrates the feasibility of indirect estimation of carbon stocks using stand parameters (density, height, and diameter), with results that closely match direct measurements. The total ecosystem carbon stock was estimated at 80.47 t ha⁻¹, with the soil contribution exceeding that of living biomass and dead organic matter. This research emphasizes the importance of accounting for spatial heterogeneity in carbon assessments of post-agricultural ecosystems, providing a methodological framework for future studies. Full article

Urochloa brizantha (Brizantha) is cultivated under varying altitudinal and management conditions. Twelve full-sun (monoculture) plots and twelve shaded (silvopastoral) plots were established, proportionally distributed at 170, 503, 661, and 1110 masl. Evaluations were conducted 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days after establishment. The conservation and integration of trees in silvopastoral systems reflected a clear anthropogenic influence, evidenced by the preference for species of the Fabaceae family, likely due to their multipurpose nature. Although the altitudinal gradient did not show direct effects on soil properties, intermediate altitudes revealed a significant role of CaCO₃ in enhancing soil fertility. These edaphic conditions at mid-altitudes favored the leaf area development of Brizantha, particularly during the early growth stages, as indicated by significantly larger values (p < 0.05). However, at the harvest stage, no significant differences were observed in physiological or productive traits, nor in foliar chemical components, underscoring the species’ high hardiness and broad adaptation to both soil and altitude conditions. In Brizantha, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in stomatal size and density was observed under shade in silvopastoral areas, where solar radiation and air temperature decreased, while relative humidity increased. Nonetheless, these microclimatic variations did not lead to significant changes in foliar chemistry, growth variables, or biomass production, suggesting a high degree of adaptive plasticity to microclimatic fluctuations. Foliar ash content exhibited an increasing trend with altitude, indicating greater efficiency of Brizantha in absorbing calcium, phosphorus, and potassium at higher altitudes, possibly linked to more favorable edaphoclimatic conditions for nutrient uptake. Finally, forage quality declined with plant age, as evidenced by reductions in protein, ash, and In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility (IVDMD), alongside increases in fiber, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), and Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF). These findings support the recommendation of cutting intervals between 30 and 45 days, during which Brizantha displays a more favorable nutritional profile, higher digestibility, and consequently, greater value for animal feeding. Full article

The primary aim of this study was to explore the influence of abiotic factors on weed development in maize fields, with the goal of informing more effective weed management practices. We focused on identifying key environmental, edaphic, and agricultural variables that contribute to weed infestations, particularly before the application of spring herbicide treatments. Field investigations were conducted from 2018 to 2021 across selected maize-growing regions in Hungary. Over the four-year period, a total of 51 weed species were recorded, with Echinochloa crus-galli, Chenopodium album, Portulaca oleracea, and Hibiscus trionum emerging as the most prevalent taxa. Collectively, these four species accounted for more than half (52%) of the total weed cover. Altogether, the 20 most dominant species contributed 95% of the overall weed coverage. The analysis revealed that weed cover, species richness, and weed diversity were significantly affected by soil properties, nutrient levels, geographic location, and tillage systems. The results confirm that the composition of weed species was influenced by several environmental and management-related factors, including soil parameters, geographical location, annual precipitation, tillage method, and fertilizer application. Environmental factors collectively explained a slightly higher proportion of the variance (13.37%) than farming factors (12.66%) at a 90% significance level. Seasonal dynamics and crop rotation history also played a notable role in species distribution. Nutrient inputs, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, influenced both species diversity and floristic composition. Deep tillage practices favored the proliferation of perennial species, whereas shallow cultivation tended to promote annual weeds. Overall, the composition of weed vegetation proved to be a valuable indicator of site-specific soil conditions and agricultural practices. These findings underscore the need to tailor weed management strategies to local environmental and soil contexts for sustainable crop production. Full article

Remote sensing techniques that use spectral indices (SIs) are essential for monitoring vegetation recovery after wildfires. However, there is a critical gap in the comparability of SI responses across ecoregions due to ecological variability. In this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the capacity of different SIs (GCI, MSI, NBR, NDVI, NDII, and EVI2) to reflect the effect of post-wildfire emergency works on early recovery of vegetation in four Spanish ecoregions. It compared vegetation regrowth between treated and untreated sites, identifying the most sensitive SI for monitoring this recovery. All indices except EVI2 detected significantly better recovery in treated areas; among these, GCI was the most sensitive and NDII the least. The effect of treatment on recovery measured through SI is influenced by site covariates (fire severity, physiography, post-fire action period, post-fire climate, and edaphic characteristics). Finally, random mixed models showed that annual precipitation lower than 700 mm, diurnal temperature over 21 °C, soils with finer texture, and water content under 33% are quantitative limits of the treatment effectiveness on vegetation recovery. Overall, the study highlighted the importance of immediate interventions after fires, especially in the first six months, and advocated context-specific management strategies based on fire severity, ecoregion, soil properties, and climate to optimize vegetation recovery. Full article

