Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America最新文献

{"title":"Intercropping with Bidens pilosa can effectively reduce Cd absorption and improve tobacco leaf quality","authors":"Lanlan Qi,&nbsp;Jingxin Huang,&nbsp;Fei Han,&nbsp;Xiaole Zhang,&nbsp;Yizong Huang,&nbsp;Zhiqiang Yue,&nbsp;Meng Lu","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70345","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70345","url":null,"abstract":"<p>To explore the feasibility of intercropping super-enriched plants with tobacco (<i>Nicotiana tabacum</i>) to mitigate heavy metal uptake in tobacco and enhance leaf quality, we conducted an indoor sand cultivation experiment. This experiment examines differences in growth, cadmium (Cd) uptake, and chemical composition of tobacco leaves when intercropped with <i>Bidens pilosa</i> under various levels of Cd stress. Our two-factor design includes Cd treatments and intercropping. The Cd treatments comprise a control (CK, no added Cd) and Cd10 (Cd concentration of 10 mg/L), each with three planting types: monocultures of <i>B. pilosa</i>, monocultures of tobacco, and intercropping of <i>B. pilosa</i>/tobacco. Our results demonstrate that intercropping significantly boosts tobacco photosynthesis under no Cd treatment, with transpiration rate (Tr) and stomatal conductance (Gsw) increasing by 54.91% and 54.55%, respectively. Under Cd stress, intercropping elevates the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in both plants, enhancing stress tolerance. Notably, intercropping substantially increases the Cd concentration in <i>B. pilosa</i> tissues (with stem Cd concentration rising by 128.81%) and concurrently reduces Cd concentration and accumulation in tobacco tissues. Specifically, stem and leaf Cd concentrations in tobacco decrease by 60.72% and 83.46%, respectively, and shoot Cd accumulation drops by 71.59%. Additionally, intercropping alters the content of chemical components in tobacco leaves, skewing them toward more optimal levels. Therefore, <i>B. pilosa</i>/tobacco intercropping markedly impedes the uptake and accumulation of Cd in tobacco, simultaneously improving leaf quality. These findings offer a reference for safe, high-quality tobacco production.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149259282","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":"Assessing fungal–mineral interactions in soil: A review of microscale methods","authors":"Madison L. Morris,&nbsp;Dragos G. Zaharescu,&nbsp;Cassandra V. Collins,&nbsp;Erin E. Nuccio,&nbsp;Rebecca A. Lybrand","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70340","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biological weathering of minerals has profoundly transformed Earth over geologic time by driving soil formation, nutrient cycling, and long-term biogeochemical processes. Among soil biota, fungi are increasingly recognized as key yet obscure drivers of weathering through their unique hyphal growth forms, metabolic capabilities, and symbiotic associations with plants and other microorganisms. This review synthesizes current understanding of fungal–mineral interactions across scales, from microscale hyphal–mineral interfaces to landscape and global implications. We begin with the evolutionary history of fungi and explore physical and chemical aspects of fungal weathering, including biophysical penetration, organic acid production, biomineral formation, and mineral sensing capabilities. We further assess traditional and emerging methodologies for studying fungal–mineral interactions, encompassing microscopy (scanning electron, transmission electron, helium ion, and atomic force), x-ray-based analyses (computed tomography; x-ray diffraction; energy dispersive, fluorescence, and adsorption spectroscopies), geochemical analyses (sequential extractions and mass spectrometry), molecular tools (amplicon and metagenomic sequencing), and lab- and field-based experimental design considerations. Finally, we discuss future research directions, including applications for enhanced silicate weathering, climate modeling, and material and extraterrestrial sciences. By exploring the outstanding questions and challenges of fungal weathering research, we emphasize the need for quantitative, cross-scale research to constrain fungal contributions to past, present, and future environmental change.