The carbon flux from soil organic matter degradation is significant and could increase with climate change, with a potential retroactive effect. The change in CO2 emissions from soils due to temperature variations can be estimated using the Q10 parameter, which measures how sensitive the rates of chemical reactions or biological processes are to temperature changes. This is a key parameter for estimating

Surface conditions, including vegetation cover and microtopography, affect soil erosion significantly. However, research on the hydrological processes of different agroforestry types on sloping farmland in southwest alpine canyon regions remains insufficient. The microtopographic evolution of different agroforestry types and a bare slope (CK) was investigated by field‐based in situ scouring experiments

Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) is an important fraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) as it contributes to the long‐term stable SOC pool. However, the effect of long‐term straw return on MNC and its contribution to SOC accumulation across different soil types and soil depths remains insufficiently understood in agricultural ecosystems. By conducting a decadal scale field experiment across four soil

Macropore flow in structured soils is an important process determining the transport of water, contaminants, and nutrients in the soil. Therefore, we also expect a close connection between hydraulic conductivity (k(h)) near saturation and the potential of macropore flow. In combination with measurements of soil hydraulic properties (SHPs), tracer breakthrough characteristics can be used to get an insight

The estimation of soil carbon stocks is an important component in environmental planning, policy and land management, particularly in the context of climate change mitigation. The following work presents national‐scale soil property mapping at 10 m resolution, a level of detail not previously attempted in Scotland. The ultimate aim of this work is to facilitate carbon stock estimation from the soil

Soil microorganisms are crucial in regulating soil organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling, mediating the effects of agricultural management on soil health. Although the microbial responses to changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) are well‐documented, a knowledge gap remains regarding microbial dynamics when soils reach SOC equilibrium. This study investigated how tillage and fertilizer types (compost

The effect of field hydrology on microbial gas production in a black schist‐based acid sulfate soil was investigated to find out if conditions in the field are conducive to greenhouse gas formation and to see if the overlying peat functions as protection against oxidation of the sulfidic material. Soil air composition and hydrological conditions were observed in an agricultural peatland, which contains

Microbial functional groups are heterogeneously distributed between soil aggregate fractions, which is strongly influenced by soil microenvironmental conditions. Intensive tillage practices disrupt soil aggregates, altering microbial niches and potentially affecting nitrogen (N) transformations, including processes leading to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. This study aimed to identify linkages between

Comparability of soil data derived from different sources is crucial to obtain consistent results when evaluating the soil health status. Discrepancies may arise due to various factors, including uncertainties resulting from different sampling methods. In this study, we compared various soil Physicochemical properties (ST)—pH, organic carbon, texture, cation exchange capacity, nutrients, heavy metals—and

Soil degradation is a substantial threat to agricultural productivity and ecosystem service provision across Europe. However, the nature of soil degradation varies across spatial scales, with considerable regional disparities observed amongst individual member states. In Ireland, soil compaction represents a significant soil threat, imposed by the country's environmental conditions, inherent soil characteristics

The Soil Navigator Tool is a decision support system designed for farmers and advisors to assess the capacity of a selected field to perform five soil functions: primary productivity (PP), water regulation (WR), habitat provision (HP), climate regulation (CR), and nutrient cycling (NC). The original tool was developed and validated primarily with mineral soils as the focus. In this paper, we tested

Soil organic nitrogen (SON), particularly its labile fraction (LN), is pivotal in nutrient supply and soil fertility maintenance. However, the retention mechanisms of LN under low‐nitrogen conditions in conservation agriculture remain unclear. This study, conducted in the Yellow River sedimentary area, applied SON functional fractionation (labile vs. stable pools) and a coupled analytical framework

The lack of soil data is a complication that most soil scientists will encounter throughout their career; this critical aspect is exacerbated due to the excessive cost of soil surveying. Consequently, it is essential to develop strategies that guarantee the permanent accessibility of past soil sampling efforts. The main objective of this contribution is to release an entire dataset of soil samples

Humanity is facing a number of global challenges coupling soils and essential ecosystems, biodiversity, food production, and climate change. Hence, knowledge and expertise in soil science and soil management are increasingly needed to address these issues for sustainability and development. Soil science in higher education (HE) will be one essential vehicle to provide a new generation with skills and

