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Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (16 January 2023) | Viewed by 32022

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jorge Paz-Ferreiro

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Interests: biochar; soil quality; soil enzymes; soil pollution; soil remediation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Gabriel Gascó Guerrero

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Agricultural Production, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: biochar; growing media; soil pollution; soil remediation
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Prof. Dr. Ana Méndez

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Geological and Mining Engineering, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28003 Madrid, Spain
Interests: biochar; carbon materials; pyrolysis; hydrothermal carbonization; hydrometallurgy; urban mining; metal recycling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil quality has been jeopardized by the ever-increasing human population and by large portions of land being intensively cultivated. Evaluating soil quality has been an intensively studied topic for the last two to three decades. Soil biochemical, microbiological and biological properties respond quicker to change in management compared to physical and/or chemical properties and, therefore, have been profusely utilized to estimate soil quality. In spite of this, our knowledge of how different types of soil respond to perturbations that could diminish soil quality (soil pollution, intensive cultivation practices, etc.) is far from complete.

This Special Issue will publish original research (full-length articles or short communications), reviews, or opinion pieces covering the evaluation of soil quality. Articles advancing our knowledge on the topic and particularly those presenting soil quality indices are welcome.

Dr. Jorge Paz-Ferreiro
Dr. Gabriel Gasco
Dr. Ana Méndez
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

soil quality
soil biology
soil biochemistry

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2600 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Variation of Soil Quality in Agroecosystem in an Arid Environment Using Digital Soil Mapping

by Sedigheh Maleki, Mojtaba Zeraatpisheh, Alireza Karimi, Gholamhossein Sareban and Lin Wang

Agronomy 2022, 12(3), 578; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12030578 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2299

Abstract

Monitoring the soil quality (SQ) in agricultural ecosystems is necessary for using sustainable soil and land resources. Therefore, to evaluate the SQ variation in an arid environment in the Bajestan region, northeastern Iran, two soil quality indices (weighted additive soil quality index-SQI_w and nemoro soil quality index-SQI_n) were applied. SQIs were assessed in two datasets (total data set-TDS and minimum data set-MDS) by linear (L) and nonlinear (NL) scoring methods. Physicochemical properties of 223 surface soil samples (0–30 cm depth) were determined. The random forest (RF) model was used to predict the spatial variation of SQIs. The results showed the maximum values of the SQIs in areas with saffron land covers, while the minimum values were acquired in the north of the study area where pistachio orchards are located due to higher EC and SAR. The environmental variables such as topographic attributes and groundwater quality parameters were the main driving factors that control SQIs distribution. These findings are beneficial for identifying suitable locations sites to plan agricultural management and sustainable usage of groundwater resources strategy to avoid further increase of soil salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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26 pages, 3406 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Responses of N-Cycling Enzyme Activities and Functional Diversity of Soil Microorganisms to Soil Depth, Pedogenic Processes and Cultivated Plants

by Anna Piotrowska-Długosz, Jacek Długosz, Agata Gryta and Magdalena Frąc

Agronomy 2022, 12(2), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020264 - 20 Jan 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3621

Abstract

The rates of N cycling and soil enzyme activities involved in the transformation of soil N-related nutrients are rarely measured in soils below a 30 cm depth, even though substantial amounts of nitrogen are also stored in deep soils. The aim of this study was to determine how soil microbial and enzymatic properties changed as a function of depth across soil profiles that were developed on the same parent material but differed in terms of soil-forming processes. Two soil profiles were excavated in fields with lucerne and two under winter wheat. We assessed the N-cycling enzymes, the microbial utilization of the N-substrates, the microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen (MBC, MBN) content, and the related physicochemical properties. The most beneficial enzymatic (on a soil mass) and microbial properties, as well as nitrogen substrate utilization, were found in the Ap horizons and decreased with depth to varying degrees. The specific enzymatic activity (per unit of soil TOC and MBC), was more variable in response to the depth of the profile, but did not exhibit clear trends. The potential enzyme activities in the subsurface layers were also affected by factors that are associated with the pedogenic processes (e.g., the lessivage process, clay content). Only nitrate reductase activity was significantly higher in the horizons with potential reducing conditions compared to oxidative horizons, while the opposite trend was found for N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity. The cultivated plants had a significant impact on the degree of enzymatic activity and N-substrate utilization. The lessivage process significantly reduced microbial biomass and enzymatic activity (except for NAG activity). In general, nitrogen substrate utilization decreased with increasing soil depth and was greater in lucerne than the winter wheat profiles. Mollic Stagnic Gleysols (MSG) and Cambic Stagnic Phaeozems (CSP) horizons also have higher nitrogen substrate utilization than Luvisol profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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22 pages, 2024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Quality Restoration during the Natural Succession of Abandoned Cattle Pastures in Deforested Landscapes in the Colombian Amazon