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70340","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149258041","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":"Bio-organic manure and minerals synergically revitalize soil quality via aggregation and pore structure in saline soils","authors":"Xiaoying Jin,&nbsp;Ziqi Geng,&nbsp;Weitang Liang,&nbsp;Zhanlonggang Yu,&nbsp;Zichao Zhao,&nbsp;Hu Zhou,&nbsp;Zhangliu Du","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70350","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70350","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil salinization may deteriorate soil structure and soil quality, particularly in coastal regions. However, the impact of organic and inorganic amendments on soil aggregation, pore structure and their correlation with soil quality remains unclear. Herein, we examined the changes in aggregate-size distribution, the associated cementing agents, and pore structure identified using X-ray computed tomography in the Yellow River Delta, North China. Soil samples were collected from the 0- to 20-cm layer and treated with non-amended control (CK), formulated Fe-Si/Ca-based material containing wollastonite and iron mining tailings (FeSi), bio-organic manure (BOM), and a combination of BOM with FeSi (FeSi + BOM). The results showed that BOM and FeSi + BOM markedly boosted soil macroaggregates by 3.0–5.0 times and structural stability, reflected by mean weight diameter (41.9%–57.0%), in comparison to CK. This improvement may likely be due to the increased organic binding agents (e.g., soil organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, and total glomalin-related soil proteins) and ions like Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. The utilization of BOM and FeSi + BOM enhanced the 3D pore structure and functions. This enhancement was evidenced by the increased image-identified porosity (by 53.3%–77.3%), pore connectivity (by 1.9–3.2 times), optimized pore-size distribution (e.g., 100–500 µm and &gt;500 µm), and increased saturated hydraulic conductivity (4.4–6.8 times). Collectively, BOM, either alone or in combination with inorganic ameliorations, has the potential to enhance soil quality significantly, providing effective strategies for rehabilitating saline soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994549","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":"Predicting net N mineralized from soil organic matter under fluctuating environmental conditions","authors":"Nadia Noor,&nbsp;M. Cabrera,&nbsp;R. Thapa,&nbsp;C. Reberg-Horton,&nbsp;S. Mirsky","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70355","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70355","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nitrogen mineralization from soil organic matter can provide substantial amounts of N for growing crops. However, it is often overlooked or poorly estimated due to the limited availability of rapid soil tests. We conducted a study to (1) fit first- and zero-order N kinetics models to long-term N mineralization data from 29 US soils, (2) evaluate rapid soil tests to estimate model-fit parameters, and (3) use the estimated model-fit parameters to predict net N mineralized from six different soils under fluctuating environmental conditions. Soils collected from 10 USA states were incubated for 115 days at 29°C and 50% water-filled pore space (WFPS) to determine first- and zero-order rates of N Mineralization. The rapid soil tests evaluated included N hydrolyzed by hot KCl and organic C and N released by hot water. Nitrogen hydrolyzed by hot KCl and soil clay content explained 86% of the variability in the zero-order rate of N mineralization. The zero-order rates of six soils, estimated from hot KCl and clay content, were modulated by hourly temperature and WFPS to predict net N mineralized over 30 days under diurnal cycles of temperature and relative humidity. Measured versus predicted net N mineralized had an <i>r</i>² of 0.90, although measured values were overpredicted at very low levels of net N mineralized and underpredicted by 12%–23% at high levels. While our results are promising, more research should be conducted with additional soils under different environmental conditions to determine whether hot KCl and clay content can be used to predict net N mineralized from soil organic matter.