Soil & Tillage Research最新文献

{"title":"Appraising soil physical degradation using the Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) in the Western Highlands, Cameroon","authors":"Alain N. Choullin ,&nbsp;Francis B.T. Silatsa ,&nbsp;Etienne Mboua ,&nbsp;Martin Jemo ,&nbsp;Georges M. Ndzana ,&nbsp;Dieudonne Bitondo","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Identifying key soil physical indicators is crucial for strengthening efforts to conserve fragile ecosystems and ensure food security. This study investigates the effects of land use, topographic position, and soil texture on the variation of physical soil indicators in the highland of Cameroon. The Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) was the primary proxy for assessing structural soil quality. A stratified nested random sampling design was used to sample soils across land use types, specifically the forest (FS), Agroforestry systems (AGF), natural fallow (FLW), Eucalyptus fields (ECP), Crop fields (CRL), and Grazing land (GRL). We found that many soil's physical indicators differed based on land use and textural classes, as did the soil structure, with FS and AGF showing the best values, whilst GRL, CRL, and ECP exhibited the lowest. A deviation of about 50 % emerged between the FS reference and many other land uses for many soil indicators, witnessing a high soil structural swing in the landscape. However, the topographic position did not show a significant variability (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05) of any soil physical indicators, implying that soil variability is mainly anthropogenic. The soil physical quality index (SQI) sequence for land use is FS &gt; AGF &gt; CRL &gt; FLW &gt; ECP &gt; GRL, with the highest value (0.56) in FS and the lowest in GRL (0.34). The SQI and VESS Scores are strongly and negatively related. The VESS method can serve as a valuable tool for quickly assessing physical land degradation conditions, monitoring soil degradation, and providing decision support in highland agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106881"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145158726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term calcium fertilization mediates microbial and plant-derived carbon accumulation by influencing iron oxides in red soils","authors":"Tingting Sun ,&nbsp;Tian Zhang ,&nbsp;Zhufeng Wang ,&nbsp;Zhu Tongbin ,&nbsp;Jianbo Fan ,&nbsp;Zhigang Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Calcium (Ca) contributes to soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and stabilization through physical and chemical protection. Yet, how long-term Ca addition affects microbial- and plant-derived C and the influencing factors remained unclear. We determined the contents of amino sugars and lignin phenols to explore the effects of Ca addition on microbial- and plant-derived C during a 36-year long-term field experiment under NPK and NPK+Ca fertilization regimes in red soils (0–10, 10–20, and 20–40 cm soil layers) in southern China. The combination of NPK and Ca fertilization reduced plant-derived C (lignin phenols) content by 39 % and its proportion to SOC by 25 % in 0–10 cm soils, which explained a lower SOC content compared to NPK treatment. The reduction in plant-derived C was primarily attributed to the declines in enzyme activities for plant litter transformation and iron (Fe) oxides content for SOC adsorption. In contrast, microbial necromass C content remained constant in 0–40 cm soils under NPK+Ca fertilization, which was a result of the offset of the increased Ca-OC and decreased Fe-OC, indicating mineral shifts and interactions of Ca-Fe-OC complexes. Taken together, this study provides direct evidence for the effects of long-term Ca fertilization on plant-and microbial-derived C sequestration via mediating organo-minerals associations in acid soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106885"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145119284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of mulch drip irrigation on the coupled heat-Fe drive in root zone soils and analysis of soil Cr(Ⅵ) remediation mechanism","authors":"Mingxuan Liu ,&nbsp;Qiang Fu ,&nbsp;Tianxiao Li ,&nbsp;Renjie Hou ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Wang ,&nbsp;Ping Xue ,&nbsp;Xuechen Yang ,&nbsp;Mo Li ,&nbsp;Dong Liu ,&nbsp;Fanying Kong","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing innovative agricultural remediation technologies to mitigate the threat of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) to crop growth and development. In this study, four drip irrigation treatments: silver mulch (S), transparent mulch (T), black mulch (B), and no cover (CK), to investigate the mechanisms by which mulch-drip irrigation technology to drive Cr(VI) remediation through heat-Fe redox coupling in black soil. The results indicated that mulched drip irrigation alters soil thermal dynamics via photothermal regulation. Fe redox cycling exhibits color-dependent characteristics, and Cr(VI) distribution is synergistically regulated by heat-iron metabolism. The B treatment provided short-term remediation of Cr(VI) through Fe²⁺ chemical reduction facilitated by microbial activity; however, the mid-soil layer (10 ∼ 30 cm) was reactivated (CV= 0.22) due to redox shock, indicated by an Eh rebound of 71.61 mV). The T-treatment drives deep enrichment of Cr(VI) due to its high heat capacity and thermal diffusivity, whereas the S treatment establishes a pattern of “surface depletion - mid-layer locking.” This study provides a theoretical basis and technical optimization direction for the remediation of heavy metal pollution in agricultural land.