Search Results (125)

Due to the intensive cultivation of various crops, the surface soil layer is depleted. This leads to a decrease in fertility, losses of organic matter and nutrients, and an overall decrease in soil health. We aimed to investigate the role of green manure application and organic fertilization on winter fodder barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Zemela cult.) in terms of agronomic and soil parameters. The cultivation was carried out in two fields, the predecessors of which were oats–vetch green manure (field 1) or fallow (field 2). In each field, five treatments were prepared: a control without fertilization, mineral fertilization, vermicompost, mineral fertilizer + vermicompost, and biochar. The green manure incorporation led to a decrease in grain yield of barley by 10.8–20.0% depending on the treatment. A similar tendency was observed for the rest of the studied agronomic parameters (thousand-grain mass, hectolitre weight, ear number, plants per hectare). Additionally, the vermicompost application had the most substantial effect, accounting for a 20.1% increase compared to the control, while the smallest was expressed by biochar—1.6%. Nevertheless, the photosynthesis intensity was higher in treatments after green manure. The microbiome’s activity was boosted in the vermicompost treatments, while amino acids, carboxylic acids, and polymers were the most fully metabolised compounds by the soil communities. In conclusion, the type of predecessor influenced mainly grain protein, carotenoids, and chlorophyll contents, as well as microbial activities, respiration, and dehydrogenase, while the fertilization impacted primarily on soil water and organic content, total soil N, and photosynthetic pigments of barley plants. Full article

The sustainability of Korla fragrant pear orchards has been increasingly threatened by prolonged intensive agricultural practices. In response, biofertilizers and green manures have gained attention due to their potential to enhance soil structure, activate microbial functions, and improve nutrient uptake. However, the dynamic changes in soil bacterial communities under such interventions remain inadequately understood. This study was conducted from 2022 to 2023 in 7- to 8-year-old Korla fragrant pear orchards in Bayin’guoleng Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. The treatments included: conventional fertilization (CK), biofertilizer (JF), oil sunflowers (DK1) with 25 cm row spacing and a seeding rate of 27 kg·hm⁻², oil sunflowers (DK2) with 25 cm row spacing and a seeding rate of 33 kg·hm⁻², sweet clover (CM1) with 20 cm row spacing and a seeding rate of 21 kg·hm⁻², and sweet clover (CM2) with 20 cm row spacing and a seeding rate of 27 kg·hm⁻². During the 2023 pear season, soil samples from the 0–20 cm layer were collected at the fruit setting, expansion, and maturity stages. Their physical and chemical properties were analyzed, and the structure and diversity of the soil bacterial community were examined using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Fruit yield was assessed at the maturity stage. Compared to CK, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria increased by 101.00%, 38.99%, and 50.38% in the JF, DK2, and CM1 treatments, respectively. DK1 and CM1 treatments resulted in a 152.28% and 145.70% increase in the relative abundance of the taxon Subgroup_7, while JF and DK2 treatments enhanced the relative abundance of the taxon Gitt-GS-136 by 318.91% and 324.04%, respectively. The Chao1 index for CM2 was 18.76% higher than CK. LEfSe analysis showed that the DK2 and CM2 treatments had a more significant regulatory effect on bacterial community structure. All treatments led to higher fruit numbers and yield compared to CK, with JF showing the largest yield increase. Fertilizer type, soil nutrients, and bacterial community structure all significantly positively influenced pear yield. In conclusion, high-density oil sunflower planting is the most effective approach for maintaining soil microbial community stability, followed by low-density sweet clover. This study provides a systematic evaluation of the dynamic effects of bio-fertilizers and different green manure planting patterns on soil microbial communities in Korla fragrant pear orchards, presenting practical, microbe-based strategies for sustainable orchard management. Full article

