Discover Soil.

Marine ecosystems harbour a wide range of beneficial microorganisms with considerable potential for agricultural applications. This study highlights the plant growth-promoting abilities of the marine bacterium Enterobacter cloacae strain 6nak4, isolated from the Bay of Cambay. The strain is characterized as Gram-negative, non-endospore-forming and exhibits no hemolytic activity, suggesting low pa…

Abstract Maintaining soil organic carbon (SOC) in intensively managed potato systems is challenging due to frequent tillage and low residue return. A field experiment was conducted from 2019 to 2024 at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Fredericton Research and Development Centre, New Brunswick, Canada, to evaluate the effects of willow (Salix spp.) woodchip incorporation on SOC, soil organic n…

Achieving global agricultural production goals is becoming more difficult due to multiple challenges and increasing climate variability. In response, sustainable agriculture focuses on maintaining soil health worldwide, acknowledging the vital role of soil microorganisms in preserving soil quality and productivity. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), c…

Hydrochar derived from cashew bagasse has potential as a soil conditioner for agricultural use; however, its effectiveness in mitigating soil salinity and promoting plant growth remains uncertain. In this context, we hypothesized that hydrochar application would mitigate the effects of salinity by improving the chemical properties of surface soil layers and enhancing cowpea growth. Therefore, we …

Abstract Understanding the evolution of soil mineralogy under rice-based cropping systems is essential for maintaining soil health, boosting agricultural productivity, and ensuring long-term sustainability. To explore this, we examined the response of different rice-based cropping systems (e.g. rice–wheat, rice-potato-melon system, rice-potato-mungbean, rice-potato-maize and rice-peas-maize) on m…

Soil serves as the major habitat of micro and macrofauna that shows mutualistic interaction with one another. The interaction between earthworms (macrofauna) and the microbial community has gained global attention because earthworms, along with their gut symbionts, synergistically and significantly modify soil structure. Isolation and characterization of gut wall associated culturable bacteria of…

Traditional Indian bioformulations such as Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Beejamrit, Matka-khad, and others have long provided sustainable, eco-friendly means to enhance crop growth and protection by using natural materials. In this study, fermented bioformulations based on cow dung and urine from indigenous and exotic cow breeds were compared for plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits, antifungal and enzy…

Spatial assessment of the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and soil salinity (ECe) at the field scale is essential for effective soil and crop management in salt-affected lands. In this study, a cost-effective, rapid, and non-invasive geophysical technique, electromagnetic induction technique (EMI), was employed to measure soil SAR, while the Electrical Conductivity Sampling Assessment and Predictio…

Availability of phosphorous(P) is main challenges to crop production in the acid soils of the Tsegede. There is lack of information on which to base P fertilizer recommendations for production differences caused by acidity levels. This experiment was done in 2020 to evaluate Low phosphorus availability limits crop production in acidic soils of Tsegede due to strong P fixation. However, quantitati…

Water-induced soil erosion is a critical driver of land degradation in the Eastern Himalayas, threatening agricultural productivity and regional stability. Previous assessments in Northeast India often rely on coarse global datasets or resource-intensive field approaches that lack the spatial granularity required for district-level management in complex terrains such as Aizawl. This study aimed t…

Soil moisture influences the composition and diversity of weed species, as well as the competitive dynamics between crops and weeds. The purpose of this study was to determine how soil moisture shape weed community structure in flood recession farming systems. Vegetation sampling was conducted in 17 fields using 1 m² quadrats along gradient-oriented transects, and soil samples were collected at t…

Effective crop management in shrink-swell soils is constrained by the limited understanding of the chemical weathering processes influencing soil evolution in the Painganga valley. This study examined seven types of shrink-swell soils in the valley using physical, chemical, and geochemical analyses. The soils are moderately to strongly alkaline and display calcium carbonate accumulation in subsur…

Agricultural by-products or residues remain in the soil and are considered a burden unless properly managed. Traditionally, agricultural by-products and agro-food industry-derived waste streams are managed through composting or incineration, but these methods fail to unlock the wastes full potential. Thus, a promising yet unexplored research area for sustainable management of agricultural waste n…

High levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in agricultural soils pose significant ecological and human health risks, particularly in arid regions where dust exposure is frequent. This study aims to quantify the spatial distribution, enrichment patterns, and ecological and health risks of five PTEs (As, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) in agricultural soils from the Hermosillo Coast, Mexico, a region with in…