by Carlos H. Rodríguez-León, Clara P. Peña-Venegas, Armando Sterling, Daniel Castro, Lizeth K. Mahecha-Virguez, Yeny R. Virguez-Díaz and Adriana M. Silva-Olaya

Agronomy 2021, 11(12), 2484; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11122484 - 7 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4063

Abstract

Successional processes in abandoned pastures in the Amazon region have been well-documented for the floristic component; however, soil succession has been poorly studied. This study assessed the physical, chemical and biological responses of soils in the Amazon region during the natural succession process in two main landscapes of the Colombian Amazon. Soil data on soil physico–chemical (bulk density, macroaggregates, pH and minerals) and biological (soil macrofauna) composition were evaluated along chronosequence with four successional stages: (i) degraded pastures, (ii) young (10–20-year-old), (iii) middle-age (25–40-year-old) and (iv) mature forests, in two different landscapes (hill and mountain). Individual soil variables and a synthetic indicator of soil quality (GISQ) were evaluated as tools for natural succession monitoring. The results corroborated the negative impact that cattle ranching has on Amazon soils. After 10 years of natural succession, the physico–chemical and biological soil components were widely restored. Less soil compaction and organic carbon occurred in older successional stages. Soil macrofauna richness and density increased along the chronosequence, with an evident association between the macrofauna composition and the macroaggregates in the soil. None of the individual soil properties or the GISQ indicator discriminated among natural succession stages; therefore, new soil quality indicators should be developed to monitor soil quality restoration in natural successions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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15 pages, 4742 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Single- versus Double-Species Cover Crop Effects on Soil Health and Yield in Mississippi Soybean Fields

by Heather L. Tyler

Agronomy 2021, 11(11), 2334; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112334 - 18 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2297

Abstract

Conservation management practices can improve soil health while minimizing deleterious effects of agriculture on the environment. However, adoption of these practices, particularly cover crops, is not widespread, as they often reduce crop yields compared to traditional management practices. The purpose of the current study was to determine if a two-species cover crop treatment of rye (Secale cereale L.) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) could increase soil health parameters and maximize soybean (Glycine max L.) yield greater than rye only in tilled and no-till Mississippi field soils. Enhanced microbial biomass and organic matter input from cover crops increased the activities of β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, N-acetylglucosaminidase, and phosphatase in surface soils. Rye plus clover tended to elicit higher activities than rye only in no-till plots. Both cover crop treatments inhibited soybean yield in tilled plots by 11–25%. These results indicate that tillage exacerbates yield inhibition by cover crops in soybean and that double-species cover crop treatments were more consistent in increasing activities linked to nutrient cycling. Further study examining different combinations of cover crops in no-till systems is necessary to gain a better understanding of how they can be implemented to enhance soil health while maximizing crop yield. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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17 pages, 1879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indicative Value of the Dominant Plant Species for a Rapid Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Soils

by Ana Cano-Ortiz, Carmelo M. Musarella, José C. Piñar Fuentes, Carlos J. Pinto Gomes, Ricardo Quinto-Canas, Sara del Río and Eusebio Cano

