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Keywords = sodic-alkali soil

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22 pages, 5809 KiB  
Article
Multistrain Microbial Inoculant Enhances Yield and Medicinal Quality of Glycyrrhiza uralensis in Arid Saline–Alkali Soil and Modulate Root Nutrients and Microbial Diversity
by Jun Zhang, Xin Li, Peiyao Pei, Peiya Wang, Qi Guo, Hui Yang and Xian Xue
Agronomy 2025, 15(8), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15081879 - 3 Aug 2025
Viewed by 181
Abstract
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis), a leguminous plant, is an important medicinal and economic plant in saline–alkaline soils of arid regions in China. Its main bioactive components include liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, and flavonoids, which play significant roles in maintaining human health and [...] Read more.
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (G. uralensis), a leguminous plant, is an important medicinal and economic plant in saline–alkaline soils of arid regions in China. Its main bioactive components include liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, and flavonoids, which play significant roles in maintaining human health and preventing and adjuvantly treating related diseases. However, the cultivation of G. uralensis is easily restricted by adverse soil conditions in these regions, characterized by high salinity, high alkalinity, and nutrient deficiency. This study investigated the impacts of four multistrain microbial inoculants (Pa, Pb, Pc, Pd) on the growth performance and bioactive compound accumulation of G. uralensis in moderately saline–sodic soil. The aim was to screen the most beneficial inoculant from these strains, which were isolated from the rhizosphere of plants in moderately saline–alkaline soils of the Hexi Corridor and possess native advantages with excellent adaptability to arid environments. The results showed that inoculant Pc, comprising Pseudomonas silesiensis, Arthrobacter sp. GCG3, and Rhizobium sp. DG1, exhibited superior performance: it induced a 0.86-unit reduction in lateral root number relative to the control, while promoting significant increases in single-plant dry weight (101.70%), single-plant liquiritin (177.93%), single-plant glycyrrhizic acid (106.10%), and single-plant total flavonoids (107.64%). Application of the composite microbial inoculant Pc induced no significant changes in the pH and soluble salt content of G. uralensis rhizospheric soils. However, it promoted root utilization of soil organic matter and nitrate, while significantly increasing the contents of available potassium and available phosphorus in the rhizosphere. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Pc reorganized the rhizospheric microbial communities of G. uralensis, inducing pronounced shifts in the relative abundances of rhizospheric bacteria and fungi, leading to significant enrichment of target bacterial genera (Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium), concomitant suppression of pathogenic fungi, and proliferation of beneficial fungi (Mortierella, Cladosporium). Correlation analyses showed that these microbial shifts were linked to improved plant nutrition and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. This study highlights Pc as a sustainable strategy to enhance G. uralensis yield and medicinal quality in saline–alkali ecosystems by mediating microbe–plant–nutrient interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Farming Sustainability)
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18 pages, 2836 KiB  
Article
Aluminum Sulfate and Straw Enhance Carbon Sequestration in Saline–Alkali Soils
by Nan Wang, Xinxin Guo, Jinhua Liu, Lanpo Zhao, Hongbin Wang, Biao Sui and Xingmin Zhao
Agronomy 2025, 15(5), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15051200 - 15 May 2025
Viewed by 578
Abstract
Soil salinization is closely related to land degradation and is presumed to exert a significant effect on the preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the salinization-induced changes in SOC accumulation over the application gradient of amendments remain unclear. To evaluate the potential [...] Read more.
