European Journal of Soil Science最新文献

{"title":"Long-Term Consequences of Crop Residue Retention: Impact of Higher Soil Organic Carbon on N2O Emissions","authors":"Ulises Ramon Esparza-Robles,&nbsp;Barbara Kitzler,&nbsp;Heide Spiegel,&nbsp;Taru Sandén,&nbsp;Eugenio Díaz-Pinés","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70350","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70350","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Long-term management of crop residues strongly influences soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics, what may also influence nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, two key components determining the impact of agricultural systems on climate change. We investigated N₂O fluxes in a long-term experiment after four decades of continuous residue retention or residue export. Gas flux measurements were collected over 28 months, encompassing both crop-growing and bare-soil periods. Cumulative N₂O emissions between crop residue management strategies were compared against long-term SOC stock differences. Soil microbial biomass and extractable C and N were also investigated. Residue retention showed lower total N₂O fluxes and higher SOC stocks and microbial biomass in the top 25 cm of soil. Our results suggest that an increased microbial immobilization of N and enhanced microbial processing of soil organic matter accumulated over the years reduced the availability of C and N for denitrification. This was supported by the enhanced levels of microbial biomass and slightly higher porosity under crop residue retention, being the main link to the lower N₂O emissions, despite higher SOC. When expressed in CO₂ equivalents, the yearly difference in N₂O emissions between the residue treatments accounts for only 1.8% (≈373 kg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) of the long-term climate mitigation benefit from higher SOC stocks (≈21 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹) after 40 years of continuous management. Our findings indicate that long-term residue retention in this site contributes to climate change mitigation by synergically increasing long-term SOC storage and reducing N₂O emissions. In this sense, managing and monitoring both SOC and N₂O emissions are a crucial basis for continuous climate change mitigation in croplands. Further mitigation studies looking for this aim should also evaluate additional strategies for more ambitious management of N input, especially when increases in SOC may diminish after approaching a new steady state.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148588986","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":"Defining Soil as a Surface-Coupled Planetary System: Separating Pedogenesis From Habitability","authors":"David A. Robinson,&nbsp;Christine Alewell,&nbsp;Sabine Reinsch,&nbsp;Chris Feeney,&nbsp;Inma Lebron,&nbsp;Laurence Jones,&nbsp;Grant A. Campbell,&nbsp;Lis Wollesen de Jonge,&nbsp;Per Moldrup,&nbsp;Nima Shokri,&nbsp;Patrik Heintze,&nbsp;Vince Chukwu,&nbsp;Ichsani Wheeler,&nbsp;Tom Hengl,&nbsp;Pete Smith","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70378","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70378","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The concept of soil is increasingly being examined within a planetary context, prompting renewed attention to the physical conditions that enable surface materials to support life. In parallel, planetary habitability has emerged as a framework for defining the minimum resources and conditions required for biological activity, independent of whether life is currently present. Here, we apply habitability principles to soils not to assert the presence of life, but to distinguish clearly between soil formation, biological viability, and functional performance. Habitability formalises a binary set of physical and chemical requirements—including accessible energy, liquid water, essential elements, and viable environmental conditions—that define whether an environment can support life in principle. By treating habitability as a state that applies to already formed soils, rather than as a defining criterion for soil existence, we resolve long-standing ambiguity around the role of biology in soil definition. This separation leads to a tightened planetary definition of soil as ‘an organised planetary surface system, comprising generally loose mineral and/or organic material, formed through sustained genesis via water-mediated surface coupling that produces internal physical, chemical, and/or biological organisation and enables system evolution through time, irrespective of the presence of extant life.’ Within this framework, soil health, soil quality, and soil security operate as continuous descriptors of function only within habitable or potentially habitable soils, while degradation is conceptualised as a contraction of habitable state space. Habitability thus provides a physically grounded foundation for interpreting soil function, selecting indicators, and differentiating soils from sediments and regolith across Earth and other planetary environments.