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106884"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109227","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoupling analysis of soil properties and slope-position interactions affecting erosion rates on long gentle slopes","authors":"Huazheng Liu ,&nbsp;Lili Zhou ,&nbsp;Haoming Fan ,&nbsp;Yu Zhang ,&nbsp;Yanfeng Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106875","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106875","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil erosion exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity and scale dependence. The relative uniformity of external conditions along the slope magnifies existing differences in soil properties, thereby reinforcing a dynamic feedback loop. Consequently, this study aimed to elucidate the mechanistic role of internal soil factors, with a particular focus on the hierarchical coupling between slope-scale response parameters and localized regulatory factors. A field investigation was conducted on a rolling hillslope in Northeast China. Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) radionuclide tracing was employed to quantify soil redistribution patterns, and soil parameters (aggregate stability, chemistry, fractal structure, and physical texture) were measured to explain spatial variations in erosion. The results showed that the synergistic effect of soil organic carbon (SOC) and pH played a key parameter influencing erosion processes, explaining up to 60 % of the variation in erosion rates. Soil moisture content served as an intrinsic regulatory factor, and at a moderate level (13.97 %), SOC exhibited a stable and significant resistance to erosion within a pH range of 5.23–6.32. The upper slope was primarily influenced by the coupled process of clay particles swelling and dispersion (contributing 62.3 %); the middle slope experienced cumulative effects of internal soil structure and runoff disturbance, leading to magnified erosion rates (21.3 % and 30.5 %, respectively); the lower slope was highly sensitive to the combined effects of raindrop impact and runoff disturbance, contributing 47.6 %. An increased proportion of the 0.2–0.1 mm aggregate fraction significantly intensified erosion, while the 0.5–0.2 mm fraction acted as an effective indicator of particle sorting and spatial redistribution. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing precision soil management strategies in agricultural landscapes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106875"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109225","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ridge-furrow with black-film mulching enhances phosphorus transformation in rhizosheath soil and grain yield in maize-soybean intercropping systems","authors":"Yu-Mei Wang ,&nbsp;Yi Jin ,&nbsp;Jing He ,&nbsp;Long-Gui Li ,&nbsp;Qiao Zhu ,&nbsp;Yu Dai ,&nbsp;Chen-Xi Yi ,&nbsp;Xiao-Li Wang ,&nbsp;Yinglong Chen ,&nbsp;Sanwei Yang ,&nbsp;Jin He","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106883","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106883","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ridge-furrow with film mulching (RFM) increases grain yield by enhancing nutrient uptake and biomass accumulation in monoculture systems. However, its effects on transformation of phosphorus (P) concentration in rhizosheath soil and its role in yield enhancement in maize–soybean intercropping systems under acidic soil conditions, where low P availability in soil limits productivity, remain unclear. A 4-year field experiment with four different treatments was conducted to investigate the effects of film mulching on grain yield, root traits, P concentrations in rhizosheath soil, P-solubilising microorganisms (PSMs) and P-cycling functional genes in a maize–soybean intercropping system. The four treatments given were as follows: ridge-furrow without film mulching at 0-kg P ha⁻¹ (CK), ridge-furrow without film mulching at 90-kg P ha⁻¹ (P90), RFM at 0-kg P ha⁻¹ (FM) and RFM at 90-kg P ha⁻¹ (P90 + FM). The results showed that FM considerably enhanced seed yield, P uptake, root length, concentration of plant-available P in rhizosheath soils, acid phosphatase activity and Al-bound P in maize and soybean. FM remarkably reduced the diversity of maize rhizosheath PSMs, as indicated by a lower Shannon index. Permutational multivariate analysis revealed that FM notably altered the composition of rhizosheath PSMs in both the crops. Furthermore, FM notably increased the abundance of functional genes responsible for organic-P mineralisation, inorganic-P solubilisation, P-starvation response regulation and P transport in rhizosheath soils of maize and soybean. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that FM enhanced P transformation in rhizosheath soils, leading to increased concentrations of plant-available P, improved root morphology and better P uptake—ultimately contributing to higher maize and soybean grain yields in the maize–soybean intercropping system. In conclusion, RFM considerably improved maize and soybean productivity in acidic soils by promoting P transformation, stimulating root growth and increasing rhizosheath PSM abundance as well as increased expression of their P-cycling functional genes. These findings highlight RFM as a sustainable cultivation practice for achieving high grain yield and P-acquisition efficiency by enhancing plant–microbe interactions in maize–soybean intercropping systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106883"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145109226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The stacking method enhances machine learning models for monitoring and understanding regional soil available nitrogen