Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The assessment of soil quality is essential for adequate soil management and ecosystem preservation as it provides valuable information to promote sustainability and productivity in agricultural systems, in addition to enhancing the environmental recovery of degraded areas. The following Topic, "Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity", will include studies on the characterization of the physical, chemical, and biological attributes of the soil under systems that adopt sustainable soil use and management practices. Submissions of research articles and reviews should address the following: soil structure, fertility, and biodiversity as indicators of ecological stability; the impacts of agricultural practices on soil attributes, focusing on fertility conservation, organic matter, and nutrient cycling; and the recovery of degraded areas, emphasizing soils affected by agricultural activities and mineral exploration. Studies proposing innovative methodologies for soil quality assessment, including geospatial techniques, environmental modeling, and biological indicators, are particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Antonio Fernandes
Dr. Wendel Valter Da Silveira Pereira
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Agronomy agronomy	4.1	7.6	2011	17.7 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Environments environments	4.3	5.7	2014	18.6 Days	CHF 1800	Submit
Pollutants pollutants	3.7	5.2	2021	28.3 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Processes processes	3.4	5.7	2013	14.7 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Soil Systems soilsystems	4.1	6.9	2017	32.7 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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All Agronomy Environments Processes Soil Systems Pollutants

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20 pages, 4030 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Legacy Effects of 32 Years of Tillage and Crop Diversification on Soil Biological Activity in Paraguay

by Carlos Alcides Villalba Algarin, Marcos Fabian Sanabria Franco, Alodia Concepción González and José Lavres

Soil Syst. 2026, 10(6), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10060066 - 15 Jun 2026

Viewed by 794

Abstract

Soil biological activity integrates microbial processes involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, yet its long-term response under agricultural systems in Paraguay remains poorly documented. This study evaluated soil biological activity in a 32-year field experiment in the Eastern Region of Paraguay, [...] Read more.

Soil biological activity integrates microbial processes involved in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, yet its long-term response under agricultural systems in Paraguay remains poorly documented. This study evaluated soil biological activity in a 32-year field experiment in the Eastern Region of Paraguay, comparing cropping systems differing in tillage intensity and crop rotation diversification. Soil samples from the 0–20 cm layer were analyzed for microbial biomass carbon (MBC), β-glucosidase (BG), urease (URE), acid phosphatase (AP), arylsulfatase (ARS), soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), and pH. Our results revealed that BG, URE, and AP increased under no-tillage, particularly in the most diversified no-tillage rotation, with 71%, 90%, and 51% higher activities, respectively, than conventional tillage. MBC and ARS were not significantly affected by cropping systems. Principal component analysis, Spearman correlations, and Mantel analysis indicated that enzymatic responses were associated with SOC, TN, P, S, and pH, linking soil biological activity with chemical attributes related to nutrient cycling. These findings show that diversified no-tillage strengthens soil biological functioning under representative Paraguayan grain-production conditions, providing long-term local evidence to guide soil-health management, crop diversification strategies, and more sustainable agricultural systems in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity)

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24 pages, 2834 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Seasonal and Climatic Influences on Soil Microbial Communities and Their Enzymatic Activities in Five Tea Plantations in Jorhat, Assam, India

by Bobita Payeng, Ranjit Kumar Paul, Md. Yeasin, Animesh Sarkar, C. S. Maiti, Saumik Panja, Manoj Dutta, Rusha Pal, Diganta Deka, Harisadhan Malakar, Jintu Dutta, Jiban Saikia, Sagarika Das and Tanmoy Karak

Environments 2026, 13(6), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13060314 - 3 Jun 2026

Viewed by 649

Abstract

This study examines the effects of climatic variability on bacterial and fungal populations, as well as enzymatic activities innutrient-rich, organic soils that support tea plants (Camellia sinensis L). Conducted from 2016 to 2019 across five district tea estates (TEs) in the Jorhat [...] Read more.

This study examines the effects of climatic variability on bacterial and fungal populations, as well as enzymatic activities innutrient-rich, organic soils that support tea plants (Camellia sinensis L). Conducted from 2016 to 2019 across five district tea estates (TEs) in the Jorhat district of Assam, India, this research investigates the intricate relationships among these parameters. The findings indicate that bacterial and fungal communities exhibit optimal growth within a temperature range of 18 to 30 °C, establishing a critical threshold for their metabolic activity. A significant positive correlation was observed between the abundance of these microbial populations and the corresponding soil enzymatic activities, underscoring the essential role of these robust microbial communities in sustaining vital soil processes. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified two distinct groups of TEs that displayed consistent patterns of microbial behaviour across varying seasonal conditions. Furthermore, principal component analysis demonstrated that the first three principal components accounted for over 80% of the variability observed in the microbial and enzymatic data sets. This research contributes valuable insights into the dynamic interactions between seasonal fluctuations and soil health, highlighting the crucial contributions of bacterial and fungal populations, along with their enzymatic activities, to the complex ecosystem underlying tea cultivation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity)

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35 pages, 3145 KB  

Open AccessSystematic Review

Soil Property Monitoring in Africa via Spectroscopy: A Review

by Mohammed Hmimou, Ahmed Laamrani, Soufiane Hajaj, Faissal Sehbaoui and Abdelghani Chehbouni

Environments 2026, 13(4), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13040228 - 21 Apr 2026

Viewed by 655

Abstract

Efficient soil fertility monitoring is essential for sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental management across Africa, yet conventional laboratory methods remain prohibitively costly and slow for continental-scale applications. Soil spectroscopy is considered as a rapid, non-destructive alternative with transformative potential. This review provides [...] Read more.

