Search Results (838)

Salinization is a growing global problem, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas, where salt concentration interferes with the soil structure, altering natural cycling, decreasing agricultural outputs, and threatening food security. Although many soil amendments have been studied, there is still a limited understanding of their interaction with soil after mixture application and the geochemical processes and long-term sustainability that govern their effects. To address this knowledge gap, this review elucidated the effectiveness and sustainability of soil amendments, biochar, humic substances, and mineral additives in restoring saline and sodic soils of arid and semi-arid region to explore the geochemical processes that underlie their impact. A systematic search of 174 peer-reviewed studies was conducted across multiple databases (Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus) using relevant keywords and the findings were converted into quantitative values to evaluate the effects of biochar, gypsum, zeolite, and humic substances on key soil properties. Biochar significantly improved cation exchange capacity, nutrient retention, microbial activity, and water retention by enhancing soil porosity and capillarity, thereby increasing plant-available water. Gypsum improved phosphorus availability, while zeolite facilitated the removal of sodium and supported microbial activity. Humic substances enhanced soil porosity, water retention, and aggregate stability. When applied together, these amendments improved soil health by regulating salinity, enhancing nutrient cycling, while also stabilizing soil conditions and ensuring long-term sustainability through improved geochemical balance and reduced environmental impacts. The findings highlight the critical role of multi-functional amendments in promoting climate-resilient agriculture and long-term soil health restoration in saline-degraded regions. Further research and field implementation are crucial to optimize their effectiveness and ensure sustainable soil management across diverse agricultural environments. Full article

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is a major cereal crop cultivated in semi-arid regions, but its yield is often constrained by soilborne fungal pathogens that affect plant growth and grain quality. This study explored how Trichoderma-based bioinoculants restructure the structure and functional composition of fungal communities in distinct sorghum compartments (soil, root, seed, and stem) using ITS amplicon sequencing. Two cultivars, Kalatur and Foehn, were evaluated under control and inoculated conditions. Alpha diversity indices revealed that inoculation reduced overall fungal richness and evenness, particularly in seed and stem tissues, while selectively enhancing beneficial taxa. Beta diversity analyses (PERMANOVA, p < 0.01) confirmed significant treatment-driven shifts in community composition. LEfSe analysis identified Trichoderma and Mortierella as biomarkers of inoculated samples, whereas Fusarium, Alternaria, and Penicillium predominated in controls. The enrichment of saprotrophic and symbiotrophic taxa in treated samples, coupled with the decline of pathogenic genera, indicates a transition toward functionally beneficial microbial assemblages. These results demonstrate that Trichoderma bioinoculants not only suppress fungal pathogens but also promote the establishment of beneficial ecological groups contributing to plant and soil health. The present work provides insight into the mechanisms through which microbial inoculants modulate host-associated fungal communities, supporting their use as sustainable tools for crop protection and microbiome management in sorghum-based agroecosystems. Full article

Sustainable food production for a growing population requires farming practices that reduce chemical inputs while maintaining soil as a living, renewable foundation for productivity. This review synthesizes current advances in understanding how endophytic fungi (EFs) interact with the soil microbiome and contribute to the physicochemical and biological dimensions of soil health in arable ecosystems. We examine evidence showing that EFs enhance plant nutrition through phosphate solubilization, siderophore-mediated micronutrient acquisition, and improved nitrogen use efficiency while also modulating plant hormones and stress-responsive pathways. EFs further increase crop resilience to drought, salinity, and heat; suppress pathogens; and influence key soil properties including aggregation, organic matter turnover, and microbial network stability. Recent integration of multi-omics, metabolomics, and community-level analyses has shifted the field from descriptive surveys toward mechanistic insight, revealing how EFs regulate nutrient cycling and remodel rhizosphere communities toward disease-suppressive and nutrient-efficient states. A central contribution of this review is the linkage of EF-mediated plant functions with soil microbiome dynamics and soil structural processes framed within a translational pipeline encompassing strain selection, formulation, delivery, and field scale monitoring. We also highlight current challenges, including context-dependent performance, competition with native microbiota, and formulation and deployment constraints that limit consistent outcomes under field conditions. By bridging microbial ecology with agronomy, this review positions EFs as biocontrol agents, biofertilizers, and ecosystem engineers with strong potential for resilient, low-input, and climate-adaptive cropping systems. Full article