Vineyard sustainability increasingly focuses on transitioning from traditional soil management practices, such as tillage and herbicides, to environmentally friendly methods like cover cropping and mulching. While this strategy works in cool climates with abundant rainfall, its application in warmer areas is not advisable due to potential disadvantages, such as water and nutrient competition from cover crops, which may outweigh the benefits. We examine the pros and cons of vineyard tillage, including data on evaporation rates from wet and dry tilled soils. We explore methodologies to quantify competition between vine roots and grass roots, focusing on distinguishing native versus spontaneous vegetation, duration and extent of cover cropping, species used in sown mixtures, and cover crop water use rates. Novel soil management practices are discussed as alternatives to traditional green manuring, such as mid-row rolling and sub-row sward mulching. The review updates recent approaches for establishing native or sown under-vine cover crops, which, with irrigation, might control native weeds while colonizing shallow soil, allowing grapevine roots to penetrate deeper, moistened soil layers. Promising grasses include creeping species such as Glechoma hederacea, Trifolium subterraneum, and Hieracium pilosella. Finally, we describe three soil management protocols: two suited to dry farm conditions and one involving blue water availability, which may mitigate cover crop competition for water and nutrients while maintaining benefits such as reduced soil erosion, increased soil organic matter, carbon sequestration, and improved machinery access. Full article

The rehabilitation of coal mine sites in semi-arid environments is a step in combating desertification. A promising rehabilitation approach involves the development of anthropic soils that can support vegetation. However, reliable soil quality indicators are needed to evaluate long-term sustainability of rehabilitation strategies. In a coal mine area in northeastern Spain, two anthropic soils (0.5 m thick) were constructed by layering fine-textured coal residues at the bottom, topped with coarse overburden materials. Chemical fertility was enhanced using combinations of semi-liquid manure (25 or 60 mm) and straw (0 or 15 Mg ha⁻¹), resulting in four treatments randomly distributed across both soil surfaces. Two abiotic indicators were selected for sustainability assessment: soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and microstructure. Seven years after rehabilitation activities were completed, SOC fractions were analyzed. In addition, two years later, soil porosity and specific pore perimeter were also assessed in soil thin section images. The results indicated that the lower manure rate promoted more efficient SOC stabilization, evidenced by a 4–5-fold increase in specific pore perimeter at 0–5 cm depth, and lower fulvic acid content at 5–20 cm depth, compared with the higher manure rate. Micromorphological analysis proved to be a sensitive method for detecting early improvements in the physical quality of anthropic soils, highlighting the importance of adjusting manure rates for sustainable coal mine rehabilitation. Full article

Context: To revive the practice of planting legume green manure (GM) in the fallow period in rainfed agricultural areas, it is essential to demonstrate the benefits of this practice on the yields and water use efficiency (WUE) of subsequent crops, especially when integrating with optimized water and fertilizer management. Objectives: We conducted a field experiment to determine the positive effects of planting legume GM in the summer fallow on the yield, WUE, and nitrogen uptake efficiency (NupE) of subsequent winter wheat, which was grown with plastic film mulching and integrated fertilization in the Loess Plateau of China. Methods: A split-plot-designed experiment was arranged with two main treatments, namely (1) wheat planting followed by GM planting in the summer fallow (GM) and (2) conventional wheat monoculture followed by bare land summer fallow (BL), and three sub-treatments: (1) control treatment without any chemical fertilizer (Ct), (2) application of chemical N, P, and K as basal fertilizer (B), and (3) application of basal fertilizer plus wheat straw return (BS). Results: In the initial two years, even in a dry year, GM did not decrease the soil water content and storage (0–200 cm layer) during the subsequent winter wheat season, relative to BL. But in the third and fourth years, GM increased the grain yield of winter wheat by 3.2% and 3.8%, respectively. B and BS increased the grain yield of winter wheat by 14.4% and 22.2%, respectively, during the third experimental year, and by 12.7% and 19.4% during the fourth experimental year, primarily through increasing the population density of winter wheat. The increase in the grain yield contributed to a higher WUE of winter wheat. In the third year, GM increased the water consumption (WC) and WUE of wheat by 2.4% and 1.7%, respectively, though they were far lower than B (8.3% and 5.6%) and BS (10.4% and 10.7%). B and BS resulted in a higher yield and N nutrition than GM alone, but GM combined with B and BS resulted in the highest yield and N nutrition, thus greatly decreasing the NupE and increasing N productivity. Conclusions: Planting legume GM in the fallow can further increase the long-term yield, WUE, and N utilization of winter wheat when integrated with chemical fertilization and wheat straw return in rainfed agriculture. Implications: Our study yields new insights into the agronomic benefits of legume GM application in semi-arid or analogous rainfed agroecosystems and underscores the critical role of water conservation in ensuring dryland agricultural production, particularly in regions undergoing optimization of fertilization. Full article