Soil salinization is closely related to land degradation and is presumed to exert a significant effect on the preservation of soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the salinization-induced changes in SOC accumulation over the application gradient of amendments remain unclear. To evaluate the potential for salinization elimination and C sequestration, incubation experiments with four straw addition levels and six aluminum sulfate (Al3+) gradients were conducted in a soda saline–alkali soil, followed by the analysis of partial least squares path models (PLS-PM). The results showed that combined applications significantly reduced soil salinity and sodicity. The C sequestration performance under coapplications was greater than that under individual applications. The SOC and heavy fraction OC (HFOC) contents under the coapplication of 1.6% Al3+ and 10% straw were greater than those under the individual applications of either 1.6% Al3+ or 10% straw by 231.08% and 149.86%, and 9.70% and 18.78%, respectively. Coapplications significantly increased macroaggregates and aggregate-associated SOC levels. PLS-PM demonstrated that Na+, Ca2+ and HCO3 were important environmental factors associated with C sequestration. Overall, our results suggest that Al3+ and straw enhanced C sequestration by regulating salt ions and increasing soil aggregates and that 10% straw combined with 1.6% Al3+ had a greater effect on soda saline–alkali soil. Our study is highly important for the utilization of saline–alkali land and C sequestration in western Jilin Province. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Soil and Plant Nutrition)
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25 pages, 5932 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Effects of Mineralization Degree and Sodium Adsorption Ratio on the Rhizosphere Bacterial Community and Soil Nutrients of Upland Cotton Under Saline Water Irrigation
by Chenfan Zhang, Guang Yang, Huifeng Ning, Yucai Xie, Yinping Song and Jinglei Wang
Agronomy 2025, 15(4), 895; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15040895 - 3 Apr 2025
Viewed by 644
Abstract
In global drought-prone cotton-growing (Gossypium hirsutum L.) areas, saline water irrigation has become a key strategy to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. Against this backdrop, the synergistic effect of mineralization degree (MD) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on the rhizosphere microecological [...] Read more.
In global drought-prone cotton-growing (Gossypium hirsutum L.) areas, saline water irrigation has become a key strategy to alleviate the shortage of freshwater resources. Against this backdrop, the synergistic effect of mineralization degree (MD) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) on the rhizosphere microecological regulation mechanism remains unclear. To address this issue, this study constructed an experimental framework of the interaction between MD and SAR, aiming to explore their effects on the bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of cotton and the soil environment. The soil type in the study area is saline–sodic sandy loam. In the experimental design, three MD levels (3 g/L, 5 g/L, 7 g/L) were set, and under each mineralization condition, three SAR levels (10 (mmol/L)1/2, 15 (mmol/L)1/2, 20 (mmol/L)1/2) were arranged. In addition, local freshwater irrigation was used as the control group (CG), resulting in a total of 10 treatment schemes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of varying levels of irrigation water MD and SAR on the structure of bacterial communities in cotton rhizosphere soil and the soil environment. The results indicated that saline water irrigation could enhance the diversity and richness of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere soil of cotton and alter its community structure. Under treatment with the MD of 3 g/L and the SAR of 10 (mmol/L)1/2, the diversity and richness of the bacterial community in the cotton rhizosphere reached their peak levels. Compared with the CG, the Chao1 index significantly increased by 260 units, while the Shannon index increased by 0.464. When the MD does not exceed 5 g/L, reducing SAR can enhance the diversity and network stability of the rhizosphere bacterial community, thereby synergistically promoting the accumulation of soil nutrients. The key soil environmental factors driving changes in the rhizosphere bacterial community structure mainly include soil moisture content, total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total organic carbon. The concentrations of total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium significantly increased by 19.66%, 26.10%, 89.41%, and 49.76% respectively (p < 0.05). This study provides a theoretical basis for sustainable irrigation and microbial regulation strategies in saline–alkali cotton fields at the theoretical level, and offers a new perspective for revealing the mutual feedback mechanism between bacterial community assembly and soil environment under saline conditions. From a practical perspective, this research offers valuable hands-on experience for optimizing agricultural ecological management in saline–alkali sandy loam soils, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture on such lands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water and Fertilizer Regulation Theory and Technology in Crops)
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16 pages, 3036 KiB  
Article
Bibliometric Analysis of Contemporary Research on the Amelioration of Saline Soils
by Hui Zhang, Yuancai Wang, Lichang Liu, Jiayi Zhou, Qun Wan, Ji Chen, Yaoyao Cao, Leigang Zhang, Fayun Feng, Qi Ning and Xiangyang Yu
Agronomy 2024, 14(12), 2935; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14122935 - 9 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1386
Abstract
The decreasing availability of agricultural land, coupled with the growing global population, presents significant challenges worldwide. Reclaiming saline–alkali soil offers a promising solution to alleviate these challenges. Improving and utilizing saline soils present ecological challenges that are influenced by both technological advancements and [...] Read more.
