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Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem
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Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant–Soil Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 11100

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jie Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
Interests: soil health; soil organic carbon sequestration; plant-mycorrhizae-soil interaction
Dr. Guodong Shao

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geo-Biosphere Interactions, Department of Geosciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
Interests: analysis of microbial metabolic processes in soils; terrestrial biogeochemical processes of carbon and nitrogen cycles; strategies for nutrient management on soil carbon pool in agroecosystems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid projected increase in world population to 8.9 billion people by 2050 will lead to higher demands for agricultural products. High food demands and the shortage of new agricultural land development in the future will require doubling crop yields through the intensive use of synthetic fertilizer and pesticides, which has led to land degradation and environmental pollution in several agroecosystems. Healthy soil is critically important to food production and key to societal sustainability through its support of vital ecosystem services supplied by biodiversity. It is in this context that soil health emerged and was defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustain biological productivity, maintain or enhance environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health. Higher microbial diversity, for example, has been proposed as an indicator of better soil nutrient availability and substrate use efficiency. Meanwhile, the biodiversity of the microbial community and the stability of these communities can be affected by crop management through its effect on soil nutrient status and soil physicochemical properties. Because of this, it is important to know how different soil management strategies affect soil microbial biodiversity and influence soil health and crop production.

Therefore, in this Special Issue articles (original research papers, perspectives, hypotheses, opinions, reviews, modeling approaches and methods) that focus on soil health management practices and the role of those practices in sustainable crop production. It is intended to provide a better understanding of the sequestration of soil organic carbon and the mitigation of greenhouse gases emission, as well as soil rhizosphere microbiota and the external factors controlling their abundance and diversity.

Dr. Jie Zhou
Dr. Guodong Shao
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • soil health
  • soil quality
  • crop management
  • agroecosystem
  • soil physico-chemical property
  • soil microbial diversity and community
  • soil organic carbon sequestration
  • greenhouse gas emission
  • crop yield

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4757 KiB  
Article
Effect of Organic Manure on Crop Yield, Soil Properties, and Economic Benefit in Wheat-Maize-Sunflower Rotation System, Hetao Irrigation District
by Na Zhao, Jun Ma, Linmei Wu, Xiaohong Li, Hongwei Xu, Jun Zhang, Xiquan Wang, Yongqiang Wang, Lanfang Bai and Zhigang Wang
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2250; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162250 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1519
Abstract
The combined application of manure and mineral fertilizer represents an effective strategy for enhancing crop yield. However, the relationship between soil fertility and crop yield remains unclear in saline-alkaline soil. Here, a 9-year field experiment (2015–2023) was conducted to investigate the effects of [...] Read more.
The combined application of manure and mineral fertilizer represents an effective strategy for enhancing crop yield. However, the relationship between soil fertility and crop yield remains unclear in saline-alkaline soil. Here, a 9-year field experiment (2015–2023) was conducted to investigate the effects of manure application and crop rotations on crop yield and economic efficiency as well as potential associated mechanisms in the Hetao Irrigation District. The results showed that in the third cropping rotation cycle, combined application of manure and mineral fertilizers (NPKO) caused a 6.2%, 38.9%, 65.3%, and 132.2% increase in wheat, sunflower, wheat equivalent yield, and the economic income of sunflower, respectively. The average grain yield had a positive correlation with soil organic matter and nutrient supply. This suggested that the soil organic matter had a positive effect on the crop yield due to its impact on nutrient supply. Simultaneously, the sunflower seed setting rate increased by 65.2% under NPKO. The linear regression model revealed that each additional input of 20 Mg ha−1 of manure resulted in an increase of 3.56 kg ha−1 in crop phosphorus harvest and a 0.05 Kg ha−1 increase in wheat equivalent yield compared to NPK. In conclusion, our results highlighted that manure application promotes soil properties and improves crop yield. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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19 pages, 2805 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen Mineralization of Selected Organic Materials and Their Combined Effects with Nitrogen Fertilizer on Spinach Yield
by Sibongiseni Mgolozeli, Adornis D. Nciizah, Isaiah I. C. Wakindiki and Fhatuwani N. Mudau
Plants 2024, 13(14), 1974; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13141974 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 800
Abstract
A 2-month incubation study was carried out using two soil types to determine the nitrogen mineralization of different inorganic–organic amendments. The following seven treatments (Ts) were established: T1 = control (no amendment), T2 = 5 g of dry algae per kg of soil [...] Read more.
