European Journal of Soil Science最新文献

{"title":"Soil Sensing With a Handheld LIBS: Effect of Sample Preparation and Instrument Precision","authors":"Yang Hu,&nbsp;Adam Cross,&nbsp;Zefang Shen,&nbsp;Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70305","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70305","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rapid and scalable methods for characterising soil elements are needed to understand soil conditions. Handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) enables simultaneous multi-element analysis, but it requires sample preparation by grinding and pelleting, which is challenging for sandy soils due to their poor cohesion. Here, we investigated the effects of grinding time and binder addition on pellet integrity, LIBS spectra and measurement precision. We prepared soils with varying sand contents (10%–90%) and assessed pelleting consistency after grinding for 3, 5, 7, or 15 min. To improve cohesion, we remixed with 20% potassium bromide (KBr) as a binder. Sandier samples and shorter grinding times produced less cohesive pellets and more variable measurements. Longer grinding and KBr addition improved pellet cohesion and reduced measurement variability. However, KBr had element-dependent effects on the relationship between spectra and element concentrations. We evaluated the precision of handheld LIBS by quantifying repeatability (shot-to-shot) and between-day reproducibility. Shot-to-shot relative standard deviation (RSD) often exceeded 10%, but averaging multiple shots improved precision, reducing variability to less than 10% RSD. Noticeable between-day variability was observed, influenced by both instrument and sample properties. These findings provide a foundation for guidelines on sample preparation for handheld LIBS soil analysis. Although substantial sample preparation is required, handheld LIBS offers simultaneous analysis of all elements present in the soil sample. With appropriate preparation, LIBS can improve analytical reliability and cost-effectiveness for soil assessments, supporting applications in soil health assessments, environmental remediation and soil monitoring.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147507854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial for the Special Issue on “New Horizons for Acid Sulfate Soils Research”","authors":"Luke M. Mosley,&nbsp;Robert W. Fitzpatrick,&nbsp;Anton Boman,&nbsp;Emily Leyden,&nbsp;Miriam I. Nystrand,&nbsp;Martin C. Rabenhorst,&nbsp;Vanessa N. L. Wong","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70307","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70307","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;The recognition and study of acid sulfate soils (ASS) have evolved remarkably over the past five decades, moving from a niche concern to a global research priority (Fanning et al. &lt;span&gt;2017&lt;/span&gt;). Often described as the “nastiest soils on Earth,” ASS pose significant environmental risks through the liberation of sulfuric acid and toxic metal-laden waters, which can lead to severe impacts on aquatic ecosystems, vegetation mortality, loss of agricultural productivity, and infrastructure corrosion. This Special Issue brings together 28 papers on the theme of “New Horizons for Acid Sulfate Soil Research.” Together, they provide a cross-disciplinary insight into recent advancements in ASS classification, process understanding, and management strategies across diverse global climates and ecosystems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The collection of papers in the Special Issue describes the research presented primarily at the 9th International Acid Sulfate Soils Conference (9th IASSC), held in Adelaide, Australia from 26 to 31 March 2023. The international acid sulfate soils conferences are the premier interdisciplinary forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the fields of ASS research, policy and management practices. The 9th IASSC brought together 89 leading academic scientists, researchers and managers in this domain of interest from around the world under the auspices of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) Working Group on Acid Sulfate Soils. The full meeting program and the 64 peer-reviewed extended conference abstracts presented at the 9th IASSC are directly available on-line (9th IASSC Abstract Book &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;). The conference's opening presentation was delivered by Professor Delvin Fanning in recognition of his receipt of the Pons Medal at the 8th IASSC in 2016 and provided a global perspective of the importance of ASS in his talk titled “Historical developments in the understanding of Acid Sulfate Soils”. Since the 8th IASSC near Washington, D.C. USA in 2016, and the accompanying Special Issue in 2017 (Rabenhorst et