Grazing affects soil organic carbon (SOC) through plant removal, livestock trampling, and manure deposition. However, the impact of grazing on SOC is also influenced by multiple factors such as climate, soil properties, and management approaches. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms by which grazing intensity influences SOC density in grasslands remain incompletely understood. This study examines the effects of varying grazing intensities on SOC density (0–30 cm) dynamics in temperate grasslands of northern China using field surveys and experimental analyses in a typical steppe ecosystem of Inner Mongolia. Results show that moderate grazing (3.8 sheep units/ha/yr) led to substantial consumption of aboveground plant biomass. Relative to the ungrazed control (0 sheep units/ha/yr), aboveground plant biomass was reduced by 40.5%, 36.2%, and 50.6% in the years 2016, 2019, and 2020, respectively. Compensatory growth failed to fully offset biomass loss, and there were significant reductions in vegetation carbon storage and cover (p < 0.05). Reduced vegetation cover increased bare soil exposure and accelerated topsoil drying and erosion. This degradation promoted the downward migration of SOC from surface layers. Quantitative analysis revealed that moderate grazing significantly reduced surface soil (0–10 cm) organic carbon density by 13.4% compared to the ungrazed control while significantly increasing SOC density in the subsurface layer (10–30 cm). Increased precipitation could mitigate the SOC transfer and enhance overall SOC accumulation. However, it might negatively affect certain labile SOC fractions. Elucidating the mechanisms of SOC variation under different grazing intensities and precipitation regimes in semi-arid grasslands could improve our understanding of carbon dynamics in response to environmental stressors. These insights will aid in predicting how grazing systems influence grassland carbon cycling under global climate change. Full article

Groundwater contamination by nitrates (NO₃⁻) and nitrites (NO₂⁻) is an urgent problem in rural areas of Eastern Europe, with profound public health and sustainability implications. This paper presents an integrated assessment of groundwater vulnerability and water quality in rural wells in the Ceanu Mare commune, Cluj County, Romania—a representative area of the Northern Transylvania Basin, characterized by diverse geological structures, intensive agricultural activities, and incomplete public water infrastructure. This study combines detailed hydrochemical analyses, household-level studies, and geological context to identify and quantify key factors influencing nitrate and microbial contamination in rural wells, providing a comprehensive perspective on water quality challenges in the central part of Romania. This study adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating detailed geotechnical investigations conducted through four strategically located boreholes. These are complemented by extensive hydrogeological and lithological characterization, as well as rigorous chemical and microbiological analyses of nearby wells. The results reveal persistently elevated concentrations of NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻, commonly associated with inadequate livestock waste management and the proximity of manure storage areas. Microbiological contamination was also frequent. In this study, the NO₃⁻ levels in well water ranged from 39.7 to 48 mg/L, reaching up to 96% of the EU/WHO threshold (50 mg/L), while the NO₂⁻ concentrations varied from 0.50 to 0.69 mg/L, exceeding the legal limit (0.5 mg/L) in 87% of the sampled wells. Ammonium (NH₄⁺) was detected (0.25–0.34 mg/L) in all the wells, below the maximum allowed limit (0.5 mg/L) but indicative of ongoing organic pollution. All the well water samples were non-compliant for microbiological parameters, with E. coli detected in 100% of cases (5–13 CFU/100 mL). The regional clay–marl substrate offers only limited natural protection against pollutant infiltration, primarily due to lithological heterogeneity and discontinuities observed within the clay–marl layers in the study area. This research delivers a replicable model for rural groundwater assessment and addresses a critical gap in regional and European water safety studies. It also provides actionable recommendations for sustainable groundwater management, infrastructure development, and community risk reduction in line with EU water directives. Full article