Agronomy 2021, 11(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010001 - 22 Dec 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2935

Abstract

A study was conducted on 14 grassland communities located in the south of the Iberian Peninsula and their edaphology, which is identified as specific plant associations. The edaphic study of each association allows a rapid evaluation of the nutrient content in the soil without the need for laboratory edaphic analysis. For each phytosociological relevé and soil, samplings were carried out. The field data were subjected to various statistical analysis—canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), Bayesian networks, and decision trees—to establish nutrient content. When the abundance value of the species is 9 in the Van der Maarel scale, there is an increase in the values of several soil parameters. In the case of Hordeum leporinum, when the Van der Maarel index is 9, the Kc (exchangeable potassium in cmol/kg) undergoes the greatest variation, to a value of up to 0.729 cmol/kg. The application of the decision tree to this species reveals that the soil attributes with the greatest influence in the classification are conductivity, %_si (silt texture), pH, and pF 15 atm (pressure at 15 atmospheres (water retention capacity) in %). Indeed, this interlaced edaphic and phytosociological study provides us with a high-value tool to obtain quick information on the content of nutrients in the soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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26 pages, 4918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Heathland Restoration Belowground Using Different Quality Indices of Soil Chemical and Biological Properties

by Sarah Duddigan, Marta Gil-Martínez, Tandra Fraser, Iain Green, Anita Diaz, Tom Sizmur, Mark Pawlett, Karsten Raulund-Rasmussen and Mark Tibbett

Agronomy 2020, 10(8), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081140 - 5 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4177

Abstract

Reversion of agricultural land to heathland and acid grassland is a priority for the conservation of these rare habitats. Restoration processes require interventions to reverse the effects of fertilization and acidity amelioration undertaken during decades of agricultural production. Belowground assessments of restoration success are few, and we have examined the utility of soil indices as a rationalized tool for land managers and restoration practitioners to assess the efficacy of restoration practice. To achieve this, we assessed a large number of variables, many of which might be near redundant, that could be optimized for such indices. We used a 14-year field experiment contrasting acidified pasture (treated with elemental sulphur), control (untreated) pasture, and adjacent native heathland and acid grassland sites. Based on biotic and abiotic parameters, several ‘heathland restoration indices’ (resembling soil quality indices) were generated using a minimum dataset identified through principal component analysis and a linear scoring system. For comparison we also conducted alternative analyses of all parameters, using nonmetric multidimensional scaling plots and analyses of similarity (ANOSIM). Use of heathland restoration indices showed that elemental sulphur application had changed the soil chemical conditions, along with the vegetation assemblage, to be comparable to that of native acid grassland, but not the belowground biology. ANOSIM on full datasets confirmed this finding. An index based on key variables, rather than an analysis of all biotic and abiotic parameters, can be valuable to land managers and stakeholders in acid grassland and heathland restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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11 pages, 2988 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Amendment with Biosolids and Inorganic Fertilizers: Effects on Biochemical Properties and Oxidative Stress in Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

by Nadia de la Portilla, Rocio Vaca, Martha E. Mora-Herrera, Liliana Salinas, Pedro del Aguila, Gustavo Yañez-Ocampo and Jorge Lugo

Agronomy 2020, 10(8), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10081117 - 1 Aug 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3273

Abstract

We investigated changes in biochemical activity of a soil cultivated with Ocimum basilicum L. plants and in the oxidative stress of plants caused by the addition of biosolids and inorganic fertilizer. A greenhouse experiment was set up; it consisted of pots containing basil plants to which different treatments with biosolids and fertilizers were added. After 10 and 210 days of the incorporation of the treatments, both the biochemical properties and oxidative stress of the plants were evaluated. Mineralization of nitrogen (N) and respiratory activity increased with a higher dose of biosolid after 10 days of application. After 210 days, there were no changes in the mineralization of N and respiratory activity, catalase showed an increase, while microbial biomass carbon decreased. In relation to the oxidative stress, there was a decrease in the anthocyanin antioxidant capacity, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total flavonoids, and phenolic compounds were observed in soils treated with biosolids. The results indicated that the biochemical properties of the soil were favored in the presence of biosolids because they increased, especially after 10 days of application. The antioxidant capacity decreased in the presence of biosolids, which suggests that the amendment does not affect such capacity, and therefore oxidative stress could be reduced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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7 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Phosphorus-Rich Biochars to Remediate Lead-Contaminated Soil: Influence on Soil Enzymes and Extractable P