Re‐flooding of previously drained and oxidised acid sulfate soils (ASSs) can stimulate reduction processes while decreasing soil acidity, thereby mitigating the harmful effects of acidity. The aim of this study is to explore the pedogenesis of ASSs in a tropical climate and to assess the impact of ASS on surface water quality at the end of the seasonal re‐flooding period. An integrated study of soil

Soil health and climate change are increasingly impacting agriculture across Europe. Decision support tools (DSTs) have emerged as essential tools to help make accurate, evidence‐based agricultural decisions aimed at enhancing productivity, profitability, and effective soil health management. Nevertheless, the adoption of these tools remains limited among farmers and varies across different regions

The spatial distribution of acid sulfate soils is influenced by coastal processes, and due to their location, these soils can accumulate significant amounts of trace elements. This study assesses the horizontal and vertical distribution of major elements (Ca, Mg, K, Al, Fe, S), minor elements (P, Ti, Mn), and trace elements (Ba Co, Cu, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) in acid sulfate soils of the interdistributary

Soil water retention curve (SWRC) and thermal conductivity curve (TCC) are crucial soil properties affecting water flow and plant growth in soils. This study investigated simultaneous SWRC and TCC parameter estimation using an inverse solution approach. Water and heat movement in soil were modelled in two soil column experiments, including infiltration with warm water (IWW) and evaporation with heat

Most soil classification systems rely on the identification of genetic horizons, delineated through visual observations guided by theories of soil development. However, these systems often differ across countries, creating challenges for information transfer and comparison. In this study, we explore the application of numerical soil classification as a means of establishing a more universally applicable

Acid sulfate soils impact surrounding ecosystems with pronounced environmental damage via leaching of strong acidity along with the concurrent mobilization of toxic metals present in the soils and, in consequence, they are often described as the nastiest soils on Earth. Within Sweden, acid sulfate soils are distributed mainly under the maximum Holocene marine limit that stretches the length of the

Rice paddies are a major anthropogenic source of methane and a key target for reducing emissions of the greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. The delicate equilibrium between the production and oxidation of methane in paddy soils is shaped largely by the abundances and compositions of different microbial communities within the soil ecosystem and the interactions between them. Ammonium addition can alleviate

The awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physics to pioneers in neural networks highlights their substantial influence across diverse disciplines, including soil science. This article explores the evolution and transformative impact of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in soil science. These technologies have revolutionised the modelling of complex soil processes, enhancing our ability to

The precise differentiation and quantification of ecosystem‐driven organic carbon (OCeco), black carbon (BC), and inorganic carbon (IC) in soil is essential for understanding the global carbon cycle. However, the absence of a standardised method for differentiating among these carbon types is a notable challenge in soil carbon research. We addressed this gap by establishing CO2‐evolved gas analysis

Few would disagree that artificial intelligence (AI) holds potential for advancing knowledge and innovation. Over the past decades, substantial research has been devoted to the development and application of AI in soil science. While most of today's AI applications in soil science are related to machine learning (ML), AI also encompasses other fields such as digital image analysis, natural language

A series of modelling scenarios were employed to determine the influence of raster resolution on soil erosion risk maps using both the Water and Tillage Erosion Model (WaTEM) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in the regions of Flanders (Belgium) and Lower Austria (Austria) using field‐specific data from the Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS). The impact of these

Soil plays a paramount role in addressing complex challenges related to climate change, the agri‐food system, and ecosystem services. This importance makes soil research data highly relevant for meta‐analysis, research synthesis, modelling, and assessment. As data‐intensive techniques proliferate in studying global change impacts on agricultural systems, effective data management and reuse are essential

Flux chamber methodologies are used at the global scale to measure the exchange of trace gases between terrestrial surfaces (soils) and the atmosphere. These methods evolved as a simplistic necessity to measure gas fluxes from a time when gas analysers were limited in capability and costs were prohibitively high, since which thousands of studies have deployed a wide variety of chamber methodologies