Returning straw and green manure to the field is a vital agronomic practice for improving crop yields and ensuring food security. However, the existing research primarily focuses on drylands and low-fertility paddy fields. A systematic discussion of the yield-increasing mechanisms and soil response patterns of medium- and long-term organic fertilization in subtropical, high-organic-matter paddy fields is lacking. This study conducted a six-year field experiment (2019–2024) in a typical high-fertility rice production area, where the initial organic matter content of the 0–20 cm topsoil layer was 44.56 g kg⁻¹. Four treatments were established: PK (no nitrogen, only phosphorus and potassium fertilizer), NPK (conventional nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer), NPKM (NPK + full-amount winter milk vetch return), and NPKS (NPK + full-amount rice straw return). We collected 0–20 cm topsoil samples during key rice growth stages to monitor the dynamic changes in nitrate and ammonium nitrogen. The rice SPAD, LAI, plant height, and tiller number were also measured during the growth period. After the six-year rice harvest, we determined the properties of the topsoil, including its organic matter, pH, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, available phosphorus and potassium, and alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen. The results showed that, compared to NPK, the organic matter content of the topsoil (0–20 cm) increased by 6.36% and 5.16% (annual average increase of 1.06% and 0.86%, lower than in low-fertility areas) in the NPKS and NPKM treatments, respectively; the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content increased by 16.59%, 8.81%, and 10.37% (NPKS) and 6.70%, 5.12%, and 11.62% (NPKM), respectively; the available phosphorus content increased by 21.87% and 8.42%, respectively; the available potassium content increased by 47.38% and 11.56%, respectively; and the alkali hydrolyzable nitrogen content increased by 3.24% and 2.34%, respectively. However, the pH decreased by 0.07 in the NPKS treatment while it increased by 0.17 in the NPKM treatment, respectively, compared to the PK treatment. NPKS and NPKM improved key rice growth indicators such as the SPAD, LAI, plant height, and tillering. In particular, the tillering of the NPKS treatment showed a sustained advantage at maturity, increasing by up to 13.64% compared to NPK, which also led to an increase in the effective panicle number. Compared to NPK, NPKS and NPKM increased the average yield by 9.52% and 8.83% over the six years, respectively, with NPKM having the highest yield in the first three years (2019–2021) and NPKS having the highest yield from the fourth year (2022–2024) onwards. These results confirm that inputting organic materials such as straw and green manure can improve soil fertility and rice productivity, even in rice systems with high organic matter levels. Future research should prioritize the long-term monitoring of carbon and nitrogen cycle dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions to comprehensively assess these practices’ sustainability. Full article

