Soil & Tillage Research最新文献

{"title":"Spatial distributions, driving factors, and threshold effects of soil organic carbon stocks in the Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Zheng Sun ,&nbsp;Feng Liu ,&nbsp;Fei Yang ,&nbsp;Decai Wang ,&nbsp;Gan-Lin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tibetan Plateau (TP), known as the “Earth's Third Pole”, has a fragile ecological environment, and is sensitive to global changes, which can easily lead to fluctuations of soil organic carbon (SOC). The spatial variations of soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS), and their driving factors in TP remain unclear. Here. we used quantile regression forest (QRF) model to map soil organic carbon density (SOCD) in TP at 90 m spatial resolution, and estimated the spatial uncertainty of the mapping. Generalized additive model (GAM) was used to analyze the nonlinear responses of SOCD to the driving factors. The results showed that the QRF model can explain about 32 %–51 % of SOCD variation, and the explanatory power decreased with increasing depth. The SOCD decreased gradually from southeast to northwest, and showed a decreasing trend with increasing depth. The SOCS of 0–100 cm soil was 37.26 Pg C of the entire TP, where the grassland occupied 54.59 % of the total stock. Vegetation and land surface temperature were important environmental covariates at all depths. SOCD has obvious nonlinear responses and threshold effects on temperature (MAAT), precipitation (MAP) and aridity (1–AI). The results are of great significance for understanding the status of SOC sequestration, and the response of SOCS in TP to climate conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106457"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143031428","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":"Influence of surface cover type on sediment transport capacity and sediment retardation benefits based on flume experiments","authors":"Kai Zhang ,&nbsp;Ning Li ,&nbsp;Suhua Fu ,&nbsp;Hongli Mu","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106455","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106455","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sediment transport capacity (<em>Tc</em>) is a critical parameter in predicting soil erosion, and surface cover has been found to be an effective means for reducing <em>Tc</em>. However, limited research exists regarding the influence of surface cover types on <em>Tc</em>, and the sediment retardation benefits (<em>SRB</em>) of surface cover types are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different surface cover types on <em>Tc</em> and <em>SRB</em>. Therefore, a sets of flume experiment were conducted under controlled conditions, featuring a fixed slope gradient (<em>S</em> = 25.88 %), a constant unit flow discharge (<em>q</em> = 2.70 ×10^–3 m² s^–1), and three common types of surface cover commonly found on slope farmland: corn residue, rock fragment, and sweet potato). These experiments also included seven coverage levels (<em>C</em> = 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 70 %) with water and sediment samples collected at regular intervals. The results showed that the relative sediment transport capacity (<em>R</em>_<em>T</em>) had a negative exponential function with a <em>C</em> under different surface cover types (<em>R</em>²&gt;0.8). Sweet potato exhibited the most effective <em>SRB</em> under the same <em>C</em>. <em>SRB</em> stabilized when the <em>C</em> of different surface cover types reached 30 %. The equations for predicting sediment transport capacity were improved. The results may contribute to the theoretical understanding of sediment transport processes under surface cover conditions and provide a foundation for the informed selection of soil and water conservation measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106455"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143031429","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":"Use of Vis-NIR reflectance spectroscopy for estimating soil phosphorus sorption parameters at the watershed scale","authors":"Sanaz Saidi ,&nbsp;Shamsollah Ayoubi ,&nbsp;Mehran Shirvani ,&nbsp;Seyed Ahmad Mireei ,&nbsp;Yufeng Ge ,&nbsp;Kaiguang Zhao ,&nbsp;Artemi Cerdà","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Measurement of soil phosphorus sorption parameters (PSPs) provides crucial information on P fertilization and P leaching. Traditional approaches for determining these indices are expensive and time-consuming. To develop rapid indirect methods, this study aims to assess the effectiveness of Vis-NIR spectroscopy ranging from 350 to 2500 nm for estimating various PSPs, including maximum buffering capacity (MBC), the standard buffering capacity (SBC), P sorption maximum (Q_max), soil P buffering capacity (PBC), and standard P requirement (SPR). We