Chromium (Cr) toxicity poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, human health, and food security. Biochar (BC) is a versatile amendment employed to alleviate Cr toxicity. Chromium stress impairs growth by inducing membrane damage and cellular oxidation, as well as inhibiting chlorophyll synthesis, photosynthetic efficiency, water uptake, and nutrient absorption. This review consolidates information on the mechanisms through which BC mitigates Cr stress. Biochar facilitates Cr immobilization by reduction, adsorption, precipitation, and complexation processes. It enhances growth by improving photosynthetic efficiency, water and nutrient uptake, osmolyte synthesis, and hormonal balance. Additionally, biochar promotes resilient bacterial communities that reduce Cr and enhance nutrient cycling. The effectiveness of BC is not universal and largely depends on its feedstock properties and pyrolysis temperature. This review provides insights into soil quality, plant function, and human health, which contribute to providing a comprehensive assessment of the capacity of BC to mitigate Cr toxicity. This review highlights that BC application can reduce Cr entry into the food chain, thus decreasing its health risk. This review also identifies knowledge gaps and outlines future research directions to increase the efficiency of BC in mitigating Cr toxicity. This review also offers insights into the development of eco-friendly measures to remediate Cr-polluted soils. Full article

Long-term continuous cropping is a prevalent agricultural practice aimed at maximizing land use efficiency and crop yields, yet it often leads to severe soil degradation, nutrient imbalance, and microbial community disruption. Effective soil remediation strategies are urgently needed to restore soil health and ensure sustainable agricultural production. In this study, we investigated the impact of forest soil amendment on microbial community structure, diversity, and functional potential in long-term continuous cropping soils. Using metagenomic sequencing, we analyzed soils from natural forest (BK), forest soil-amended soils (BCP), and fields under continuous cropping for 15 years (CP15) and 30 years (CP30). Forest soil amendment significantly mitigated microbial diversity loss and structural degradation caused by prolonged monoculture. Alpha diversity analysis revealed that BCP restored microbial diversity to levels comparable to BK, while beta diversity and NMDS analyses showed that microbial community composition in BCP closely resembled that of forest soil. Taxonomic profiling indicated that forest soil amendment enriched beneficial taxa such as Actinobacterota and Acidobacteriota, reversing shifts observed in CP15 and CP30. Functionally, COG and KEGG annotations revealed that BCP soils exhibited higher abundances of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, energy production, and nutrient cycling. Notably, the amendment reduced antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors, potentially improving the microbial risk profile of soil communities. These findings demonstrate that forest soil amendment effectively restores microbial community structure and functionality in degraded soils, providing a nature-based solution for sustainable agriculture. Full article

Zinc (Zn) is a mineral micronutrient that is essential for plant growth and development. Soil Zn deficiency or excess severely impacts plant health and crop yields. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, but their roles in Zn homeostasis in important crop bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) remain unknown. This study investigated miRNA expression profiles in wheat roots under different Zn supply conditions using high-throughput sequencing. Phenotypic and physiological analyses revealed that high Zn promoted wheat plant growth, while low and excess Zn resulted in wheat plant growth inhibition and oxidative stress. A total of 798 miRNAs (including 70 known and 728 novel miRNAs) were identified; among them, 10 known and 122 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed. Many key miRNAs, such as miR397-5p, miR398, 4D_25791, and 5A_27668, are up-regulated under low Zn but down-regulated under high Zn and excess Zn. Target gene prediction and enrichment analysis revealed that the regulated genes of these miRNAs focused on “zinc ion transmembrane transporter activity”, “divalent inorganic cation transmembrane transporter activity”, and “cellular detoxification” processes in the low Zn vs. CK group. However, “glutathione metabolism” and “ABC transporter” pathways were obviously enriched in high Zn vs. excess Zn conditions, implying their potential functions in alleviating the oxidative damage and Zn efflux caused by Zn toxicity. Together, this study identified key miRNAs that respond to both Zn deficiency and excess Zn in bread wheat, revealing distinct regulatory patterns of the target genes in different Zn supply conditions. These findings provide a new field and valuable candidate miRNAs for molecular breeding aimed at improving zinc’s utilization efficiency in wheat. Full article

