Soil & Tillage Research最新文献

{"title":"Carbon-rich amendments increase soil ecosystem multifunctionality and cucumber yields under different soil conditions","authors":"Mengyuan Song ,&nbsp;Qing Chen ,&nbsp;Xinxu Li ,&nbsp;Lihong Gao ,&nbsp;Yongqiang Tian","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil quality degradation is a global issue that leads to a decline in crop yields. Carbon-rich amendments (CRAs) are widely used to promote soil properties. However, the impacts of CRAs on soil ecosystem multifunctionality remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we examined the influence of various CRAs (i.e., straw, vermicompost and humic acid) on multiple soil functions and soil quality under three different soil conditions. The results showed that CRAs generally enhanced multiple soil functions (e.g., C and nutrient cycling, biodiversity maintenance, plant pathogen resistance and crop production) and increased the soil quality index area (SQI-area, an index representing areas on a radar diagram that integrates physicochemical, microbial, and nematode properties). On average, straw, vermicompost and humic acid enhanced ecosystem multifunctionality by 20.2 %, 38.1 %, and 28.9 %, respectively, and increased the SQI-area by 30.8 %, 61.2 %, and 42.3 %, respectively. The SQI-area exhibited a positive correlation with soil ecosystem multifunctionality. Furthermore, straw, vermicompost and humic acid led to yield increases of 11.1 %, 87.2 % and 75.6 % in acidic soil; 7.4 %, 66.7 % and 47.8 % in neutral soil; and 31.3 %, 62.4 % and 35.2 % in alkaline soil, respectively. Random forest modeling analysis, combined with structural equation modeling, depicted that soil physicochemical properties (e.g., porosity and soil organic C) rather than biological properties (e.g., biodiversity and nematode trophic groups) were the main driving factors for enhancing ecosystem multifunctionality and soil quality under the addition of CRAs. Our findings underscore the effectiveness of CRAs in supporting soil health and productivity through the promotion of physicochemical properties.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106813"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830700","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":"Predicting soil organic matter with ZY1E hyperspectral images by correcting soil spectrum and expanding sample size","authors":"Weihao Wang ,&nbsp;Xia Zhang ,&nbsp;Haiguang Zheng ,&nbsp;Songtao Ding ,&nbsp;Kun Shang ,&nbsp;Qing Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hyperspectral images provide an efficient means for large-scale predicting of soil organic matter (SOM) content, yet its accuracy is often hindered by soil moisture effects and limited soil sample size. To address these challenges, this study proposes a novel method that integrates soil spectrum correction and sample expansion to improve SOM content prediction accuracy. An improved orthogonal signal correction (OSC) algorithm using visible and shortwave infrared drought index (VSDI) as a reference is developed to correct soil spectra and reduce external parameter reliance. Additionally, a sample expansion algorithm is developed to enhance sample diversity and reduce overfitting, integrating the soil spectral response mechanism with the spatial autocorrelation among samples. Finally, the hybrid Back Propagation Neural Networks - Random Forest (BPNN-RF) model is applied to predict SOM content. The proposed method was validated by 80 topsoil samples and ZiYuan-1 02D (ZY1E) hyperspectral images in Nong'an County, Jilin Province, China. The results indicate that the improved OSC algorithm effectively corrected the soil moisture effects and enhanced spectral sensitivity to SOM, increasing the average absolute correlation coefficient from 0.34 to 0.41, with a maximum value exceeding 0.50. Sample expansion improved model performance (the coefficient of determination (R²) increased from 0.42 to 0.71, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) decreased from 0.34 % to 0.24 %), and combining it with soil spectral correction further raised R² to 0.81 and reduced RMSE to 0.19 %. SHAP analysis revealed that the top 20 important bands fell within SOM-sensitive ranges. The distribution pattern of predicted SOM content map was inverse to that of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) map yet consistent with that of the annual average precipitation map. Thus, this method improves the spatiotemporal adaptability of SOM prediction using hyperspectral images, offering a robust approach for rapid and large-scale soil monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106815"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830752","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":"Integrative remote sensing and machine learning approaches for SOC and TN spatial distribution: Unveiling C:N ratio in Black Soil region","authors":"Depiao Kong ,&nbsp;Chong Luo ,&nbsp;Huanjun Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N ratio) in soil is a key indicator for assessing soil quality and health. Research and monitoring of this ratio is critical for understanding soil ecosystem functions and agricultural productivity. However, mapping multiple soil properties simultaneously is more challenging than mapping individual attributes. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an approach for jointly mapping soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) and to evaluate their spatial C:N ratio. In this study, we used multi-year remote sensing imagery, environmental covariates, and 188 soil samples. Optimal features were selected using the Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE), and the Random Forest model was applied to map the spatial distribution of SOC and TN in a typical black soil region. Finally, we analyzed the C:N ratio in the study area. The results indicated that: (1) Multi-temporal remote sensing imagery significantly enhanced SOC and TN mapping compared to single-temporal imagery. Environmental covariates positively contributed to mapping accuracy, but data redundancy remained; (2) RFE improved mapping accuracy, increasing the R² value of SOC by 0.035 and reducing RMSE by 0.28 g/kg, while TN's R² value increased by 0.040, and RMSE decreased by 0.02 g/kg; (3) The sensitive features for SOC and TN mapping differed, with the B2 and B3 bands of Sentinel-2 imagery being most sensitive for SOC mapping, while the B12 and B11 bands were most sensitive for TN mapping; (4) The contrast between paddy and dry fields was a key factor influencing the spatial distribution of the C:N ratio in the study area, with the C:N ratio in dry fields being higher than in paddy fields, primarily due to the excessive nitrogen content in paddy fields. In summary, this study presents an effective remote sensing monitoring method for accurately mapping the spatial distribution of SOC and TN in typical black soil region, and enhances understanding of soil health and agricultural ecosystems through C:N ratio analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106809"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830751","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":"Surface albedo and thermal radiation dynamics under conservation and conventional agriculture in subhumid Zimbabwe","authors":"Souleymane Diop ,&nbsp;Rémi Cardinael ,&nbsp;Ronny Lauerwald ,&nbsp;Morgan Ferlicoq ,&nbsp;Christian Thierfelder ,&nbsp;Regis Chikowo ,&nbsp;Marc Corbeels ,&nbsp;François Affholder ,&nbsp;Frédéric Baudron ,&nbsp;Eric Ceschia","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106804","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106804","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>While conservation agriculture (CA) has been widely evaluated for its biogeochemical effects (e.g soil organic carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions) for climate mitigation, its biogeophysical impacts related to changes in surface albedo remain understudied. This study assessed the biogeophysical effects of CA cropping systems with maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) in Zimbabwe. Measurements were conducted continuously over two cropping years at two long-term experiments with contrasting soil characteristics, on an abruptic Lixisol and on a xanthic Ferralsol. The dynamics of surface albedo, longwave radiation, leaf area index, soil moisture and temperature were monitored under three different treatments: conventional tillage (CT, tilled to ∼15 cm), no-tillage (NT) and no-tillage with mulch (NTM, 2.5 t DM ha⁻¹). Our results revealed that, on the Ferralsol, NT and NTM significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased mean annual albedo (0.17) relative to CT (0.16), resulting in a negative instantaneous radiative forcing (iRF) and indicating a net cooling effect. iRF was stronger in 2021/22 (NT: -0.83 ± 0.17 W m^-2; NTM: -1.43 ± 0.7 W m^-2) than in ²022/23 (NT: -0.43 ± 0.09 W m^-2; NTM: -1.03 ± 0.21 W m^-2). Conversely, on the Lixisol, while NT increased surface albedo (0.27 vs. CT: 0.24), NTM significantly reduced albedo (0.23), causing positive iRF (warming). iRF was -3.34 ± 0.69 W m^-2 and -2.78 ± 0.77 W m^-2 for NT in the first and second cropping year, respectively, and increased from 1.14 ± 0.21 W ^-2 (2021/22) to 2.77 ± 0.41 W m^-2 (2022/23) under NTM. Overall, our results suggest that the soil background albedo is an important site characteristic that needs to be considered and demonstrates the importance of considering biogeophysical effects when promoting practices of CA for climate change mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106804"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830748","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":"Speciation, spatial distribution and bioavailability of phosphorus in a tropical soil cultivated with soybeans and wheat as affected by soil tillage in a long-term field experiment","authors":"Luís Reynaldo Ferracciú Alleoni ,&nbsp;Luciana de Arruda Garcia ,&nbsp;Matheus Bortolanza Soares ,&nbsp;Luis Carlos Colocho Hurtarte ,&nbsp;Julio Cezar Franchini","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106801","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106801","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Globally, phosphorus (P) is one of the most limiting macronutrients for agricultural production. Humid tropical soils have historically low natural P contents, with most P forming high-binding energy compounds with mineral colloids. No-tillage (NT) systems, where fertilizers are positioned in the furrow, can influence plant nutrient uptake and fertilizer use efficiency. In this study, ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P–NMR) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) were used to evaluate P species in the soil solid phase and solution, focusing on different positions: crop row, between crop rows, and rhizosphere of soybean [<em>Glycine max</em> (L<em>.