A 2-month incubation study was carried out using two soil types to determine the nitrogen mineralization of different inorganic–organic amendments. The following seven treatments (Ts) were established: T1 = control (no amendment), T2 = 5 g of dry algae per kg of soil (100%DA), T3 = 136 g of agri-mat per kg of soil (100%GAM), T4 = 61 g of ground grass per kg of soil (100%GG), T5 = 0.6 g of N using lime–ammonium nitrate (LAN) + 2.5 g of dry algae (50%DA50NF), T6 = 50%GAM50NF, and T7 = 50%GG50NF. Three samples per treatment were obtained at 0, 3, 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days for N mineral determination. A 2-month glasshouse experiment was established afterward with the following five treatments: T1 = control, T2 = 50%DA, T3 = 50%GAM, T4 = 50%GG, and T5 = 100 NF. The results indicate that nitrogen mineralization was significantly higher in organic–inorganic amendments compared with singular organic amendments. The percentage differences ranged from 157% to 195%. The 50%DA treatment increased the spinach yield by 20.6% in sandy loam and 36.5% in loam soil. It is difficult to fully recommend the 50%DA treatment without field-scale evaluation, but it is a promising option to be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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13 pages, 2118 KiB  
Article
Fungal Saprotrophic Promotion and Plant Pathogenic Suppression under Ditch-Buried Straw Return with Appropriate Burial Amount and Depth
by Jie Zhou, Yanling Li, Jiawen Lou, Yuekai Wang, Zhengrong Kan, Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner, Fengmin Li, Jian Liu, Ke Dong, Yaguang Xue, Haishui Yang and Lingling Shi
Plants 2024, 13(13), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13131738 - 24 Jun 2024
Viewed by 843
Abstract
Fungi as heterotrophs are key participants in the decomposition of organic materials and the transformation of nutrients in agroecosystems. Ditch-buried straw return as a novel conservation management strategy can improve soil fertility and alter hydrothermal processes. However, how ditch-buried straw return strategies affect [...] Read more.
Fungi as heterotrophs are key participants in the decomposition of organic materials and the transformation of nutrients in agroecosystems. Ditch-buried straw return as a novel conservation management strategy can improve soil fertility and alter hydrothermal processes. However, how ditch-buried straw return strategies affect the soil fungal community is still unclear. Herein, a 7-year field trial was conducted to test the influences of burial depth (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm) and the amount of ditch-buried straw (half, full, double) on the diversity, composition, and predicted functions of a soil fungal community, as well as the activities of carbon-degraded enzymes. Under the full amount of straw burial, the abundance of phylum Ascomycota was 7.5% higher as compared to other burial amount treatments. This further increased the activity of cellobiohydrolase by 32%, as revealed by the positive correlation between Ascomycota and cellobiohydrolase. With deeper straw burial, however, the abundance of Ascomycota and β-D-glucopyranoside activity decreased. Moreover, genus Alternaria and Fusarium increased while Mortierella decreased with straw burial amount and depth. FUNgild prediction showed that plant fungal pathogens were 1- to 2-fold higher, whilst arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi were 64% lower under straw buried with double the amount and at a depth of 40 cm. Collectively, these findings suggest that ditch-buried straw return with a full amount and buried at a depth less than 30 cm could improve soil nutrient cycles and health and may be beneficial to subsequent crop production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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19 pages, 7552 KiB  
Article
Combined Application of Leguminous Green Manure and Straw Determined Grain Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency in Wheat–Maize–Sunflower Rotations System in Northwest China
by Na Zhao, Lanfang Bai, Dongxun Han, Zhiyuan Yao, Xiaodong Liu, Yaru Hao, Zhipeng Chen, Xiaohong Zhang, Dongrui Zhang, Xiaoling Jin and Zhigang Wang
Plants 2024, 13(10), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13101358 - 14 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 852
Abstract
Leguminous green manure (LGM) has a reputation for improving crop productivity. However, little is known about the beneficial interactions with straw on crop yield and nutrient (N, P, K) use efficiency. Herein, a 9-year field experiment (from 2015 to 2023) containing three treatments—(1) [...] Read more.