Urban areas often suffer from enduring environmental issues, including flooding, biodiversity loss, heat island effects, and air and soil pollution. The Miyawaki method of afforestation, characterized by dense planting of native species on remediated soil, has been proposed as a rapid, nature-based solution for restoring urban ecological function. This study aims to evaluate early-stage changes in soil health following Miyawaki-style microforest establishment in formerly redlined neighborhoods in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Specifically, it investigates whether this method improves soil permeability, carbon content, and microbial activity within the first three years of planting. Three microforests aged one, two, and three years were assessed using a chronosequence approach. At each site, soil samples from within the microforest and adjacent untreated urban soil (control) were compared. Analyses included physical (porosity, dry density, void ratio), chemical (total carbon), and biological (microbial respiration, biomass, metabolic rate, carbon use efficiency) assessments. Soil permeability was estimated via the Kozeny–Carman equation. Microforest soils showed significantly greater porosity (p = 0.015), higher void ratios (p = 0.009), and reduced compaction compared to controls. Soil permeability improved dramatically, with factors ranging from 5.99 to 52.27. Total carbon content increased with forest age, reaching 2.0 mg C/g in the oldest site (p < 0.001). Microbial metabolic rate rose by up to 287.5% (p = 0.009), while carbon use efficiency also improved, particularly in the older microforests. Within just one to three years, Miyawaki microforests significantly enhanced both the physical and biological properties of degraded urban soils, signaling rapid restoration of soil function and the early return of ecosystem services. Full article

Micronutrient malnutrition persists as a global health burden, while conventional biofortification approaches suffer from low efficiency and environmental trade-offs. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a foliar-applied selenium–zinc nanocomposite (Nano-ZSe, a mixture of zinc ionic fertilizer and nano selenium) for synergistic Se/Zn co-biofortification in Brassica chinensis L., using a controlled pot experiment that integrated physiological, metabolic, molecular, and rhizosphere analyses. Application of Nano-ZSe at 0.18 mg·kg⁻¹ (Based on soil weight) not only increased shoot biomass by 28.4% but also elevated Se and Zn concentrations in edible tissues by 7.00- and 1.66-fold (within the safe limits established for human consumption), respectively, compared to the control. Mechanistically, Nano-ZSe reprogrammed the ascorbate-glutathione redox system and redirected carbon flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle, suppressing acetyl-CoA biosynthesis and reducing abscisic acid accumulation. This metabolic rewiring promoted stomatal opening, thereby enhancing foliar nutrient uptake. Simultaneously, Nano-ZSe triggered the coordinated upregulation of BcSultr1;1 (a sulfate/selenium transporter) and BcZIP4 (a Zn²⁺ transporter), enabling synchronized translocation and the tissue-level co-accumulation of Se and Zn. Beyond plant physiology, Nano-ZSe improved soil physicochemical properties, enriched rhizosphere microbial diversity, and increased crop yield and economic returns. Collectively, this work demonstrates that nano-enabled dual-nutrient delivery systems can bridge nutritional and agronomic objectives through integrated physiological, molecular, and rhizosphere-mediated mechanisms, offering a scalable and environmentally sustainable pathway toward functional food production and the mitigation of hidden hunger. Full article

Agroecology is increasingly shaped by the convergence of traditional knowledge, farmers’ lived experiences, and scientific research, fostering a plural dialog that embraces the ecological and socio-political complexity of agricultural systems. Within this framework, soil biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem functions, with soil microbiology, and particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), playing a pivotal role in enhancing soil fertility, plant health, and agroecosystem resilience. This review explores the synergy between agroecological practices and AMF by examining their ecological, economic, epistemic, and territorial contributions to sustainable agriculture. Drawing on recent scientific findings and Latin American case studies, it highlights how practices such as reduced tillage, crop diversification, and organic matter inputs foster diverse and functional AMF communities and differentially affect their composition and ecological roles. Beyond their biological efficacy, AMF are framed as relational and socio-ecological agents—integral to networks that connect soil regeneration, food quality, local autonomy, and multi-species care. By bridging ecological science with political ecology and justice in science-based knowledge, this review offers a transdisciplinary lens on AMF and proposes pathways for agroecological transitions rooted in biodiversity, cognitive justice, and territorial sustainability. Full article