variations in croplands","authors":"Sihong Lei ,&nbsp;Mingan Shao ,&nbsp;Xiaoxu Jia ,&nbsp;Zhaocen Zhu ,&nbsp;Chunlei Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106880","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106880","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil available nitrogen (AN) is crucial for crop growth, grain yield, and sustainable agricultural management. The Guanzhong Plain (GP) is an important grain production area in the Yellow River basin of China with intensive agricultural activities for over 2000 years and excess nitrate loading. To predict the spatial distribution of AN in the root zone (0–100 cm), 124 soil samples were collected via borehole drilling, followed by lab analysis and AN prediction model development (machine learning models, MLMs and ensemble models, EMs). The results indicated that nitrate (NO₃^--N) and ammonia (NH₄⁺-N) contents declined with increasing depth, with significantly higher values in the upper 40 cm. NH₄⁺-N contents were lower and relatively stable across soil layers. EMs outperformed MLMs, with the stacking method performing better and improving averaged R², RMSE, and MAE by 10.48 %, 4.93 %, and 6.99 % for NO₃^--N prediction and 6.75 %, 9.41 %, and 8.94 % for NH₄⁺-N prediction. Soil variables were most critical for NO₃⁻-N prediction, contributing 46 % of the relative importance, followed by topography (22 %) and climate (17 %). NH₄⁺-N predictors were dominated by topographic variables, accounting for 51 %. These findings highlight the distinct roles of soil and topography in regulating nitrogen dynamics, with soil properties controlling nitrification and leaching processes for NO₃⁻-N and topography influencing water redistribution and retention for NH₄⁺-N. This study provides references to precise fertilizer management and non-point source pollution control in GP. It also underscores the potential of ensemble models, particularly stacking, in improving AN prediction accuracy across agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106880"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Changes in carbon stocks and quality of the soil organic matter under different arrangements of integrated livestock-forest systems in the semi-arid region of Brazil","authors":"Crislâny Canuto dos Santos ,&nbsp;Thamirys Suelle da Silva ,&nbsp;Marcelo Cavalcante ,&nbsp;Rodrigo Gregório da Silva ,&nbsp;Plínio Barbosa de Camargo ,&nbsp;Maurício Roberto Cherubin ,&nbsp;Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri ,&nbsp;Stoécio Malta Ferreira Maia","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106882","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106882","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land-use dynamics in semiarid Brazil can reduce soil carbon (C) stocks and increase CO₂ emissions. Integrated livestock-forest (ILF) systems may mitigate these effects by improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration. This study evaluated the impact of ILF systems on soil organic matter (SOM) quality and C stocks in Ceará, Brazil. The experiment included four ILF systems: with sorghum (So), forage cactus (Fc), massai grass (Mg), and buffel grass (Bg), arranged at three spacings (7 m, 14 m, and 28 m) between strips of native tree (SNT - Caatinga). These systems were compared to native vegetation (NV). Soil samples were collected up to 50 cm depth to assess changes in SOM composition (C, N, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and organic matter fractions. Our results showed that, over six years, converting Caatinga into ILF systems increased C and N stocks in the topsoil (0–10 cm) when considering only the SOC of livestock components with Bg and Mg. Systems with Mg and Bg at spacings S28 and S14 were the most effective in increasing SOC, POM, and MAOM fractions and had the highest δ¹³C values. In contrast, Fc systems promoted the greatest SOC reductions. Weighted results of livestock and forestry components showed ILF systems to be even more effective, reducing C stock losses even in deeper layers (0–30 and 0–50 cm). ILF systems integrating grasses and Caatinga trees, especially at 14 m and 28 m spacings, show strong potential to enhance SOC stocks, improve soil quality, and support climate change mitigation through sustainable land use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106882"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of legacy phosphorus speciation under long-term tillage and phosphate fertilizer management in a tropical soil","authors":"Lenir Fátima Gotz ,&nbsp;Elton Eduardo Novais Alves ,&nbsp;Luis Carlos Colocho Hurtarte ,&nbsp;Leo Murtagh Condron ,&nbsp;Leonardus Vergütz ,&nbsp;Stefan Hill ,&nbsp;Djalma Martinhão Gomes de Sousa ,&nbsp;Adila Natália França de Almeida ,&nbsp;Rafael de Souza Nunes ,&nbsp;Paulo Sergio Pavinato","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106877","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106877","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study used a combination of analytical techniques – chemical fractionation, XANES and ³¹P NMR spectroscopies – to investigate and quantify the effects of different long-term tillage practices [conventional tillage (CT) with plowing at 20 cm-depth and harrowing, and no-tillage (NT) systems] and phosphate fertilizer inputs (triple superphosphate-TSP and Gafsa reactive phosphate rock-RPR applied in the sowing furrow or broadcast) on the nature and bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in the topsoil (0–20 cm) of a strongly weathered Oxisol in Brazil. The soil was sampled after 17 years of phosphate application (35 kg ha^-1 yr^-1) and after eight years of maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) cropping without P