al. &lt;span&gt;2017&lt;/span&gt;), there have been numerous insights and advances to our understanding of ASS around the world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Three whole day field tours were held in conjunction with the 9th IASSC. A comprehensive Field Tours Guidebook (Fitzpatrick et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;) includes maps, diagrams, sketches, photographs and land-use recommendations to better illustrate and represent huge volumes of data, text and conceptual model representations of each site visited. This has also been updated with additional explanations, references and photographs taken during the field trips to better clarify questions asked by delegates at several field sites. For example, we included a photograph of Professor Delvin Fanning demonstrating the Pons “index of squishiness” test or “&lt;i&gt;n&lt;/i&gt;-value” test (developed by Pons and Zonneveld &lt;span&gt;1965&lt;/span&gt; to define the degree of physical ripening of soft sediments) on hypersulf","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70307","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147506823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Farmer and Soil Health: Understanding the Foundation for Sustainable Soil Management","authors":"Martin Hvarregaard Thorsøe,&nbsp;Lars Juhl Munkholm,&nbsp;Torsten Rødel Berg,&nbsp;Morten Graversgaard,&nbsp;Niklas Witt,&nbsp;Kasper Krabbe,&nbsp;Tiffanie Faye Stone,&nbsp;Bonnie Averbuch,&nbsp;Gerald Schwarz,&nbsp;Egon Bjørnshave Noe","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70294","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70294","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Achieving the EU Soil Strategy's goal of 75% healthy soils by 2030 critically relies on farmers, who are expected to act as soil stewards. This article explores the conditions external to farms that shape soil management decisions and we examine what these conditions imply for opportunities for achieving healthy soils. Drawing on a farming systems perspective, we conceptualize soil management as an outcome of interrelated ecological, economic, social, and policy dynamics, rather than individual decision-making alone. We identify five key domains (ownership and finance, farming structure, markets and value chains, technology and data governance, and policy regimes) that jointly enable or constrain soil stewardship. We show how changes to these underlying conditions limit the abilities of individual farmers to engage in long-term soil care. The analysis further underscores that to understand soil stewardship, we need to move beyond actor-centric approaches toward agri-food system-level interventions that also consider dynamics that are beyond the reach of individual land-users. Strengthening soil health therefore requires a reconfiguration of the institutional, financial, and technological conditions governing agricultural soil management, rather than a narrow focus on farmers' individual practices and decision making.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147465347","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Soil Aeration Dynamics in a Non-Rigid Vertisol Through Shrink and Swelling Curves During Wetting-Drying Cycle","authors":"Yuekai Wang,&nbsp;Yue Zhang,&nbsp;Zhongbin Zhang,&nbsp;Qingfang Luo,&nbsp;Yanling Li,&nbsp;Zichun Guo,&nbsp;Qingxue Gu,&nbsp;Ping Zhang,&nbsp;Haishui Yang,&nbsp;Xinhua Peng,&nbsp;Fengmin Li","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70304","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70304","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil air-filled porosity (AFP) in non-rigid soil is closely associated with the coupled changes in soil moisture and total porosity due to the high shrinkage-swelling capacity. Although the dynamic of AFP during soil shrinkage (AFP_sh) has been well quantified by using a soil shrinkage model, the changes in AFP during soil swelling (AFP_sw) remain poorly understood. The objectives were to (1) characterize the dynamic of AFP_sw during soil swelling and (2) evaluate the effect of initial bulk density (ρ_b) and wetting/drying (WD) cycles on the dynamic of AFP_sw for a Vertisol. Repacked soil samples with different initial ρ_b of 1.15, 1.30, and 1.45 g cm⁻³ were subjected to two WD cycles. Soil shrinkage/swelling curves, water/air-filled porosity, and relative gas diffusion coefficient (D_s/D₀) were determined during the two WD cycles. Our results showed that the dynamic of AFP_sw was well described by the established AFP_sw equation. Soil swelling curves intersected across ρ_b treatments, whereas the shrinkage curves remained parallel between the 1.30 and 1.45 g cm⁻³ treatments. Soils with higher initial ρ_b exhibited greater changes in porosity and AFP_sw during swelling. Although neglecting soil shrinkage led to an overestimation of AFP (0.12–0.18 cm³), ignoring the swelling-derived pore deformation resulted in a greater underestimation of AFP (0.12–0.33 cm³ cm⁻³). Over the two WD cycles, the soil exhibited the greatest structural change and the largest ΔAFP between AFP_c and AFP_sw in the first wetting process. Although soil swelling increased the AFP_sw at θ_FC and expanded the θ_v range for AFP &gt; 0.10 cm³ cm⁻³, the D_s/D₀ at AFP_sw = 0.10 cm³ cm⁻³ did not reach the non-limiting value of 0.02. Our result demonstrated that quantifying the dynamic of AFP_sw/sh improved the assessment of soil aeration condition WD cycles and enhanced the accuracy of soil gas transport predictions in non-rigid soils.