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Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture
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Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Agricultural Soils".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 April 2024) | Viewed by 13530

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Anetta Siwik-Ziomek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biogeochemistry and Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Bernardyńska 6, 85-029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: soil; enzymes; sulphur; environment; crop rotation; monitoring; irrigation
Dr. Anna Figas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Bernardyńska 6, 85-029 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: micropropagation; heavy metal; water need; physiological parameters; irrigation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil provides the essential nutrients, water, and root support that food-producing plants need to grow and thrive. The quality of soil can be changed by such factors as climatic conditions, time, and the impact of living organisms and especially human management of soil. The condition of the soil determines the effectiveness of any crop.

In the last century, the use of mineral fertilizers and plant protection products has steadily increased, negatively affecting the condition of soils and the environment. Ineffective use of nutrients applied with fertilizers has resulted in the migration of harmful compounds. The use of mineral fertilizers and intensive cultivation has had a negative impact on biodiversity, significantly worsening the physical and chemical properties of soils. The problem of environmental pollution has become global. Sustainable soil management not only reverses this trend but also improves soil fertility.

The main goal of sustainable agriculture is to meet society’s food needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. 

Specific topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Articles on agroecology, agroforestry, and landscape ecology;
  • Applications in conservation ecology and the preservation of biodiversity in agriculture;
  • Soil as a key component for carbon sequestration;
  • Use of irrigation and fertigation to relieve water stress;
  • Transformation of nutrients and their interaction with soil enzymes;
  • Methods for the effective management of ingredients;
  • Using intelligent soil monitoring tools;
  • The sustainable use of useful microorganisms in the rhizosphere;
  • Reclamation of soils contaminated with metals and pesticides.

Dr. Anetta Siwik-Ziomek
Dr. Anna Figas
Guest Editors

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. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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
  • fertilizers
  • crop
  • environment
  • biodiversity
  • irrigation
  • enzymes
  • microorganisms
  • monitoring
  • heavy metals

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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27 pages, 2913 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Sustainable Agriculture in China: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Straw and Manure on Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
by Zhe Zhao, Yali Yang, Hongtu Xie, Yixin Zhang, Hongbo He, Xudong Zhang and Shijun Sun
Agriculture 2024, 14(3), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14030480 - 16 Mar 2024
Viewed by 649
Abstract
As the main organic materials, straw and manure play a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yield in China. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of straw and manure amendments, both individually and combined, on crop yield, SOC, and soil [...] Read more.
As the main organic materials, straw and manure play a critical role in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and crop yield in China. This meta-analysis evaluated the impact of straw and manure amendments, both individually and combined, on crop yield, SOC, and soil nutrients in China by collecting 173 studies. The findings of this study revealed that straw return and manure application increased crop yields by 14.4% and 70.4%, respectively, overall. Combined straw and manure application gained a better improvement effect than straw alone but was less effective than manure alone. Regarding the straw return results, rice straw and a 3000–6000 kg ha−1 returning quantity improved crop yield, SOC, available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and total nitrogen (TN) the most; regarding the straw return form, straw incorporated into soil and biochar increased crop yield and SOC more, respectively; and <5 years and ≥5 years of straw return treatment increased crop yield and TN more, respectively. Regarding manure application, pig and chicken manure increased crop yield and TN more, respectively; a 50–80% substitution ratio and 10–20 years of duration were best for improving crop yield, SOC, AP, AK, and TN. This study highlights the importance of optimal organic amendment through straw or manure applications to achieve a win–win between crop yield and soil fertility under the requirement of sustainable agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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16 pages, 2296 KiB  
Article
Effect of Long-Term Different Land Uses on Improving Stable Humic Compounds in Arenosol
by Kristina Amaleviciute-Volunge, Liudmila Tripolskaja, Asta Kazlauskaite-Jadzevice, Alvyra Slepetiene and Eugenija Baksiene
Agriculture 2024, 14(2), 250; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14020250 - 03 Feb 2024
Viewed by 704
Abstract
There has not been enough research conducted on the effect of land use on the composition of humus in Arenosols. This long-term study (1995–2022) aimed to determine the differences in the formation of humic compounds in the natural and agricultural ecosystems of Arenosols. [...] Read more.