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148582241","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":"Flood Modelling Evaluation in a Semiarid Catchment: The Role of a Soil Mineralogical Index From Satellite Imagery","authors":"Juan R. Bustos-Caparros,&nbsp;Montserrat Ferrer-Julià,&nbsp;Inés Pereira,&nbsp;Juncal A. Cruz,&nbsp;Eduardo García-Meléndez","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70384","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70384","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Mediterranean region is characterized by the occasional occurrence of intense rainfall events. Along with lithological, geomorphological, and land use factors, these events influence the hydrosedimentary dynamics of drainage basins, potentially causing torrential floods. In the present study, a hydrological and hydraulic analysis of a cut-off low is performed. This event occurred between September 11 and 13, 2019 and affected the Rambla del Beal, an ephemeral stream in a context of semiarid climate in southeast Spain, where no water discharge data are available. The headwaters of this drainage basin are distinguished by mining waste deposits accumulated over decades without any treatment. The HEC-HMS model was used for hydrological analysis, and the HEC-RAS hydraulic model was applied to simulate the flood extension around the rambla. A total rainfall accumulation of 226 mm was recorded, concentrated mainly within a 6 h period, with a maximum hourly value of 76.71 mm. The hydrograph indicated a peak flow of 171.73 m³/s. The results were evaluated using a map of sediments deposited during the flood. This cartography was generated using an index band to detect iron oxides and hydroxides with Sentinel-2 satellite images. This index was applied to images before and after the flood. The difference in the index between both dates was then calculated. The result displayed positive values in areas where deposits occurred during the flash flood. Therefore, these accumulations indicate the minimum flooded area. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of the deposits reflected the hydrological behavior of alluvial fan dynamics as marked on the geological map, albeit without detail. The exact places where alluvial fans deposited their sediments were confirmed with the analysis of the historical aerial photographs. These features are not currently visible as agricultural and urban development has altered the topography. In conclusion, iron oxide and hydroxide mineral mapping proved valuable in validating the results of hydraulic modeling in basins influenced by acid mine drainage.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70384","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148459681","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":"From Light Scan to Flow: Estimating Soil Hydraulic Properties Through VNIR-SWIR Spectroscopy and Calibration-Free PTFs","authors":"Paolo Nasta,&nbsp;Caterina Mazzitelli,&nbsp;Eyal Ben-Dor,&nbsp;Nunzio Romano","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70383","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70383","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study presents a three-step approach for estimating soil-water retention (WRF) and hydraulic conductivity functions (HCF) by integrating VNIR-SWIR reflectance spectroscopy with semi-physical, calibration-free pedotransfer functions (PTFs). A total of 135 soil samples from the Alento Observatory (southern Italy) were analyzed. In the first step, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy was used to derive particle-size distribution (PSD) by combining five spectral pretreatment algorithms and three machine learning techniques. The best-performing model demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy, achieving a coefficient of determination (<i>R</i>²) of 0.945 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.051 for PSD mass fractions. In the second step, two semi-physical PTFs—the Arya-Heitman (PTF_WRF-AH) and Mohammadi-Vanclooster (PTF_WRF-MV) models—were applied to estimate the WRF using spectrally-derived PSD together with measured soil bulk density and saturated water content. The PTF_WRF-MV model outperformed the AH variant, yielding a lower RMSE (0.049 cm³ cm⁻³) and higher <i>R</i>² (0.676). The third step involved estimating the HCF by applying the Arya and Heitman PTF alongside measured saturated hydraulic conductivity values. This process relied on the flow-similarity hypothesis, which assumes that water flow partitioning within pore domains is equivalent across idealized and natural-structure soils. However, the HCF predictions for both models exhibited uncertainties greater than one order of magnitude and <i>R</i>² values under 0.50. These findings underscore the efficacy of spectroscopy for soil texture characterization, while highlighting persistent limitations in predicting hydraulic properties of structured soils, likely due to violations of flow-similarity assumptions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70383","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148440818","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":"No Wildfire Legacy Effect on Peat Carbon Stability Under Severe Drought in a Lowland Peat Mosaic","authors":"Keunbae Kim,&nbsp;Willem-Jan Emsens,&nbsp;Judith Schellekens,&nbsp;Erik Verbruggen,&nbsp;Bas Van der Veken,&nbsp;Layla Maas,&nbsp;Rudy van Diggelen,&nbsp;María