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70355","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149258208","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":"Validation of a portable electrochemical sensor for real-time soil nitrate monitoring in cotton rhizosphere","authors":"Mohammad Solaiman,&nbsp;Elvis D. Sangmen,&nbsp;Ali Reza Galib,&nbsp;Tushar C. Sarker,&nbsp;Anil C. Somenahally,&nbsp;Shawana Tabassum","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70349","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70349","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil nitrate (NO₃) exhibits rapid spatial and temporal variability that conventional point-sampling methods cannot effectively capture, limiting timely nutrient management and plant stress detection. This study aimed to validate a low-cost, three-dimensional-printed electrochemical NO₃ sensor for continuous in-soil monitoring and to evaluate whether sensor-derived NO₃ dynamics reflect plant physiological responses. For this purpose, cotton (<i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L.) plants were grown in pots under greenhouse conditions. The sensor was evaluated in two sequential phases: an initial calibration phase to characterize sensor response across a broad NO₃ concentration range, followed by a validation phase in the cotton plant rhizosphere. In the calibration phase, the sensor exhibited a sensitivity of −73.99 mV/dec and a limit of detection of 0.12 ppm. In the validation phase, cotton plants were grown under three NO₃ treatment levels: no NO₃ (0 ppm), low NO₃ (150 ppm), and high NO₃ (250 ppm), with three replicate pots per treatment. Sensor NO₃ measurements were validated against commercial grade Ward Laboratory data obtained from the same soil samples. Our sensor accurately captured fertilizer-induced NO₃ spikes and depletion trends and showed strong agreement with laboratory measurements (<i>R</i>² = 0.89, root mean square error = 14.77 ppm). <i>F</i>-score, coefficient of variation, and Tukey's honestly significant difference post hoc analyses confirmed a clear distinction between fertilized and unfertilized soil following NO₃ application. Furthermore, cotton plants’ physiological parameters, such as leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll index, and stomatal conductance, were measured and correlated with soil NO₃ concentrations. LAI and chlorophyll index increased with NO₃ availability, indicating enhanced canopy development and leaf nitrogen status. In contrast, stomatal conductance decreased with increasing NO₃, reflecting physiological stress under excessive or sudden NO₃ supply. These results demonstrate that the sensor provides chemically accurate and biologically meaningful NO₃ measurements, supporting its potential for precision nutrient management and future field-scale agricultural deployment.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70349","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994579","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":"Evaluation of the agronomic effectiveness of enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers on yield and nitrogen uptake of sorghum","authors":"Syam Dodla,&nbsp;Christopher Clark,&nbsp;Kiran Pavuluri,&nbsp;Upendra Singh,&nbsp;Jorge Delgado,&nbsp;Bryan Hopkins,&nbsp;Daniel C. Olk,&nbsp;Amit Roy,&nbsp;Rod Venterea,&nbsp;Mike Wilson,&nbsp;Job Fugice","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70344","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70344","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Enhanced‑efficiency nitrogen (N) fertilizers (EENFs) are designed to improve N use efficiency and minimize losses. Their performance depends on soil properties and the behavior of coating and inhibitor chemistries. We evaluated surface application of 11 EENFs, two conventional fertilizers (Urea, urea ammonium nitrate [UAN]), deep placement of a urea supergranule (urea-brick with deep placement [UDP]), and a control (zero N fertilizer) on sorghum (<i>Sorghum bicolor</i>) yield and N uptake in two soils from Iowa (higher soil organic carbon [SOC, pH 6.19]) and Minnesota (low SOC, pH 5.79) in greenhouse. EENFs tested included three nitrification inhibitors (3,4-dimethylpyrazol succinic acid [DMPSA], Pronitridine, Nitrapyrin), one urease inhibitor (N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide [NBPT]); two dual-inhibitors (Dicyandiamide [DCD] + NBPT + Urea, DCD + NBPT + UAN), and five polymer-coated fertilizers (three with Polyurethane, one with polylactic acid [PLA]/poly[butylene succinate] [PBS], and one bio-based), Across soils, grain yield increased with N rate. In the Iowa soil, most EENFs matched the performance of split‑applied Urea and UAN at 100 kg N ha⁻¹, while UDP, DMPSA, Pronitridine, and PC‑Poly‑3 performed best overall. At 250 kg N ha⁻¹, several EENFs exceeded their references, including Pronitridine, dual inhibitor (UAN + DI, and PC‑Poly‑1). In the Minnesota soil, with low inherent N, Pronitridine consistently performed the best at 100 kg N ha⁻¹, while DMPSA and Pronitridine performed the best at 250 kg N ha⁻¹.Most polymer‑coated products underperformed at both N rates, consistent with a release–demand mismatch under low inherent soil-N. UDP was the best among Urea‑based treatments. Stover yield and total N uptake mirrored grain‑yield patterns, with strong correlations between N uptake and grain yield across soils. Overall, DMPSA, Pronitridine, and UDP delivered the most reliable agronomic gains. Dual‑inhibitor formulations performed well only in the Iowa soil. These findings underscore that EENF performance is highly soil‑specific.