Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America最新文献

{"title":"Effect of long-term nighttime warming on carbon storage and nitrogen retention of calcareous soil profiles in wheatland","authors":"Siyu Li,&nbsp;Lin Zhu,&nbsp;Taiji Kou,&nbsp;Xianghan Cheng,&nbsp;Yufeng Deng,&nbsp;Rentian Ma","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70224","DOIUrl":"10.1002/saj2.70224","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The effects of warming on the buildup and depth-related distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) in agricultural soil profiles remain incompletely understood. Using a long-term field experiment initiated in 2012 in North China, we aimed to clarify whether warming would modify SOC and N accumulation and distribution in wheatland soil profiles. However, warming tended to boost wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) aboveground biomass but reduced root biomass and root-to-shoot ratios by 25.5%–66.7% and 26.9%–57.6%, respectively, from 2016 to 2024. Since 2020, it decreased SOC, total nitrogen (TN), and C/N ratios in the 0–20 cm layer. Warming significantly increased SOC levels by 16.1% in the 20–40 cm layer but reduced them by 15.8% and 23.6% in the 0–20 cmand 40–60 cm soil depths, respectively. TN content rose significantly by 12.8% and 33.3% in the 20–40 cm and 60–80 cm soil layers, respectively. However, inorganic nitrogen (IN) content increased by 36.8%–166.5% across depths. C/N ratios declined by 9.7%–28.3% in 0–20 cm, 40–60 cm, and 60–80 cm. Consequently, warming enhanced C and N contents in the 20–80 cm soil layer, though this came with a decrease in topsoil C and N stocks. In the 1 m soil profile, long-term warming significantly curtailed SOC storage by 10.8%, primarily due to topsoil depletion, while elevating IN accumulation by 54.8%. These insights are pivotal for understanding how warming influences C and N storage and distribution within a 1 m wheatland soil profile under anticipated future warming scenarios.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147585185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microtopography controls organic and inorganic carbon stocks in Vertisols: Insights from a climosequence on the Texas coastal plain","authors":"Sarah J. Kogler,&nbsp;Lee C. Nordt","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70226","DOIUrl":"10.1002/saj2.70226","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Complex interactions between ecological and environmental factors govern soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) stocks across landscapes. In gilgai-bearing Vertisols, submeter differences in water availability result in micro-spatial variability in soil properties. This study quantifies SOC and SIC stocks along a climosequence of subtropical grassland Vertisols (<i>n</i> = 45) on the Texas coastal plain, considering regional mean annual precipitation (MAP) (804–1475 mm year⁻¹) and gilgai microrelief. Expected regional increases in SOC stocks with increasing MAP are obscured by field-scale variability in soil moisture between gilgai microlows (ML) and microhighs (MH). Expected regional decreases in SIC stocks with increasing MAP occur in MLs. In contrast, the greatest SIC stocks in MHs occur where there was the greatest relief between gilgai elements (udic–ustic intergrades). Importantly, mean SOC stocks did not differ between the udic and ustic soil moisture regimes at a given microtopographic position. Regardless of soil moisture regime, MLs are enriched in SOC and depleted in SIC relative to MHs; however, differences were more pronounced in udic soil moisture regimes than ustic soil moisture regimes. Because the distribution, morphology, and degree of development of gilgai vary at field and regional scales, the resultant meter-scale variations in soil carbon stocks are unlikely to be captured in most digital soil mapping or carbon modeling studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70226","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147643202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cover crop can offset negative effects of corn silage harvest on soils in a corn silage–soybean rotation","authors":"Sabrina J. Ruis,&nbsp;Peter L. O'Brien,&nbsp;Cecilia Crespo,&nbsp;Thomas C. Kaspar,&nbsp;John L. Kovar","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70211","DOIUrl":"10.1002/saj2.70211","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Harvesting corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) as silage is an important component of many livestock operations but can lead to soil degradation without support practices like cover crops (CCs). However, long-term research investigating the effects of such combination of practices on soils is minimal. We assessed (1) the impact of a winter rye (<i>Secale cereale</i> L.) CC following corn silage (CS + CC) on dynamic soil biological, chemical, and physical health indicators in a no-till corn–soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.) rotation compared with corn silage no cover crop (CS + NCC) after 21 years of management, (2) if soil health under CS + CC was similar to corn grain no CC (CG + NCC), and (3) whether any effects of CS + NCC existed following both rotation phases in a US Midwest Mollisol. CS + CC increased soil microbial biomass and activity, labile and total C and N concentrations, and aggregation compared with CS + NCC due to greater biomass input. In both rotation phases, CS + CC had no effect on most biological and chemical properties compared with CG + NCC. As expected, CS + NCC negatively affected soil biological properties and organic carbon and total nitrogen concentrations compared with CG + NCC, which persisted in both crop phases. Treatment effects on soil properties were few below 5 cm. The CC did not affect crop yields across years, but crop yields were positively correlated with some soil properties. Overall, a winter rye CC following corn silage can maintain many soil properties at levels similar to corn grain without negatively impacting yields, unlike CS + NCC, in this US Midwest Mollisol.