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Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil Conservation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 9327

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Barbara Futa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Soil Science and Environment Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Leszczyńskiego St. 7, 20-069 Lublin, Poland
Interests: soil enzymes activity; soil biochemistry; changes in soils; soil fertility; environmental protection; ecotoxicological evaluation of soils; environmental impact assessment; sustainable agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The promotion of sustainable agriculture, food security and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems are included in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. In our globalized world, sustainable and climate-smart agriculture is extremely important. Therefore, new ways to increase crop productivity while improving soil health and fertility are constantly being sought.

The aim of this Special Issue is to draw attention to sustainable soil management, modern agricultural and environmental practices that promote sustainable development and agroecosystem health.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: soil health and fertility, the relationship between soil and plants, agroecosystems resilience, climate-smart agriculture, organic farming and agroecology, the method of fertilizer application, reduced use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides, beneficial microorganisms, advanced techniques for real-time monitoring of soil conditions, and many others.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Barbara Futa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 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

  • sustainable agriculture
  • agroecosystem
  • soil properties
  • soil fertility
  • soil health
  • land use change
  • climate smart agriculture
  • regenerative agriculture

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 3649 KiB  
Article
Innovative Production and Innovative Agricultural Products in the Food Economy in the Context of Selected Lifestyle Elements of the Inhabitants of South-Eastern Poland: Case Study
by Aleksandra Badora and Krzysztof Kud
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9889; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229889 - 13 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 870
Abstract
Sustainable development in the agriculture of the future will lead to innovative production, providing the possibility of obtaining better quality agricultural products. In turn, these innovative agricultural products will fit into new social lifestyles. Therefore, in this study, the authors asked the following [...] Read more.
Sustainable development in the agriculture of the future will lead to innovative production, providing the possibility of obtaining better quality agricultural products. In turn, these innovative agricultural products will fit into new social lifestyles. Therefore, in this study, the authors asked the following research questions: (i) How do respondents perceive innovative agricultural production and innovative products in the area of food economy?; (ii) what is the relationship between selected lifestyle elements and the perception of innovative agricultural production and products? The research tool was a survey questionnaire. The diagnostic study was conducted using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) technique. The study was partial and non-probabilistic in nature. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous, and completion of the form could be interrupted at any time. The target group were adults aged ≥ 18 years. They were residents of south-eastern Poland, from the Podkarpackie and Lublin provinces. The study was of a correlational nature, as it sought relationships between the elements studied, without the possibility of influencing the level of individual variables. A five-point Likert scale with a neutral value was used for the assessment. Spearman correlation analysis (rS) was performed to find the relationship between the items. This type of correlation was chosen because the variables subjected to calculations were on an ordinal scale. The Kruskal–Wallis H test was also calculated to determine the effect of independent variables (lifestyle elements) on dependent variables (perception of innovative production and food products). The Mann–Whitney U test was utilized to calculate and identify differences between groups (sex and place of residence). Statistical significance was assessed at the level of α = 0.05. To illustrate these differences more clearly, categorized graphs of the average ratings of the items studied were also drawn up. The research results indicate a different approach from men and women to the issues studied. The place of residence and the approach of the respondents from south-eastern Poland to the studied lifestyle elements influenced their perception of sustainable agricultural production and innovative features of agricultural products. The examined lifestyle elements demonstrated a varied impact on the perception of innovative production and innovative food products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture)
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14 pages, 2776 KiB  
Article
Estimation of the Soil Moisture Content in a Desert Steppe on the Mongolian Plateau Based on Ground-Penetrating Radar
by Kaixuan Li, Zilong Liao, Gang Ji, Tiejun Liu, Xiangqian Yu and Rui Jiao
Sustainability 2024, 16(19), 8558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198558 - 2 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1156
Abstract
Desert grasslands are a crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems that play vital roles in regional and global hydrological cycling, climate change, and ecosystem balance through variations in their soil moisture content (SMC). Despite this, current research on the SMC of desert grasslands remains [...] Read more.
Desert grasslands are a crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems that play vital roles in regional and global hydrological cycling, climate change, and ecosystem balance through variations in their soil moisture content (SMC). Despite this, current research on the SMC of desert grasslands remains insufficient, with many areas remaining underexplored. In this study, we focused on a typical desert grassland located in the northern foothills of the Yinshan Mountains. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) exploration and soil sampling were used to test existing mixed-media models, and a new mixed-media model was calibrated using cross-validation methods. Among the three general mixed-media models, the Topp and Roth models yielded more accurate SMC estimates for the study area, with root mean square errors of 0.0091 g/cm3 and 0.0054 g/cm3, respectively, and mean absolute percentage errors of 25.86% and 19.01%, respectively, demonstrating their high precision. A comparison of the calibrated and original mixed-media models revealed that the estimation accuracy was significantly improved after parameter calibration. After parameter calibration, the Ferre model achieved an accuracy comparable to that of the Topp model. Parameter-calibrated models can be used to estimate the SMC using GPR data, offering a higher precision than general models and possessing greater suitability for the study area. The soil in the study area is primarily composed of sand particles and is therefore more compatible with the parameters of the Topp model, whereas the Ferre model requires further parameter calibration to achieve effective application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture)
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20 pages, 1707 KiB  
Article
Influence of Forecrop on Soil Quality Estimated on the Basis of the Growth and Development of Faba Bean and Biochemical Properties of the Soil
by Małgorzata Baćmaga, Jadwiga Wyszkowska and Jan Kucharski
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7492; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177492 - 29 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 929
Abstract
Proper crop rotation determines soil fecundity, which is pertinent for successor crops. With this problem in mind, a study was performed to evaluate the interference of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), winter wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum [...] Read more.
Proper crop rotation determines soil fecundity, which is pertinent for successor crops. With this problem in mind, a study was performed to evaluate the interference of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), winter wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), maize (Zea mays L.), and winter rape (Brassica napus L.) as forecrops on the increase in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and the biochemical and physicochemical properties of the soil. Tests with faba bean were performed in pots in the vegetation hall. The pots were filled with soil from under the abovementioned four plant species, and faba bean was grown. Soil unsown with faba bean was also tested to measure the rhizosphere effect. At the beginning of the experiment, and after its completion, enzymatic and physicochemical analyses of the soil were performed. On the 120th day of the study, faba bean was harvested and biometry was performed. The forecrop substantially influenced the biometric features of the faba bean and the biochemical activity of the soil. Faba beans grown in soil under spring wheat and winter wheat had the highest seed yield, while those grown in soil under the winter rape had the lowest yield. The geometric mean of the enzyme activity index was only significantly positively correlated with the number of faba bean seeds and the soil pH, as well as with the seed dry matter yield and the faba bean plant height. Faba bean cultivation increased the soil biochemical activity. The values of the biochemical and physicochemical parameters of the unsown soil were lower compared to the soil sown with faba bean. The conducted research can help to estimate the changes occurring in arable soils and maintain their stability thanks to the use of appropriate bioindicators, which are the soil enzymes. Moreover, the use of a diversified crop rotation in soil cultivation can provide a lot of information about its function, which can ultimately be used for planning the plant rotation, leading to the improvement of the soil structure and fertility, as well as its protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture)
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Review