J. I. Briones,&nbsp;Boris Jansen,&nbsp;Karen Vancampenhout","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70381","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70381","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ongoing climate change, particularly warmer and drier conditions, disrupts hydrological stability in peatland ecosystems and elevates wildfire risk. Higher burn severity and frequency are expected to accelerate carbon (C) losses and amplify climate-carbon feedback. In this study, we used an accidental and short-lived wildfire that occurred in 2020 at Landschap De Liereman (Belgium), a mosaic landscape ranging from poor-fen to bog-like peatlands, to investigate how belowground C dynamics respond to peatland fire in the subsequent four consecutive years under ongoing climatic pressures. A paired plot design was established, consisting of burnt and nearby intact plots, based on field measurements in combination with remote sensing data. Burnt peatland patches with no smoldering fire were significantly altered during the first 2 years after the fire, evidenced by a lower topsoil C:N ratios, reduced C and N isotopic values (<i>Ps</i> &lt; 0.05), and shifts in soil organic matter (SOM) composition. Especially, carbohydrates declined whereas benzenes and N compounds increased (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), indicating depletion of labile C and accumulation of recalcitrant aromatic C leading to lower soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposability (i.e., basal respiration per unit peat C, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). These differences diminished within 3 years, with very little changes in bulk soil C and N contents between intact and burnt plots, suggesting a relatively high resilience to a low-severity fire. However, in 2022, abrupt changes in soil C and N concentrations, SOM composition, and SOC decomposability were observed in all paired plots, regardless of whether they were affected by the fire, and that were likely related to drought stress, as 2022 was an exceptionally dry year. The damage of this drought was substantial, but not different between intact and burnt plots, indicating that there was no fire legacy effect on soil components and C stability in surface peat.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148459680","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":"Trends in Soil Health in the European Union","authors":"Nils Broothaerts,&nbsp;Arthur Nicolaus Fendrich,&nbsp;Elise Van Eynde,&nbsp;Felipe Yunta,&nbsp;Daniele De Rosa,&nbsp;Pasquale Borrelli,&nbsp;Arwyn Jones,&nbsp;Panos Panagos","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70380","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70380","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Healthy soils are essential for our environment and society, as they deliver crucial ecosystem services. However, soils across the European Union (EU) are increasingly affected by multiple soil degradation processes. As a result of these increasing degradation incidences, recent EU policy initiatives have been taken to protect and restore soils, such as the good agricultural and environmental conditions under the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the Mission Soil and the EU Soil Strategy for 2030, aiming to reach healthy soils by 2050. Soil monitoring through time as well as studying changes in soil status is needed to verify whether EU soils are on track to reach a healthy state by 2050. In this study, trends of seven soil degradation processes were analysed, using EU-scale spatial layers and data points produced from harmonised repeated monitoring surveys. Results suggest that the range of unhealthy soils decreased in the past decades regarding three indicators, namely soil erosion by water, harvest erosion and phosphorus deficiency. Conversely, results suggest that the area with unhealthy soils increased regarding loss of soil organic carbon, phosphorus excess and soil sealing. No clear trends were observed for soil pH. The temporal coverage of the available datasets only marginally covers the period since the start of the Mission Soil and the EU Soil Strategy. Thus, evaluating the effectiveness of these policy initiatives in protecting soils was not possible in this study. Projections suggest that four studied soil degradation processes will further deteriorate in the upcoming decades due to climate change, continued unsustainable management practices, land use changes and urbanisation. This shows the importance of the Soil Monitoring and Resilience Directive, the EU Soil Strategy and the Mission Soil to continue the investment in soil monitoring and related research, to accelerate the implementation of sustainable soil management practices, and to bring all indicators on track to reach healthy soils by 2050.