Circular economy in the context of municipal organic waste management has boosted the emergence of novel composting scenarios, such as community composting and decentralized urban composting in small installations, which favors localized management and valorization of organic waste streams. However, there is little information about the agronomic use of the composts obtained from these new organic waste management systems as an alternative for inorganic fertilization in crop production. In this work, municipal solid waste-derived composts from two decentralized composting scenarios (CM1 and CM2 from community composting, and CM3 and CM4 from decentralized urban small-scale composting plants) were applied and mixed in the top layer of a calcareous clayey-loam soil to assess their effects as alternative substitutes for conventional soil inorganic fertilization (IN) during two successive cultivation cycles of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in pots with the amended soils. These treatments were also compared with an organic waste (goat–rabbit manure, E) and a control treatment without fertilization (B). The effects of the fertilizing treatments on the crop yield and quality, as well as on the properties of the soil considered were studied. In general, the application of the different composts did not produce negative effects on lettuce yield and quality. The compost-derived fertilization showed similar lettuce yields compared to the inorganic and manure-derived fertilizations (IN and E, respectively), and higher yields than the soil without amendment (B), with increases in the initial yield values of B, for the first cycle from 34.2% for CM1 to 53.8% for CM3, and from 20.3% for CM3 to 92.4% for CM1 in the second cycle. Furthermore, the organically amended soils showed a better crop development, obtaining higher values than the control treatment in the parameters studied. In addition, the incorporation of the organic treatments improved the soil characteristics, leading to 1.3 and 1.2 times higher organic matter contents in the soils with CM2 and in the soils with CM1, CM3, and E, respectively, compared to the control soil without fertilizing treatment (B), and 2.0 and 1.8 times greater organic matter contents, respectively, compared to soil with inorganic fertilization (IN). Therefore, the use of municipal solid waste-derived composts from these new organic waste management systems, such as the decentralized composting scenarios studied (community composting and urban decentralized small-scale composting plants), is presented, not only as a sustainable valorization method, but also as an alternative for the use of inorganic fertilizers in lettuce cultivation, while enhancing soil properties, contributing to increasing the circularity of agriculture. Full article

The gleyed paddy soils in subtropical China, characterized by poor structure, high reductive substances, and low fertility, pose challenges to sustainable agriculture. This study investigates the improvement effects of applying rapeseed green manure in combination with biochar or vermicompost through field experiments, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the organic improvement of gleyed paddy soils. The experiment included four treatments: control (CK), rapeseed green manure (GM), GM + biochar (GMB), and GM + vermicompost (GMVC). Soil physicochemical properties, aggregate stability, and fungal communities were analyzed after rice harvest. GM significantly increased the total nitrogen (TN) content in the 0–10 cm soil layer and decreased the Fe²⁺ and total glomalin-related soil protein (T-GRSP) contents. GMVC further increased the pH value, available potassium (AK) content, and Shannon index in the 0–10 cm soil layer, decreased the available phosphorus (AP) content, and increased the proportion of macro-aggregates (>2000 µm) and decreased the fractal dimension (D) in the 10–20 cm soil layer. Compared with GMVC, GMB more significantly increased the soil organic carbon content and regulated the ratio of EE-GRSP/T-GRSP in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Fungal community analysis showed Ascomycota dominance. Pearson analysis showed Westerdykella enrichment significantly correlated with reduced T-GRSP. Monte Carlo tests identified pH and SOC as key factors shaping fungal communities. The GMB strategy mitigates reductive stress, enhances nutrient availability, and activates microbial functionality. These findings offer insights and frameworks for sustainable soil management in subtropical rice agroecosystems. Full article

Soil erosion has caused the loss of black soil and exposed the soil parent material in the cultivated layer of sloping farmland in Northeast China. Straw return (STR) and manure fertilization (MF) are critical measures to improve soil quality and crop yield. However, the effect of STR and MF on the soil properties of the parent material remains unclear. We conducted a 1-year pot experiment in the field using the soil parent material of degraded black soil to evaluate the effects of STR and MF on soil nutrients, microbial community, and soybean yield. We analyzed these effects using two treatments (STR and MF) in three soybean growth stages (seedling, flowering, and maturity) and a control group (CK). The MF treatment had higher α and β diversity of soil microbial than the CK during all soybean growth stages. Similarly, STR had higher soil microbial α diversity at the maturity stage and lower diversity at the seedling stage. Co-occurrence network analysis suggested that STR and MF increased the proportion of positively correlated edges in soil bacterial and fungal networks compared to the CK. Notably, the treatments enriched beneficial taxa, such as Schizothecium (fungi) and Massilia (bacteria), which are associated with organic matter decomposition and nitrogen cycling. STR and MF significantly improved soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and carbon-nitrogen ratio (p < 0.05). Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that STR and MF directly increased soybean yield. This effect was primarily mediated by the significantly higher soil organic matter, total carbon, total nitrogen, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in the treatments than in the CK (p < 0.05). In summary, STR and MF improved soil fertility and soil microbial community diversity of degraded black soil. This study provides scientific methods to improve the fertility of degraded black soil and increase soybean production in the short term. Full article