Potentially toxic elements such as cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils represent a global concern due to their toxicity and potential accumulation in the food chain. However, our understanding of cadmium’s complex sources and the mechanisms controlling its spatial distribution across diverse edaphic and geological contexts remains limited, particularly in underexplored agricultural regions. Our study aimed to assess the total accumulated Cd content in soils under avocado cultivation and its association with edaphic, geochemical, and geomorphological variables. To this end, we considered the total concentrations of other metals and explored their associations to gain a better understanding of Cd’s spatial distribution. We analyzed 26 physicochemical properties, the total concentrations of 22 elements (including heavy and trace metals such as As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn and major elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Na), and six geospatial variables in 410 soil samples collected from various avocado-growing regions in Peru in order to identity potential associations that could help explain the spatial patterns of Cd. For data analysis, we applied (1) univariate statistics (skewness, kurtosis); (2) multivariate methods such as Spearman correlations and principal component analysis (PCA); (3) spatial modeling using the Geodetector tool; and (4) non-parametric testing (Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc test). Our results indicated (1) the presence of hotspots with Cd concentrations exceeding 3 mg·kg⁻¹, displaying a leptokurtic distribution (skewness = 7.3); (2) dominant accumulation mechanisms involving co-adsorption and cation competition (Na⁺, Ca²⁺), as well as geogenic co-accumulation with Zn and Pb; and (3) significantly higher Cd concentrations in Leptosols derived from Cretaceous intermediate igneous rocks (diorites/tonalites), averaging 1.33 mg kg⁻¹ compared to 0.20 mg·kg⁻¹ in alluvial soils (p < 0.0001). The factors with the greatest explanatory power (q > 15%, Geodetector) were the Zn content, parent material, geological age, and soil taxonomic classification. These findings provide edaphogenetic insights that can inform soil cadmium (Cd) management strategies, including recommendations to avoid establishing new plantations in areas with a high risk of Cd accumulation. Such approaches can enhance the efficiency of mitigation programs and reduce the risks to export markets. Full article

Pine wilt disease (PWD) poses a significant threat to pine forest health, making sanitation thinning of infected trees and cultivation of disease-resistant pine stands crucial measures for forest ecosystem restoration. To date, limited studies have systematically investigated how post-sanitation planting of pine-wilt-disease-resistant Pinus species affects soil microbiome, especially regarding bacterial and fungal diversity characteristics, functional succession patterns, and community assembly processes. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of soil microbial community characteristics and biochemical properties between experimental plots subjected to sanitation thinning and those replanted with disease-resistant pine species. The results indicated that compared to the sanitation-thinned experimental plot, the disease-resistant experimental plots (Pinus taeda experimental plot and Pinus thunbergii experimental plot) exhibited significantly higher activities of β-glucosidase (S-β-GC), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase (S-NAG), and soil arylsulfatase (S-ASF). Compared with the sanitation logging stands, our analysis revealed that the Pinus taeda experimental plot and Pinus thunbergii experimental plot exhibited significantly higher fungal community evenness (OTUs), greater species abundance (OTUs), and more unique fungal taxa. Furthermore, the edaphic properties—specifically soil moisture content (SMC), pH levels, and total potassium (TK)—significantly influenced the structures of soil bacterial and fungal communities. Compared to the sanitation-thinned experimental plot, wood saprotrophic fungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi exhibited increased abundance in both the P. taeda experimental plot and Pinus thunbergii experimental plot. Furthermore, the null models indicated that both the P. taeda experimental plot and P. thunbergii experimental plot enhanced the undominated processes of bacteria and fungi. In summary, our data elucidate the differences in bacterial and fungal responses between pine forests undergoing thinning due to infected trees and those cultivated for disease resistance. This deepens our understanding of microbial functions and community assembly processes within these ecosystems. Full article