The decreasing availability of agricultural land, coupled with the growing global population, presents significant challenges worldwide. Reclaiming saline–alkali soil offers a promising solution to alleviate these challenges. Improving and utilizing saline soils present ecological challenges that are influenced by both technological advancements and socio-economic factors. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of the published research on saline soil remediation and reclamation from 1985 to the present, using data indexed by the Web of Science Core Collection: Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Science Citation Index. This analysis includes 16,729 publications, which indicate that, over the years, many scientists have conducted extensive research on enhancing and using sodic lands. Countries like the United States, China, Australia, Pakistan, Poland, India, Egypt, and Israel have been pioneers in this field. Furthermore, we summarize trends in this research area, highlighting how strategies for saline soil reclamation have evolved from physical and chemical remediation to salt-tolerant crop breeding and bioremediation applications. With the advancements in science and technology, more methods and strategies have become available to facilitate saline soil remediation. Consequently, management strategies combining multiple technologies will become more effective and provide powerful approaches for reclaiming arable soil from high-salinity marginal lands. Full article
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18 pages, 2451 KiB  
Article
Response of Alfalfa Leaf Traits and Rhizosphere Fungal Communities to Compost Application in Saline–Sodic Soil
by Tian-Jiao Wei, Guang Li, Yan-Ru Cui, Jiao Xie, Zheng-Wei Liang, Fa-Chun Guan and Zhong-He Li
Microorganisms 2024, 12(11), 2287; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12112287 - 11 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1041
Abstract
Soil salinization is considered a major global environmental problem due to its adverse effects on agricultural sustainability and production. Compost is an environmentally friendly and sustainable measure used for reclaiming saline–sodic soil. However, the responses of the physiological characteristics of alfalfa and the [...] Read more.
Soil salinization is considered a major global environmental problem due to its adverse effects on agricultural sustainability and production. Compost is an environmentally friendly and sustainable measure used for reclaiming saline–sodic soil. However, the responses of the physiological characteristics of alfalfa and the structure and function of rhizosphere fungal communities after compost application in saline–sodic soil remain elusive. Here, a pot experiment was conducted to explore the effect of different compost application rates on soil properties, plant physiological traits, and rhizosphere fungal community characteristics. The results showed that compost significantly increased soil nutrients and corresponding soil enzyme activities, enhanced leaf photosynthesis traits, and ion homeostasis compared with the control treatment. We further found that the rhizosphere fungal communities were dominated by Sodiomyces at the genus level, and the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi, such as Botryotrichum, Plectosphaerella, Pseudogymnoascus, and Fusarium, declined after compost application. Moreover, the α-diversity indexes of the fungal community under compost application rates of 15% and 25% significantly decreased in comparison to the control treatment. The soil SOC, pH, TP, and TN were the main environmental factors affecting fungal community composition. The leaf photosynthetic traits and metal ion contents showed significantly positive correlations with Sodiomyces and Aspergillus. The fungal trophic mode was dominated by Pathotroph–Saprotroph–Symbiotroph and Saprotroph. Overall, our findings provide an important basis for the future application of microbial-based strategies to improve plant tolerance to saline-alkali stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Microbiology)
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14 pages, 2440 KiB  
Article
Effectiveness of Bacillus paramycoides for Improving Zinc Nutrition of Rice Irrigated with Alkali Water
by Awtar Singh, Arvind Kumar Rai, Madhu Choudhary, Arijit Barman, Ram Kishor Fagodiya, Rajender Kumar Yadav, Prakash Kumar Jha and Pankaj Kumar Gupta
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(2), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8020062 - 6 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1907
Abstract
Worldwide zinc deficiency in the soil under cereal production is a common problem affecting the yield and nutritional value of several crops. Bioaugmentation of soil zinc with zinc-solubilizing bacteria can be a promising option for increasing the zinc nutrition to crops. The objectives [...] Read more.