collected 100 soil samples in western Iran and related Vis-NIR data to the PSP parameters via Partial least squares regression (PLSR) and artificial neural network (ANN). The observed PSP values showed large variabilities across sites (CV&gt; 48 %), attributed primarily to the wide variation in soil properties controlling PSPs. The PLSR model highlighted that efficient spectral peaks in the band-wise regression coefficients were strongly associated with signature wavelengths of clay minerals, soil organic carbon, and cation exchange capacity, all are key factors influencing the PSP indices. However, the PLSR models had limited predictive power for the PSPs, due to the complex relationships between spectral data and various soil properties indirectly influencing PSPs. Compared to PLSR, the nonlinear ANN model enhanced the prediction accuracy of MBC, PBC, Q_max, SBC, and SPR by 39.25 %, 50 %, 19.28 %, 39.41 %, and 59.32 %, respectively. The best coefficient of determination achieved in validation dataset by the ANN model ranged from 0.65 to 0.85, which is deemed acceptable for practical use on large scale by local farmers and decision-makers for P fertilization strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106460"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142988985","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":"Ca2 + substitution synergises zeolite physisorption accelerated Na+ substitution to improve saline soils","authors":"Haitao Liu ,&nbsp;Min Jin ,&nbsp;Chunhui Li ,&nbsp;Jiayu Wang ,&nbsp;Haiyan Wang ,&nbsp;Weidong Xie ,&nbsp;Haixing Cui ,&nbsp;Yong Li ,&nbsp;Zhenlin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106461","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106461","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Huang-Huai-Hai region of China is characterized by saline soils with high Na⁺ concentrations, which result from seawater intrusion and groundwater evaporation. The high mobility of Na⁺ complicates soil amendment and limits crop yields by osmotic imbalances. To address high Na⁺ challenge, we conducted a two-year field experiment in the saline soil of the Huang-Huai-Hai region, designing no conditioner (C0) as the control and three types of conditioners (2.10 × 10³ kg ha⁻¹): 100 % silica-calcium-potassium-magnesium alkaline soil conditioner (SCPM), 70 % SCPM + 30 % zeolite (SCPM + ZP), and 99 % SCPM + 1 % polyacrylamide (SCPM + PAM) to explore possible ways to reduce Na⁺. SCPM + ZP reduced Compared to C0, SCPM + ZP reduced Na⁺ by 748.92–834.79 mg kg⁻¹ through Ca²⁺ substitution and physical zeolite adsorption, lowered pH by 0.24–0.60, and alleviated salt stress. Modifications to soil colloids increased binding sites for metal ions and organic carbon, which improved soil aggregation (34.78 % increase in &gt; 0.25 mm aggregates), reduced bulk density (15.20 %), boosted porosity (19.51 %), and raised moisture content (42.39 %). These changes were accompanied by elevated enzyme activities (e.g., alkaline phosphatase, sucrase) and greater availability of nutrients like phosphorus and organic carbon in the root-soil system. Ultimately, a 96.12 % increase in spike number led to an 84.42 % rise in winter wheat yield. The combined reduction of Na⁺, enhancement of soil properties, and yield improvement achieved with SCPM + ZP offers a practical and theoretical framework for reclaiming high-Na⁺ saline soils in Huang-Huai-Hai region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106461"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142988984","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":"Organic fertilizer intensifies the vertical heterogeneity of DOM in paddy fields through interactions with soil minerals","authors":"Yi Xiao ,&nbsp;Rong Huang ,&nbsp;Weiliang Xiong ,&nbsp;Binbin Liu ,&nbsp;Qinghua Zhou ,&nbsp;Tao Jiang ,&nbsp;Vanessa N.L. Wong ,&nbsp;Jiang Liu ,&nbsp;Yingjie Wu ,&nbsp;Youlin Luo ,&nbsp;Qiquan Li ,&nbsp;Qiang Xu ,&nbsp;Ting Lan ,&nbsp;Changquan Wang ,&nbsp;Bing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106454","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106454","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a complicated soluble organic composite in soils that is known to be linked to carbon turnover, nutrient cycling, and climate change. However, uncertainties exist about the potential influence of soil Fe and Mn oxides on DOM characteristics in paddy soil profiles following the application of inorganic and organic fertilizers. We investigated the DOM characteristics in a paddy soil profile (0–40 cm) treated with inorganic and organic fertilizers and the relationships between DOM and Fe and Mn oxides. The paddy soils were subjected to four fertilizer treatments: a control with no fertilizer (CK), inorganic fertilizer only (NPK), 50 % chemical N substituted with organic fertilizer (NPKM), and 100 % chemical N