There has not been enough research conducted on the effect of land use on the composition of humus in Arenosols. This long-term study (1995–2022) aimed to determine the differences in the formation of humic compounds in the natural and agricultural ecosystems of Arenosols. Soil samples were collected from six plots at two soil depths (0–15 and 15–25 cm), with four replicates. Conclusions were reached based on the results of the accumulation of humic substances (HSs) and their qualitative fractional composition, C/N ratio, humification degree (HD), and the optical properties of the humus substances. Afforestation, after 27 years, significantly increased (+6.7 g kg−1) the soil organic carbon (SOC) and influenced the qualitative composition of HS: HA + FA 79.3% of the SOC. Grassland cultivation showed faster (+3.8 g kg−1) SOC sequestration, a higher HA/FA ratio, and an increased HD. Arenosols may be used in crop rotation with approximately 40% leguminous plants to maintain a stable humus balance. Additionally, the effects of mineral fertilisers on the humification processes and humus quality of +2.59 g kg−1 SOC, +1.27 g kg−1 humin in crop rotation, +3.26 g kg−1 SOC, and 2.82 g kg−1 humin in a grass cultivation field were established. For SOC accumulation and a larger humus amount of a better quality, it is recommended that an Arenosol is used, as it is suitable for use in perennial cut grasslands, natural grasslands, and pine afforestation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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12 pages, 2251 KiB  
Article
Effects of Soil Amendments on Soil Properties, Soil-Borne Pathogens, and Strawberry Growth after Dazomet Fumigation
by Qingjie Li, Okbagaber Andom, Wensheng Fang, Dongdong Yan, Yuan Li, Qiuxia Wang, Xi Jin and Aocheng Cao
Agriculture 2024, 14(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14010009 - 21 Dec 2023
Viewed by 829
Abstract
Soil fumigation can kill soil pathogens and solve the problem of crop continuous cropping. However, soil fumigation also has negative effects on the soil environment. One way to mitigate the negative effects is to apply soil amendments, but there is limited evidence of [...] Read more.
Soil fumigation can kill soil pathogens and solve the problem of crop continuous cropping. However, soil fumigation also has negative effects on the soil environment. One way to mitigate the negative effects is to apply soil amendments, but there is limited evidence of the effects of combining soil fumigation and amendments. This study was a controlled environmental pot trial. We measured the effects of dazomet fumigation combined with soil amendments on soil-borne pathogens, soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and strawberry growth. The results showed that dazomet fumigation combined with soil amendments significantly increased the content of ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus and organic matter and increased soil activities by varying degrees. We also found that the control effect of soil-borne pathogens Fusarium spp. and Phytophthora spp. was further enhanced, reaching 88.97–96.88%. Correlation analysis showed that the growth indices of strawberries such as plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, and fresh weight were negatively correlated with Fusarium spp. (R = −0.75, R= −0.62, R = −0.71, R = −0.88; p < 0.01) and Phytophthora spp. (R = −0.72, R= −0.72, R = −0.78, R = −0.91; p ≤ 0.001), respectively. The effect of fumigation combined with soil amendments was better than that of fumigation alone, and silicon fertilizer had the best effect. Our study suggests that dazomet fumigation combined with soil amendments can improve soil nutrient supply, activate soil enzyme activities, enhance the control effect of soil-borne pathogens, and thus promote strawberry growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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17 pages, 2522 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Microbiological and Chemical Properties of Soils as a Result of Anthropogenic Denudation
by Piotr Kanarek, Barbara Breza-Boruta, Mateusz Pawłowski and Mirosław Kobierski
Agriculture 2023, 13(12), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122247 - 06 Dec 2023
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Excessive agricultural intensification adversely affects soil quality, particularly in hilly terrain, leading to increased erosion. Anthropogenic denudation, intensified by tillage erosion, results in the displacement of soil material from hilltops and shoulders to their bases. The research hypothesis posits that tillage erosion adversely [...] Read more.
Excessive agricultural intensification adversely affects soil quality, particularly in hilly terrain, leading to increased erosion. Anthropogenic denudation, intensified by tillage erosion, results in the displacement of soil material from hilltops and shoulders to their bases. The research hypothesis posits that tillage erosion adversely affects the microbiological and chemical properties of soils, especially at the hilltops of intensively cultivated areas. The study aimed to assess the microbiological and chemical properties of Luvisols cultivated under conventional plowing in the moraine region of the Southern Krajna Lakeland, Poland. The evaluation focused on the results of soil sample analyses taken from the hilltops and foothills of eroded mounds. Microbiological investigations included determining the abundance of actinomycetes, filamentous fungi, heterotrophic bacteria, cellulolytic microorganisms, copiotrophs, and oligotrophs. Additionally, pH values and the contents of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, total organic carbon, and nitrogen were determined. A higher abundance of bacteria, actinomycetes, and copiotrophs was observed at the foothills. Statistically significant differences due to slope effects were noted for all chemical parameters, with higher concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus found in the foothill areas. Understanding denudation processes can contribute to sustainable soil resource use and agrocenosis conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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14 pages, 2470 KiB  
Article
The Quantity and Quality of Humic Substances following Different Land Uses in Karst Peak-Cluster Depression in Guangxi, China
by Tingting Cui, Jianbing Zhang and Weiqun Luo
Agriculture 2023, 13(12), 2246; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13122246 - 06 Dec 2023
Viewed by 856
Abstract
There were some ecological and environmental problems in limestone soil in the karst peak-cluster depression in Pingguo City of Guangxi, such as the destruction of soil structure, soil acidification and soil fertility decline, and these problems were closely related to soil organic matter. [...] Read more.