Worldwide zinc deficiency in the soil under cereal production is a common problem affecting the yield and nutritional value of several crops. Bioaugmentation of soil zinc with zinc-solubilizing bacteria can be a promising option for increasing the zinc nutrition to crops. The objectives of the study were to evaluate Bacillus paramycoides for improving yield, zinc nutrition, and zinc availability in rice grown under sodicity stress caused by alkali water irrigation. Treatments included T1: control, T2: substrate, T3: Bacillus paramycoides, T4: control (T1) + zinc sulphate, T5: substrate (T2) + zinc sulphate, and T6: Bacillus paramycoides (T3) + zinc sulphate. Rice yield, zinc content, and uptake, and apparent zinc recovery were not altered by Bacillus paramycoides. The different fractions of zinc measured after 30 and 60 days after transplanting of the rice remain unaffected by the inoculation of Bacillus paramycoides. Further, an equal number of zinc-solubilizing bacteria present in the rice rhizosphere of control plots after 30 days of transplanting suggests the importance of the native rhizospheric microbiome in zinc nutrition. It is concluded that the application of Bacillus paramycoides in sodicity-stressed rice did not provided additional benefits in terms of zinc nutrition and yield. Further investigation will be required to improve the apparent zinc recovery of crops in those areas, where alkali water is continuously utilized for irrigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop Response to Soil and Water Salinity)
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23 pages, 7805 KiB  
Article
Bacillus altitudinis AD13−4 Enhances Saline–Alkali Stress Tolerance of Alfalfa and Affects Composition of Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Community
by Muneer Ahmed Khoso, Mingyu Wang, Zhenzhen Zhou, Yongxue Huang, Shenglin Li, Yiming Zhang, Guangtao Qian, Song Nam Ko, Qiuying Pang, Changli Liu and Lixin Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(11), 5785; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115785 - 26 May 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2200
Abstract
Saline and alkaline stresses limit plant growth and reduce crop yield. Soil salinization and alkalization seriously threaten the sustainable development of agriculture and the virtuous cycle of ecology. Biofertilizers made from plant growth−promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) not only enhance plant growth and stress tolerance, [...] Read more.
Saline and alkaline stresses limit plant growth and reduce crop yield. Soil salinization and alkalization seriously threaten the sustainable development of agriculture and the virtuous cycle of ecology. Biofertilizers made from plant growth−promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) not only enhance plant growth and stress tolerance, but also are environmentally friendly and cost-effective. There have been many studies on the mechanisms underlying PGPRs enhancing plant salt resistance. However, there is limited knowledge about the interaction between PGPR and plants under alkaline–sodic stress. To clarify the mechanisms underlying PGPR’s improvement of plants’ tolerance to alkaline–sodic stress, we screened PGPR from the rhizosphere microorganisms of local plants growing in alkaline–sodic land and selected an efficient strain, Bacillus altitudinis AD13−4, as the research object. Our results indicate that the strain AD13−4 can produce various growth-promoting substances to regulate plant endogenous hormone levels, cell division and differentiation, photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity, etc. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the strain AD13−4 significantly affected metabolism and secondary metabolism, signal transduction, photosynthesis, redox processes, and plant–pathogen interactions. Under alkaline–sodic conditions, inoculation of the strain AD13−4 significantly improved plant biomass and the contents of metabolites (e.g., soluble proteins and sugars) as well as secondary metabolites (e.g., phenols, flavonoids, and terpenoids). The 16S rRNA gene sequencing results indicated that the strain AD13−4 significantly affected the abundance and composition of the rhizospheric microbiota and improved soil activities and physiochemical properties. Our study provides theoretical support for the optimization of saline–alkali-tolerant PGPR and valuable information for elucidating the mechanism of plant alkaline–sodic tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulatory Mechanisms of Salinity Tolerance in Plants 2.0)
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14 pages, 3106 KiB  
Article
Improving Soil Properties by Sand Application in the Saline-Alkali Area of the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, China
by Jian Wang, Chenxi Yang, Haiou Zhang and Juan Li
Sustainability 2023, 15(12), 9437; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15129437 - 12 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2399
Abstract
Excessive soil salinity is a problem that makes soil unusable for agriculture, and most current research focuses on either chemical supplements or water conservation measures. Nevertheless, more information is needed about how sand treatment affects soil quality. In this study, a field experiment [...] Read more.