substituted with organic fertilizer (M). Ultraviolet<img>visible (UV<img>Vis) spectroscopy and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) spectrophotometry were integrated to explore the vertical variation in the DOM. There were no significant differences in the DOM content between the surface soil (0–20 cm) and the subsurface soil (20–40 cm) under the CK, NPK, and NPKM treatments. However, the DOM content significantly increased with soil depth under the M treatment. The application of organic fertilizer resulted in a significant reduction in the aromaticity and hydrophobic components of the DOM, as well as the fluorescence intensity of the humic-like and protein-like components with increasing soil depth; the content of easily reducible Fe significantly increased, whereas the total Mn and reducible Mn contents significantly decreased with increasing soil depth. The addition of organic fertilizer increased the vertical variation in the DOM characteristics of the paddy soil profiles. The consistency and correlation analysis of the DOM and Fe and Mn oxide contents in the profile indicated that Fe and Mn oxides might be the main influencing factors of DOM vertical heterogeneity, which was mediated by the weakening of mineral protection and the increase in the degree of mineral dissimilar reduction with increasing soil depth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106454"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142989523","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":"Improved determination efficiency of the cation exchange capacity and exchangeable base cations in soil using stirring and extraction modifications","authors":"Jinhua Yuan ,&nbsp;Shengzhe E ,&nbsp;Xinnan Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2024.106429","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2024.106429","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hexamminecobalt trichloride ([Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃) method extracts exchangeable (exch.) base cations needing 60 min. For soils containing calcium carbonate, a calcite saturated [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ solution is used to determine the exch. Ca. The preparing time of calcite saturated [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ solution requires to set overnight. This study evaluated the equivalence of [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ method using stirring modification. The proposed modification can vastly save time and the whole extraction time can be shortened to 3–5 min. The preparing calcite saturated [Co(NH₃)₆]Cl₃ solution procedure can be omitted when measured soils containing calcium carbonate. For acidic soil, the measured CEC was below the certified range, the exch. Ca, Na and K were all in the certified value range; the exch. Mg above the certified range. For neural soil, the measured CEC, exch. Ca, Mg, Na and K were all in the certified range. For alkaline soil, the measured CEC was above the certified range, the exch. Ca, Mg, Na and K were all in the certified range. For saline soil, the measured CEC was above the certified range, the exch. Mg and K below the certified range; accurate exch. Ca and Na could not be achieved even in such a short extraction time because of the dissolution of gypsum and sodium salts. For sodic soil, the measured CEC was above the certified range, the exch. Mg and K below the certified range; the extracted Ca can be assumed the exch. Ca; the exch. Na can be calculated as CEC－(exch. Ca + exch. Mg + exch. K). The difference of CEC between measured and certified values were mainly because of the discrepancy of extractant pHs. The addition of CaCO₃ (≤ 80 %) had no effect on CEC or exch. base cations’ determinations. The CaCO₃ and CaSO₄∙2 H₂O combination only affected the determination of exch. Ca.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106429"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142989037","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":"Soil chemical properties to retain phosphorus in managed boreal peatlands in northern Finland","authors":"Iida Höyhtyä ,&nbsp;Anna-Kaisa Ronkanen ,&nbsp;Maarit Liimatainen ,&nbsp;Maarit Hyvärinen ,&nbsp;Bjørn Kløve ,&nbsp;Hannu Marttila","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106452","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106452","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The drainage of peatlands increases peat decomposition, promoting the release of phosphorus (P) to soil pore water and the eventual leaching to water bodies. The P retention capacity in the soil layers affects the likelihood of subsequent P leaching to the drainage network. We aimed to study the retention patterns of P and to assess the risk of P leaching in the soil profiles of variably managed peatlands, including cultivated peatland of