input. Results showed that soil legacy P accumulated from P inputs was mainly present as non-labile inorganic P adsorbed on iron (P-Fe) and aluminum (P-Al) oxides (average of 79 %). Accumulation of soil legacy P in labile pool was greater under NT (65 mg kg⁻¹) compared with CT (32 mg kg⁻¹), while organic P as monoester and diester was also greater in soil maintained under NT than CT (81 vs 61 mg kg⁻¹). Maize grown after cessation of P inputs mobilized and depleted both labile (average of -8 mg kg⁻¹) and non-labile (average of −47 mg kg⁻¹) pools of legacy P. Calcium-bound P acted as labile reserve of P, especially when RPR was applied under NT, while P-Fe and P-Al were less available to maize, increasing their proportion under P suppression. Long-term tillage and phosphate fertilization strategies influence the bioavailability of legacy P in tropical soil, and conservation systems enhance the potential for crops to access and utilize the legacy P reserves.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106877"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093869","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tillage combined with straw return increases maize yield and water use by regulating root morphological distribution and nitrogen metabolism in Northeast China","authors":"Wen Zhang ,&nbsp;Anran Long ,&nbsp;Xinjie Ji ,&nbsp;Zhanxiang Sun ,&nbsp;Ping Tian ,&nbsp;Chengcheng Jin ,&nbsp;Xiangwei Gong ,&nbsp;Ying Jiang ,&nbsp;Hua Qi ,&nbsp;Haiqiu Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106876","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106876","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combination of tillage and straw return is effective for improving soil structure and increasing farmland productivity; however, few studies have explored the changes in the root morphological distribution and nitrogen (N) metabolism of crops, grain yield, and their potential interactions in Northeast China. A field study that commenced in 2017 was conducted with a two-factor split design and included nine treatments in total: three tillage depths of 10 (D10), 30 (D30), and 50 cm (D50), and three straw application techniques, i.e., mixing with soil (SM), burying in soil (SB), and straw removal (SR). Soil and plant samples were collected and analyzed in 2022 and 2023. The root growth and distribution of maize significantly increased under SM and SB, contributing to greater root length density, surface area density, and volume density in the 0 −90-cm soil layer. The responses of soil N availability and root N metabolism to straw return increased, as indicated by higher ammonium and nitrate N contents, and nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate dehydrogenase, and glutamate synthase activities. Combined with partial-least-squares path modeling and random forest, these morphological and physiological improvements were conducive to increasing the maize grain yield and water use efficiency. Tillage of the upper 30-cm soil layer combined with SM and tillage of the upper 50-cm soil layer combined with SB resulted in high productivity for maize. Our results emphasize the key roles and synergistic effects of tillage depth and straw return in enabling sustainably high maize yields in Northeast China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106876"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A physically-constrained inversion method for rapid and robust estimation of soil hydraulic parameters from one-dimensional upward infiltration","authors":"SiCong Wu ,&nbsp;DongHao Ma ,&nbsp;ZhiPeng Liu ,&nbsp;Lin Chen ,&nbsp;Congzhi Zhang ,&nbsp;Guixiang Zhou ,&nbsp;JiaBao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106859","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106859","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Low-cost, simple, efficient, and robust methods for measuring soil hydraulic properties are essential for land management and hydrological modeling across scales. The recently developed Approximate Solutions under Constant Pressure (ASCP) method provides a promising approach. Here, we further developed a new inversion approach, the Piston-type Approximate Solutions under Constant Pressure (PASCP) method, which greatly enhances the robustness of the estimated results by reducing the sensitivity of the ASCP method to measurement errors through two key innovations: (1) an original explicit formula linking soil saturation time to hydraulic parameters, used as a physical constraint to improve inversion accuracy; and (2) an interval constraint that explicitly accounts for measurement errors and enhances robustness, tolerating up to 99.9 % of observed errors. The PASCP method allows simultaneous estimation of all Brooks-Corey hydraulic parameters (<em>n</em>, 1/<em>h</em>_d, and <em>K</em>_s) from only an upward infiltration test conducted on a standard 5-cm soil core, with easily obtainable input data. The new method was evaluated through numerical verification and laboratory validation, covering 12 soil samples and four initial moisture conditions. Numerical verifications demonstrated excellent agreement with theoretical parameter values (R² ≥ 0.998). Laboratory tests confirmed PASCP’s robust performance even in the presence of measurement errors (R² ≥ 0.804), showing 31–60 % improvement in R² compared to the original ASCP method. Overall, PASCP provides a practical, reliable technique for estimating hydraulic parameters across a wide range of soil textures under low initial moisture conditions (<em>S</em>_ei ≤ 0.3).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"256 ","pages":"Article 106859"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145093868","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}