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Special Issue "Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration"

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A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 June 2023 | Viewed by 5599

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Xuebo Zheng

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Guest Editor

Tobacco Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao 266101, China
Interests: soil amelioration; regulation of soil carbon and nitrogen cycle; resource utilization of agricultural waste

Dr. Hongbiao Cui

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Guest Editor

School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Interests: phytoremediation; immobilization remediation; safe utilization
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Dear Colleagues,

Soil, as an important substrate to support the growth of surface organisms, is facing great challenges of degradation and pollution. Soil improvement has become a research hotspot to promote the sustainable use of soil.

This Special Issue aims to gather new information about soil improvement technologies and methods, response processes and interactions between soil and plants, and frontier research on biological mechanisms of soil improvement.

Specifically, this Special Issue calls for original research, reviews and small-scale reviews of soil improvement methods and mechanisms, including, but not limited to: new materials and methods for soil improvement; soil improvement and carbon sequestration; cycling process of soil elements; soil–plant interaction; and biological mechanisms of soil improvement.

Dr. Xuebo Zheng
Dr. Hongbiao Cui
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. Agronomy 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 2200 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 amelioration
microorganisms
interaction between soil and plant
soil elements cycle
soil carbon sequestration

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Ecologically Restored Vegetation Roots on the Stability of Shallow Aggregates in Ionic Rare Earth Tailings Piles

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Agronomy 2023, 13(4), 993; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13040993 - 28 Mar 2023

Viewed by 418

Abstract

Aggregate stability is considered an essential indicator of changes in the physical properties of soils, and vegetation roots play a crucial role in the stability of shallow soil aggregates in ionic rare earth tailings piles during ecological remediation. In this paper, the influence of the law of ecologically restored vegetation roots on the stability of shallow aggregates of ionic rare earth tailing piles was investigated by means of field investigation tests, indoor experiments and mathematical statistics. The influence of different types of root systems on the stability of the shallow depth range aggregates of tailings piles was investigated; the correlation between vegetation root systems and the main physical parameters of rare earth tailings was clarified; and a mathematical correlation model characterizing the characteristic parameters of vegetation root systems was constructed. The evaluation index of the stability of rare earth tailings piles was constructed, and the influence of the law of the ecological restoration of vegetation root systems on the strength of shallow aggregates of ionic rare earth tailings piles was revealed. The results of the study showed that compared with the RD (root density), the root characteristic parameter with the largest response weight to the rare earth tailings pile is the RL (root length density), and the root characteristic parameter with the largest response weight to the water content is the RV (root volume). Suitable vegetation roots can effectively enhance the content of shallow large aggregates of rare ionic earth tailing piles. With the increase of the depth of a tailing pile, the content of large aggregates continues to decrease, and the content of micro aggregates continues increasing. This indicates that the vegetation root system changed the shallow soil of the rare earth tailing pile from disorderly to orderly through its own growth pattern, which effectively improved the stability of the shallow aggregates of the tailing pile and improved the physical properties of the tailing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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Open AccessArticle

Properties of Biochar Obtained from Tropical Crop Wastes Under Different Pyrolysis Temperatures and Its Application on Acidic Soil

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Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030921 - 20 Mar 2023

Viewed by 572

Abstract

When biochars are produced, feedstock is a crucial factor that determines their physicochemical properties. However, the characteristics of tropical crop waste-derived biochar have not been described and limit its availability. In this study, pineapple leaf (PAL), banana stem (BAS), sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and horticultural substrate (HCS), were used to prepare biochar at 300, 500 and 700 °C. Properties of biochars and their applications were analysed. The results indicated that hydrophobicity, nonpolarity and aromaticity of SCB biochar (SCBB) were higher than other biochars due to the loss of H (hydrogen), O (oxygen), and N (nitrogen). The pH of PAL biochar (PALB) and BAS biochar (BASB) ranged from 9.69 to 10.30 higher than that of SCBB and HCS biochar (HCSB) with 7.17–9.77. In PALB and BASB, sylvite was the dominant crystal structure. With temperature rising, C–H stretching, C=C stretching and H–O in alcohol groups decreased, and Si–O stretching in HCSB and SCBB strengthened. Biochars obtained at 500 °C, especially SCBB and HCSB, significantly promoted the growth of maize. The PALB and BASB greatly increased the soil pH/EC to 6.90–7.35 and 0.67–0.95 ms/cm, while those of SCBB and HCSB were 5.97–6.74 and 0.23–0.45 ms/cm. The application of the biochars to the soil increased soil pH, reducing the acidic soil stress in maize growth, especially PAL and BAS biochars prepared at 300 °C. Biochar prepared at lower temperature will greatly reduce energy consumption and increase the utilization efficiency of tropical agricultural waste resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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Open AccessArticle