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147569733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil chemical properties effect on phosphorus fractions and maximum adsorption capacity in Brazilian tropical soils","authors":"Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da Silva,&nbsp;Ana Paula Rodrigues da Silva,&nbsp;Adrielli Cristina Perez da Silva,&nbsp;João Arthur Antonangelo,&nbsp;João Andrade Bonetti,&nbsp;Dirceu Maximino Fernandes,&nbsp;Gustavo Rocha de Castro,&nbsp;Leonardo Theodoro Büll","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70223","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Phosphorus (P) availability in tropical soils is strongly limited by high adsorption capacity, primarily driven by mineralogical and chemical characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of soil properties on P sorption kinetics, maximum phosphorus adsorption capacity (MPAC), and P fraction distribution across 17 soil samples from São Paulo, Brazil. Soil samples from multiple classes and textures were characterized for chemical, physical, and mineralogical attributes, and subjected to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm modeling, pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetics, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and sequential P fractionation. The MPAC values varied widely, ranging from 75.95 to 1149.49 mg kg⁻¹, with higher values in clay-rich Inceptisol (aq) and Oxisols. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model consistently provided the best fit outperforming the pseudo-first-order model, confirming chemisorption as the main mechanism. FTIR spectra revealed the presence of reactive functional groups (Al–OH, Fe–OH, and carboxylic acids), associated with P retention. P fractionation showed predominance of occluded forms (&gt;60% of total P in most soils), with labile P being minimal (&lt;8%). The degree of P saturation and P legacy index indicated potential environmental risks in Inceptisol (aq) and P occlusion in Oxisols. Principal component analysis and Spearman correlation demonstrated strong associations between organic matter, clay, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, and P fractions. These findings underscore the central role of soil mineralogy and organic matter in modulating P dynamics, highlighting the need for targeted fertilization strategies in tropical agroecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70223","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147666129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of soil core preparation on hydraulic properties and modeled carbon cycling across texture classes","authors":"Andrew Townsend,&nbsp;Arjun Chakrawal,&nbsp;Odeta Qafoku,&nbsp;Mark L. Rockhold,&nbsp;Tom Wietsma,&nbsp;John R. Bargar,&nbsp;Emily B. Graham","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70228","DOIUrl":"10.1002/saj2.70228","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil hydraulic properties regulate microbially mediated carbon (C) cycling, but empirical measurements are labor-intensive and often rely on homogenized soils that do not encompass the impacts of soil structure on hydraulics. We evaluated how the soil matrix structure influences measured hydraulic properties and the resultant soil C model predictions. We measured water retention and hydraulic conductivity on intact versus repacked soil cores from four textures (sandy loam, loam, silt loam, and silty clay) collected by the Molecular Observation Network (MONet), compared results to the HiHydroSoil v2.0 database, and evaluated their impacts on ecosystem soil C predictions through the Millennial model. Structural differences produced the largest divergences in hydraulic properties for silty textures and the smallest for sandy soils. Relative to intact cores, repacked sandy loam and loam soils exhibited higher simulated respiration and reduced soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. In contrast, repacked silt loam and silty clay showed lower respiration and increased SOC stocks, consistent with enhanced clay-associated C protection. Model outcomes also differed depending on whether measured properties or database values were used. Together, these results show that sample structure and parameter source introduce systematic biases into predictions of soil C dynamics, with effects that depend on texture. Standardized, structure-aware, and higher throughput measurements of hydraulic properties are needed to improve parameterization, reduce uncertainty, and better represent environmental and anthropogenic impacts on soil structure in coupled hydrology–biogeochemistry models.