Frontiers in Soil Science | New and Recent Articles

Lawns and wooded areas dominate urban green spaces (UGSs) and are known to store substantial amounts of carbon in soils, yet the role of lawn trees in litter decomposition dynamics remains poorly understood. This study assessed how trees influence litter decomposition through (i) microclimatic (temperature and moisture) and (ii) soil properties effects. Decomposition rates of 8 tree and shrub lit…

IntroductionSoil salinity fundamentally reshapes geochemical controls governing metal mobility and plant uptake, yet its effects across soils with different salinity histories remain poorly resolved.MethodsWe conducted four controlled experiments using NaCl treatments ranging from 1.0 to 20.0 dS m−1, combining freshly salinized soils with soils previously exposed to salinity, and evaluated metal …

IntroductionWildfires can alter soil structure and reduce microbial diversity, potentially affecting ecosystem resilience. Understanding the effects of wildfire on native soil microbiomes may help identify bacterial taxa relevant for ecosystem recovery. In this study, we investigated wildfire-associated patterns in soil bacterial communities across a pine–oak forest in Mexico. MethodsSixteen soil…

This study evaluates soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in Mediterranean agroecosystems using the Carbon, Aggregation, and Structure Turnover (CAST) model, with a focus on agroecological and regenerative practices that support carbon farming (CF) strategies. Three case studies across Greece, Italy, and Spain were assessed to quantify SOC dynamics and carbon storage potential. In Koiliaris, G…

Soil health is a priority in European policies, such as the EU Soil and Biodiversity Strategies for 2030, owing to land degradation and climate change, with Mediterranean vineyards being especially vulnerable because of their low soil organic matter content and risk of erosion. To improve sustainability, cover crops are increasingly used as alternatives to conventional tillage with bare soils. Th…

IntroductionGlomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) serves as a critical indicator of soil health, reflecting particularly microbial activity and soil aggregate stability. Despite the known effects of management practices for GRSP accumulation, the role of soil properties remains under-researched.MethodsThis study aimed to evaluate how soil chemical properties and soil type influence GRSP accumulati…

IntroductionPhosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendations for wheat are still largely based on soil test P (STP) classes and fixed fertilization grids. While simple to apply, these approaches often fail to reflect field-level variability and the combined influence of soil and climate factors on crop response. As a result, recommendations can be inconsistent and poorly aligned with actual yield potent…

IntroductionThe effectiveness of liming materials in ameliorating soil acidity depends on their physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties. Although several factors influencing lime efficacy have been identified in previous studies, their relative importance and interactions remain insufficiently explored. This study therefore applies a machine learning (ML) approach to better understand th…

IntroductionThe comprehensive characterization of native Capsicum chinense ecotypes represents a strategic priority for genetic improvement, germplasm conservation, and the sustainable use of Amazonian crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate morphological, phenological, and productive variability among 12 ecotypes from the Peruvian Amazon by integrating multivariate análisis and machin…

IntroductionAlternatives to chemical inputs are crucial for improving agricultural production and plant health management for sustainable agriculture, particularly in tropical environments, where pest dynamics and treatment effectiveness determine crop success. Because organic waste products differ in dry matter content, nutrient release, nutrient balance, and potential biological load, they may …

Soil total nitrogen (STN) is a crucial indicator of crop productivity and soil health. Accurate monitoring of STN is essential for optimizing nitrogen management and achieving sustainable agricultural development. An adequate and timely STN supply serves as a key physiological basis for promoting effective tillering, flower stalk development, and continuous multibatch bud formation in Hemerocalli…

Citrus greening (Huanglongbing, HLB) continues to threaten citrus production in the United States, particularly in Florida, by impairing root growth and nutrient uptake. Concurrently, citrus producers are actively seeking alternatives to traditional chemical fertilizers, which raise concerns regarding soil sustainability. Organic amendments are widely used to improve soil organic matter (SOM) and…

The “enzyme latch” and “iron gate” mechanisms play essential roles in regulating soil organic carbon (SOC) cycling in coastal saline paddy soils; however, their contributions to SOC sequestration under straw incorporation and nitrogen (N) fertilization remain poorly understood. A seven-year field experiment was conducted in a coastal saline paddy soil with six treatments, including two N levels (…

Valorization of invasive plant biomass through pyrolysis into biochar offers opportunities for waste management and resource recovery. However, the release of biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (BDOM), which influences carbon dynamics and pollutant mobility, remains poorly understood. This study investigated BDOM from Japanese knotweed biochar (500 °C) using seven extraction methods, coveri…

The production of high-quality forest seedlings is essential for successful reforestation programs, particularly for high-value timber species such as African mahogany (Khaya ivorensis), which is widely cultivated due to its rapid growth and economic importance. This study evaluated the effects of sustainable substrate compositions and biological fertilizers on seedling growth and nutrient accumu…

IntroductionCoffee cultivation in the Central Peruvian Amazon, one of the country’s most important production regions, faces increasing challenges from soil degradation and climate change impacts. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the altitudinal gradient on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and soil erodibility (K index) in coffee-growing systems.MethodsThree altitudinal zones were es…

IntroductionDredged sediment from inland waterway construction is often disposed of at low resource efficiency and with potential environmental risks. This study evaluates the feasibility of converting these sediments into a sustainable resource for vegetation restoration.MethodsIn a 70-day field experiment, planting soil prepared from dredged sediment amended with composted pig manure, sawdust, …

This study investigated the effects of combining chemical fertilizer and fulvic acid (FA) organic fertilizer on soil enzyme activity, bacterial communities, and peanut yield. Seven treatments were established using the peanut cultivar Shanhua No. 9: no fertilization control (CK), conventional chemical fertilizer (A), 100% FA (B), 20% FA + 80% chemical fertilizer (C), 40% FA + 60% chemical fertili…

IntroductionSoil organic carbon (SOC) content plays a fundamental role in regulating the global carbon cycle and mitigating climate change. It is also a key marker of soil health and a vital plant component. Its distribution in space varies in dry ecosystems, where climate and land use affect it. This study aimed to estimate and map SOC in the Motupe River Basin, northern Peru, by applying machin…