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147465418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trade-Off Analysis Between Environmental Effects and Profitability in Agriculture: A Finnish Case-Study","authors":"Roberta Calone,&nbsp;Domna Tzemi,&nbsp;Elena Valkama,&nbsp;Marco Acutis,&nbsp;Alessia Perego,&nbsp;Marco Botta,&nbsp;Simone Bregaglio","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70300","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70300","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Finding equilibrium between profitability and environmental impacts poses a fundamental challenge in cropping systems management. Identifying trade-offs requires robust tools to reconcile diverse and frequently conflicting objectives, especially in low data availability scenarios. This study presents a novel methodological framework combining the outputs of a process-based crop model with a fuzzy-expert trade-off analysis system in order to perform a structured comparison of alternative cropping systems. Model outputs on soil organic carbon, nitrous oxide emissions, nitrate leaching, and economic return expressed as Net Present Value were aggregated using fuzzy logic to inform a composite index (Σ<i>i</i>) ranking trade-off performance on a scale from 0 (worst) to 1 (best). The framework was applied in a case study in Finland, evaluating nine cropping systems under current and future climate conditions. The systems included both crop-based (annual cereals and oilseeds) and livestock-based (with temporary grass) rotations, managed conventionally or organically, and varying in fertilization strategy, residue management, and tillage depth. The analysis was applied using a balanced weighting scheme and three alternative schemes reflecting the priorities of distinct stakeholder categories (young farmers, an agrochemical company, and a Common Agricultural Policy paying agency), allowing assessment of how changes in analytical context affect the resulting index. Under current climate conditions, the conventional livestock-based system with mixed fertilization and residue retention performed best (Σ<i>i</i> = 0.69) while the conventional crop-based system relying exclusively on mineral fertilization and residue removal underperformed (Σ<i>i</i> = 0.30). This latter system experienced the sharpest Σ<i>i</i> decline under future climate conditions (Σ<i>i</i> = 0.10), while organic livestock-based systems exhibited stable outcomes (Σ<i>i</i> ~ 0.50). When evaluation criteria were adjusted to reflect stakeholder priorities, the framework consistently captured shifts in system rankings. This application illustrates the capacity of the framework to differentiate contrasting systems under harmonized assumptions, supporting its potential transferability particularly where long-term site-specific empirical datasets are limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70300","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147447655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Autonomous Mechanical Weeding Robots in Climate-Smart Soil Management: A Scoping Review","authors":"Kathrin Grahmann,&nbsp;Lukas Thielemann,&nbsp;Lina Rohlmann,&nbsp;Adrija Roy,&nbsp;Cornelia Weltzien","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70302","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70302","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The growing demand for sustainable agricultural practices has driven advancements in digital agricultural technologies, which is also reflected in the emerging development and market release of agricultural field robots in the last decade. Climate-smart sustainable soil management plays a key role in sustaining soil functions related to productivity, water and nutrient cycling, biodiversity and long-term resilience. The integration of autonomous field robots, for which mechanical weeding is currently the dominant application, into future field mechanization offers potential solutions to enhance climate-smart, soil-focused management. Based on limited existing research, this review synthesizes experimental studies quantifying robot-induced changes in crop production, soil properties and functions. We propose a framework in which autonomous mechanical weeding robots affect soil functions via two interacting pathways: (1) altered machinery intensity and its traffic patterns, and (2) repeated shallow soil disturbance associated with mechanical weeding interventions. The empirical evidence is skewed toward productivity-related outcomes (18 of 22 studies), primarily weeding efficiency, while soil physical, hydrological, and biogeochemical functions have rarely been quantified (5 studies). Existing research largely reflects mechanism linked to pathway 1, whereas cumulative effects of repeated mechanical disturbance remain insufficiently assessed. Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the role of weeding robots in diversified cropping systems and their effects on soil functions such as water regulation, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, soil as habitat and overall soil health. Addressing these gaps includes not only technical aspects of weeding robotics, for example implement or pathway optimization. It also requires the multiannual evaluation of soil property changes, such as compaction, carbon sequestration and aggregate composition, and continuous soil monitoring to align with EU soil health targets and global sustainability goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70302","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147447654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil Management Effects on Grapevine Water Uptake Depth in a Mediterranean Vineyard","authors":"Itxaso Ruiz,&nbsp;Luitgard Schwendenmann,&nbsp;Adrià Barbeta,&nbsp;Marco M. Lehmann,&nbsp;Roberto Parmo,&nbsp;Ana Aizpurua","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70301","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70301","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In Mediterranean vineyards, soils are often managed with tillage or herbicides to limit weed growth and competition for resources. However, with rising concerns about water scarcity and climate change, cover crops are being reconsidered as sustainable alternatives to conserve soil moisture and support adaptation through better soil structure and biodiversity. Although they are often reported to decrease yields, this is not always the case, and the magnitude and timing of their competition for resources with vines are still not well understood. To address this gap, we examined vine and cover crop water uptake depth during veraison in August in a vineyard from Rioja Alavesa, Spain. We compared tillage (control treatment) with spontaneous cover crop. Using the isotopic composition of plant and soil water (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) and Bayesian mixing models, we found that the cover crop relied on water from the upper soil (100% from 0 to 30 cm), while vines under cover crop accessed water from shallow (~48% from 0 to 30 cm) and deeper soil layers (~52% from 30 to 100 cm). Despite cover crops and vines competing for water in the upper soil, the vine's ability to access water from both shallow and deeper soil horizons helped maintain its water status during veraison. Vines under tillage relied predominantly on water in the deeper soil (~73% from 30 to 100 cm). These results indicate that soil management strongly influences vine water uptake patterns. In our vineyard, the spontaneous summer cover crop did not compromise vine water availability during veraison.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://bsssjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70301","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Straw Incorporation Strategies Regulate Detritusphere Organic Carbon and Nutrient Accumulation","authors":"Deqiang Zhao,&nbsp;Weibao Yu,&nbsp;Robert W. Brown,&nbsp;Zixi Liu,&nbsp;Yiping Xu,&nbsp;Zhitong Wang,&nbsp;Zexue Li,&nbsp;Yi Xu,&nbsp;Pinshang Xu,&nbsp;Davey L. Jones,&nbsp;Yuan Wen,&nbsp;Shunli Zhou","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70297","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70297","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Straw incorporation is a widely adopted agricultural practice, with the detritusphere formed through straw-soil interactions serving as a critical hotspot for nutrient cycling and soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation in farmland soils. However, the detritusphere has been largely overlooked, and its relationship to straw component release and responses to management practices remains poorly understood. This study investigated the mechanisms of straw component release, nutrient cycling, and SOC accumulation in the detritusphere under four straw management regimes: straw mulch (SM), surface incorporation (SI), deep-ploughed straw incorporation (DP-SI), and deep-injection straw incorporation (DI-SI). Incorporated straw sequentially provides carbon sources to the