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148994578","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":"Aggregation and carbon content in urban soil blends: Insights from a three-decade chronosequence","authors":"Nelson C. H. Cheung,&nbsp;Susan D. Day,&nbsp;Mark S. Johnson","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70342","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70342","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Manufactured soil blends are increasingly used for urban landscaping where access to suitable natural topsoil is limited. These mixed sandy soils contain substantial compost but are essentially structureless at installation. Aggregate formation in these blends, critical for water and nutrient retention, remains poorly understood. In addition, although blends initially have very high organic matter contents, the fate of these carbon inputs is unknown. We investigated soil aggregation, carbon content, and related properties of soil blends installed over the past 30 years at University of British Columbia campus, Canada, and examined relationships to vegetation type and time since installation. We analyzed soil samples at 2.5- to 7.5-cm depth from 88 plots across four vegetation types. All blends consistently formed smaller aggregates (10%–53% lower mean-weight diameter) than nearby natural soils. Soil texture emerged as the dominant factor likely driving soil aggregation. Older blends exhibited greater aggregation, likely due to the relatively finer-textured mixture specifications (up to 11% clay) rather than time-dependent development (partial correlation, 95% CI excludes zero [where CI is confidence interval]). Soil carbon was high across all vegetation types (4.55%–6.74%), although it was greatest under trees with shrubs, likely reflecting the influence of vegetation inputs and maintenance practices. Our results provide evidence to refine soil blend design and inform management decisions aimed at improving long-term soil function in urban landscapes.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/saj2.70342","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148993960","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":"Southern high plains cyclical wetlands: Precipitation, flooding, infiltration, clay mineralogy, and iron and manganese nodules","authors":"W. F. Jaynes,&nbsp;S. Perez,&nbsp;Daniel R. Hirmas,&nbsp;R. E Zartman","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70338","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70338","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Southern High Plains (SHP) playa wetlands act as flood control, native plant refugia, wildlife habitat, and recharge underlying Ogallala aquifer. To understand climate and soil property roles in playa soil hydrologic functioning, soil profiles were described and soil samples collected from basin center to edge in typical SHP playa (mean annual precipitation [MAP] 478 mm). Soils were inner-basin Randall (very fine, smectitic, thermic Ustic Epiaquerts) and outer-basin Lofton (fine, mixed, superactive, thermic, Vertic Argiustolls). Soil samples were analyzed for physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties. Playa soils had greater fine clay contents, but clays were mineralogically similar to SHP upland soils. Playa soil clays contain tetrahedrally charged disordered vermiculite, illite, and kaolin. Aerial imagery observed 1996–2013 playa conditions. Inner-basin was flooded 10 of 18 years and outer-basin only 3 of 18 years. Double-ring water infiltration rates increased from playa center to upland rim paralleling decreases in clay content. Lower outer-basin clay contents and greater infiltration rates favor aquifer recharge, but outer-basin soils rarely flood. Oxidizing conditions were measured in 2000–2001 in playa without flooding. Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) nodules are persistent playa wetland features. Playa nodules were compared to Texas Gulf Coast (TGC) Vertisol nodule Fe values linearly correlated with MAP (predicts likely redox oscillation frequency) and Fe/(Fe + Mn) nodule ratios. Playa soil Fe–Mn nodule Fe was much lower, but Fe/(Fe + Mn) ratios were comparable to TGC Vertisols with MAPs &gt; 1000 mm. The Fe–Mn nodules (and likely aquifer recharge) in SHP playas might sporadically form in wet years when precipitation and runoff equal two to three times MAP.