</em>) Merr<em>.</em>] and wheat (<em>Triticum</em> spp.) cultivated for 36 years in an Oxisol under NT and conventional tillage (CT, with disc plowing and harrowing). Labile P levels were, on average, 25 % higher in NT compared to CT, mainly due to increases in moderately labile and non-labile fractions (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05). Total P did not differ between systems, with inorganic P representing 65–69 % of total P. In both crops, P was enriched in the rhizosphere and crop row relative to the between-row position, with orthophosphate accounting for 72–85 % of Na-EDTA-extracted P. XANES and chemical fractionation consistently indicated a predominance of P associated with Fe and Al oxyhydroxides. Additionally, XANES detected phytic acid accumulation in the rhizosphere, suggesting a role for root and microbial processes in shaping organic P dynamics. These results highlight the importance of long-term soil management in enhancing P bioavailability and fertilizer use efficiency in tropical agroecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106801"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830750","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 non-destructive detection of soil bulk density in reclaimed land of opencast coal mines using ground penetrating radar method","authors":"Tiantian Ye ,&nbsp;Jingpeng Wang ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Min ,&nbsp;Jinman Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land reclamation of opencast coal mines is of critical for environmental restoration and sustainable land use. Soil bulk density (SBD) is an important index to evaluate the impact of land reclamation on soil quality in mining areas. However, the traditional soil sampling method is destructive and time-consuming. Therefore, developing a non-destructive, repeatable, high-precision, and efficient method for detecting the SBD of reclaimed soil in opencast mining areas is required. This study evaluated the feasibility of using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to estimate SBD in reclaimed mining areas. The south dump of the Antaibao opencast coal mine in Pinglu District of Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, China, was selected for the study. The random Hough transform algorithm was used to identify automatically the hyperbolic reflection in radar images and obtain the soil characteristic information from different locations. Inverse distance weighted interpolation was used to identify and characterize SBD and the soil dielectric constant (SDC) in 3 different soil layers and 2 measuring points. The method provided the SDC with high precision. The Pearson correlation coefficient (<em>r</em>) between the estimated and measured SDC was the highest at sampling point S1 (0.935), and the root mean square error (<em>RMSE</em>) was the lowest (0.272, from 0.272 to 0.542), indicating the feasibility of using the SDC to characterize SBD. The <em>r</em> for SBD and SDC ranged from 0.689 to 0.857 at sampling point S1, and from 0.724 to 0.747 at sampling point S2. The estimated and measured SBD had different distributions at different soil depths. A numerical model describing the relationship between SBD and SDC was used for the non-destructive identification of SBD with high precision. The proposed method expands the application potential of GPR to detect soil properties and provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the non-destructive detection of soil physical properties using GPR. This study contributes advancing non-destructive soil assessment techniques and provides a practical tool for assessing and optimizing reclaimed soil properties in opencast coal mine rehabilitation projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106803"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830749","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":"Elevated silicon concentrations accelerate decomposition of the dominant silicon-rich grass litter in grassland ecosystems","authors":"Ying Liu ,&nbsp;Yifan Wang ,&nbsp;Kaicun Yan ,&nbsp;Jiaqi Wu ,&nbsp;Qinglin Yin ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Yang ,&nbsp;Yidi Wang ,&nbsp;Liangchao Jiang ,&nbsp;Haiyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Osbert Jianxin Sun ,&nbsp;Yong Jiang ,&nbsp;Xingguo Han ,&nbsp;Jing Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106800","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106800","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Litter