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70228","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147569731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numerical analysis of slope stability in granite residual soil under rainfall conditions","authors":"Shuting Liu,&nbsp;Yusong Deng,&nbsp;Zhe Lin,&nbsp;Jiangxing Wei,&nbsp;Wencong Liang,&nbsp;Shuyu Luo,&nbsp;Xiaoqian Duan","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70216","DOIUrl":"10.1002/saj2.70216","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Rainfall-induced landslides in granite weathering crusts are a prevalent geological hazard in South China, yet the role of soil configuration in controlling hydromechanical responses remains insufficiently quantified. This study combines laboratory testing with fully coupled ABAQUS finite-element simulations to examine seepage–deformation coupling and stability evolution for typical slope configurations. Direct-shear tests show that the red soil is highly sensitive to moisture, with marked reductions in both cohesion and internal friction angle, whereas the sandy soil exhibits strength decay dominated by cohesion loss while its friction angle remains comparatively stable. Numerical results indicate that pore water pressure evolution—a key failure precursor—is primarily governed by rainfall intensity, slope position, and soil permeability, and that the slope toe saturates first and can transition to positive pressure, making it the most likely initiation zone. Distinct failure modes emerge across configurations: homogeneous red soil slopes tend to fail by sudden deep-seated sliding triggered by localized pore pressure surges; homogeneous sandy soil slopes develop progressive toe-initiated flow failure driven by seepage erosion; and composite slopes (red soil over sandy soil) are prone to stepped interfacial sliding due to hydro-shear concentration across permeability contrasts. Heavy rainfall (≥0.03 m/h) and steep slopes (≥45°) substantially reduce the factor of safety. Reinforcement simulations further demonstrate that deep anchorage increases stability far more effectively than shallow root reinforcement. These findings clarify configuration-controlled failure mechanisms and hydraulic triggering criteria, and provide a basis for early warning indicators and targeted mitigation in granite weathering crusts.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147585145","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimating saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil samples from Kansas mesonet database","authors":"Behzad Ghanbarian,&nbsp;Andres Patrignani","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70222","DOIUrl":"10.1002/saj2.70222","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In soil physics, saturated hydraulic conductivity, <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>K</mi>\u0000 <mi>sat</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <annotation>${{K}_{{mathrm{sat}}}}$</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math>, is a key soil hydraulic parameter governing the movement of water and solutes, with broad implications for transport processes under variably saturated conditions. Its accurate estimation, however, is challenging and requires precise characterization of pore space. In this study, we applied concepts of critical path analysis (CPA) to estimate <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>K</mi>\u0000 <mi>sat</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <annotation>${{K}_{{mathrm{sat}}}}$</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math> from soil water retention curve. To evaluate the CPA, we used observations made on 313 undisturbed soil cores from the Kansas Mesonet soil physical property database in which the value of <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>K</mi>\u0000 <mi>sat</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <annotation>${{K}_{{mathrm{sat}}}}$</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math> spans over five orders of magnitude in variation. We found that the CPA estimated <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>K</mi>\u0000 <mi>sat</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <annotation>${{K}_{{mathrm{sat}}}}$</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math> reasonably well with root mean square log-transformed error RMSLE = 0.87. For most samples, the predicted values were around the 1:1 line within a factor of 10 of the measurements. We also estimated <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>K</mi>\u0000 <mi>sat</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <annotation>${{K}_{{mathrm{sat}}}}$</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math> using five other methods, but none was more accurate than the CPA. We found the RMSLE values were 1.42 for the Kozeny–Carman model, 1.28 for the Revil, Glover, Pezard, and Zamora model, 1.18 for the Johnson, Koplik, and Schwartz model, 2.68 for the Mishra and Parker model, and 1.40 for the Guarracino model. This study provides one of the first large-sample, field-based validations of the CPA framework for estimating <span></span><math>\u0000 <semantics>\u0000 <msub>\u0000 <mi>K</mi>\u0000 <mi>sat</mi>\u0000 </msub>\u0000 <annotation>${{K}_{{mathrm{sat}}}}$</annotation>\u0000 </semantics></math> in predominantly fine-textured soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70222","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147569061","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial patterns, risks, and drivers of soil potentially toxic elements enrichment in urban forest","authors":"Jingwang Ran,&nbsp;Na Li,&nbsp;Jiamei Tu,&nbsp;Fei Huang,&nbsp;Foyi Zhang,&nbsp;Xinran Lv,&nbsp;Tingzhu Yu,&nbsp;Qiong Wang","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70219","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Urban expansion and land-use change are transforming human living environments, and PTEs (potentially toxic elements) pollution is exacerbating. However, the spatial distributions, risks, and drivers of soil PTEs enrichment in urban forest remain unclear. To elucidate this, 184 forest plots were examined in built-up area of Nanchang, China (road forests, landscape forests, institution-affiliated forests, and ecological public-welfare forests), and classified based on different urbanization intensities. Nine soil PTEs (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) levels and pollution evaluation indices were calculated. Results showed a contamination factor of 2.02, a Nemerow pollution index of 2.40, and a potential ecological risk index of 169.66, indicating a moderate level of soil pollution in Nanchang. Cr was 38%–52% higher in landscape forests than that in the other forest types (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Cr, Cd, and Pb deposition increased significantly with advancing urbanization intensity (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Moreover, Cr, As, Cd, and Pb levels were 1.21–7.83-fold higher than their background values in Nanchang. Soil total phosphorus, available phosphorus, NO₃⁻, bulk density, and total potassium were key factors affecting PTEs. This study provides a theoretical basis for mitigating PTEs pollution in urban forest management within subtropical red soil regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial patterns, risks, and drivers of soil potentially toxic elements enrichment in urban forest","authors":"Jingwang Ran,&nbsp;Na Li,&nbsp;Jiamei Tu,&nbsp;Fei Huang,&nbsp;Foyi Zhang,&nbsp;Xinran Lv,&nbsp;Tingzhu Yu,&nbsp;Qiong Wang","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70219","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Urban expansion and land-use change are transforming human living environments, and PTEs (potentially toxic elements) pollution is exacerbating. However, the spatial distributions, risks, and drivers of soil PTEs enrichment in urban forest remain unclear. To elucidate this, 184 forest plots were examined in built-up area of Nanchang, China (road forests, landscape forests, institution-affiliated forests, and ecological public-welfare forests), and classified based on different urbanization intensities. Nine soil PTEs (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) levels and pollution evaluation indices were calculated. Results showed a contamination factor of 2.02, a Nemerow pollution index of 2.40, and a potential ecological risk index of 169.66, indicating a moderate level of soil pollution in Nanchang. Cr was 38%–52% higher in landscape forests than that in the other forest types (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Cr, Cd, and Pb deposition increased significantly with advancing urbanization intensity (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Moreover, Cr, As, Cd, and Pb levels were 1.21–7.83-fold higher than their background values in Nanchang. Soil total phosphorus, available phosphorus, NO₃⁻, bulk density, and total potassium were key factors affecting PTEs. This study provides a theoretical basis for mitigating PTEs pollution in urban forest management within subtropical red soil regions.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147568186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil ecosystem function loss under traditional gold mining landscapes in Tigray, Ethiopia: A function-based soil quality indices approach","authors":"Meaza Zenebe,&nbsp;Tesfay Araya,&nbsp;Mitiku Haile,&nbsp;Tewodros Tadesse,&nbsp;Kassa Teka,&nbsp;Emiru Birhane","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70215","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Traditional gold mining (TGM) contributes to land degradation, yet its impacts on key soil ecosystem functions remain poorly understood. This study investigated soil degradation caused by TGM in Tigray, Ethiopia, to identify sensitive soil quality indicators and develop function-based soil quality indices (SQIs), compare soil quality scoring functions, and assess the extent of soil degradation caused by TGM across different slopes and depths. A total of 192 (96 disturbed and 96 undisturbed) soil samples were collected across three slope positions, two depths, and mined and unmined counterparts from three TGM-affected locations. Out of 30 potential indicators, 11 were selected through principal component analysis to represent buffering and detoxification, nutrient cycling, structural stability and erosion resistance, and water–air–solute movement soil functions. SQIs showed significant declines in soil function due to TGM, especially on upper slopes and deeper layers. Over 52% of mined soils are classified as very low SQIs grades, with degradation indices reaching up to 80% in upper slopes. Significant impacts included heavy metal buildup (Hg, Cu, Fe), nutrient loss (cation exchange capacity, Mg²⁺, P), and poor soil structure and erosion tolerance, explained by low mean weight diameter and soil organic carbon, along with imbalanced water-solute-air movement caused by high soil compaction, low moisture content, and dominant coarse texture in the mined soils. The threshold-based nonlinear scoring function proved more sensitive (sensitivity: 16.03) than the mean-based approach (5.07), preferably identifying degradation patterns. These findings confirm that function-based SQIs are significant for monitoring TGM-related soil impacts and the importance of slope-specific post-mining restoration strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70215","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}