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148942882","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":"Managing soil sustainably on small-scale vegetable farms: Lessons learned from 100 Minnesota high tunnels and vegetable fields","authors":"Natalie Hoidal,&nbsp;Shane Bugeja,&nbsp;Julie Grossman,&nbsp;Adria Fernandez,&nbsp;Anna M. Cates,&nbsp;Kathryn M. LaBine,&nbsp;Devanshi Khokhani,&nbsp;Paulo Pagliari","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70337","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70337","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Small-scale vegetable farms are increasingly important to local food systems, but their soils are not well understood, particularly in high tunnels. We sampled soil in 100 Minnesota vegetable farm fields and high tunnels with three objectives: (1) Compare soil nutrients and soil health metrics in high tunnels and nearby open fields. (2) Document soil nutrient accumulation and assess loss potential. (3) Explore the impacts of specific management practices (input use, cover crops, tillage, and soil testing) and demographics on soil health and soil nutrients. Overall, vegetable farms had high organic matter in both high tunnels and fields (average 6.34% and 4.7%, respectively), and soil phosphorus levels were “very high” in 87% of high tunnels and 84% of fields. Just under half of the high tunnels studied had slightly to moderately saline soil (sufficiently saline to impact sensitive crops), and soluble salts were associated with higher soil nitrate concentrations. The pH of many high tunnel soils was above the optimal range for crop production, which correlated with irrigation water alkalinity. Some high tunnel soils had rapid water infiltration rates, with implications for irrigation management. Our preliminary risk assessment suggested a high to medium risk of nitrate leaching in two thirds of the fields and three quarters of the high tunnels studied. Farmer experience and more years in vegetable production were negatively associated with soil health metrics like aggregate stability and organic matter, but reduced tillage, organic management, and application of plant-based compost were weakly positively associated with soil health indicators.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148942538","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":"Thermal properties of soil irrigated with treated municipal and industrial wastewater","authors":"P. Adhikari,&nbsp;M. K. Shukla,&nbsp;K. Adhikari,&nbsp;J. G. Mexal","doi":"10.1002/saj2.70335","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70335","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil thermal properties are essential for quantifying the coupled heat and moisture flow in the vadose zone and important for developing soil and crop models. This study evaluated the thermal properties of soils at the West Mesa land application site near Las Cruces, NM, which has been irrigated with treated industrial and municipal wastewater (TIMW) for 0 (control), 8, and 14 years. Core and bulk soil samples were collected from 0 to 20-cm depth and analyzed for bulk density, volumetric water content (<i>θ</i>), thermal conductivity (<i>λ</i>), thermal diffusivity (<i>D</i>), and volumetric specific heat capacity (<i>C</i>). The <i>λ</i> and <i>D</i> were significantly lower in soils irrigated with TIMW for 8 and 14 years compared with the control. Long-term irrigation also increased <i>θ</i> across all soil water pressures, reflecting structural alterations and salt accumulation in pore spaces. Strong negative correlations between sodium (Na⁺) concentration and <i>λ</i> (<i>r</i> = −0.93, −0.92, and −0.94 for 0, 8, and 14 years, respectively) indicate that increasing Na⁺ reduces soil heat conductivity. In contrast<i>, C</i> exhibited a strong positive relationship with <i>θ</i> (<i>R </i>= 0.94, 0.98, and 0.97), confirming that higher moisture content enhances soil heat storage capacity. Elevated Na⁺ likely promoted salt-layer formation on soil particles and altered pore geometry, reducing particle contact and thermal pathways. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring Na⁺ concentrations in wastewater and adopting management strategies to minimize salt buildup, while supporting the improved modeling of soil temperature and moisture dynamics in semi-arid environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":101043,"journal":{"name":"Proceedings - Soil Science Society of America","volume":"90 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148942380","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}