Freshwater scarcity in arid regions is driving increased use of saline irrigation, yet salinity severely degrades soil structure and suppresses enzymatic function. To address this critical challenge for sustainable soil management, this study systematically evaluated magnetized saline water (MSW) across three salinity levels (1, 3, and 6 g L⁻¹) and four magnetic field strengths (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 T), confirming the magnetic field intensity (C) × salinity (S) interaction. The comprehensive analysis integrated data on aggregate stability, key ion concentrations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻), and major enzyme activities. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was utilized to quantify the underlying mechanisms, demonstrating that structural improvement is primarily driven by strong indirect pathways, mediated by optimized ion dynamics and increased enzyme-mediated organic matter turnover. The moderate-salinity (3 g L⁻¹), moderate-magnetic-field (0.4 T) regime emerged as the optimal balanced strategy for overall soil health. These findings offer a scalable approach, guiding future field-scale research toward long-term agricultural sustainability. Full article

Remediating cadmium (Cd) contamination in aquatic and terrestrial environments has become an urgent environmental priority. Biochar has been widely employed for heavy metal removal due to its wide availability, strong adsorption capacity, and potential for recycling agricultural waste. In this study, samples of alkali–Fe-modified biochar (Fe@NaOH-SBC, Fe@NaOH-HBC, and Fe@NaOH-MBC) were prepared from agricultural wastes (ginger straw, Sichuan pepper branches, and kiwi leaves) through NaOH and FeCl₃·6H₂O modification. A comprehensive characterization confirmed that the alkali–Fe-modified biochar exhibits a higher specific surface area, richer functional groups, and successful incorporation of the iron oxides Fe₃O₄ and α-FeOOH. The fitting parameter qmax from the Langmuir model indicates that the alkali–Fe modification of carbon significantly enhanced its maximum capacity for Cd²⁺ adsorption. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed between iron oxide loading and alkali modification, outperforming alkali modification alone. Furthermore, a 30-day soil incubation experiment revealed that the application of alkali–Fe-modified biochar significantly increased soil pH, SOM, and CEC while reducing the available cadmium content by 13.34–33.94%. The treatment also facilitated the transformation of highly bioavailable cadmium species into more stable, less bioavailable forms, thereby mitigating their potential entry into the food chain and the associated human health risks. Moreover, short-term spinach seed germination experiments confirmed that treatments with varying additions of alkali–Fe-modified biochar mitigated the inhibition of seed physiological processes by high concentrations of available cadmium to varying degrees. Overall, this study provides a sustainable and effective strategy for utilizing agricultural waste in the remediation of cadmium-contaminated water and soil systems. Full article

Poplars (Populus L.) are fast-growing, widely distributed trees with high ecological, economic, and climate-mitigation value, making them central to diverse agroforestry systems worldwide. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and content-based review of global poplar-based agroforestry research, using Scopus and Web of Science databases and a PRISMA-guided screening process to identify 496 peer-reviewed publications, covering publications from 1987 to 2024. Results show a steady rise in scientific output, with a notable acceleration after 2013, dominated by agriculture, forestry, and environmental sciences, with strong international contributions and research themes focused on productivity, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and economic viability. A wide range of Populus species and hybrids is employed globally, supporting functions from crop production and soil enhancement to climate mitigation and ecological restoration. Poplar-based systems offer substantial benefits for soil health, biodiversity, and carbon storage, but also involve trade-offs related to tree–crop interactions, such as competition for light reducing understory crop yields in high-density arrangements, management intensity, and regional conditions. Poplars provide a wide array of provisioning, regulating, and supporting ecosystem services, from supplying food, fodder, timber, and biomass to moderating microclimates, protecting soil and water resources, and restoring habitats, while supporting a broad diversity of agricultural and horticultural crops. However, several critical gaps—including a geographic research imbalance, socio-economic and adoption barriers, limited understanding of tree–crop interactions, and insufficient long-term monitoring—continue to constrain widespread adoption and limit the full realization of the potential of poplar-based agroforestry systems. Full article