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70380","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148440881","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":"Assessing Soil Resources in the Western Balkans: Insights From the LUCAS Soil Survey","authors":"Cristina Arias-Navarro,&nbsp;D. Vidojevic,&nbsp;P. Zdruli,&nbsp;B. Islamaj,&nbsp;S. Scarpa,&nbsp;F. Yunta-Mezquita,&nbsp;P. Wojda,&nbsp;A. Jones","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70379","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70379","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Western Balkans region is undergoing significant socio-economic and environmental transformations as it aligns its policies with the European Union (EU). A key aspect of this alignment is the implementation of EU soil-related policies, which requires a comprehensive understanding of regional soil properties. This study investigates the regional patterns and distinct characteristics of topsoil properties across the Western Balkans, with a primary focus on understanding the spatial variability and key attributes of soils in this region. Using the Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) topsoil survey in the Western Balkans, we analysed 955 unique record points across five countries to assess the regional variability of topsoil properties within the region. Our results show that soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) levels are higher in woodland and grassland areas, while phosphorus (P) content is more abundant in croplands. We also observed a gradient of decreasing SOC, N, and P from colder, temperate mountainous regions to warmer areas. Additionally, potassium (K) content is lower in colder regions and higher in warmer Mediterranean climates, likely influenced by leaching and fertilisation practises. These findings have significant implications for soil fertility and nutrient management, emphasising the need for tailored soil management practises that consider the specific characteristics of each land cover type and climate zone. To enhance soil monitoring practises across the Western Balkans, regional cooperation is highly encouraged. The upcoming LUCAS Soil survey presents a significant opportunity for growth. By combining the survey's results with the baseline data presented here, the Western Balkans can gain valuable insights into soil health, aligning their monitoring practises with EU standards.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70379","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148415574","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":"Capturing Field-Scale Soil Moisture Dynamics in Ireland Using Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing","authors":"Konstantin Shishkin,&nbsp;Owen Fenton,&nbsp;Martin Schrön,&nbsp;Klara Finkele,&nbsp;Tamara Hochstrasser,&nbsp;Paul Murphy","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70367","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70367","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) enables non-invasive monitoring of field-scale soil moisture, bridging the spatial gap between point-scale sensors such as Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and coarse-resolution satellite products. Its reliability, however, depends on rigorous atmospheric correction, site-specific calibration, and proper scale harmonisation. This study evaluates CRNS performance at four temperate maritime grassland sites in Ireland and conducts a controlled comparison between the classical <i>N</i>₀ calibration framework and the physics-based Unified Transport Solution (UTS). Additionally, weighted TDR observations were used as a spatially and vertically harmonised reference. After full correction, CRNS-derived volumetric moisture content (VMC) showed strong agreement with weighted TDR across sites (<i>R</i>² = 0.78–0.92), capturing seasonal wetting–drying cycles and event-scale infiltration dynamics. Bound hydrogen pools contributed 15%–25% of the total neutron signal, demonstrating their critical role in site-specific calibration. The comparison between <i>N</i>₀ and UTS revealed that increased physical complexity does not universally improve performance; For example, UTS provided measurable gains at sites where dynamic pore-water redistribution dominated, whereas at sites with high contributions from relatively static hydrogen pools, improvements were limited. Event-based analysis confirmed that CRNS responses primarily reflected soil layers between 20 and 30 cm depth and integrated transient wetting signals beyond the reach of single-depth sensors. While CRNS exhibited sensitivity to near-surface and interception-related hydrogen during peak wet periods, this behaviour reflects physical signal integration rather than measurement artefacts. Overall, CRNS provides a robust and transferable framework for field-scale soil moisture monitoring in humid temperate grasslands when atmospheric corrections, hydrogen-pool characterisation and footprint-aware validation are consistently applied.