To investigate the changes in the composition and structure of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) of the lysate solutions of different types of soil after green manure tilling treatment, we set up two types of soil materials (fluvo-aquic soil; coastal saline soil) and three green manure tilling treatments (T1: CK—without green manure, T2: tilling Dongmu70 rye, and T3: tilling rapeseed green manure); then, the soil leachate was obtained with a soil column simulation test and its DOM spectral properties were determined. The rapeseed green manure leachate demonstrated a significantly higher humic macromolecule content and aromaticity compared to Dongmu70 rye leachate. Fluorescence Index (FI) values (1.5–2.2) suggest a mixed origin of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from both terrestrial and microbial-derived sources. All Humification Index (HIX) values remained below 1, indicating low humification levels and limited stabilization of DOM within the leachate system, and Biological Index (BIX) values exceeding 1 across all soil layers highlight the predominance of a recent biological metabolism in shaping DOM autochthonous origins. The SUVA₂₆₀ values in Dongmu70 rye–moist soils and rapeseed green manure–coastal saline soil exhibited reductions of 0.020–2.573 L·(mg·m)⁻¹ relative to pre-drenching levels. After tilling rapeseed green manure, the SUVA₂₅₄ value of coastal saline soil at the 60–90 cm layer decreased by 1.941 L·(mg·m)⁻¹. This study shows that differences in green manure and soil type affect DOM sources and composition, reducing DOM leaching, with coastal saline soil + rapeseed green manure and fluvo-aquic soil + Dongmu70 rye being the advantageous combinations. The study results provide theoretical guidance for applying green manure coupled with freshwater leaching technology in the context of saline and alkaline land with multiple soil types. Full article

Soil carbon sequestration is one of the pathways for the dairy sector to mitigate climate change. Soil carbon measures have been reviewed extensively, including estimates of their impacts on regional or national scales. Eventually, these measures are to be implemented by the farmers themselves, justifying an assessment at farm and field level. Here, we used soil and management data from 96 fields on nine dairy farms to quantify annual stock changes under current management and the effect of several carbon measures on soil carbon sequestration in relation to farm configurations. The fields were in use as permanent grassland or grass-arable rotation with forage maize or other crops. We compared the observed changes in the soil layer of 0–25 cm with the RothC simulated changes, and we also simulated the effect of carbon measures on soil carbon stocks. We found a moderate (R² = 0.30) relation between simulated and measured soil carbon changes. Factors that contribute to the uncertainties are the estimates of field-specific carbon inputs from crop residues and manures, especially for farms that temporarily exchange land with other farmers. The current standard agronomic soil sampling program is unable to reliably detect soil carbon changes at a farm or field level. The annual changes in simulated soil carbon were negatively related to the initials carbon stocks, which has important implications for the potential of additional carbon storage. Therefore, we propose an indicator that expresses the current soil carbon stock in relation to the location-specific maximal achievable carbon stock for permanent grassland that receives an equivalent of 170 kg nitrogen per ha per year from animal manure. This can be used to compare farms and indicate whether a farmer’s focus should be on additional carbon storage or the protection of existing stocks. The simulation of carbon measures showed that the proportion of grassland is key in soil carbon storage. Full article