Mining significantly impacts terrestrial ecosystems despite its importance to the global economy. As part of soil ecosystems, fungi are highly responsive to environmental and human-induced drivers, shifting community composition and structure. Indeed, fungi play a key role in maintaining ecosystem resilience. Thus, we aim to address the question of whether soil fungal communities maintain similar ecological functions despite changes in community composition due to the impact of mining across ecosystems. To evaluate the ecological role of fungi across four ecosystems with varying iron mining impact levels, we used the FUNGuild database to assign functional guilds at the genus level. Co-occurrence network and ordination analyses were used to infer ecological relationships among fungal taxa and visualize the correlation between edaphic properties and fungal communities. A total of 22 functional guilds were identified, with dung saprotrophs, wood saprotrophs, fungal parasites, plant pathogens, ectomycorrhizal fungi, animal pathogens, and endophytes being the most abundant. Soil properties such as pH, organic matter, texture, and nutrients drive taxonomic and functional shifts. Our findings indicate that while mining activities shift fungal community compositions across ecosystems, the profiles of functional guilds show overlap between highly, moderately, and lowly impacted ecosystems, indicating functional redundancy. Network analysis reveals that highly connected hub taxa contribute to ecological redundancy across ecosystems and might act as a buffer against environmental disturbances. Our findings emphasize the important ecological role of soil fungi and indicate a potential for using fungal communities as bioindicators of ecological recovery in post-mining landscapes. From a mining and restoration perspective, this offers a low-cost, ecologically meaningful tool for monitoring soil recovery and guiding reclamation efforts. Full article

Soil represents a fundamental yet delicate ecosystem susceptible to threats and alterations that can significantly impact its biota, especially in urban areas. Soil microarthropods may serve as bioindicators of soil quality. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive investigation of the response of soil microarthropod communities to anthropogenic pressures and to assess the biological quality of the soil in urban Rome (Italy). Microarthropods were extracted from soil samples collected at 16 sites, representing four distinct land-use types (disturbed unmanaged green spaces, disturbed managed green spaces, urban forests, and natural forests as reference) along a disturbance gradient. The basic soil properties and landscape characteristics were measured at each sampling site. Values of community diversity (calculated as Hill’s numbers based on biological forms reflecting specialization to the edaphic life), total microarthropod density, and soil biological quality indices based on microarthropod biological forms (QBS-ar and its variation QBS-ab, which also considers group abundances), were calculated for each sampling site and compared among land-use types. Land-use types varied in soil chemo-physical characteristics, with soils of managed and unmanaged green spaces being more alkaline, sodic, and compacted, and with lower organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen levels compared to urban and natural forests. Microarthropod diversity decreased from semi-natural or natural forests to highly disturbed urban sites. QBS-ar and QBS-ab values significantly differed among almost all land-use types, with managed urban green spaces exhibiting lower values than the unmanaged ones. No significant differences were observed between urban and natural forests. Soil pH, soil compaction, cation exchange capacity, C/N ratio, and vegetation cover appeared to be the most significant factors influencing the diversity and composition of microarthropod biological forms, as well as the QBS-ar and QBS-ab indices. Although with the limit of using biological forms instead of species, our investigation reaffirmed the valuable role of large, forested patches within cities for soil conservation and the preservation of their microarthropod communities. The potential of green spaces as suitable habitats for soil microarthropods should be carefully considered in urban management plans. Full article

Sustainable soil management through the use of an appropriate tillage system can positively change the edaphic parameters. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects that reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems have on changes in selected physical and chemical properties and enzymatic activity in various soil types. The study included the following soil types: Eutric Fluvisol, Mollic Fluvisol, Haplic Chernozem, Haplic Luvisol, Eutric Regosol, Eutric Gleysol, and Stagnic Planosol. Soil samples were collected in the Danubian Lowland and Eastern Slovak Lowland. The following parameters were determined in the soil samples: soil texture, pH, hydrolytic acidity and the sum of basic exchangeable cations, the contents of carbon (TOC), nitrogen (TN), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and the activities of dehydrogenases (DEH), catalase (CAT), peroxidases (PER), alkaline phosphatase (AlP), acid phosphatase (AcP), proteases, and β-glucosidase (BG). The reaction of the analysed soils, in the RT and CT cultivations alike, ranged from acidic to neutral, and the sorption properties differed between individual soil types. The TOC ranged from 16.53 to 42.07 g kg⁻¹ for conventional cultivation and from 15.51 to 38.90 g kg⁻¹ for reduced tillage. The values of enzymatic soil quality indices values correlated with TOC, DOC, and TN, as well as with pH, the sum of exchangeable base cations, cation exchange capacity, and degree of base saturation of the sorption complex. The tillage system determined changes in the activity of the studied enzymes, but the intensity and direction of these changes depended on the soil type. Based on the enzyme activity results, soil quality indices such as GMea and TEI were calculated. TEI proved to be a more sensitive indicator than GMea. It was shown that, of all studied soil types and regardless of the cultivation system, Eutric Gleyosols had the most variable properties. For conventional tillage, Haplic Luvisol and Eutric Regosol were characterised by the greatest uniformity. In general, the edaphic properties of soils under conventional tillage differed from those of soils under simplified tillage. Full article