variable peat thickness, peatland forest, abandoned peat field, and pristine peatland in northern Finland. We studied the total concentrations of P and the P-sorbing elements iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), and calcium (Ca), P speciation in soil profiles using sequential chemical extraction, and the degree of P saturation (DPS) using ammonium oxalate extraction. Our results show that fertilization and peat decomposition have caused elevated element concentrations in cultivated sites. Other managed peatlands are rich in Fe and P, but poor in Ca compared to similar sites reported in the literature. In peat layers, P is mainly bound by organic compounds and Fe. Newly added P is likely retained by Fe and Al, although Ca-P still exists in mineral subsoils. We conclude that the heavy dependence on Fe in P sorption and low Fe:P and Al:P ratios indicate a potential of P leaching from decomposed peat when reducing conditions occur (e.g., due to water saturation), while a sufficient Al content may reduce P leaching in such conditions. Mineral subsoil above subsurface drainage has a higher P retention capacity than peat, though prevailing P saturation should be further studied in sites with a long fertilization history. Our results highlight the need to consider P leaching risk when planning peatland management and directly support the practical management of peatlands and water protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106452"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142989044","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":"Comprehensive illustration of the improvement of soil conditions and rice production through paddy-upland rotations for sustainable agricultural development","authors":"Pengfei Hao,&nbsp;Baogang Lin,&nbsp;Kaige Yi,&nbsp;Bowen Xue,&nbsp;Shuijin Hua","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106453","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106453","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Paddy-upland rotations are promising methods to improve land utilization and grain production and play crucial roles in sustainable agricultural development. However, their effects on soil conditions, rice development, and economic benefits have not yet been systematically investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of 7 years (2016–2022) of continuous rotation of rice fallow (R-F), rice-rapeseed transplanting (R-tRS), rice-wheat (R-W), and rice-rapeseed direct seeding (R-dRS) on: 1) rice production; 2) key enzymes and genes related to grain starch biosynthesis during the filling stages; 3) paddy soil physiochemical properties, soil enzyme activities, and microbes; and 4) annual economic benefits. Our results showed that 7 years of continuous rotations, especially rice-rapeseed rotations, helped improve soil quality by increasing the organic matter, total nitrogen content, soil sucrase, phosphatase, urease, dehydrogenase, and cellulase, and inhibiting the decrease in pH, available nitrogen, and phosphorous contents. Benefitted by the improved soil conditions, R-dRS showed the highest rice yield of 7800.3 kg·ha⁻¹, revealing increases of 14.3, 4.8, and 6.3 % compared with R-F, R-tRS, and R-W, respectively, mainly owing to the increase of effective panicle numbers. Moreover, the grain starch contents also increased owing to the increase of starch-biosynthesis-related enzymes activities and gene expression in the filling stages; consequently, R-dRS resulted in the most gross margins of 1676.5 dollars·ha⁻¹, with increases of 74.9 %, 14.9 %, and 19.7 % compared with R-F, R-tRS, and R-W. Furthermore, key microbes closely related to soil properties and traits of rice yield were identified using the liner discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) and Mantel methods after bacterial 16S and fungal ITS sequencing. In conclusion, we validated the advantages of paddy-upland rotation, especially R-dRS, in terms of soil improvement, plant growth, and economic benefits. The longitudinal variation trends of annual soil physiochemical properties, key microbes, and the influence of improved soil conditions on rice grain filling were identified, providing a theoretical basis for food security and sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106453"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142989038","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":"Challenges and potential pathways towards sustainable agriculture crop production: A systematic review to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs)","authors":"Indrajit Chowdhuri,&nbsp;Subodh Chandra Pal","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2024.106442","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2024.106442","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Food insecurity will pose a grave global concern due to