Decision support tools (DSTs) are crucial in aiding agricultural decision‐making, particularly in improving soil health by enhancing nutrient management, soil organic matter (SOM) and water retention. Despite the availability of numerous DSTs in Europe, their adoption, effectiveness and development needs are not well understood, as most research is based on literature reviews rather than direct feedback

Understanding the effects of agricultural soil management on the soil system and its functions is crucial to ensure the sustainable use of soil. Due to the countless ways in which soil can be managed, it is not an easy task to compare soil management practices across different locations and over time. One approach to making soil management comparable is the use of numerical soil management indicators

This study investigates the dynamic distribution of pore water and air in granite residual soil (GRS) under varying drying conditions using advanced X‐ray computed tomography (CT). The research focuses on microstructural changes during drying, particularly the interaction between pore water and air phases. Results reveal a transition from interconnected pore water networks to isolated water clusters

Riparian ecosystems, through their anoxic properties driven by floods, play a crucial role in favouring denitrification. The absence of nitrous oxide (N2O) reductase activity in the denitrification process provokes the emission of a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), N2O, into the atmosphere. Our understanding of the contribution of denitrification to N2O emissions is limited by the difficulties in capturing

Acid sulfate soils (ASS) pose a significant environmental risk, yet their systematic characterisation is often overlooked in conservation areas, leaving an important gap in understanding their distribution and management. This study characterises ASS in three temperate coastal wetland vegetation communities—mangroves, saltmarshes and paperbark forests—located in southern Australia. Soil samples were

Sustainable land management can play an important role in climate change mitigation by reducing soil organic carbon (SOC) losses or even by sequestering C in soils. This can be achieved through practices that increase C inputs to the soil and/or improve the quality of these inputs, thereby facilitating the removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and storing it in the soil as SOC. In this study

The water‐insoluble phases of phosphate fertilisers have traditionally been considered an agronomic concern because of their phosphorus bioavailability. However, this chemical behaviour with respect to its solubility in soil could be an advantage from the point of view of environmental sustainability, since these phosphates are more stable in soil and less susceptible to blockage by adsorption. Hence

Acid sulfate (AS) soils cause severe environmental hazards in their recipient watercourses worldwide. Different soil water management practices can help prevent the hazards. Because long‐lasting field experiments are expensive and site specific, sophisticated water flow simulation models can be used, for example, to estimate the effects of different management practices on the soil and runoff water

In situ soil erosion monitoring is essential to investigate the effects of soil erosion control measures and to provide effective management strategies to maintain soil health and for future climate change adaptation. However, reliable soil erosion monitoring in the field depends on the accuracy of the installed measurement equipment under a range of environmental conditions. This study evaluated how

The ability of soils to store and regulate water release to plants is critical for crop production; hence, the ability to estimate soil water parameters is critical. This study aimed to (1) determine biochar effects on the relationship between soil organic matter (SOM) and soil water/physical parameters including field capacity (FC), wilting point (WP), saturation (SAT), water holding capacity (WHC)

Pedotransfer functions (PTFs) are widely used empirical relationships to estimate soil hydraulic parameters. PTFs are usually derived from point soil samples analysed in the field or laboratory; thus, they contain uncertainties at different levels (i.e., from sampling and measuring techniques, as well as empirical approaches chosen to quantify relationships). When PTFs are used to parametrize agro‐hydrological

The use of sequential extraction methods is a common practice for analysing the availability of potentially toxic elements in soils and sediments. However, the simultaneous presence of oxidisable and reducible minerals in acid sulfate soils with a thionic horizon raises questions about the accuracy of these methods. This study focused on the comparative evaluation of two sequential extraction schemes—the

Acid sulfate soils (ASS) with sulfide minerals (i.e., contain sulfidic materials) are widely distributed in both coastal and inland regions, and if exposed to air, the oxidation of sulfide minerals results in the production of sulfuric acid with the formation of thionic horizons (pH < 4) along with profound mineralogical changes. This study, conducted in the Delta of the Doce River, Espírito Santo

Combining soil erosion with comprehensive zoning can reflect the spatial differentiation of soil erosion and reveal the driving forces behind changes in soil erosion. Here, the Köppen climate classification and K‐means unsupervised clustering analysis were used to categorise the source regions of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers (SRYYR) into eight integrated climate‐ecology‐hydrology zones, considering

