Microbial residue carbon (MRC) is an important source of soil organic carbon (SOC) formation and plays a vital role in the accumulation and retention of SOC. Vegetation restoration is an effective strategy to restore degraded lands. However, there are no studies on how MRC in the profile changes with vegetation restoration. We evaluated MRC (using amino sugars) accumulation and its contribution to SOC in different soil depths (0-20, 20-50, and 50-100 cm) during vegetation restoration in a severely eroded forest (CK), a restored forest (as ecological restoration management), an orchard (as development management model), and a secondary forest (as ideal control). Microbial biomarkers were extracted from soil profiles and used to measure microbial diversity and microbial community composition (using 16S rRNA). Vegetation restoration, soil depth, and their interaction with each other significantly affected MRC, fungal residue carbon (FRC), and bacterial residue carbon (BRC) contents. The MRC content showed an increasing trend for the four vegetation restoration models in the following order: CK < orchard < restored forest < secondary forest. Furthermore, the contribution of MRC to SOC increased with the increasing soil depth for the restored forest. The rapid accumulation of MRC was substantially influenced by SOC, total nitrogen content, soil pH, bacterial and fungal diversity, bacterial phylum, and fungal phylum. In conclusion, the model of vegetation restoration and soil depth play important roles in the accumulation of soil microbial residue carbon in a red soil erosion area. These findings are pivotal for improving our mechanistic understanding of microbial regulation of SOC preservation during vegetation restoration of a degraded ecosystem.

：Soil ciliates, crucial components of grassland ecosystems, serve as sensitive bioindicators of soil health and disturbance. This study investigates ciliate communities across four grassland use types on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP): seasonal and continuous grazing in natural grasslands (SGG and CGG), artificial perennial Elymus nutans Griseb. grasslands (PEG), and artificial annual Avena grasslands (AAG). Using live observation techniques, we identified 114 ciliate species from 10 classes and 21 orders, with Haptorida and Sporadotrichia emerging as dominant groups. Our findings reveal that grazing grasslands harbor greater endemic ciliate species richness compared to AAG. SGG and CGG exhibited significantly higher ciliate diversity (Shannon, Simpson, and Margalef indices) than other use types, while PEG and SGG supported higher ciliate abundances. Low Jaccard similarity indices between grassland types indicate distinct ciliate communities, reflecting management-induced environmental heterogeneity. Redundancy analysis identified above-ground biomass and soil pH as primary drivers of ciliate community structure. Notably, seasonal grazing (SGG) promoted the highest ciliate diversity, suggesting its potential as a sustainable management practice for maintaining soil health on the QTP. This research provides crucial insights into the relationship between land management and soil microbial diversity in high-altitude grasslands. Our findings support the implementation of moderate grazing practices to enhance soil quality and ecosystem resilience on the QTP, with implications for sustainable management of similar ecosystems worldwide.

The perceived impact of soil microplastics on soil aggregation is primarily attributed to their potential toxicity toward soil microorganisms. However, only a limited number of studies have undertaken comprehensive controlled experiments involving sterilized soils to substantiate this notion. The present study embarked on soil incubation experiments encompassing both non-sterilized soils and soils subjected to oven-heating sterilization to investigate the ramifications of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics, characterized by mesh sizes of 30, 150, and 1000, on both the water-stability and mechanical stability of soil aggregates. The presence of microplastics decreased aggregation stability in Tianjin soils (on average -48.89% and -81.61% for 0.5-1 and 1-2 mm aggregates, respectively). The impact of microplastics was notably more evident in the non-sterilized soils. Microplastics also demonstrated the capacity to modify aggregate properties such as surface roughness. This study indicates the pivotal role played by interactions between soil microplastics and microorganisms on soil aggregation, but microplastics hold the potential to influence soil aggregation through non-biogenic pathways.