Biochar utilisation as a soil enhancer has gathered considerable interest owing to its notable capacity to boost soil productivity, enhance carbon sequestration, and improve agricultural sustainability. Nonetheless, how biochar affects the soil microbiome, a key to soil health and ecological functioning, remains a contested subject. Given the critical role microbial communities play in maintaining soil health and functioning, variations in soil microbiota may have a substantial impact on soil fertility and stability. Despite a wealth of studies on the effects of biochar on soil microbial communities, the results demonstrate that the reaction of the microbiome to biochar varies greatly depending on the edaphic and biochar properties and other factors such as the experimental conditions and agricultural practices. Notably, different components of the soil microbiome may respond to soil/biochar properties in a unique way, which makes generalising the impacts of biochar on the soil microbiome a difficult task. In this review, we comprehensively examine the factors governing the impacts of biochar on the soil microbiome, especially in terms of its repercussions on microbial diversity, community structure, and functional dynamics, and the potential ramifications for agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability. Full article

Invasive plants are among the top five drivers of biodiversity loss, primarily due to competition and allelopathy. By releasing root exudates, they alter soil properties, influencing both the abiotic and biotic characteristics of soil. The effects of invasive plants on soil characteristics and biota remain underexplored, with findings on this topic often being controversial and context-dependent. This study aimed to understand the impact of two invasive species—black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima Mill.)—on soil abiotic characteristics, microbial and Collembola communities. Comparisons were made with soils under two types of native vegetation cover: holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) and herbaceous vegetation. In fall 2023, twelve sites within Vesuvius National Park (three per plant cover type) were sampled to assess soil characteristics, microbial biomass and activities, and Collembola communities. Tree of heaven increased soil pH (6.95), bacterial biomass (42.94 ng g⁻¹) and Collembola density (2038 organisms m²) while reducing water content (10.6% d.w.) and organic carbon (1.21% d.w.). Black locust increased nitrogen content (0.70% d.w.) but reduced microbial biomass (22.85 ng g⁻¹) and Collembola density (873 organisms m²). Tree of heaven soils showed a higher proportion of hemi-edaphic Collembola (48.3%) compared to black locust soils, which were dominated by eu-edaphic forms (42.2%). Despite these differences, Collembola species composition was poorly diversified under invasive plants, with Brachystomella parvula and Protaphorura armata dominating both types of cover. In conclusion, the presence of invasive plants was associated with declines in soil organism biodiversity, underscoring their disruptive influence on forest ecosystems. Full article

Understanding the dynamics of soil water content (SWC) is essential for effective land management, particularly in regions affected by underground mining. This study investigates the spatial and temporal patterns of SWC and its interaction with topographic and edaphic factors in coal mining and non-coal mining areas of the Chenghe watershed, located in the southeast of the Chinese Loess Plateau, which is divided by a river. Our findings revealed that the capacity to retain moisture in the top layer of coal mining areas is significantly higher (25.21%) compared to non-coal mining areas, although deeper layers exhibit lower SWC, indicating altered moisture dynamics due to underground mining disturbances. Coal mining areas show greater spatial and temporal variability in SWC, suggesting increased sensitivity to moisture fluctuations, which complicates water management practices. Additionally, underground mining activities introduce more intense effects on the relationship between SWC and topographic factors (i.e., GCVR across soil profile of 0–60 cm; slope at depth of 50 cm) or edaphic factors (i.e., soil organic matter and available potassium at depth of 30 cm; pH at depth of 50 cm) compared to non-coal mining areas. This variability is evident in the temporal shifts from positive to negative correlations, particularly in coal mining areas, reflecting modifications in both soil physical and chemical properties resulting from mining activities. In contrast, non-coal mining areas maintain a more stable moisture regime, likely due to preserved natural soil structures and processes. These contrasting findings emphasize the necessity for tailored management strategies in coal mining regions to address the unique challenges posed by altered soil characteristics and water dynamics. Full article