biodiversity imbalances, ecosystem degradation, and threats to human survival. However, implementing enhanced practices to address issues like droughts, floods, advancements in fertilizer and pesticide use technology and soil management can increase food production, thereby improving food security. As the global population rises, ensuring food security through sustainable agriculture practices has become imperative to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). This research endeavours to add to the discourse surrounding the obstacles and possibilities in shifting towards sustainable agriculture globally, exploring the roles of SDGs and traditional farming practices. This systematic review (SR) examines the challenges faced by contemporary agricultural systems and soil management in achieving sustainability, with a focus on crop production. We reviewed scientific peer-reviewed literature and global data to reflect the vision of agriculture sustainability and sustainable soil management to achieve food security, focusing on policy intervention and probable pathways for different sectors to reach their objectives, the challenges related to sustainable pathways, and possible approaches to attaining climatic hazard and improving agricultural efficiency. The review identifies and evaluates potential pathways and innovations that offer promising solutions for transitioning toward sustainable agriculture. These pathways include agroecological approaches, sustainable intensification, precision farming technologies, integrated pest management, conservation agriculture (CA), soil management, and sustainable water management practices. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of policy interventions, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge dissemination in fostering the adoption of sustainable practices across diverse agricultural landscapes. This SR aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted challenges agricultural systems face. It offers a comprehensive overview of viable pathways for achieving sustainable crop production. The findings underscore the urgent need for a holistic and integrated approach that aligns with the SDGs, fostering resilience, environmental stewardship, and equitable development within the global agricultural sector.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106442"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142967798","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":"Measuring and mapping moisture content in agricultural fields by neutron-gamma analysis","authors":"Galina Yakubova,&nbsp;Aleksandr Kavetskiy,&nbsp;Stephen A. Prior,&nbsp;H. Allen Torbert","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2024.106444","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2024.106444","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>All currently applied methods for soil moisture measurement and mapping in agricultural fields are labor-intensive and time-consuming. The Pulsed Fast Thermal Neutron Analysis (PFTNA) method, described in this article, can provide in situ soil moisture distribution data across agricultural fields by field scanning with a mobile PFTNA system in a reasonably short time. This method is based on acquiring soil gamma ray responses when irradiated by fast neutrons. The response gamma spectra [thermal neutron capture (TNC) gamma spectra] contain the gamma ray peak related to hydrogen present in soil. Since the majority of hydrogen is contained in soil water, soil moisture can be determined from the value of the hydrogen peak area in TNC spectra. A power dependency with a non-zero constant term was used to convert the hydrogen peak area to soil moisture content. To create this dependency, the hydrogen peak area in the TNC spectra was plotted against moisture data obtained using other methods (gravimetric, time domain reflectometry, nuclear radiation transmission) in the same agricultural fields. Developed methods for PFTNA field scanning and data processing provided data for moisture mapping; this scanning method involved moving at 5 km h⁻¹, simultaneously recording GPS coordinates and TNC gamma spectra every 30 s, and scanning paths that uniformly covered surveyed fields. Comparison of these maps with those created using data from traditional soil moisture measurement methods (gravimetric, time domain reflectometry, nuclear radiation transmission) demonstrated good agreement. Note that PFTNA scanning of a 20-hectare field can acquire the data needed for mapping in approximately one hour. Thus, PFTNA scanning can be recommended as a more efficient method for measuring and mapping soil moisture in agricultural fields.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"248 ","pages":"Article 106444"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142967789","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}