Soil & Tillage Research最新文献

{"title":"Assessing management strategies for carbon storage in Mediterranean soils: Double-cropping, no-tillage, and nitrogen fertilization reduction","authors":"Jesús Fernández-Ortega ,&nbsp;Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes ,&nbsp;Antonio Delgado ,&nbsp;Ana María García-López ,&nbsp;Carlos Cantero-Martínez","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106496","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106496","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Mediterranean conditions, the historical use of traditional agricultural practices has led to a significant loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the associated benefits it provides. Consequently, it becomes imperative to explore effective strategies that promote the preservation and enhancement of SOC. Some promising practices to increase SOC are the use of double-cropping, conservation tillage, and reduced N fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of introducing a legume prior to maize, together with different tillage systems and mineral N fertilization rates on SOC and related fractions (particulate organic matter carbon, POM-C; mineral-associated organic matter carbon, Min-C; and permanganate-oxidizable organic carbon, POxC). Additionally, the study aimed to investigate enzymatic activities associated with the carbon cycle. The study compared monocropping maize (MC) versus legume-maize double-cropping (DC) with two tillage systems (conventional tillage, CT; no-tillage, NT), and three mineral N fertilization rates (zero, medium and high). The legumes employed were pea for grain (2019), vetch for green manure (2020), and vetch for forage (2021). The DC increased the SOC level by 10.6 % compared to the use of MC, with POM-C as the main fraction involved in this change. Thus, the employment of DC allowed for the maintenance of SOC levels, while the use of MC resulted in their reduction compared to the levels observed at the beginning of the experiment. NT exhibited higher values of SOC and its fractions POM-C and Min-C. These differences were observed only in the 0–10 cm depth layers. The use of NT enabled the maintenance of SOC compared to the initial studied period, while CT reduced SOC. The treatments with N fertilization achieved higher values of SOC and all the studied fractions compared to the unfertilized treatment. However, at the end of the experiment, it was found that the application of N fertilization, especially at high rates, led to a decrease in SOC. Additionally, it was observed that the employment of DC and NT increased the enzymatic activities of dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase. The results of this study indicate that the utilization of legume-maize DC, as well as the implementation of NT and reduced N fertilization, are useful strategies to maintain SOC levels and improving the biological quality of the soil under Mediterranean irrigated conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106496"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143418523","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":"How farmer’s perceptions about sustainable soil management practices affect their behaviour towards future adoption of the practices in climate hazardous location?","authors":"Shaima Chowdhury Sharna ,&nbsp;Tek Maraseni ,&nbsp;Valerien O. Pede ,&nbsp;Ando Radanielson","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106482","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106482","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding farmers’ perception of sustainable soil management practices (SSMP) is essential for designing and promoting sustainable agriculture, thereby combating soil degradation. However, there is a limited understanding on how farmers perceptions of SSMP influence their adoption decision. This study investigated farmers’ perceptions of SSMP naming zero-tillage, residue incorporation, organic fertilization, crop rotation with legume and non-legume; and how these perceptions along with other socio-economic and environmental factors affect willingness to adopt SSMP for short-term and long-term in future. Dataset from a household-survey on rice farmers (N = 441) of four districts of Bangladesh, was analyzed by Control Function model included generalized inverse mills ratio (GIMR) to erase the endogeneity issue. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted with farmers and agricultural extension officers to gain supplementary information. Results suggest that perception of reduction of production cost from SSMP outweighs perception of reduction of inputs use requirements (e.g., reduction of working hour at farm, chemical fertilizer use and irrigation water use) and beneficial impact of SSMP on soil properties (e.g., improving soil organic matter, reducing soil salinity and soil erosion). The former was confirmed as key factor influencing short-term and long-term future adoption decision of various SSMP. Farmers are likely to choose SSMP that are conducive to increase net benefit by minimizing production cost. Farmers from areas with different levels of climate stress vulnerability were observed to have different perceptions and behaviour towards SSMP’s future adoption. Organic fertilization, residue incorporation and crop rotation with legume were