Although organic amendment has been widely demonstrated to be capable of reassembling soil microbiomes in coastal salt-affected soils, quantitative characterization in respect to how abiotic and biotic components drive the diversifications of soil microbial community and function remains rudimentary. We investigated the effects of types and application rates of different exogenous organic ameliorants (sewage sludge, S; vermicompost, V) on the physicochemical properties, fungal community diversity, and fungal functional traits in coastal salt-affected soils. Results revealed that both S and V amendments exhibited significantly positive impacts on the alleviation of environmental constraints and the reassembly of fungal community and functional profile. Of note, efficacy of the two exogenous organic ameliorants was significantly influenced by the types of carbon sources utilized and the rates at which they are applied. More pronounced variations in soil physicochemical and microbiological properties were observed in soils amended by S and V at the application rate of 200 t ha⁻¹. Both S and V treatments positively boosted soil fungal community diversification with higher compositional diversities found in the majority of amended soils when compared to unamended soils. In addition, S and V applications favored the flourishment of functions linked to saprotrophic strategy with soil saprotrophs and wood saprotrophs predominating the functional profiles in soils amended by S and V, respectively. Results obtained from redundancy analysis and structural equation modeling revealed that pH, salinity, and SOC were the principle edaphic factors that significantly and directly affected the reassembly of fungal community. In addition, fluctuations in the prevalence of specific fungal genera, including Stachybotrys, Trichoderma, Mortierella, and Acremonium, emerged as a decisive biotic factor influencing diversifications of fungal communities and functional profiles. Taken together, this study not only highlighted the efficacy of S and V application on environmental constraints alleviation in coastal mudflats, but also qualitatively identified and quantitatively illustrated potential pathways and effectiveness of edaphic and biotic components driving the diversification of soil fungal microbiomes and functional profiles. These findings would enhance our understanding in respect to the microbial-mediated amelioration process of salt-affected soils within coastal mudflat ecosystem. Full article

Paphiopedilum micranthum, an IUCN Red List species, is discontinuously distributed in the karst limestone mountain of southwest China and exhibits ecological specialization, typically through lithophytic and terrestrial ecotypes. Whether the distribution of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi in these different habitats is random or reflects soil preferences requires further investigation. A total of 73 samples from the core distribution areas in China, representing all habitats in two sites, were analyzed for soil differences by comparing edaphic properties and microbial community structure based on high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes and fungal ITS region sequences, alongside soil physiochemical data. The results showed no significant differences in microbial community richness and diversity across the heterogeneous habitats. However, significant differences in taxa were observed across various habitats. Dominant bacterial phyla included Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota, with dominant genera such as Crossiella, Pseudonocardia, 67-14, Mycobacterium and RB41. The primary fungal phyla were Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, featuring prominent genera such as Phlegmacium, Archaeorhizomyces, Trechispora, and Lepiota. There were 16 bacterial genera and 13 fungal genera associated with nitrogen transformation and fixation. Alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN) was identified as a main driver of soil bacterial and fungal community variation. Based on an analysis of soil physicochemical properties, ammonium nitrogen content was consistently higher than nitrate nitrogen across different habitats. Furthermore, across all heterogeneous habitats, P. micranthum showed no significant differences in nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, or their ratio. The nitrogen-use efficiency of P. micranthum ranged from 7.73% to 9.87%, with the highest efficiency observed in the terrestrial habitat of Shedu. These results suggest that P. micranthum prefers habitats rich in organic matter and nitrogen, showing a preference for ammonium nitrogen uptake in natural conditions. Heterogeneous habitats affect plant nitrogen-use efficiency as well as changes in microbial community composition. Full article

Soil respiration is a critical process that regulates key ecosystem functions such as climate control, nutrient cycling, and plant productivity. Soil texture, nutrient availability, and microbial communities can all influence soil respiration, yet our understanding of their relative importance remains limited. This study aimed to investigate how different factors—like soil texture, nutrient additions, and microbial communities—contribute to soil respiration and define their specific roles in its variability. Using a microcosm experiment with various fertilizers and two soil types (Navarra, a silty clay soil, and Saponi, a sandy soil), we measured changes in both biotic and abiotic factors. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that, among other biotic and abiotic factors, soil clay content, soluble nitrogen levels, bacterial abundance, and α-diversity significantly impacted soil respiration, together accounting for over 60% of its total variance. Structural equation modeling indicated that microbial communities made the greatest contribution to respiration at 30.84%, followed by soil texture at 19.63%. Overall, biotic factors were found to play a more significant role in driving soil respiration rates compared to abiotic factors, with edaphic properties having a greater influence than fertilizer additions. Full article