Ergosterol is a sterol compound present in fungal cell membranes and is used as a biomarker to measure fungal biomass. Therefore, an accurate analytical method is essential to quantify the presence of ergosterol in any soil type, regardless of its physicochemical characteristics or environmental conditions. The main objective of our study was to optimise and validate an analytical method for the assessment

This paper assesses the effect of long‐term contrasting tillage practices on topsoil structural characteristics critical for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and carbon sequestration across a pedoclimatic gradient. The hypotheses tested are that: (i) aeration is greater in the topsoil of ploughed (to 0.20–0.30 m depth) than in no‐till soils and (ii) the effect of tillage practice on soil functionality

The recent strategic policy dialogue on the future of agriculture in the European Union focuses on sustainable development and presents a clear challenge to the research community, including soil science. Framing sustainability in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a recent case study is reviewed in this Opinion paper showing that techniques are available to assess ecosystem

Estuaries play a vital role in the coastal environment by filtering pollutants and nutrients from catchment runoff. In areas where acid sulfate (AS) soils are abundant, the importance of the estuary as a coastal filter is heightened as AS soils typically stress the marine environment with acidic metal‐laden drainage waters. In this study, we took sediment cores from a shallow estuary in Western Finland

In brackish tidal marsh soils, sulfate reduction processes commonly lead to the formation of Fe sulfide minerals, and if the accumulated potential acidity exceeds the ability of other components for neutralisation, can lead to the occurrence of hypersulfidic soil materials, which if disturbed and oxidised, can become extremely acid (sulfate) soils. In estuarine/riverine marshes that are fed by fresh

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a critical role in key soil functions, yet SOC is highly vulnerable to human activities, which can shift soil from acting as a net carbon sink to becoming a net carbon source. Despite considerable efforts to monitor soil conditions, traditional evaluations often focus on temporal comparisons within similar locations, which can limit the understanding of broader changes

Soil organic carbon (C) is heterogeneous. It exists in various forms along a decomposition continuum, from labile fast‐cycling compounds to more persistent forms that can reside in the soil for centuries to millennia. The soil organic C fractionation methods account for this complexity by separating soil organic C into distinct groups with similar turnover. Here, we aimed to (a) fractionate 401 mineral

Soil water repellency (SWR) significantly impacts water infiltration and soil health, influencing ecological processes across various habitats. Although the mechanisms behind SWR remain partially unclear, it is influenced by both soil and biological properties. While several studies have examined SWR in agricultural soils, fewer studies have focused on natural habitats. This study examines the relationships

Wide application of biochar and subsequent release of biochar nanoparticles (NPs) significantly impact the stability of natural clay minerals and soil NPs, which are crucial for soil quality and play a vital role in determining the fate of nutrients and contaminants in the environment. Soil is a naturally occurring complex system composed of multiple components. Existing research on soil particle aggregation

Ensuring food security through sustainable practices while reducing greenhouse gas emissions are key challenges in modern agriculture. Utilising genetic variability within a crop species to identify varieties with higher root biomass carbon (C) could help address these challenges. It is thus crucial to quantify and understand intra‐specific above‐ and belowground performance under varying environmental

Microbial transformation of soil organic matter plays a critical role in carbon (C) cycling making it essential to understand how land use and management practices influence microbial physiology and its connection to C dynamics. One factor that is likely to impact soil microbial physiology is crop diversification via its influence on belowground diversity (e.g., chemical heterogeneity of C inputs,

An understanding of the key factors and processes influencing the variability of soil organic carbon (SOC) is essential for the development of effective policies aimed at enhancing carbon storage in soils to mitigate climate change. In recent years, complex computational approaches from the field of machine learning (ML) have been developed for modelling and mapping SOC in various ecosystems and over

Next‐generation sequencing is widely used for microbiome characterisation across multiple samples. However, current amplicon sequencing techniques are limited because they primarily offer microbial taxon relative abundance profiles, which do not accurately reflect the actual environmental abundances. Here, relative microbiome profiling (RMP) and quantitative microbiome profiling (QMP) were employed