Saline agricultural soils in the Senegal River delta, which are predominantly used for rice cultivation, require preliminary washing of the plots, the addition of mineral fertilizers, and several passes of agricultural machinery for various tillage operations, treatments, and harvesting. Consequently, the natural state of compaction is altered, which may be affecting the productivity of the plots due to surface compaction, with the formation of a hardpan, or deeper compaction, leading to poor drainage. For this study on soil compaction in agriculture, several plots from the Ross-Béthio GIE Cooperative, located in the Senegal River valley, Saint Louis region, were selected with different moisture levels after fallow. A soil sample was taken from different subsamples of the plots for a complete physicochemical analysis. This analysis was performed at the Centre de Recherches Agricoles in Saint-Louis of the Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute (ISRA). With a manual Eijkelkamp cone penetrometer, force measurements were taken every 5 cm in depth, from 0 to 100 cm, to later determine the compaction expressed as a Cone Index. To determine soil moisture, an IMKO TRIME-PICO 64/32 probe was used. The data correspond to the water volume fraction in soil volume (m 3/m 3). A result of pH 6.32 was determined, corresponding to a low acid pH, the analyzed soil has excessive salinity, very low nitrogen content, and very low organic matter content. The state of soil compaction in the rice fields of the Senegal River delta is characterized by a superficial crust in the first 5 cm with a Cone Index ranging from 0.38 to 1.02 MPa. From there, the surface compaction values range from 1.82 to 2.32 MPa up to 50 and 55 cm. Deep layer compaction, up to 65 and 70 cm, can reach 3.00 MPa. It can be considered that the hardpan appears at 50 cm deep with 2.32 MPa. These results occur without significant influence of the soil water content during the tests. On the other hand, from the behavior of the Cone Index in the superficial and deep layers, it is observed that the water content has a negligible influence, that the tillage system and the number of passes correspond to traditional tillage techniques. In addition, the increase in the Cone Index in the deep layers is due to the high salt content and the low organic matter content.

Agricultural sustainability assessments have gained high importance during the last decades. Different tools have been developed for these assessments such as the Sustainability assessment methodology oriented to soil-associated agricultural experiments (SMAES). SMAES quantifies the current sustainability of the different treatments evaluated in experiments associated with the soil. However, efforts aimed to maintain or increase the crop systems sustainability must be planned and measured in the short, medium, and long-term. In this work, some parameters are added to SMAES to estimate the future sustainability. The first parameter is the construction of climate scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5, model CCSM4, periods 2050-2100) to establish the conditions of change in the future. Second, crop yield is modelled with DSSAT (Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) using the aforementioned climate scenarios. Third, yield modelling results and SMAES sustainability indexes (IS) from climate scenarios are integrated. As a case of study, the current sustainability (IS-A) of five potato fertilization split treatments were initially estimated: Commercial control (Control), Fertilization recommended by Agrosavia (As), Monthly split fertilization recommended by Agrosavia (AsSplit), AsSplit decreasing the amount of fertilizer by 25% (AsSp25), and AsSplit decreasing the amount of fertilizer by 50% (AsSp50). AsSp50 generated the highest current and future sustainability with IS-A = 0.90, IS-45, and IS-85 = 0.88. Results suggest that integrated fertilization management practices generate a higher potato crop sustainability in the Colombian high Andean, both today and the future.

The achira crop (Canna edulis) is a symbol of the ancestral productive potential of the department of Huila. According to the Regional Information System (SIR) of the Governor’s Office of Huila, the area planted with annual achira in the department in 2020 will be 82.3 hectares and the local demand for starch (400 tons/year) will be imported from other departments (Cundinamarca and Nariño). Apart from its economic potential, its importance in ecosystem services is added, since its management is organic, limited to cultural work, making this crop valuable in mitigating the effects of the decline in pollinator populations, especially wild bees, due to the problems caused by the rapid growth of coffee monoculture and other conventionally managed crops, making it crucial to better understand the relationship between biodiversity and agricultural production, and to develop sustainable management strategies that promote the conservation of pollinators and biodiversity in general. The objective was to characterize the diversity of floral visitors associated with the Achira (Canna edulis KER) crop in different thermal soils in the department of Huila, characterizing the study area, identifying native bees and visitors in the crop through field visits to three farms located in the municipalities of Garzón and San Agustín, concluding that altitudinal or thermal soil variations may affect the distribution of native bee species and other visitors, reducing their abundance. In order to determine the direct relationship between altitude and diversity, it is suggested to make new efforts in this aspect, since factors such as the management of neighboring agroecosystems and proximity to forest remnants intervene. Organic crops of high cultural value, such as (Canna edulis), represent an alternative of safe conditions to stimulate the visit of wild bees and other insects that can be considered of high economic value due to their biological importance in agroecosystems.