Excessive soil salinity is a problem that makes soil unusable for agriculture, and most current research focuses on either chemical supplements or water conservation measures. Nevertheless, more information is needed about how sand treatment affects soil quality. In this study, a field experiment assessed the effect of sand application and cropping year on soil properties in an arid and semi-arid saline-sodic agricultural ecosystem. We found that sand application significantly improved the saline–alkali soil’s physical (i.e., pH, EC, TSC, BD), chemical (i.e., OC, AN, AP), and enzyme activity (i.e., Amy, Ure, Alp, Cat) properties, and that soil AN, AP, as well as TSC, were the crucial factors affecting soil properties. Simultaneously, soil properties gradually improved along with increasing cropping years, although these increases gradually became small. Our findings highlight the potential of sand as a soil supplement to enhance soil quality and structure in semi-arid agricultural ecosystems, especially when considering the cost. Full article
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11 pages, 495 KiB  
Brief Report
Amendment of Saline–Alkaline Soil with Flue-Gas Desulfurization Gypsum in the Yinchuan Plain, Northwest China
by Jing Wang, Aiqin Zhao, Fei Ma, Jili Liu, Guoju Xiao and Xing Xu
Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8658; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118658 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2968
Abstract
The effective and safe use of FGD gypsum in agricultural land is still debated in some countries even though its effectiveness in soil management has been reported in many studies. Thus, the changes in the levels of soil salinity, alkalinity, crop yield, and [...] Read more.
The effective and safe use of FGD gypsum in agricultural land is still debated in some countries even though its effectiveness in soil management has been reported in many studies. Thus, the changes in the levels of soil salinity, alkalinity, crop yield, and other physicochemical properties in different soil types and crops after reclamation and planting with FGD gypsum over four years are evaluated in this paper. The main aim of this paper is to review the effects of six treatment technologies in addressing soil salinity and sodicity and crop production in soils, with a focus on the basic theory, key technologies, and industrialized applications. This paper also shows that soil conditions can be improved and crop yields can be increased by using FGD alone or in combination with humic acid or fertilizer. FGD gypsum plus K–Zn–Mn fertilizer increased the yield of rice by 135%. In alkaline, salinized, and secondary salinized soils, FGD gypsum combined with organic fertilizer or organic plus chemical fertilizer increased the yield of rice by 21.2% and 60.4%, the yield of sunflower by 2.4% and 23.6%, and the yield of medlar by 18.81% and 20.78%, respectively. The application of FGD gypsum also increased the salt tolerance of salt-tolerant plants. Combined with drainage, laser field levelling and tillage decreased soil salinity by more than 63.76% and increased the yield of oil sunflower by up to 96.96%. This study provides convincing evidence of the benefits of the application of the six treatments to reclaim saline–alkali soils. It is suggested that comprehensive measures should be taken to improve saline–alkaline soil. Full article
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14 pages, 1854 KiB  
Article
Soil Enzyme Activities Affect SOC and TN in Aggregate Fractions in Sodic-Alkali Soils, Northeast of China
by Jingjing Wang, Kunliang Shu, Siyu Wang, Chang Zhang, Yanchun Feng, Ming Gao, Zhonghe Li and Hongguang Cai
Agronomy 2022, 12(10), 2549; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102549 - 18 Oct 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2556
Abstract
Soil enzymes strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (TN) storage. However, few studies have focused on their relationships in aggregates, especially in sodic-alkali agricultural fields. In the current study, we hypothesized that the impact of soil enzymes on SOC and TN [...] Read more.