by Pacian Netherway, Gabriel Gascó, Ana Méndez, Aravind Surapaneni, Suzie Reichman, Kalpit Shah and Jorge Paz-Ferreiro

Agronomy 2020, 10(4), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10040454 - 25 Mar 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3597

Abstract

In recent times, there has been increased focus on a holistic approach to soil remediation with consideration of social, economic and environmental factors. Consequently, there is a demand from practitioners and regulators alike for suitable ways to measure ancillary outcomes, for example, effects on soil quality. Here we show that biochar, when applied to land to remediate lead (Pb)-contaminated soils, can lead to environmental improvements not realized by adding mined or manufactured phosphates. Here, we study a Pb-contaminated soil amended with two phosphate fertilizers (slow- and fast-release) and with biochars produced from poultry litter and from biosolids at three temperatures (300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C). The results show that, unlike the fast-release P fertilizer, biochars did not result in an increase in the amount of leachable P that could be released into the environment. Biochars prepared at 500 °C presented a higher value of the integrative geometric mean of soil enzyme activity, compared to the P fertilizers. Overall, our research shows that biochars, particularly those prepared at the higher temperature tested, are a suitable alternative to P fertilizers as an integrative remediation strategy in Pb-contaminated soils, enabling soil biological restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

14 pages, 1458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Seven Diversified Crop Rotations on Selected Soil Health Indicators and Wheat Productivity

by Lin Wang, Yingxing Zhao, Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Jia Yang, Yuanquan Chen and Peng Sui

Agronomy 2020, 10(2), 235; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10020235 - 5 Feb 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4546

Abstract

Diversified cropping systems can enhance soil condition and increase system productivity worldwide. To reduce the negative effects that accompany the continuous winter wheat–summer maize (WM) double-cropping in the North China Plain (NCP), diversified crop rotation (DCR) needs to be considered. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of DCR on soil health and wheat productivity as compared to a continuous WM double-cropping. A field experiment (37°41′ N, 116°37′ E) was established in the NCP including a traditional WM double-cropping as a baseline. During 2016/2017–2017/2018, the control is winter wheat–summer maize→winter wheat–summer maize (WM→WM) and seven DCRs as follow: fallow→winter wheat–summer maize (F→WM); spring maize→winter wheat–summer maize (Ms→WM); winter wheat→winter wheat–summer maize (W→WM); sweet potato→winter wheat–summer maize (Psw→WM); spring peanut→winter wheat–summer maize (Pns→WM); winter wheat–summer peanut→winter wheat–summer maize (WPn→WM) and potato–silage maize→winter wheat–summer maize (PMl→WM). Our results indicated that DCRs significantly changed certain soil health indicators in 2016/2017 compared with the control, where F→WM rotation significantly decreased soil pH by 2.7%. The DCRs, especial Psw→WM and Pns→WM rotations showed a potential positive effect on soil health indicators at the end of the second year (2017/2018) compared with the control, where sweet potato increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), urease activity (UA) and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in 2017/2018 by 5.1%, 5.3%, 13.8%, 9.4%, and 13.5%, respectively. With the spring peanut, TN, AP, and soil APA were increased by 2.1%, 13.2%, and 7.7%, respectively. Although fertilizer and irrigation input of DCRs were lower than the control, no significant decrease was observed on actual wheat yield as compared to the control (7.79 Mg/ha). The finding of this study highlights the value of DCRs, especially, Psw→WM and Pns→WM rotations over WM double-cropping in the NCP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Quality Evaluation Using Biological Properties)

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