Synergy between pollinators and flower strips is an emerging strategy that favors agricultural sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Bees and other pollinators, together with flower strips, are crucial components that can be exploited to improve pollination and biological pest control in crops. However, few publications review the topic, especially in Colombia. Therefore, to Know and understand this intersection will enable the development of more appropriate management tools to maximize ecological and agricultural benefits. We compiled studies based on a bibliometric and systematic analysis using the Web of Science database (WoS) of either approach that looked for an association pollinators/flower strips. The records obtained were analyzed using graph theory and tools such as VOSviwer and Tree of Science divided into three categories: classical, structural and recent. 155 studies were identified the main author was Tscharntke Teja, important authors such as Klein, Alexandra and Potts, Simon have an H-index of 74 and 80 respectively. In addition, the countries with the highest production in this area are Germany in first place, England in second and the United States in third, allowing to conclude that the integration of pollinators and floral strips has awakened a growing interest among international communities, although it is still considered an emerging field within scientific research. The research outcomes provide valuable insights for future research trends and agricultural policies focused on biodiversity conservation and mitigation the effects of climate change. The findings suggest that flower strips in enhancing ecosystem services, underlining their role in increasing biodiversity and the resilience of agroecosystems.

Water-use efficiency (WUE) and the stoichiometry of plant-soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are key indicators of plant growth, while stand quality is an important index for evaluating afforestation. Yet it remains unclear how WUE and stoichiometric characteristics respond to changes in stand quality in desert ecosystems. To that end, we studied the community characteristics of sand-fixing Caragana korshinskii stands differing in age (planted 10, 30, 50, and 70 years ago) in Mu Us Sandy Land, China, and measured their leaf water use efficiency (WUE) and leaf-soil C:N:P stoichiometry. The relations among the stand quality index, leaf WUE, and plant-soil stoichiometry were analyzed. After 70 years, WUE was at its lowest level, but only significantly lower than that of a 10-year-old C. korshinskii stand. Afforestation years had differential effects on C, N, and P nutrients and their stoichiometric characteristics in leaves and soil. For soil, its total P barely increased. Irrespective of stand age, the N:P ratio of leaves was > 16, which suggests P is the main factor limiting the development of C. korshinskii plantations. Notably, WUE decreased significantly as the stand quality index increased while soil stoichiometry responded more strongly than plant stoichiometry. These results can guide investigations into the role of C. korshinskii stands in plant and soil recovery effects, providing a scientific basis to evaluate the rational use of C. korshinskii sand-fixing forest in afforestation.

Soil erosion-induced solute loss contributes to non-point source pollution (NPS). The extent and depth of soil solute involvement in runoff exchange processes are determined by soil disturbed depth ( Ds), encompassing runoff depth ( Dr), and effective mixing depth ( De). This study aimed to investigate the impacts of Ds on soil erosion and solute loss. The varying Dr (0.04 ~ 0.59 cm) and De (0.08 ~ 10.35 cm) were generated through rainfall (60, 90, and 120 mm h −1) and overland flow (0, 1, and 2 L min −1). Dr and De were quantified by the KMnO 4 and Br tracing methods, respectively. Additionally, runoff coefficient ( Rc), sediment concentration ( Cs), sediment yield rate ( Sy), Br concentration in runoff ( CBr), Dr, and De were determined at 2 or 3-minute intervals. Significant differences were observed in runoff initiation time ( Tr) (15 ~ 187 s), Rc (0.49 ~ 0.99), Sy (4.04 ~ 242.89 g m 2 min -1), Cs (2.88 ~ 48.66 g L -1), and CBr (0.70 ~15 601.26 mg L -1) across different Ds (F>3, P<0.01). A power function relationship was observed between Tr, Rc, and Ds ( R2adj> 0.89). Sy, Cs, and CBr demonstrated increasing trends with rising Ds, though the magnitude of these increases varied across different Ds ( R2adj> 0.55). Furthermore, a notable linear correlation was identified between cumulative runoff generation, sediment yield, Br loss, and mean Dr, De ( R2adj> 0.75). Collectively, Ds accounted for 64.9% and 46.2% of the variation in soil erosion and Br loss, respectively. These results would facilitate an improvement of NPS models.