There were some ecological and environmental problems in limestone soil in the karst peak-cluster depression in Pingguo City of Guangxi, such as the destruction of soil structure, soil acidification and soil fertility decline, and these problems were closely related to soil organic matter. The soil in this site was classified as Cambisols. Therefore, this project took soil under five major land uses (grassland, afforestation, sugarcane field, corn field and pitaya field) in the karst area of Guangxi as the research object. The contents and molecular structure properties of humic acids, fulvic acids and humins in soils were studied by solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and elemental composition. From the perspective of the chemical structure of humic substances, the differences in the quantity and structural characteristics of humic acids, fulvic acids and humins in different land uses were revealed. The results showed that the organic carbon content of both afforestation (34.83 g kg−1) and natural restored grassland (31.67 g kg−1) were significantly higher than that of sugarcane field (17.60 g kg−1), corn field (16.35 g kg−1) and pitaya field (14.31 g kg−1) (p < 0.05). The contents of three humic fractions in grassland were relatively high, and the contents of three humic fractions in sugarcane field were relatively low (p < 0.05). The structural characteristics of humic substances showed that the protein components of the three humic fractions in the afforestation were high, indicating that the humic substances in the afforestation contained more unstable components. The Alkyl C/O-alkyl C and Hydrophobic C/hydrophilic C ratios of the three humic fractions of corn field were high, indicating high stability and maturity in humic substances in corn field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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24 pages, 3371 KiB  
Article
Soil Attributes and Their Interrelationships with Resistance to Root Penetration and Water Infiltration in Areas with Different Land Uses in the Apodi Plateau, Semiarid Region of Brazil
by Pollyana Mona Soares Dias, Jeane Cruz Portela, Joaquim Emanuel Fernandes Gondim, Rafael Oliveira Batista, Leticia Sequinatto Rossi, Jonatan Levi Ferreira Medeiros, Phâmella Kalliny Pereira Farias, Paulo Jardel Mota, Diego José da Costa Bandeira, Luís Cesar de Aquino Lemos Filho, Geisiane Xavier de Matos, Francisco de Oliveira Mesquita, Felipe Ozias de Oliveira, Antonio Genilson Rodrigues Araújo and Claudeone Manoel do Nascimento
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1921; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101921 - 30 Sep 2023
Viewed by 885
Abstract
Studies on soils and their interrelationships with land use in the context of the semi-arid region of Brazil are still scarce, even though they have the potential to assist in understanding the use and management of soil and agricultural crops. From this perspective, [...] Read more.
Studies on soils and their interrelationships with land use in the context of the semi-arid region of Brazil are still scarce, even though they have the potential to assist in understanding the use and management of soil and agricultural crops. From this perspective, this study investigated four land uses in different locations of the Apodi Plateau, an elevated area in semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. The different soils were analyzed for their resistance to root penetration, water infiltration, inorganic fractions, soil density, total porosity, potential of hydrogen, electrical conductivity, total organic carbon, potential acidity, and sum of bases. The soil resistance to root penetration and water infiltration were determined in the field. The results obtained were interpreted using multivariate and geostatistical analysis. The resistance data were subjected to the Shapiro–Wilk test at 5% of probability and expressed in maps, whereas infiltration data curves were constructed to estimate the amount of infiltrated water at the different time intervals. The textural classification was an important factor for the analysis of soil resistance to root penetration (Q) and the infiltration rate, being evidenced in the cluster analysis and allowing the formation of two groups, one for the surface layers of the areas and another for the subsurface layers, with the inorganic sand and clay fractions standing out with the greatest dissimilarity. The establishment of conservation practices for soil management is suggested to correct the pore space problems and the degradation of agroecosystems in areas with soils whose conditions are similar to the ones of this study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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13 pages, 2314 KiB  
Article
Effects of Deep Vertical Rotary Tillage Management Methods on Soil Quality in Saline Cotton Fields in Southern Xinjiang
by Zhijie Li, Hongguang Liu, Haichang Yang and Tangang Wang
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1864; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101864 - 23 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 975
Abstract
A long-term high-saline soil environment will limit the improvement of soil quality and cotton yield. Modified tillage management measures can improve soil quality, and the establishment of a soil quality evaluation system will facilitate evaluation of the soil quality and land production potential [...] Read more.