Soil enzymes strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (TN) storage. However, few studies have focused on their relationships in aggregates, especially in sodic-alkali agricultural fields. In the current study, we hypothesized that the impact of soil enzymes on SOC and TN were different within aggregates for their heterogeneous distribution. Soils collected from the surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (20–40 cm) layers of sodic-alkali agricultural fields in the northeast of China were separated via the dry sieve method into macro-aggregates (>2000 μm), meso-aggregates (250–2000 μm), and micro-aggregates (<250 μm). SOC, TN, microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), and C- and N-cycling enzymes, namely amylase (AMY), invertase (INV), β-glucosidase (GLU), catalase (CAT), β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), and urease (URE) in soil aggregates were tested and analyzed. High content of SOC and TN were observed in macro- and meso-aggregates in both layers, with the largest amount detected in meso-aggregates. The highest values of MBC and MBN were observed in meso-aggregates, followed by micro-aggregates for MBC and macro-aggregates for MBN. Soil enzymes were distributed heterogeneously in soil aggregates, where the activities of AMY, INV, and URE in both layers were in the order of meso-aggregates > macro-aggregates > micro-aggregates. The same trend was followed by NAG of surface soils, while in the subsurface soils, NAG activities increased with the increasing aggregate sizes. NAG activities in both layers decreased with decreasing aggregate sizes. The GLU activity rose with the decreasing aggregate sizes in both layers, contrary to CAT. Enzyme activities affect SOC and TN in soil aggregates, for NAG, INV, GLU, and URE are closely related to SOC and TN across aggregate sizes. The test indices mentioned above in the surface layer were higher than those in the subsurface layer. These results indicate that biophysical processes associated with C- and N-cycling enzymes may be vital to the SOC and TN sequestration within soil aggregates in sodic-alkali agricultural fields. Full article
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25 pages, 2326 KiB  
Review
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Salt-Affected Soils: Mechanistic Understanding of Interplay Factors and Reclamation Approaches
by Ram K. Fagodiya, Sandeep K. Malyan, Devendra Singh, Amit Kumar, Rajender K. Yadav, Parbodh C. Sharma and Himanshu Pathak
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11876; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911876 - 21 Sep 2022
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5672
Abstract
Salt-affected soils contain high levels of soluble salts (saline soil) and exchangeable sodium (alkali soil). Globally, about 932 million ha (Mha), including 831 Mha of agricultural land, is salt-affected. Salinity and sodicity adversely affect soil microbial diversity and enzymatic activities, and thereby carbon [...] Read more.
Salt-affected soils contain high levels of soluble salts (saline soil) and exchangeable sodium (alkali soil). Globally, about 932 million ha (Mha), including 831 Mha of agricultural land, is salt-affected. Salinity and sodicity adversely affect soil microbial diversity and enzymatic activities, and thereby carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. In this review article, we synthesize published information to understand the impact of salinity and sodicity on GHG production and emissions from salt-affected soils, and how various reclamation amendments (gypsum, phosphogypsum, organic manure, biochar, etc.) affect GHG emissions from reclaimed soils. Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions are of greater concern due to their 298 and 28 times higher global warming potential, respectively, compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), on a 100-year time scale. Therefore, CO2 emissions are given negligible/smaller significance compared to the other two. Generally, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are higher at lower salinity and reduced at higher salinity mainly due to: (a) higher ammonification and lower nitrification resulting in a reduced substrate for denitrification; (b) reduced diversity of denitrifying bacteria lowered down microbial-mediated denitrification process; and (c) dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and denitrification processes compete with each other for common substrate/nitrate. Overall, methane (CH4) emissions from normal soils are higher than those of salt-affected soils. High salinity suppresses the activity of both methanogens (CH4 production) and methanotrophs (CH4 consumption). However, it imposes more inhibitory effects on methanogens than methanotrophs, resulting in lower CH4 production and subsequent emissions from these soils. Therefore, reclamation of these soils may enhance N2O and CH4 emissions. However, gypsum is the best reclamation agent, which significantly mitigates CH4 emissions from paddy cultivation in both sodic and non-sodic soils, and mitigation is higher at the higher rate of its application. Gypsum amendment increases sulfate ion concentrations and reduces CH4 emissions mainly due to the inhibition of the methanogenesis by the sulfate reductase bacteria and the enhancement of soil redox potential. Biochar is also good among the organic amendments mitigating both CH4 and N2O emission from salt-affected soils. The application of fresh organic matter and FYM enhance GHG emissions for these soils. This review suggests the need for systematic investigations for studying the impacts of various amendments and reclamation technologies on GHG emissions in order to develop low carbon emission technologies for salt-affected soil reclamation that can enhance the carbon sequestration potential of these soils. Full article