Leguminous green manure (LGM) has a reputation for improving crop productivity. However, little is known about the beneficial interactions with straw on crop yield and nutrient (N, P, K) use efficiency. Herein, a 9-year field experiment (from 2015 to 2023) containing three treatments—(1) chemical fertilizer as the control (CK), (2) NPK + straw return (Straw) and (3) NPK + straw return with LGM (Straw + LGM)—was conducted to investigate whether the combined application of LGM and straw can increase productivity and nutrient use efficiency in the wheat–maize–sunflower diversified cropping rotation. The results showed that in the third rotation (2021–2023), Straw + LGM significantly increased wheat yield by 10.2% and maize yield by 19.9% compared to CK. The total equivalent yield under Straw + LGM was the highest (26.09 Mg ha−1), exceeding Straw and CK treatments by 2.7% and 12.3%, respectively. For each 2 Mg ha−1 increase in straw returned to the field, sunflower yield increased by 0.2 Mg ha−1, whereas for each 1 Mg ha−1 increase in LGM yield from the previous crop, sunflower yield increased by 0.45 Mg ha−1. Compared to CK, the co-application of LGM and straw increased the N use efficiency of maize in the first and third rotation cycle by 70.6% and 55.8%, respectively, and the P use efficiency by 147.8% in the third rotation cycle. Moreover, Straw treatment led to an increase of net income from wheat and sunflower by 14.5% and 44.6%, while Straw + LGM increased the net income from maize by 15.8% in the third rotation cycle. Combining leguminous green manure with a diversified cropping rotation has greater potential to improve nutrient use efficiency, crop productivity and net income, which can be recommended as a sustainable agronomic practice in the Hetao District, Northwest China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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14 pages, 891 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Grassland-Management Systems and Their Effects on the Physicochemical Properties of Soil
by Urška Lisec, Maja Prevolnik Povše, Anastazija Gselman and Branko Kramberger
Plants 2024, 13(6), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060838 - 14 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1690
Abstract
Grassland covers approximately 17.4% of Europe’s land area, stores about 20% of the world’s soil carbon and has the potential to sequester carbon. With the help of sustainable management systems, grasslands could reduce greenhouse gases and act as a terrestrial sink for atmospheric [...] Read more.
Grassland covers approximately 17.4% of Europe’s land area, stores about 20% of the world’s soil carbon and has the potential to sequester carbon. With the help of sustainable management systems, grasslands could reduce greenhouse gases and act as a terrestrial sink for atmospheric CO2. In this study, we will investigate the effect of grassland management (cutting, grazing, and a combination of the two) and soil depth (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 cm) on the physical (volumetric water content—VWC, bulk density—BD, porosity—POR, mass consisting of coarse fragments—FC) and chemical properties of soil (organic carbon—SOC, inorganic carbon—SIC, total carbon—STC, total nitrogen—STN, organic matter—SOM, C/N ratio, pH) in Central European lowlands. The management system affected BD, SOC and STN and tended to affect VWC and STC in the first soil depth only. Grazing and the combined system stored greater amounts of STN, SOC and STC and had higher BDs at the surface (0–10 cm) compared to the cutting system. Most soil properties were influenced by soil depth, with C/N ratio and BD increasing and SOC, STC, STN, SOM, VWC and POR decreasing with depth. Our study highlights an opportunity for grassland users to improve soil quality, reduce fossil fuel usage and improve animal welfare through their management systems and argues that systems such as grazing and the combined system should be promoted to mitigate climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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11 pages, 3553 KiB  
Article
Responses of Crop Yield, Soil Fertility, and Heavy Metals to Spent Mushroom Residues Application
by Qichao Tang, Weijia Liu, Han Huang, Zhaohui Peng and Liangji Deng
Plants 2024, 13(5), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050663 - 28 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1636
Abstract
Waste mushroom residues are often returned to fields as organic amendments. Here, we estimated the effects of the continuous applications of different spent mushroom substrates for 2 years on crop yields, soil nutrients, and heavy metals in paddy fields. The study comprised seven [...] Read more.