A long-term high-saline soil environment will limit the improvement of soil quality and cotton yield. Modified tillage management measures can improve soil quality, and the establishment of a soil quality evaluation system will facilitate evaluation of the soil quality and land production potential in southern Xinjiang. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different tillage management methods on soil quality in saline cotton fields in southern Xinjiang. A three-year experiment was conducted in Tumushuke, Xinjiang, with different deep vertical rotary tillage depths (DTM20, 20 cm; DTM40, 40 cm; DTM60, 60 cm) and conventional tillage (CTM, 20 cm). The soil quality index (SQI) under different tillage management methods was established by using the full dataset (TDS) with a scoring function for eight indicators, including physicochemical properties of the soil from 0 to 60 cm, to evaluate its impact on the soil quality of the saline farmland in southern Xinjiang. The results of the study showed that deep vertical rotary tillage management can effectively optimize soil structure; reduce soil bulk density (BD), soil solution conductivity (EC), and pH; and promote the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the soil. However, the average diameter of soil water-stable aggregates (MWD) in a 0–60 cm layer becomes smaller with an increasing depth of tillage. This does not reduce crop yields but does promote soil saline leaching. In addition, the significant linear relationship (p < 0.001) between seed cotton yield and soil quality indicated that improving soil quality was favorable for crop yield. The principal component analysis revealed BD, MWD, pH, and EC as limiting sensitive indicators for seed cotton yield, while SOC and TN were positive sensitive indicators. The soil quality index (SQI) values of DT40 and DTM60 were significantly higher than that of CTM by 11.02% and 15.27%, respectively. Overall, the results show that DTM60 is the most suitable tillage strategy to improve soil quality and seed cotton yield in this area, and this approach will provide a reliable theoretical basis for the improvement of saline farmland. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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14 pages, 1692 KiB  
Article
Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on Soil Acidification Characteristics of Tea Plantations in Karst Areas of Southwest China
by Yanling Liu, Meng Zhang, Yu Li, Yarong Zhang, Xingcheng Huang, Yehua Yang, Huaqing Zhu, Han Xiong and Taiming Jiang
Agriculture 2023, 13(4), 849; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13040849 - 11 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2061
Abstract
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is one of the causes of soil acidification at tea plantations. However, the effect of N fertilizer application on the soil acidification characteristics of tea plantations with different acidities remains unclear. In this study, field experiments were conducted to [...] Read more.
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is one of the causes of soil acidification at tea plantations. However, the effect of N fertilizer application on the soil acidification characteristics of tea plantations with different acidities remains unclear. In this study, field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer application rates on the pH, pH buffer capacity (pHBC), exchangeable total acidity (ETA), exchangeable base cations (EBCs), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) in the topsoil of non-acidified (NA), mildly acidified (MA), and heavily acidified (HA) tea plantations. The results showed that the exchangeable Al3+ (E-Al) and CEC were HA > MA > NA in all tea plantations, whereas the EBCs and base saturation percentage (BSP) were HA < MA < NA. In the tea plantations with pH > 4.0, the pH, EBCs, and BSP showed decreasing trends with increasing N fertilizer application, whereas E-Al showed an increasing trend. In the tea plantations with pH < 4.0, the soil pH showed a small increasing trend with the increase in N fertilizer application, whereas the soil exchangeable H+ (E-H), E-Al, and CEC showed decreasing trends. Meanwhile, in the pH range of 4–6, the soil acid–base buffer curve rose sharply, and an excessive application of N fertilizer (N900) significantly reduced the pHBC. In addition, a stepwise regression analysis showed that the BSP, EBCs, and exchangeable Mg2+ (E-Mg) had significant direct effects on the soil pH, whereas the CEC and N application had significant direct effects on the soil pHBC. In conclusion, a decrease in the BSP and an increase in E-Al were the main mechanisms of acidification at tea plantations, whereas a decrease in the BSP caused by the application of N fertilizer was the main cause of exacerbated soil acidification in non-acidified tea plantations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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15 pages, 4051 KiB  
Article
Effects of Tillage and Sowing Methods on Soil Physical Properties and Corn Plant Characters
by Ying Wang, Sen Yang, Jian Sun, Ziguang Liu, Xinmiao He and Jinyou Qiao
Agriculture 2023, 13(3), 600; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13030600 - 01 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2827
Abstract
In the northeast plains of China, the intensive utilization of agricultural soils has been a persistent issue, and finding ways to utilize soil resources efficiently and sustainably through a scientifically-driven management system has become a crucial challenge for agricultural production. Conservation tillage is [...] Read more.