</p>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ejss.70367","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148401097","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":"Response of Soil Erosion Resistance to Decomposition of Incorporated Straw Affected by Microbial Inoculant Rate in the Black Soil Region, Northeast China","authors":"Yatong Zhang,&nbsp;Guanghui Zhang,&nbsp;Ning Zhang,&nbsp;Shukun Xing,&nbsp;Yi Zhang","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70382","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70382","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil erosion resistance, expressed by rill erodibility (<i>K</i>_<i>r</i>) and critical shear stress (<i>τ</i>_<i>c</i>), is a crucial parameter for estimating soil erosion induced by concentrated flow. Straw incorporation is a commonly used measure to mitigate erosion. The changes in soil properties and root traits triggered by straw incorporation and its decomposition likely affect soil erosion resistance. The application of microbial inoculants can stimulate straw decomposition and thus further regulate erosion resistance, particularly in regions of high altitude and latitude. However, few studies have quantified how soil erosion resistance responds to straw decomposition affected by microbial inoculant application rate in croplands. In this study, the flume scouring tests were carried out to identify how the straw decomposition rate (SDR) regulated by different microbial inoculant application rates (0, 1.9, 3.8, 7.5, 11, 15 kg ha⁻¹) influenced soil erosion resistance in the northeastern black soil region. The related factors affecting soil erosion resistance were determined in situ or in the laboratory. The results indicated that SDR of plots applied with straw microbial inoculant increased by 10%–33% compared to the control. <i>K</i>_<i>r</i> decreased (<i>R</i>² = 0.85, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) while <i>τ</i>_<i>c</i> increased (<i>R</i>² = 0.79, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) logarithmically with the increase of SDR. Compared to the control, <i>K</i>_<i>r</i> decreased by 22%–68% and <i>τ</i>_<i>c</i> increased by 41%–60% in plots with different straw microbial inoculant application rates. <i>K</i>_<i>r</i> showed a significant negative correlation with soil organic matter content, soil cohesion, aggregate stability, SDR, and root mass density, as well as a significant positive correlation with silt content. <i>τ</i>_<i>c</i> had a significant association with soil aggregate stability. The key mechanisms for enhancing soil erosion resistance were the direct and indirect effects of straw incorporation and its decomposition on soil physicochemical properties and root traits. 11 kg ha⁻¹ was suggested as the suitable application rate of straw microbial inoculant in croplands of Northeast China. These findings are valuable for comprehending how soil erosion resistance responds to the decomposition rate of incorporated straw affected by different microbial inoculant application rates. They also provide a process-based understanding of straw management for improving soil structural stability in cold, high-latitude agricultural regions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148408931","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":"Dominant Microbial, Aggregate, and Mineral Pathways of SOC Quantity and Lability: Insights From SOC Functional Groups","authors":"Mengrou Li,&nbsp;Xianfeng Zhang,&nbsp;Xiuli Xin,&nbsp;Wenliang Yang,&nbsp;Anning Zhu","doi":"10.1111/ejss.70377","DOIUrl":"10.1111/ejss.70377","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Organic amendments are widely used to restore soil carbon (C) in Mollisols of croplands, yet how microbial-, aggregate-, and mineral-associated processes are related to soil C quantity and lability remains unclear. Here, we conducted a 3-year field experiment in Mollisols of Northeast China to evaluate manure, biochar, and their co-application effects on soil organic carbon (SOC), easily oxidizable organic C (EOC), SOC functional group composition, microbial network properties, aggregate-associated C, and mineral-associated C. Across the 3 years, biochar increased SOC, manure enhanced EOC, and co-application increased both. These divergent C responses were accompanied by changes in SOC functional groups, with manure enriching carbohydrate-derived labile fractions and biochar increasing SOC hydrophobicity. Random forest analysis identified hydrophobicity, Aryl C, and Carboxyl C as key predictors of SOC, whereas O-alkyl and Di-O-alkyl C best explained EOC variation. Microbial co-occurrence network properties were statistically associated with SOC hydrophobicity and Di-O-alkyl C, while macroaggregate-associated C and mineral-associated C fractions were positively linked to SOC hydrophobicity. Partial least squares path modeling further suggested that SOC accumulation was associated with increases in Aryl C and Carboxyl C, with stronger positive contributions from macroaggregate formation than microbial network properties. In contrast, microbial co-occurrence network complexity showed a negative correlation with O-alkyl and Di-O-alkyl C, indicating a potential linkage between network structure and labile C dynamics. Overall, our findings show that manure-biochar co-application achieved concurrent increases in SOC and EOC, accompanied by greater aggregate- and mineral-associated C fractions and lower microbial co-occurrence network size. This integrated evidence highlights manure-biochar co-application as a practical strategy for improving both soil C storage and labile C availability in Mollisols.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12043,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Soil Science","volume":"77 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.3,"publicationDate":"2026-07-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148394105","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}