considered for future adoption by farmers in drought-prone Rajshahi district to combat site-specific problem of drought, while in flood-prone Sunamganj and salinity-affected Khulna districts, residue incorporation were perceived beneficial to address soil salinity and mitigate soil erosion. Therefore, integrating farmers’ perceptions and location-specific solution based on soil properties and climate vulnerability, in policy design is crucial to enhance the dissemination SSMP, with the overall aim of mitigating soil degradation and improving farmer’s livelihoods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106482"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Dual effects of supergravity deformation and suction deformation on the determination of soil water characteristic curve by centrifugal testing method","authors":"Jielong Rao ,&nbsp;Liyu Yi ,&nbsp;Yong Wan ,&nbsp;Tiande Wen ,&nbsp;Zhixiang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The centrifugal testing method for the soil water characteristic curve (SWCC) has found widely used in the fields of soil science, geology, and geotechnical engineering. However, the deformation of samples during the centrifuge testing process, resulting from the combination of matric suction (Ψ) and centrifugal force, introduces an error when compared to other SWCC testing methods. To quantify the influence of sample supergravity deformation on matric suction testing in centrifugal testing methods, a novel combined centrifuge-drying shrinkage testing method is proposed to differentiate the deformations caused by supergravity and Ψ during the centrifugal testing process. Meanwhile, the influence of different deformations on the SWCC of the soil was analyzed. On this basis, the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests were conducted to explain the inherent mechanism of the centrifuge influence on soil water retention and deformation behaviors under supergravity conditions. The results indicate that, the drying shrinkage rule of the soil is different from the existing test rule. The SWCCs of soils with different initial dry densities (<em>ρ</em>_d) obtained through the combined centrifuge-drying shrinkage testing method follow the same desiccation path. Microscopic morphology and pore size analysis revealed significant influences of centrifuge dynamic disturbance and supergravity environment have great influence on soil pore structure during dehumidification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106495"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143395888","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 oyster shells and bottom ash for improvement of coastal saline soil through empirical tests","authors":"Taejin Kim ,&nbsp;Donggeun Kim ,&nbsp;Jihun Jeon ,&nbsp;Younghwan Son","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106478","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106478","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coastal soils have high salt concentration and poor drainage, which is unfavorable to the growth of crops. To utilize these soils effectively, salt removal is essential, and this can be achieved by improving the drainage properties of the soil. Oyster shells and bottom ash, which have large particles and high permeability, can enhance the soil's drainage when mixed, by improving particle size distribution. Furthermore, this approach provides an environmentally friendly solution for managing oyster shells and bottom ash, which often cause environmental issues when discarded. In this study, experiments were conducted to improve coastal saline soils using oyster shells and bottom ash. The desalinization performance was evaluated through leaching tests, while resalinization was assessed through capillary tests. Based on the results of these tests, optimal application methods for oyster shells and bottom ash were determined, and soil tank experiments simulating real-ground conditions were performed to assess practical applicability. The leaching test results indicated that mixing coarse-grained materials with soil significantly enhanced the leaching rate, with an increase of up to 20 times compared to the original soil. Meanwhile, the desalinization rate was more pronounced in soils mixed with oyster shells. Specifically, soil mixed with 40 % coarsely ground oyster shell reached a concentration equivalent to 20 % of the original salt concentration in approximately 28 min, demonstrating excellent desalinization performance. In the capillary test, it was observed that the capillary rise rate increased in the mixed soils, and a capillary barrier layer using bottom ash particles larger than 1 mm was found to effectively address this issue. In the soil tank tests, both desalinization and resalinization prevention were successfully achieved using coarsely ground oyster shells and bottom ash, along with a capillary barrier layer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106478"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143403255","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":"Study on climate suitability for maize and technical implementation strategies under conservation tillage in Northeast China","authors":"Hongjun Liu ,&nbsp;Wei Wan ,&nbsp;Mandi Zheng ,&nbsp;Jianwei Li ,&nbsp;Shiwen Liu ,&nbsp;Wei Lv ,&nbsp;Yongxin Zhou ,&nbsp;Zhong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106473","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106473","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conservation tillage is an effective planting system that balances land conservation with utilization. However, its indiscriminate promotion may lead to issues such as delayed maize germination, reduced yields, and soil structure deterioration. Previous studies have primarily focused on the impact of climate change on the climate suitability for maize cultivation in Northeast China, with little consideration of how changes in soil moisture and temperature due to conservation tillage affect maize climate suitability. Moreover, there is a lack of targeted conservation tillage implementation strategies that consider the specific characteristics of different regions. Therefore, this study quantifies the impact of conservation tillage on soil moisture and temperature, using these factors as environmental variables. The MaxEnt model was applied to simulate maize climate suitability under conservation tillage in the black soil region of Northeast China. Additionally, the study innovatively extracted typical topographic and geomorphological features of the region and proposed region-specific conservation tillage implementation strategies. The results indicate that: (1) Conservation tillage significantly impacts soil moisture and temperature. When straw coverage reaches 30 % to 95 %, soil moisture increases by 0.04–0.13 m³ /m³ , while soil temperature decreases by 0.15–0.46°C, thereby influencing the distribution of maize climate suitability. (2) Between 2000 and 2020, the area of climate suitability for maize under conservation tillage in Northeast China has shown an upward trend, increasing by 12.6 × 10⁴ km², with an average suitable area of 96.2 × 10⁴ km². (3) The area suitable for promoting straw mulching no tillage technology is 47 × 10⁴ km², accounting for 48.8 % of the total suitable area. The area suitable for implementing high stubble ridge side planting technology is 24 × 10⁴ km², making up 25 % of the total suitable area. The area suitable for promoting straw mulching ridge tillage with minimal tillage technology is 10.9 × 10⁴ km², accounting for 11 % of the total suitable area. The area suitable for implementing high stubble inter-row direct seeding technology is 8.6 × 10⁴ km², making up 9 % of the total suitable area. The results of this study provide theoretical support for the scientific promotion and region-specific implementation of conservation tillage, which is of great significance for achieving coordinated improvement of grain production and farmland conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106473"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387327","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":"Optimizing root distribution and water use efficiency in maize/soybean intercropping under different irrigation levels: The role of underground interactions","authors":"Bo Jing,&nbsp;Wenjuan Shi,&nbsp;Tao Chen,&nbsp;Zhongmin Zhai,&nbsp;Jiawen Song","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In maize/soybean intercropping system, achieving optimal yields depends on a thorough understanding of the complex interactions occurring in the belowground processes. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted to assess crop productivity, root distribution, and soil water distribution and utilization in response to underground interaction (UI) and underground separation (US) under three irrigation levels (60 %, 80 %, and 100 % ETc, represented by W1, W2, W3, respectively) in maize/soybean intercropping system. The results indicated that the UI not only significantly increased the maize yield but also enhanced its root length density and root investment, thereby improving its root competitive ability compared to the US; but the UI had negative effects on these indicators for soybean. US resulted in soil water differences between the maize and soybean sides, with higher soil water levels observed on the soybean side compared to the maize side. In contrast, under UI, the soil water differences were minimal, soil water transport from the soybean side to the maize side facilitated complementary water uptake, thereby enhancing the water use efficiency of maize. Furthermore, as the irrigation level increased, the yields, root length densities, soil water content, and soil water transport of both maize and soybean increased. However, increased irrigation level reduced the advantages of interspecific underground interactions and the water use efficiency. Under UI, correlation analysis revealed significant positive relationships among most measured parameters, with the exception of water use efficiency, which exhibited a negative correlation with evapotranspiration. Radar chart analysis demonstrated distinct performance patterns across irrigation levels under UI: W3 showed superior results in soil water content and evapotranspiration, W2 showed balanced performance across all indicators, while W1 excelled in water use efficiency. These findings highlight the importance of underground interactions and irrigation management in optimizing crop productivity and water use efficiency in maize/soybean intercropping system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106490"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143387326","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":"Is “soil anti-scourability” a rational methodology for assessing soil erosion resistance? Insights from a case study and a concise discussion","authors":"Fan Ma ,&nbsp;Xinsheng Han ,&nbsp;Liang Liu ,&nbsp;Yanfang Hao ,&nbsp;Xianghui Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106481","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106481","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The soil erosion resistance (SER) is a critical property of soils with respect to their ability to resist the erosive force exerted by the overland flow. Various flume-based methodologies were utilized to investigate that property and abundant datasets of SER had been established. Meanwhile, a unique methodology for the assessment of SER, the “anti-scourability methodology” (ASM), proposed by Chinese researchers had been widely used across China for more than 60 years and rich data had been obtained. In recent years, several reports using the ASM had appeared in international journals in English, which implied a potential spread of the methodology outside China in the future. However, the ASM had some intrinsic drawbacks that would impede its worldwide application, although it is a simple and practical methodology. This paper discussed the connection between the ASM and the commonly adopted “detachability methodology” (DTM), and compared their performances in the assessment of SER based on a case study on the Loess Plateau using a modified desk-top scouring flume. The results showed that the ASM and DTM are both under the flume-based methodology framework and the index values of ASM could be transformed into the soil detachment rate values. However, as a methodology in the “pre-model-era”, the ASM could only give researchers an overall picture of SER under different soil management conditions, rather than mechanistic understandings of soil detachment process compared to the DTM. The small-sized flumes typically used in the ASM might not distinguish the differences of SER between sufficiently revegetated land use types due to the low level of hydraulic design. Nevertheless, the ASM could be a useful tool for the long-term monitoring of SER across large landscapes because of its low costs and simplicity. To enhance this simple and practical approach, the upper limit of flow discharge of flumes should be no less than that used in the DTM researches (e.g., no less than 25 m² h⁻¹ in most researches), therefore to obtain scouring forces strong enough to distinguish the SER across a broad range of soil types and management conditions. This is the first study that clarified the nature of ASM as an empirical simple tool for the assessment of SER and proposed its potential application outside China. Meanwhile, we suggested that the existing data of soil anti-scourability indices should be synthesized for further study.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106481"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143351001","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":"Mechanisms of tomato growth promotion in three soils after applying Bacillus combinations","authors":"Dingzun Shao,&nbsp;Yi He,&nbsp;Yue Zhai,&nbsp;Xiangxia Yang,&nbsp;Zhenhua Guo,&nbsp;Jinfang Tan,&nbsp;Mi Wei","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The application of <em>Bacillus</em> combinations is a promising strategy to increase plant growth by increasing phosphorus availability in different soil environments. In this study, we investigated the effects of <em>Bacillus</em> inoculation on tomato seedling growth in Haplic Chernozems, Haplic Calcisols, and Haplic Luvisols soils. The results revealed that <em>Bacillus</em> colonization varied significantly among the soil types, with better colonization observed in the Haplic Calcisols and Haplic Luvisols soils, which was positively correlated with the total phosphorus content of the soil. Inoculation significantly increased tomato plant height and weight, particularly in Haplic Calcisols and Haplic Luvisols soils, due to the activation of insoluble phosphorus by increased alkaline phosphatase and phytase activities. Furthermore, <em>Bacillus</em> combinations modulated the rhizosphere microbial community structure and function, increasing the abundance of key genera such as <em>Streptomyces</em> in the Haplic Calcisols soil, <em>Pseudoxanthomonas</em> and <em>Flavihumibacter</em> in the Haplic Luvisols soil, and <em>Flavisolibacter</em> in the Haplic Chernozems soil. These changes facilitated phosphorus solubilization and nutrient uptake, which was supported by increased levels of rhizosphere organic acids. Functional predictions revealed that <em>Bacillus</em> inoculation enhanced processes related to nutrient cycling, biofilm formation, and phytohormone production, contributing to improved plant growth. Our findings highlight the importance of soil-specific responses to microbial inoculation and provide insights into the mechanisms by which <em>Bacillus</em> combinations promote phosphorus availability and plant growth. This study provides a foundation for the targeted application of <em>Bacillus</em> biofertilizers to optimize soil fertility and sustainable agricultural practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106477"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143325208","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":"Poly-γ-glutamic acid enhances corn nitrogen use efficiency and yield by decreasing gaseous nitrogen loss and increasing mineral nitrogen accumulation","authors":"Zhongmin Zhai,&nbsp;Wenjuan Shi,&nbsp;Lu Liu,&nbsp;Bo Jing","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In arid and barren northwest of China, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer not only did not increase nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)and yield of crops, but also caused serious ecological environment pollution. Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a non-toxic and harmless polymer with good water and fertilizer retention ability. However, there is still a lack of relevant research on how γ-PGA affects crop productivity and nitrogen footprint in farmland ecosystems under film mulching conditions. Therefore, this study conducted the field experiment in oasis on the desert edge from 2021 to 2022 to explore effects of different γ-PGA applied rates (0,20,60 and 80 kg ha⁻¹) on soil nitrogen content, NH₃ volatilization, yield and NUE under mulched drip irrigation, and to determine the optimal γ-PGA application strategy. The results showed that with increase of γ-PGA application rates, soil mineral nitrogen accumulation increased, cumulative NH₃ volatilization loss decreased first and then increased, maize yield increased first and then decreased, and NUE increased first and then decreased. Compared with P0 (without adding γ-PGA),γ-PGA maintained the content of NO^-₃-N and NH⁺₄-N in 0–100 cm depth, and increased mineral nitrogen accumulation. In addition,γ-PGA treatments decreased cumulative NH₃ volatilization loss by 8.38 %-19.39 %, promoted nitrogen uptake of each organ, increased leaf area index (LAI)and aboveground dry matter. Therefore, γ-PGA increased corn yield by 4.94 %-21.60 %, increased NUE by 4.94 %-21.60 %, and decreased nitrogen loss. Moreover, through the Gaussian optimization model and combined with the local actual situation, the optimal γ-PGA application strategy in the region was determined to be 70 kg ha⁻¹. The result will provide a further information for improving fertilizer efficiency and reducing agricultural ecological environment pollution in corn under mulched drip irrigation, ensuring sustainable agricultural development and the health of the ecological environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106480"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143325156","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":"Morphology-based mechanism of desiccation cracking in soil and montmorillonite","authors":"Jia Xu ,&nbsp;Yidi Qin ,&nbsp;A.Liman Kakewati ,&nbsp;Shuchao Liu ,&nbsp;Paul D. Hallett ,&nbsp;Gang Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106474","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106474","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cracking from soil desiccation is a common phenomenon. Stress analysis based on transient spatial distribution of soil water and fracture mechanics has been extensively applied in studying the development of soil cracks. Nevertheless, the existing experiments and theoretical models for soil crack development generally ignore the interaction between cracks, and lack quantitative analysis of the transient evolution of crack length <em>L</em>(<em>t</em>) and crack strength <em>I</em>(<em>t</em>). This study explored the transient evolution of soil and montmorillonite shrinkage and cracking by analyzing the images from both field and laboratory experiments. Our study demonstrated that in the initial stages of drying, newly formed cracks accelerated the soil moisture evaporation near the crack opening interface, resulting in a rapid increase in stress, which promoted an exponential growth of the cracks. Subsequently, the general case where two or more parallel cracks have a mutual shielding interaction led to slowing down and saturation of their development. The experimental <em>L</em>(<em>t</em>) and <em>I</em>(<em>t</em>) curves for the S-shape could be well-fitted by introducing the existence of a competitive relationship between cracks. The experimental results also showed that the <em>I</em>(<em>t</em>) curve lagged behind <em>L</em>(<em>t</em>). The shielding effect between cracks was also supported by imaging of all crack samples. Hence, the single-crack model commonly used in traditional soil desiccation cracking studies is unsuitable for analyzing cracks in soil samples. Finally, the analysis of the concave-shaped soil shrinkage characteristic curve (SSCC) and the concave-shaped the soil water evaporation curve for all soil samples revealed that they could not explain the S-shaped <em>L</em>(<em>t</em>) and <em>I</em>(<em>t</em>) curves. Therefore, the plausibility of the single or isolated crack model for the evolution of soil drying and cracking was excluded. Finally, this experimental study proposed the hypothesis that the saturation phenomena of <em>L</em>(<em>t</em>) and <em>I</em>(<em>t</em>) are likely due to the competition between cracks for the release of strain energy caused by drying.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"249 ","pages":"Article 106474"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143325190","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}