decomposition is a fundamental process in terrestrial carbon (C) cycling, influencing atmospheric CO₂ levels, soil organic matter formation, and nutrient turnover. While nitrogen (N) concentration and C/N ratios have traditionally been considered primary drivers of decomposition, how other factors such as silicon (Si) concentration affect litter decomposition remains poorly understood, particularly in grassland ecosystems. We conducted a concurrent pot experiment with N and Si additions in the laboratory, along with a multi-point sampling field experiment, to obtain litter samples with varying N and Si concentrations in grasses and legumes. Two subsequent incubation experiments using natural ¹³C tracing techniques were performed to explore litter biodegradability and the formation of new soil C. Our results showed that short-term N addition did not significantly affect litter biodegradability for either grass or legume species. In contrast, Si addition significantly increased the biodegradability of grass litter by 12.1 % and marginally enhanced the formation of new soil C in grasses. Grass litter biodegradability was positively correlated with Si concentration and Si-related stoichiometric ratios (Si/C, Si/N, Si/phenol, and Si/lignin), but not with traditional metrics such as C/N or lignin/N ratios. These results suggest that Si plays a critical role in regulating decomposition of the Si-rich grass litter. Our findings highlight the need for further research to elucidate the mechanisms by which Si influences litter decomposition and soil C formation, with implications for understanding grassland ecosystem functioning under global change scenarios.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106800"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828050","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":"Sediment and runoff losses from rainfall simulation: Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and tillage practice","authors":"Stephen A. Prior ,&nbsp;Dexter B. Watts ,&nbsp;G. Brett Runion ,&nbsp;Francisco J. Arriaga ,&nbsp;H. Allen Torbert","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106799","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106799","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a lack of information regarding how rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration will affect runoff aspects in cropping systems. Following a 10-year study, a rainfall simulation examined the impacts of atmospheric CO₂ level (ambient and twice ambient) and tillage system (conventional tillage and no-till) on a Decatur silt loam (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Paleudults). Conventional tillage was a sorghum [<em>Sorghum bicolor</em> (L.) Moench.] and soybean [<em>Glycine max</em> (L.) Merr.] rotation using spring tillage and winter fallow, while the no-till system used this same rotation with three rotated cover crops [crimson clover (<em>Trifolium incarnatum</em> L.), sunn hemp (<em>Crotalaria juncea</em> L.), and wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.)]. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ led to more residue production in both tillage systems; this effect was greater under no-till conditions. More residue improved water infiltration only in the no-till system. Regardless of CO₂ level, sediment loss was lower under no-till, and elevated CO₂ reduced sediment loss in the conventional tillage system. No-till reduced sediment loss in addition to C, N, and P lost in sediment. No-till also reduced runoff water volume and N and P losses in this runoff. Results indicated that both high CO₂ and no-till management increased surface residues that could improve water infiltration, reduce sediment and runoff losses as well as nutrients lost in sediment and runoff water. This study suggests that farmers who practice conservation agriculture are likely to lose less soil and nutrients to rain-induced erosion and that these improvements could be enhanced as the CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere continues to rise.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106799"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144830747","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":"Drip irrigation combined with organic fertilizers improves crop N uptake and yield by reducing soil salinity and N loss in saline–alkali sunflower farmlands","authors":"Min Hu ,&nbsp;Yue Li ,&nbsp;Zhijun Chen ,&nbsp;Keyan Lv ,&nbsp;Yunwu Xiong ,&nbsp;Guanhua Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106789","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106789","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional border irrigation and excessive nitrogen (N) fertilization have caused severe soil salinization, NO₃⁻-N leaching, and low crop yields in saline–alkali sunflower farmlands in Northwest China. To improve crop yields and N use efficiency, a three-year field experiment was conducted from 2021 to 2023 by considering drip irrigation combined with organic fertilizer application. Two irrigation levels with the soil matric potential of −20 kPa (D1) and −30 kPa (D2) were respectively designed. Three fertilization modes (WOF: without any organic fertilizer, LBF: lignite carbon-based organic fertilizer of 4.5 t ha⁻¹, and SMF: sheep manure of 5 t ha⁻¹) were set for each drip irrigation treatment. In addition, local border irrigation combined with mineral fertilizer treatment was used as a control treatment. The soil aggregate structure, salt and N dynamics, and crop yields corresponding to these treatments were compared and analyzed. Results indicated that the LBF and SMF treatments improved the proportion of &gt; 0.25 mm water-stable macro-aggregate and aggregate stability compared with the control treatment, thus promoting soil salt leaching. In addition, the soil desalting rate of the D1 irrigation treatment was higher than that of the D2 irrigation treatment and the control treatment. Therefore, drip irrigation combined with organic fertilizer (D1LBF and D1SMF) treatments significantly improved soil desalting with values of 21.7 %–25.3 % and 16.4 %–22.2 % higher than those of the control treatment, respectively. Furthermore, drip irrigation reduced soil NO₃⁻-N leaching during growth period, whereas organic fertilization reduced its value during spring and autumn irrigation periods. Compared with the control treatment, drip irrigation combined with organic fertilization treatments significantly reduced the total NO₃⁻-N leaching by 51.6 %–62.1 %. Considering the combined impact of soil salinity and N dynamics, the D1LBF treatment achieved the highest crop N uptake and yield among all treatments, which were 74.8 %–137.0 % and 43.4 %–48.8 % higher than those of the control treatment, respectively. Moreover, the water and N productivities of the D1LBF treatment were respectively increased by 47.3 %–69.8 % and 43.4 %–48.7 % compared with those of the control treatment. This then implies that drip irrigation combined with organic fertilizer application provide an efficient practice to increase crop productivity by improving the soil aggregate structure, reducing soil salinity, and reducing NO₃⁻-N leaching in the saline–alkali farmlands in the arid Northwest China as well as other arid regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106789"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810122","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 recovery of aggregate-associated organic carbon in reclaimed mine soil","authors":"Wen Song ,&nbsp;Zhaoxinyu Liu ,&nbsp;Xinju Li ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Min ,&nbsp;David O'Connor ,&nbsp;Junying Li","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106791","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.106791","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The restoration of agricultural soil quality and soil carbon stocks in compacted reclaimed mine soil (RMS) relies on the recovery of soil aggregates. This study explored the factors and mechanisms influencing aggregate-associated organic carbon (AOC) and other soil properties in RMS. A total of 28 soil samples were collected from post-reclamation farmland at various stages (ranging from 0 to 22 years post-reclamation) at a depth of 0–20 cm. Complex network theory and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to analyse complex network relationships and pathway connections. The results indicate that mechanical compaction during landform reshaping disrupted the structure, stability, and carbon storage capacity of soil aggregates, leading to enhanced mineralization of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen, nutrient loss, and reduced microbial activity. After re-cultivation, continuous agricultural management interventions—such as fertilization, straw return, and crop cultivation—significantly improved soil structure and carbon storage. For instance, compared to samples collected in the first year post-reclamation, samples gathered 22 years post-reclamation exhibited significant increases in small macroaggregates (+25.9 %), mean weight diameter (+34.4 %), AOC in large macroaggregates (+121.0 %), and AOC contribution of small macroaggregates (+35.6 %) (<em>p &lt; 0.05</em>). The variation of SOC in RMS is primarily driven by AOC associated with aggregate structure. During the geomorphic reshaping stage, the chemical protection of inorganic cementing substances played a significant role in the process of AOC storage. After re-cultivation, active organic carbon components and iron-aluminum oxides synergistically promote macroaggregate formation to enhance AOC storage. The enhancement of microbial activity is crucial for AOC storage. The microbial-mediated AOC storage process exhibits a positive response to improvements in soil moisture and nitrogen supply conditions. For reclaimed farmland, maintaining suitable moisture conditions, nitrogen levels, microbial activity, and active iron-aluminium oxide supply can effectively promote the formation of macroaggregates and their AOC storage after re-cultivation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"255 ","pages":"Article 106791"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144779300","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}