Intensive greenhouse management profoundly alters soil biogeochemical processes and biotic interactions, distinguishing greenhouse soils from open-field systems. Understanding the drivers of soil fauna assembly is essential for sustaining soil health and productivity. In this study, we examined nematode community drivers in greenhouse melon systems under 2- and 10-year rotations using environmental DNA sequencing. Plant phenology, more than rotation, shaped nematode communities, particularly omnivore predators and bacterivores. This driver was mirrored by a shift in nematode faunal indices from an enriched, bacterial-dominated state at seedling stages to a structured state at maturity. LDA Effect Size and random forest identified key genera (Prismatolaimus, Acrobeloides, and Ceramonema), demonstrating multidimensional drivers of community assembly. Redundancy analysis showed soil organic matter (SOM) and acid phosphatase as major drivers. Mantel tests indicated that the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen ratio (MBC/MBN) consistently explained community variation (relative abundance: r = 0.229; functional diversity: r = 0.321). Structural equation modeling linked available phosphorus to microbial carbon cycling via cumulative carbon mineralization (CCM, 0.41) and MBC (0.40). SOM increased MBN (0.62) but suppressed Chao1 (−0.76). MBN had the strongest positive effect on Pielou_e (0.49). pH negatively affected functional diversity (−0.33), while nitrate nitrogen (0.35) and CCM (0.32) had positive effects. Our results indicate that MBC and MBN act as microbial bridges linking soil properties to nematode diversity, providing a mechanistic basis for optimizing greenhouse soil management and ecosystem functioning. Full article

This study examined the seasonal and spatial distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Ni) in relation to environmental parameters in five regions of Greater Cairo, Egypt (Helwan, Al-Azhar, Al-Orman, Al-Orman Center, and Al-Moqattam) between 2023 and 2024 using Ficus nitida as a bioindicator. Leaf and soil samples were taken periodically and tested for heavy metal levels, growth factors, chlorophyll, NPK, and moisture content. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Ni were highest at Helwan, the industrial site, reaching 0.22 mg/kg, followed by Al-Azhar, a high-traffic urban area, with 0.12 mg/kg, particularly during the summer season. In contrast, the lowest concentrations (0.03 mg/kg) were recorded at Al-Orman Center and Al-Moqattam, both characterized as low-traffic residential zones. A positive correlation was observed between heavy metal concentrations in Ficus nitida leaves and those in the corresponding soils. Additionally, the minimum leaf area was recorded at Helwan during winter, followed by the Al-Azhar region, with values of 36.2 cm² and 41.7 cm², respectively. Reductions in chlorophyll content and nutritional composition were linked to heavy metal levels. Ficus nitida may function as a trustworthy bioindicator of the environmental heavy metal contamination and the health of urban ecosystems, and it accurately reflects soil and air pollution levels. Full article

Fungal communities in the rhizosphere are crucial in maintaining soil health, driving nutrient cycling, and enhancing plant productivity. This study examined the role of intercropping of oats (Avena sativa L.) with vetch (Vicia sativa L.) and their subsequent use as green manure (incorporating fresh plant biomass into soil to enhance nutrient cycling and microbial activity) on fungal diversity and community structure. Three field treatments were organized as follows: (i) unplanted control, (ii) single-oat cultivation, and (iii) oat–vetch intercropping. In the ripening stage of oats development, the plants in the intercropping treatment were ploughed at a depth of 30 cm as green manure. Soil samples at ripening stage and 3 months after ploughing were analyzed. High-throughput sequencing of the ITS2 region, combined with multivariate diversity analyses (alpha and beta diversity, PCA, NMDS, and UniFrac), revealed distinct fungal community profiles across treatments. Ascomycota dominated under conventional and untreated conditions, while Basidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Glomeromycota were enriched in intercropped and organically amended plots, notably at intercropping. Intercropping and green manuring significantly increased species richness, evenness, and phylogenetic fungal diversity. These treatments also supported higher abundances of beneficial fungi such as Mortierella, Glomus, and Trichoderma, while reducing potentially pathogenic taxa like Fusarium. Rank–abundance curves and rarefaction analysis confirmed that diversified systems hosted more balanced and complex fungal assemblages. Beta diversity metrics and ordination analyses indicated strong dissimilarities between the conventionally managed and diversified systems. The results showed that intercropping and organic inputs alter fungal community composition and promote microbial resilience and ecological functionality in the rhizosphere. These practices promoted the development of stable and diverse fungal networks essential for sustainable soil management and crop production. Full article