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10 pages, 1194 KiB  
Article
Combined Application of Organic Amendments and Gypsum to Reclaim Saline–Alkali Soil
by Demis Andrade Foronda and Gilles Colinet
Agriculture 2022, 12(7), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12071049 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3800
Abstract
Saline–alkali soils have high sodicity, high pH, and high levels of soluble salts, as well as carbonates. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cattle manure and chicken manure combined with gypsum at three levels on reclaiming a saline–alkali soil, through a [...] Read more.
Saline–alkali soils have high sodicity, high pH, and high levels of soluble salts, as well as carbonates. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cattle manure and chicken manure combined with gypsum at three levels on reclaiming a saline–alkali soil, through a soil column experiment. Combined treatments were more effective than those of sole gypsum in reducing the initial exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) below 5%. Electrical conductivity (ECe) was lowered below 1.6 dS m−1 by all treatments, except the control. The higher effectiveness of manures combined with gypsum can be explained by their synergistic effect on Na+ displacement and subsequent soil structure improvement, leading to an enhancement in the leaching process, and then the salinity/sodicity reduction. Soluble salts and Na+ were considerably reduced in all treatments at the first leaching. Soil ESP and ECe threshold values from the US Salinity Lab classification were reached by any treatment, except the control. The addition of cattle manure or chicken manure might enhance the reclamation effect of gypsum with leaching for some saline–alkali soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement and Utilization of Saline-Alkali Soil)
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17 pages, 3387 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Effect of Physicochemical Properties of Saline and Sodic Soil on Soil Microbial Communities
by Junzhi Gao, Qingzhou Zhao, Dongdong Chang, Fabrice Ndayisenga and Zhisheng Yu
Agriculture 2022, 12(6), 782; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12060782 - 29 May 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4310
Abstract
Soil physicochemical properties are the main driving factors affecting the stability and diversity of the soil microbial community. The impacts of the saline–alkali situation and associated soil degradation need to be understood and reversed as soil diversity and communities are increasingly affected by [...] Read more.
Soil physicochemical properties are the main driving factors affecting the stability and diversity of the soil microbial community. The impacts of the saline–alkali situation and associated soil degradation need to be understood and reversed as soil diversity and communities are increasingly affected by saline–alkaline soil. However, the differences between salinization and alkalization soil and their impact on microbiota have been overlooked. The object of this study is to demonstrate the differences in salinization and alkalization soil and the driving factors affecting microbiota. In this study, 12 soil samples collected from saline–alkaline spots were used to detect the differences in soil physicochemical properties. The soil microbial community was sequenced by high-throughput sequencing. The results of ESP and EC in the soil samples indicated that the soil samples were categorized as saline soil and sodic soil. Venn diagrams indicated that unique OTUs in saline soil showed higher adaptation and environmental tolerance. Partial Mantel tests showed that the differences in pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), C/N, Na, and K between saline and sodic soil were the primary determinants affecting the relative abundance of bacterial and fungal communities, besides electrical conductivity (EC). In the KEGG analysis, ESP mainly affected the cellular processes in the archaea. Metabolism in the bacterial function was positively correlated with K only in sodic soil. These results indicated that the proportions in sodic soil were more strongly affecting soil microbiota. Full article
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19 pages, 2908 KiB  
Article
Variation in Sodic Soil Bacterial Communities Associated with Different Alkali Vegetation Types
by Andrea K. Borsodi, Márton Mucsi, Gergely Krett, Attila Szabó, Tamás Felföldi and Tibor Szili-Kovács
Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1673; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9081673 - 6 Aug 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3190
Abstract
In this study, we examined the effect of salinity and alkalinity on the metabolic potential and taxonomic composition of microbiota inhabiting the sodic soils in different plant communities. The soil samples were collected in the Pannonian steppe (Hungary, Central Europe) under extreme dry [...] Read more.