Waste mushroom residues are often returned to fields as organic amendments. Here, we estimated the effects of the continuous applications of different spent mushroom substrates for 2 years on crop yields, soil nutrients, and heavy metals in paddy fields. The study comprised seven treatments: no fertilization (CK) and mineral NPK fertilizer (CF), as well as NPK fertilizer combined with Enoki mushroom residue (EMR50), Oyster mushroom residue (OMR50), Auricularia polytricha mushroom residue (APR50), Shiitake mushroom residue (SMR50), and Agaricus bisporus residue (ABR50). The grain yield was highest under the APR50 treatment. The short-term application of waste mushroom residue significantly increased SOC, TN, TP, and TK content relative to the CK treatment. The SOC, TP, and TK were highest under ABR50. Both total Cr and Cd contents were highest under CF treatment. The highest cumulative ecological risk was observed under OMR50 treatment. In addition, crop yield was positively correlated with SOC, TN, TP, and TP. Our results highlight that further research and innovation are needed to optimize the benefits and overcome the challenges of mushroom residue application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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17 pages, 3398 KiB  
Article
Analyzing the Influence of Conservation Tillage and Manure on Soil Parameter Modulations in Croplands
by Ivan Dugan, Paulo Pereira, Ivica Kisic, Manuel Matisic and Igor Bogunovic
Plants 2024, 13(5), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13050607 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 881
Abstract
Nowadays, when the human impact on the environment becomes prominent daily, specific steps are needed to mitigate or halt those changes. By far, agricultural land is most affected by the degradation process, leading to soil erosion and decreased soil quality. Sustainable measures are [...] Read more.
Nowadays, when the human impact on the environment becomes prominent daily, specific steps are needed to mitigate or halt those changes. By far, agricultural land is most affected by the degradation process, leading to soil erosion and decreased soil quality. Sustainable measures are needed to find a solution to that problem. This study, located in an agricultural area in northwestern Croatia, gives an insight into how different tillage systems (conventional and conservation) with the addition of manure will affect soil physicochemical properties, hydrology response, and overall yield. To assess hydrological response, a rainfall simulator was used; meanwhile, soil samples were taken to determine bulk density, soil water content, water-stable aggregates, and soil organic matter. Soil water content did not show significant differences, whereas bulk density and penetration resistance yielded significantly higher values at 15–30 cm depth compared to 0–15 cm depth. Also, the conservation manure recorded lower bulk density and penetration resistance values than conventional tilled treatments. Water-stable aggregates and soil organic matter were severely affected by manure addition and yielded an increase after harvest. Hydrological response was delayed for the treatments with manure addition. Crop yield was also significantly higher for the conventional treatment with manure addition, whereas the control plots had lower yields. The results of this study show the positive aspects of conservation tillage, especially with manure addition, where soil quality is preserved or even increased. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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12 pages, 7145 KiB  
Article
Meta-Analysis of Organic Fertilization Effects on Soil Bacterial Diversity and Community Composition in Agroecosystems
by Xiangyang Shu, Weijia Liu, Han Huang, Qinxin Ye, Shunxi Zhu, Zhaohui Peng, Yiding Li, Liangji Deng, Zepeng Yang, Honglin Chen, Dinghui Liu and Jialing Shi
Plants 2023, 12(22), 3801; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12223801 - 8 Nov 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2211
Abstract
Application of organic fertilizers or their combination with chemical fertilizers is a feasible practice for improving soil fertility and reducing soil degradation in agroecosystems, and these regulations are mainly mediated though soil microbial communities. Despite bacteria ranking among the most abundant and diverse [...] Read more.
Application of organic fertilizers or their combination with chemical fertilizers is a feasible practice for improving soil fertility and reducing soil degradation in agroecosystems, and these regulations are mainly mediated though soil microbial communities. Despite bacteria ranking among the most abundant and diverse groups of soil microorganisms, the effects of long-term organic fertilization (OF) and chemical–organic fertilization (COF) on soil bacterial diversity and community composition remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis and demonstrated that OF had no significant effect on bacterial alpha diversity. Application of chemical fertilizer and crop residue significantly decreased bacterial Richness index. Both OF and COF significantly altered bacterial community structure, with these changes being predominately attributed to shifts in soil pH. For bacterial phyla, both OF and COF significantly increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, suggesting that OF and COF may cause the enrichment of copiotrophic taxa. In addition, COF significantly increased the relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria but decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria. Overall, our results suggest that organic and chemical–organic fertilization can effectively maintain bacterial diversity and enhance soil fertility in agroecosystems, and the alteration of soil bacterial community structure is closely intertwined with soil pH. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Management of Soil Health in Agroecosystem)
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