Climate change and biodiversity loss are severe and intertwined global threats. Land-based efforts to address both require an understanding of the spatial relationships between carbon storage and biodiversity. Here, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of the strength of these spatial relationships across the literature. We synthesize the estimated spatial correlations and infer how different factors (spatial scale, metrics, biome, human pressure) impact these strengths using linear mixed-effect models. Our results show that spatial scale is a significant factor, and the combination of metrics used to express carbon storage and biodiversity plays a more important role. While relationships are moderately positive across all conditions, the strength of the relationships decreases significantly from global to local scales. We find large variations in the strength for different metrics, across different biomes, and in the presence or absence of human pressure. We find a stronger relationship in natural rather than human-dominated landscapes for temperate forests, grasslands and deserts, but the opposite for tropical and subtropical forests. Ecosystem-level biodiversity proxies (habitat quality) show strong relationships to the total carbon pool, while taxonomic metrics (species richness) show a weaker relationship. The largest negative relationship is between total carbon and flora & fauna species richness. Our results suggest different synergies for different dimensions of carbon storage and biodiversity and shed light on where further effort is needed.

Long-term excessive use of fertilizers decreases soil productivity, which is detrimental to sustainable agricultural development. The purpose of this paper is to identify organic amendments suitable for winter wheat growth in the North China Plain by studying the effects of organic amendments on the economic benefit and carbon sequestration of winter wheat fields, and to provide a theoretical basis for the wide application of organic amendments. The nitrogen rates were N0 (0 kg/ha) and N240 (240 kg/ha), and the organic amendments were straw, manure, mushroom residue and biochar. The result showed that compared to N0, N240 significantly increased the yield by 244.1%-318.4% and the organic carbon sequestration by 16.7-30.5%, respectively, but increased the carbon emission by 29.3-45.5%. In addition, soil carbon sequestrations increased with three types of organic amendments compared to straw, with the biochar treatment being the largest, increasing carbon sequestration by 13.3-33.6%. In terms of yield and economic benefits, compared to straw, manure and biochar increased yield by 0.0-1.5% and 4.0-13.3%, respectively, and mushroom residue slightly decreased yield, but only the economic benefit of mushroom residue was greater than that of straw, with an increase in economic benefit of 1.3% and 8.2% in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, respectively. Furthermore, Net ecosystem productivity showed that N0 and N240 was the source and sink of CO 2, respectively. The TOPSIS results showed that N240 with mushroom residue could be recommended for increasing soil carbon sequestration and economic benefits for winter wheat in the NCP. Low-cost mushroom residue can increase farmer motivation and improve SOC, making a big step forward in the spread of organic amendments.

The increase in the use of trails for outdoor recreation observed in recent decades has led to greater pressure on existing trails and the creation of informal new trails, resulting in damage and degradation of these infrastructures. This degradation is concerning because many of these trails are located in protected natural areas, which aim to conserve natural resources and associated biodiversity. Concurrently, ecosystems worldwide have also been experiencing increased degradation, prompting the United Nations to declare the current decade as the Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. In this context, through a systematic review of the scientific literature, we aimed to better understand what science has discovered to enhance the management of degraded trails in protected natural areas worldwide. We observed that the number of research studies has been growing, particularly in the last decade, and is concentrated in countries with developed economies and by researchers from these countries. The terms used to describe a trail are quite diverse in the literature. Furthermore, some terms used in trail management, such as building or construction, maintenance, and repair, are uniformly utilized by authors. However, terms to address the reversal of trail degradation, such as restoration, recovery, and rehabilitation, are used quite variably among authors. Thus, future research could help clarify the use of these terms. We also noted that many studies have been dedicated to investigating the state of degradation of the trails in protected areas. However, only a minority of articles have addressed strategies to reverse the scenario of trail degradation, especially through experiments to identify the most effective strategies for different situations. This observation is concerning since the degradation of ecosystems and trails can become extremely costly or even irreversible. Therefore, further scientific studies are crucial to improve trail management, especially to reverse the scenario of trail degradation in protected natural areas.