In this study, we examined the effect of salinity and alkalinity on the metabolic potential and taxonomic composition of microbiota inhabiting the sodic soils in different plant communities. The soil samples were collected in the Pannonian steppe (Hungary, Central Europe) under extreme dry and wet weather conditions. The metabolic profiles of microorganisms were analyzed using the MicroResp method, the bacterial diversity was assessed by cultivation and next-generation amplicon sequencing based on the 16S rRNA gene. Catabolic profiles of microbial communities varied primarily according to the alkali vegetation types. Most members of the strain collection were identified as plant associated and halophilic/alkaliphilic species of Micrococcus, Nesterenkonia, Nocardiopsis, Streptomyces (Actinobacteria) and Bacillus, Paenibacillus (Firmicutes) genera. Based on the pyrosequencing data, the relative abundance of the phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes and Bacteroidetes also changed mainly with the sample types, indicating distinctions within the compositions of bacterial communities according to the sodic soil alkalinity-salinity gradient. The effect of weather extremes was the most pronounced in the relative abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria and Acidobacteria. The type of alkali vegetation caused greater shifts in both the diversity and activity of sodic soil microbial communities than the extreme aridity and moisture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Community Response to Climate and Environmental Changes)
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16 pages, 3052 KiB  
Article
Corn and Rice Cultivation Affect Soil Organic and Inorganic Carbon Storage through Altering Soil Properties in Alkali Sodic Soils, Northeast of China
by Jingjing Wang, Jie Tang, Zhaoyang Li, Wei Yang, Ping Yang and Yunke Qu
Sustainability 2020, 12(4), 1627; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041627 - 21 Feb 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3565
Abstract
Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) play essential roles in carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems; however, the effects of crop cultivation on them are still poorly understood, especially in alkali sodic soils widely distributed in semiarid regions. Alkali sodic soils [...] Read more.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) play essential roles in carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems; however, the effects of crop cultivation on them are still poorly understood, especially in alkali sodic soils widely distributed in semiarid regions. Alkali sodic soils from cornfields and paddies with cultivation years of 5, 15, and 25 were analyzed here to assess the response of soil properties and soil carbon pools to crop cultivation. Soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentages decrease in accordance with cultivation years, while enzyme activity (amylase, invertase, and catalase) shows a contrary trend. Soil pH and exchangeable sodium percentages are negatively correlated with SOC, but positively correlated with SIC. Redundancy analysis reveals an obvious relationship between SOC and invertase activity. The percentage of δ13CSOC found here is approximately –24.78‰ to –22.97‰ for cornfields and approximately –26.54‰ to –23.81‰ for paddies, suggesting that crop cultivation contributes to SOC sequestration and stocking, increasing with cultivation years. The percentage of δ13CSIC found here is approximately 1.90‰ to 3.73‰, proving that lithogenic inorganic carbon is the major SIC, where the stock decreases with increasing cultivation years. Significant total carbon stock loss is observed in cornfields, while it is preserved at 120 Mg ha−1 in paddies. We conclude here from the results that corn and rice cultivation reduce alkali sodic conditions in soil, thereby improving soil enzymes and favoring SOC stocking, but reducing SIC stocks. Full article
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