Efficient soil fertility monitoring is essential for sustainable agriculture, food security, and environmental management across Africa, yet conventional laboratory methods remain prohibitively costly and slow for continental-scale applications. Soil spectroscopy is considered as a rapid, non-destructive alternative with transformative potential. This review provides a systematic synthesis of spectroscopic applications across Africa, encompassing laboratory, field, airborne, and satellite-based platforms, while examining major data sources including the Africa Soil Information Service (AfSIS) and GEO-CRADLE spectral libraries. We critically evaluate the evolution of modeling approaches, revealing that Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) dominates, but a shift toward advanced frameworks like hybrid physically based models, ensemble learning and deep neural networks is essential. Critically, we identify a pronounced imbalance wherein laboratory spectroscopy prevails while imaging and satellite-based approaches remain comparatively underutilized, despite their unparalleled potential for scaling point measurements to continental extents. The review consolidates findings on key soil properties, demonstrating consistent successes for primary constituents with direct spectral responses (i.e., organic carbon), while revealing relative uncertainty for properties inferred indirectly via covariance (e.g., available phosphorus, potassium). Despite significant local and regional progress, the absence of a standardized pan-African spectral library and the intractable transferability problem remain formidable barriers. Future research must pivot decisively toward imaging spectroscopy and satellite platforms, mitigating PLSR dominance through systematic adoption of ensemble methods, transfer learning, and model harmonization frameworks to fully operationalize these technologies in support of Africa’s sustainable development goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity)

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19 pages, 2542 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Soil Degradation by Erosion in a Small Catchment in the Black Soil Region of Northeast China

by Fujun Liu, Hangyu Zhang, Jianhui Zeng and Zhonglu Guo

Soil Syst. 2026, 10(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems10020032 - 19 Feb 2026

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 996

Abstract

Soil erosion and deposition processes act as key drivers of soil resources distribution across landscapes, affecting soil quality and functionality. However, the impacts of long-term soil erosion on soil quality and degradation in the black soil region remain unclear. Here, we assessed soil [...] Read more.

Soil erosion and deposition processes act as key drivers of soil resources distribution across landscapes, affecting soil quality and functionality. However, the impacts of long-term soil erosion on soil quality and degradation in the black soil region remain unclear. Here, we assessed soil quality and degradation as a consequence of historical erosion and soil redistribution in an agricultural catchment in Northeast China. Soil quality indices (SQI) were calculated using both linear and non-linear scoring function methods, along with soil indicator selection approaches, including Total Data Set (TDS) and Minimum Data Set (MDS). Soil degradation indices (SDI), resistance indices (SRI), and the change of SQI (CSQI) were computed and compared. The mean SDI for bulk density (BD) and sand was greater than 0. When BD and sand were excluded, the mean SDI and SRI for the 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm soil layers were −29.8% and −21.9%, and 0.57 and 0.65, respectively. Surface soil (0–10 cm) organic matter (SOM), available potassium (AK), structure stability index (SSI), and total nitrogen (TN) in eroding sites, as well as AK, SSI, SOM, TN, and available phosphorus (AP) in depositional sites, are particularly sensitive to long-term erosion. Field capacity, sand, AK, and SSI were selected to develop the SQI, with the non-linear method utilizing MDS outperforming other SQIs. Most SQIs in eroding sites were lower than those in depositional sites and increased with higher soil redistribution rates. The assessment of soil degradation using SDI, SRI, and CSQI revealed that long-term erosion markedly diminished soil quality, although deposition somewhat alleviated this impact. The lower SQI in the 10–20 cm compared to the 0–10 cm soil layer was primarily attributed to decreased FC, while long-term erosion degraded soil quality by negatively affecting AK and sand content. These findings enhance our comprehension of soil degradation caused by erosion in the Mollisol region of Northeast China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity)

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29 pages, 6987 KB  

Open AccessArticle

Restoring Functional Soil Depth in Plinthosols: Effects of Subsoiling and Termite Mound Amendments on Maize Yield

by John Banza Mukalay, Jeroen Meersmans, Joost Wellens, Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Emery Kasongo Lenge Mukonzo and Gilles Colinet

Environments 2026, 13(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13010052 - 17 Jan 2026

Viewed by 1354

Abstract

Soil degradation and limited root-exploitable depth restrict maize productivity in Plinthosols of tropical regions. However, the combined effects of subsoiling and amendments derived from termite mound materials on soil functionality and yield remain insufficiently quantified. This study examines how variations in a functionally [...] Read more.

Soil degradation and limited root-exploitable depth restrict maize productivity in Plinthosols of tropical regions. However, the combined effects of subsoiling and amendments derived from termite mound materials on soil functionality and yield remain insufficiently quantified. This study examines how variations in a functionally exploitable rooting depth, within a management system combining subsoiling and termite mound amendments, are associated with soil physicochemical properties and spatial variability of maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield in the Lubumbashi region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Spatial soil sampling and correlation analyses were used to identify the dominant pedological factors controlling yield variability. The results indicate a reduced vertical stratification of most nutrients within the explored depth, reflecting a more homogeneous distribution of soil properties within the managed profile, although direct causal attribution to specific practices cannot be established in the absence of untreated control plots. Improved rooting conditions were reflected by high and spatially variable productivity (2.3 to 11.1 t ha⁻¹ across blocks), accompanied by a moderate average gain between seasons (<1 t ha⁻¹), while extractable manganese emerged as a consistent negative predictor of yield. These patterns are consistent with a larger functionally exploitable rooting depth and an improved soil environment, although causal contributions of subsoiling and termite mound amendments cannot be isolated in the absence of control plots. Overall, the results highlight the importance of jointly considering structural and chemical soil properties when interpreting productivity gradients in Plinthosols and designing sustainable management strategies for degraded tropical soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Soil Quality: Monitoring Attributes and Productivity)

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