Soil, vital for human life, faces threats like erosion, floods, organic matter loss, salinisation, contamination, compaction, sealing, and biodiversity loss. Soil cover, especially through crops, combats erosion and enhances structure. The IN-GEST SOIL project, focused on mitigating soil erosion and enhancing soil and vine quality in Piedmont vineyards (NW Italy), conducted a study exploring the perceptions and behaviors of winegrowers in this Italian region. Adopting a mixed-methods research approach, the study included a questionnaire administered to 72 winegrowers, with 22 participating in subsequent focus groups, to investigate the perceived causes of soil erosion and adoption of potential preventive measures. The results showed that most participants were aware of soil degradation phenomena in their vineyards. Grass cover was adopted as a soil management practice, even though much information about soil degradation risks and related solutions is necessary, especially knowledge and indication on how to correctly use management practices and technical solutions that can contribute to soil conservation, to avoid a misuse that may results, on the contrary, in increased soil degradation. Even though some differences in perceptions emerged based on vineyards’ characteristics, the present study highlighted the need to encourage the adoption of soil protection practices and technologies, spread access to economic support, and help winegrowers’ transition toward a more sustainable farming paradigm. In addition to the findings related to the objectives, this study demonstrated the usefulness of a mixed methods research approach, which is uniquely capable of providing both extensive and statistically relevant information and intensive, narrative insights.

The Green Revolution, which entails the use of pesticides, fertilisers, and other agrochemicals, has greatly increased worldwide food production in the last sixty years. Nevertheless, this heightened efficiency has resulted in adverse consequences, including environmental deterioration such as water and land pollution. Land degradation, resulting from both natural phenomena and human actions, has a significant impact on a considerable area of the Earth’s land and affects billions of individuals globally. The annual economic cost of land degradation exceeds $300 billion, resulting from a variety of causes such as insufficient land management and the pressures of population increase. Anthropogenic factors such as deforestation, intensified agriculture, and population growth worsen soil degradation, jeopardising essential ecosystem services and endangering food security. Simultaneously, the increasing release of greenhouse gases and the resulting climate change pose a significant threat to the long-term viability of agriculture. It is imperative to take immediate action to reduce their impact. Given the importance of soil health in sustainable agriculture and climate mitigation, conservation agriculture (CA) is seen as a possible option. Conservation agriculture approaches promote soil health, lower cultivation expenses, and decrease land degradation by minimising soil disturbance, boosting soil organic matter, and stimulating biological activity. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) initiatives, which are essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 15, provide a structure for achieving a balance between land restoration and degradation. These initiatives highlight the significance of implementing sustainable land management methods. This review compiles up-to-date research on conservation measures that promote Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and examines their implications for ecosystem services and policy interventions. The assessment emphasises the importance of sustainable land management and stresses the necessity of collective actions to tackle land degradation concerns and ensure agricultural sustainability in response to increasing environmental risks.

Land use land cover change is the main factor which contributed to biodiversity loss, and has affected negatively human wellbeing. Understanding this phenomenon is important in Riverine area of Pendjari Reserve which has been affected by anthropic disturbance for century years, and is, nowadays, one of the most significantly biodiversity hotspots in the West Africa. This study aims to (i) assess the trends of land use land cover change from 1998 to 2020; (ii) predict the future of land use land cover change for 2035 and 2050. Landsat images were used to determine LULC dynamics for the years 1998, 2007, 2013 and 2020 using Random Forest classification in ArcGIS software while the predicted LULC of 2035 and 2050 were simulated using Terset 18.21. The results indicated significant changes in LULC patterns. The wooded savannah decreased by 4.7 %, 8 % and 11.5 % respectively during 1998-2007, 2007-2013 and 2013-2020. While shrub savannah increased by 10.5% and 3.88 % respectively 1998-2007 and 2007-2013 before declined by 1.17%. However, the cropland from 1998-2007 decreased by 6.66 %, before increased by 4.33% and 11.1% respectively from 2007-2013 and 2013-2020. Fallow land increased by 0.77 %, 0.83 % respectively 1998-2007 and 2013-2020, before decreasing by 0.7 % in 2007-2013. Settlement area increased from 1998-2020. The prediction results confirmed small decreased of wooded savannah and increased shrub savannah, cropland and fallow. Moreover, results of 2035 predicted settlement decreased in future and suggest African partnership will continuous for better land management of this study area. For year 2050, the wooded savannah will increase by 17506.7 Ha with 583.557 Ha/year -1 rate of change.