In the northeast plains of China, the intensive utilization of agricultural soils has been a persistent issue, and finding ways to utilize soil resources efficiently and sustainably through a scientifically-driven management system has become a crucial challenge for agricultural production. Conservation tillage is a crucial technology for sustainable agriculture. Currently, plow and rotary tillage are the dominant methods used in Mollisols, but there is limited information on the effects of different conservation tillage practices in this region. The objective of this study was to investigate the short-term impact of tillage and sowing methods on soil physical properties and corn plant growth and to examine the relationship between soil physical properties and plant characteristics during various stages of growth. This study consisted of four tillage and sowing methods: plow tillage and precision seeder sowing (PTS), rotary tillage and precision seeder sowing (RTS), no-tillage and no-tillage seeder sowing (NTS), and no-tillage and precise sowing in stubble field (STS) (all four treatments involved total straw return). The results indicated that the soil penetration resistance (SPR) in the 10–40 cm soil layer under the PTS treatment was significantly lower (by 11.9% to 18%) compared to the other treatments (p < 0.05). On average, the soil moisture content in the NTS treatment was 2.7% and 1.4% higher than that of the PTS and RTS treatments. Additionally, soil temperature was 5.6% to 8.6% lower under the STS treatment compared to the other treatments during late corn growth. The RTS treatment also significantly reduced the bulk density of surface soil. High SPR impeded early crop growth but did not impact mid-crop development, while low soil temperature was one of the main factors affecting late corn growth and development as temperatures decreased. Based on the comparisons, we found that the short-term implementation of conservation tillage did not result in a significant decrease in corn yield. We believe that the short-term implementation of NTS tillage sowing practices in Mollisol regions is a feasible option. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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Review

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20 pages, 1120 KiB  
Review
Taxonomy, Ecology, and Cellulolytic Properties of the Genus Bacillus and Related Genera
by Jakub Dobrzyński, Barbara Wróbel and Ewa Beata Górska
Agriculture 2023, 13(10), 1979; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture13101979 - 12 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1392
Abstract
Bacteria of the genus Bacillus and related genera (e.g., Paenibacillus, Alicyclobacillus or Brevibacillus) belong to the phylum Firmicutes. Taxonomically, it is a diverse group of bacteria that, to date, has not been well described phylogenetically. The group consists of aerobic and [...] Read more.
Bacteria of the genus Bacillus and related genera (e.g., Paenibacillus, Alicyclobacillus or Brevibacillus) belong to the phylum Firmicutes. Taxonomically, it is a diverse group of bacteria that, to date, has not been well described phylogenetically. The group consists of aerobic and relatively anaerobic bacteria, capable of spore-forming. Bacillus spp. and related genera are widely distributed in the environment, with a particular role in soil. Their abundance in the agricultural environment depends mainly on fertilization, but can also depend on soil cultivated methods, meaning whether the plants are grown in monoculture or rotation systems. The highest abundance of the phylum Firmicutes is usually recorded in soil fertilized with manure. Due to the great abundance of cellulose in the environment, one of the most important physiological groups among these spore-forming bacteria are cellulolytic bacteria. Three key cellulases produced by Bacillus spp. and related genera are required for complete cellulose degradation and include endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and β-glucosidases. Due to probable independent evolution, cellulases are encoded by hundreds of genes, which results in a large structural diversity of these enzymes. The microbial degradation of cellulose depends on its type and environmental conditions such as pH, temperature, and various substances including metal ions. In addition, Bacillus spp. are among a few bacteria capable of producing multi-enzymatic protein complexes called cellulosomes. In conclusion, the taxonomy of Bacillus spp. and related bacteria needs to be reorganized based on, among other things, additional genetic markers. Also, the ecology of soil bacteria of the genus Bacillus requires additions, especially in the identification of physical and chemical parameters affecting the occurrence of the group of bacteria. Finally, it is worth adding that despite many spore-forming strains well-studied for cellulolytic activity, still few are used in industry, for instance for biodegradation or bioconversion of lignocellulosic waste into biogas or biofuel. Therefore, research aimed at optimizing the cellulolytic properties of spore-forming bacteria is needed for more efficient commercialization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture)
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