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16 pages, 4520 KiB  
Review
Electrokinetics-Based Phosphorus Management in Soils and Sewage Sludge
by Ahmed Abou-Shady, Mohamed A. Osman, Heba El-Araby, Ali Kh A. Khalil and Yousra H. Kotp
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10334; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310334 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 781
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) is a key component that limits plant growth. P is a limited resource; hence, effective P management is needed to increase plant P consumption from the soil and reduce P input levels through fertilization. In light of these difficulties, the goal [...] Read more.
Phosphorus (P) is a key component that limits plant growth. P is a limited resource; hence, effective P management is needed to increase plant P consumption from the soil and reduce P input levels through fertilization. In light of these difficulties, the goal of this review is to investigate the role of soil electrokinetics (SEKs)—a physicochemical approach—as the main approach in our in-depth analysis of publication history across six P-management research search engines to ensure sustainable management. This review covers the management of P using the SEKs from a number of perspectives, such as P injection in soil to improve bioremediation efficiency; P specific and synergistic separation from other related elements; increasing plant P availability and reusing it as fertilizer; and P removal from soil and sewage sludge. In terms of P adsorption, after seven days on kaolin, no organic P adsorption was observed, while inorganic P adsorbed to a maximum of 73% after six days. This implies that in low-permeability soils, the organic P source can be a practical source of P during in situ bioremediation. With the use of chemical additives, the specific and synergistic separation of P from/with other elements was made possible. When compared to the region near the cathode, P availability for the plant was higher in the vicinity of the anode electrode. P can be recycled and used as fertilizer. The iron electrodes result in a noticeably greater removal of phosphate than titanium electrodes. Further research is required to offer a technical solution for the proper handling of P, as there has been little research on P management from many perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture)
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30 pages, 1542 KiB  
Review
Innovative Soil Management Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture
by Barbara Futa, Joanna Gmitrowicz-Iwan, Aida Skersienė, Alvyra Šlepetienė and Irmantas Parašotas
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9481; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219481 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4723
Abstract
Agriculture has always resulted from available technology and the necessity to secure humanity’s food needs. In recent decades, a third factor has been recognized in this system—the environment. For centuries, a side effect of agricultural development has been environmental pollution and the uncontrolled [...] Read more.
Agriculture has always resulted from available technology and the necessity to secure humanity’s food needs. In recent decades, a third factor has been recognized in this system—the environment. For centuries, a side effect of agricultural development has been environmental pollution and the uncontrolled use of natural resources. New legislation is being introduced worldwide to protect the environment and move towards a sustainable economy. An example is the EU Green Deal, aimed at making Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent. An integral part of this strategy is sustainable agriculture, based on a balanced use of resources, recycling, ecological practices and the latest technological solutions. It is also important to change the perception of soil and recognize its pivotal role in agricultural development and ensuring food security. Soil is a non-renewable natural resource; without healthy soil, no sustainable agriculture can exist. For this reason, this paper summarizes recent trends in the development of sustainable agriculture from the perspective of soil management and conservation. It includes a summary of nanomaterial use, organic farming, soil health, precision agriculture, and threats and challenges to soil sustainability posed by climate change. We conclude that despite the rapid and extensive development of agricultural solutions striving to protect the environment and increase soil productivity, measures are still lacking that will allow agriculture to maintain adequate efficiency while fully protecting the environment, especially in developing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Science and the Latest Studies on Sustainable Agriculture)
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