Due to the widespread use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for soil remediation and nano-enabled sustainable agriculture, there is a growing concern regarding the behavior and fate of ENMs released into soil systems in the presence of natural root exudates (REs). Herein, we investigate the influence of REs on the fate and ecological effect of ENMs from a comprehensive perspective. We summarize the key roles reported in the literature for REs in physical changes (e.g., adsorption, dispersion/aggregation), chemical changes (e.g., oxidation/redox reactions, and dissolution), and biotransformation of ENMs, which will further determine the ecological risk of ENMs in natural soil systems. Moreover, this review highlights the potential adverse effects of ENMs on different soil organisms (e.g., bacteria, plants, and eisenia foetida) in the presence of REs. The remaining unclear mechanisms (e.g., oxidative stress and DNA damage) of ENMs toxicity at the cellular level influenced by REs are reviewed and presented. Finally, the review concludes by addressing the current knowledge gaps and challenges in this field.

The extraction of sugarcane planting distribution provides a scientific basis and theoretical support for local sugarcane cultivation management and the prediction of sugarcane yield. Sugarcane predominantly grows in tropical and subtropical regions characterized by cloudy and rainy conditions. Optical satellite remote sensing imagery is greatly affected by cloud and rain interference. In contrast, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data exhibit strong penetration capabilities, enabling effective imaging in overcast, rainy, and cloudy environments. Focusing on Fusui County, Guangxi Province, China, this research utilizes Sentinel-1 radar data and integrates the phenological features of sugarcane growth. A sugarcane planting distribution extraction model is constructed using a random forest classifier. The results demonstrate that the phenological feature approach based on temporal radar scattering characteristics achieves superior performance in sugarcane identification and extraction. The overall accuracy surpasses 92.18%, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.89. This method exhibits a 4.95% accuracy improvement compared to single-period radar scattering feature methods. Therefore, this radar-based method for extracting sugarcane planting distribution can effectively and accurately extract sugarcane cultivation patterns in regions with complex cloud and rain conditions, such as Guangxi Province. It also serves as a methodological reference for extracting crop planting distributions in cloudy and rainy areas.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of different soil acidity levels, determined by base-cation saturation (BCS) levels, on the anatomical, and morphological analyses of the roots, the nutritional status of the plants, as well as the root and shoot biomass production. A 107-days greenhouse experiment was carried out, employing a randomized block design with a 2x4 factorial arrangement. The factors included two propagation methods (seeds and stem cuttings) and four BCS levels (19%, 39%, 52%, and 63%). There was no observed interaction between propagation methods and BCS levels regarding root and shoot biomass production. This indicates that T. diversifolia’s tolerance to acidic soils is not affected by the propagation method. However, stem-propagated plants exhibited significantly greater root (31% increase) and shoot (26% increase) biomass production compared to seed-propagated plants. Regardless of the propagation method, T. diversifolia plants grown in soil with a 19% BCS level showed a substantial reduction in root (45% decrease) and shoot (31% decrease) biomass compared to the 63% BCS level treatment. The root anatomy and morphology of T. diversifolia are affected when cultivated in acidic soils with a 19% BCS level. Nevertheless, the PAS test detected some mucilage in T. diversifolia roots, suggesting a potential defense mechanism for Al 3+. The shoot biomass of T. diversifolia plants cultivated in soil with a 19% BCS level exhibited greater nutritional values compared to the 63% BCS level. In conclusion, propagation methods have a limited impact on the tolerance of T. diversifolia to acidic soils. Despite the negative effects on root and shoot biomass production, T. diversifolia effectively maintains nutrient uptake even under acidic soil conditions with Al 3+ availability of 5 mmol c dm -3.