Different beddings result in alterations in barn environments and are responsible for changes in heifer behaviors and welfare. In this experiment, twenty-four Holstein heifers were randomly divided into four pens with various beddings, including sawdust (SD), fermented manure and sawdust (FSD), fermented manure and straw (FST), and a fermented manure mixture (FMM) for 31 days. The water content and surface layer temperature of the beddings were measured. We studied the activity budget, diurnal rhythms, and locations in lying and elimination of these heifers by videoing them for three consecutive days in the early and late stages of the experiment. Compared with the three fermented beddings (FSD, FST, and FMM), the SD bedding had a higher surface layer temperature and lower water content (p < 0.05). The SD bedding resulted in significantly less time ruminating (p < 0.01) and more time walking (p < 0.01) for heifers. The heifers in the SD and FMM bedding spent less time lying (p < 0.01) and more time standing (p < 0.01). Heifers in SD and FSD beddings presented lower scores in surface cleanliness rating (p < 0.01). Heifer activities, including eating, drinking, elimination, and lying, showed clear circadian patterns in four groups. Elimination behavior had a significant positive correlation with drinking/eating (p < 0.01). Moreover, similar location distributions in lying and elimination of heifers in various bedding pens were observed. Heifers preferred to eliminate the near eating area and drinking area and keep lying out of the eating region (p < 0.01). These findings could provide a reference for the selection of bedding materials and bedding management in dairy farming. Full article

It has been assumed that the long-term impact of a diversified soil use system (SUS) and the continuous application of manure and/or mineral fertilizers (NPK) affects the sustainability of soil fertility components. This influence is manifested through the content and distribution of nutrients, as well as some bioavailable heavy metals in the soil. This hypothesis was verified in 2022 in a long-term field experiment that started in 1957. It consisted of a seven-course crop rotation: potato–spring barley–winter triticale–alfalfa–alfalfa–winter wheat–winter rye and monocultures of these crops plus black fallow. The studies were carried out on three separate fields: black fallow (BF), winter wheat grown in monoculture (WW-MO), and crop rotation (WW-CR). Each of these experimental objects consists of five fertilizer variants (FVs) fertilized in the same way every year: absolute control (AC)—variant without fertilizers for 75 years; farmyard manure—FM; mineral fertilizers—NPK; mixed variant—NPK + FM; mineral fertilizers plus annually applied lime—NPK + L. The second factor was the soil layer: 0.0–0.3 m, 0.3–0.6 m, or 0.6–0.9 m. The obtained results clearly indicate that long-term fertilization with NPK + FM, especially in rotation with legumes, strengthens the eluviation/illuviation processes, decreasing the sustainability of soil fertility. Liming is a factor stabilizing the content and distribution of silt and clay particles in the soil. The key factor determining the content and distribution of micronutrients and heavy metals in the soil was the content of organic carbon (C_org). Its content decreased in the following order: WW-CR (13.2 ± 5.8) ≥ WW-MO (12.3 ± 6.9) > BF (6.6 ± 2.8 g·kg⁻¹). The large variability resulted from a distribution trend with soil depth, which increased as follows: MO ≥ CR > BF. FVs with FM had the highest C_org content. NPK, regardless of the long-term soil use system (SUS), had the lowest content. Among the elements studied, the key one impacting the content of both micronutrients and heavy metals was iron (Fe). The Fe content decreased in the order BL (100%) > WW-MO (90.5%) > WW-CR (85%). The opposite tendency was found for the remaining elements, the content of which was consistent with the content of C_org, which was the highest in CR. The strongest impact of Fe, modified by the SUS, was found for Zn, Pb, and Cd. Despite the differences observed between SUSs, fertilization variants, and soil layers, the content of Fe and Mn was in the medium class, while Zn and Cu were in the high class of availability. The content of Ni was the highest for NPK + FM in WW-CR. The content of Pb was weakly affected by the long-term SUS but showed a strong tendency for accumulation in the topsoil layer. The content of Cd was the highest in BF, where it exceeded the threshold of 0.27 mg·kg⁻¹. The long-term diversified SUS, as the main factor determining the sustainability of soil fertility, makes it possible to indicate the directions of humus accumulation and its distribution in the soil. It turned out to be a key factor, but in cooperation with Fe, it determined the content of micronutrients and bioavailable heavy metals in the soil. Full article