The Role of Plant-Soil Interactions on Crop Yields and Carbon Sequestration

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Plant–soil interactions are crucial for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems and their response to global climate change. On the one hand, plants can provide carbon sources to soil organisms through underground carbon inputs. On the other hand, soil biological activities release nutrients required by plants and affect the balance between soil carbon respiration and carbon stability. In addition, soil microorganisms can also interact with plants in more direct ways, such as promoting plant growth and increasing crop yields through mycorrhizal symbiosis, rhizosphere hormone release, and stress signal regulation. However, our current understanding of these interactions is still limited. This Topic aims to highlight the significance of plant–soil interactions by presenting novel research findings and innovative approaches that elucidate the mechanisms underlying these complex relationships, ultimately aiming to enhance ecosystem functioning and resilience in the face of global climate change.

Dr. Jifu Ma
Dr. Meng Zhou
Dr. Caiqing Qin
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agriculture agriculture	3.6	6.3	2011	18.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Agronomy agronomy	3.4	6.7	2011	17 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Ecologies ecologies	1.9	3.0	2020	23 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
International Journal of Plant Biology ijpb	-	3.0	2010	17 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Plants plants	4.1	7.6	2012	16.5 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Soil Systems soilsystems	3.5	5.4	2017	29.9 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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All Agriculture Agronomy Ecologies IJPB Plants Soil Systems

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17 pages, 2525 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Freeze–Thaw Cycles on Soil Aggregate Stability and Organic Carbon Distribution Under Different Land Uses

by Yuting Cheng, Maolin Liu, Yi Zhang, Shuhao Hao, Xiaohu Dang and Ziyang Wang

Agriculture 2025, 15(22), 2369; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15222369 - 15 Nov 2025

Viewed by 943

Abstract

Soil aggregates are critical determinants of soil erosion resistance and nutrient retention capacity, while freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) induce the structural reorganization of soil aggregates, thereby altering soil stability and influencing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. This study was located in the Minjia River [...] Read more.

Soil aggregates are critical determinants of soil erosion resistance and nutrient retention capacity, while freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) induce the structural reorganization of soil aggregates, thereby altering soil stability and influencing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. This study was located in the Minjia River Basin in the typical seasonal freeze–thaw areas of the Loess Plateau and aimed to quantify the effects of FTCs on soil aggregate stability and SOC content under different land use types. Farmland, grassland, and forestland with more than 20 years of usage in the region were selected, and a 0–20 cm soil layer was subjected to seven FTCs (−8 °C to 20 °C), followed by wet and dry sieving classification, focusing on soil aggregate distribution, aggregate stability, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), aggregate particle fractal dimension (APD), and SOC content of the aggregate. The results showed that soil aggregates in all land use types were dominated by macroaggregates (>2 mm), with the proportion in forestland (61–63%) > grassland (54–58%) > farmland (38–51%). FTCs enhanced aggregate stability across all land use types, especially in farmland. Concurrently, FTCs reduced the SOC content in all aggregate size fractions, with reduction rates ranging from farmland (9.00–21%) to grassland (4–26%) to forestland (5–31%). Notably, FTCs significantly increased the contribution of 2–5 mm water-stable (WS) aggregates to SOC sequestration, with increment rates of 86% (farmland), 80% (grassland), and 86% (forestland). Furthermore, FTCs altered the correlation between SOC content and aggregate stability. Specifically, the positive correlations of SOC with MWD and GMD were strengthened in aggregates < 0.5 mm but weakened in aggregates >0.5 mm. These findings advance our understanding of the coupled mechanisms underlying soil erosion and carbon cycling across land uses under freeze–thaw, providing a theoretical basis for ecosystem restoration and optimized soil carbon management in cold regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic The Role of Plant-Soil Interactions on Crop Yields and Carbon Sequestration)

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