detritusphere in the order of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. After one year, the detritusphere under DI-SI and SM retained higher straw residues, at 15.7% and 18.0%, respectively, and exhibited higher soil nutrients and SOC content, with an average increase of 24.5% and 28.4% compared to the bulk soil. Subsoil straw incorporation (DP-SI and DI-SI) resulted in a 2- to 7-fold increase in nutrient availability, microbial biomass carbon, and enzyme activities in the detritusphere than topsoil straw incorporation (SM and SI). In the detritusphere, the transition of carbon sources from easily decomposable to recalcitrant substrates led to a shift in SOC dynamics, with net accumulation shifting to net loss at a critical threshold of ~71% straw decomposition. In conclusion, the biochemical characteristics of the detritusphere are closely linked to the release and retention of straw components, which are strongly influenced by straw incorporation strategies. DI-SI retained more straw residues in the detritusphere and demonstrated substantial potential for improving soil nutrient cycling, enzyme activity, and SOC accumulation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Subduing the Deluge in Soil Science: What If Each Researcher Published Only One Paper Per Year?","authors":"H. H. Janzen,&nbsp;P. C. Baveye","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70296","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70296","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil science, like most disciplines, is increasingly inundated with surplus articles, straining effective peer review, diluting standards of originality, and burying new insights in the deluge. To elicit discourse on this issue, we pose, as a thought experiment, the question: What would happen if every researcher were limited to publishing one peer-reviewed paper per year? Among other benefits, such a constraint might: amplify scientific merit, bolster peer review, enhance readability, encourage writing for wider audiences, elevate marginal voices, free up thinking time, promote interdisciplinary research, elevate the stature of soil science, and promote scientists' mental health and creativity. Given these potential merits, we propose some potential avenues for taming the current whelming flood of papers. A strict limit of one paper per researcher per year may not yet be logistically plausible, but this thought experiment may engender ways of re-enlivening the soil science literature, now so crucial for averting socioecological decline in ecosystems worldwide.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soil Carbon Modeling at Crossroads: Building Reliable Methods for Policy and Practice","authors":"Laxman Bokati,&nbsp;Anil Somenahally,&nbsp;Saurav Kumar","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70295","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70295","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil carbon mapping (SCM) is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of soil science and environmental decision-making, from precision agriculture to national carbon inventories. Yet SCM is at a crossroads: the methods that often promise high-accuracy metrics can mask structural weaknesses that limit generalization and undermine policy relevance. Similar problems apply to larger Digital Soil Mapping (DSM). In this article, using soil organic carbon (SOC) as an illustrative example, we highlight three systematic sources of error that consistently inflate SCM performance: depth, bulk density, and spatial autocorrelation. Soil profile depth is often mishandled when profile increments are split between training and test sets, leading to inflated accuracy estimates. Bulk density (BD), essential for converting concentrations to stocks, is inconsistently applied and rarely accompanied by uncertainty estimates. SOC stocks at sampling locations are often derived using BD, and when BD is reintroduced as a predictor in machine learning models, it inflates reported accuracy and the model's predictive skill. Spatial autocorrelation further exaggerates accuracy when conventional random splits are used, while spatial blocking reveals much lower and more realistic predictive skill. Drawing on recent literature and our own analysis, we argue that SCM must adopt more rigorous practices, including profile-level validation, spatially aware blocking, standardized reporting of assumptions, and alignment with policy-relevant depth intervals. These steps will enhance comparability across studies and ensure that SCM outputs are credible for carbon accounting, climate mitigation, and land management purposes. The future of SCM and DSM depends on both new algorithms and methodological rigor and transparency.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147380756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}