Accumulation of Labile P Forms and Promotion of Microbial Community Diversity in Mollisol with Long-Term Manure Fertilization

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Agronomy 2023, 13(3), 884; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13030884 - 16 Mar 2023

Viewed by 498

Abstract

Soil phosphorus (P) can be divided into inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po). Microorganisms play essential roles in soil P transformation. However, there are many ways to detect P transformation, and the relationship between P forms and microorganisms under long-term fertilization is largely unclear. In this study, soil P forms were analyzed by a chemical sequential fractionation method and solution ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P-NMR) technique. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) contents were measured by gas chromatography as the characterization of soil microbial community structures. The objective was to determine the changes of soil P forms and associated microbial community composition in mollisol with long-term fertilization. We sampled soil from a field experiment with 26-year-old continuous maize (Zea mays L.) cropping in Northeastern China. Three fertilization treatments were selected as chemical fertilization (NPK), NPK with crop straw (NPKS), and NPK with manure (NPKM). As shown in ³¹P-NMR spectra, orthophosphate accounted for 62.8–85.8% of total extract P. Comparison to NPK and NPKS treatments, NPKM application notably increased the concentrations of Po, Olsen-P, orthophosphate, orthophosphate monoester, and total P. Soil P fractions including resin-Pi, NaHCO₃-P, NaOH-P, and HCl-P, especially Pi fractions, were enhanced by NPKM. The amounts of total PLFAs and PLFAs in bacteria, Gram-positive (G⁺) and Gram-negative (G⁻) bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi were high in NPKM-treated soil. The percentages of PLFAs in bacteria and fungi in total soil PLFAs were 56.8% and 9.7%, respectively, which did not show any significant difference among the treatments. NPKM increased the proportions (%) of PLFAs in G⁺ bacteria, and NPKS increased the proportions (%) of G⁻ bacteria in total PLFAs. The composition of soil microbial community was found to be significantly affected by soil total carbon and pH. There was a close relationship between HCl-Pi, NaHCO₃-Po, orthophosphate, and pyrophosphate with anaerobe, aerobes, and G⁺. Manure addition directly increased soil available P concentrations, and indirectly acted through the alterations of anaerobe, aerobes, and G⁺. It is concluded that long-term NPKM application would lead to the accumulation of labile P and moderately labile P in mollisol through the activity of soil microbes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Successive Seasonal Application of Rice Straw-Derived Biochar Improves the Acidity and Fertility of Red Soil in Southern China

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Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020505 - 09 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 674

Abstract

Soil acidity is a crop production problem of increasing concern in acid red soil. The potential of biochar as a soil amendment/for soil acid management in agricultural fields is a recently recognized yet underutilized technology. Related evidence is currently limited to short-term indoor experiments with one-time BC applications and no crop cultivation, yet the degree to which soil acidity may be impacted by the biochar aging process on long-time scale remains unclear. To evaluate the effects of successive seasonal applications of rice straw-derived biochar (BC) on acidity and fertility of soil, a five-year outdoor column trial was conducted using wheat-millet rotated acidic upland soils from the south of China. BC was applied to the top 0–15 cm of soil at the rates of 0 (BC0), 2.25 (BCL), and 22.5 (BCM) Mg ha⁻¹ with an identical dose of NPK fertilizers at the beginning of each crop season. Our results showed that the wheat-millet biomass yield gradually decreased over five rotation cycles in BC0 without BC application. In contrast, after five rotations, BCM led to an increase in the total wheat/millet grain yield by 138%, and the straw yield increased by 253% compared to the control. The cumulative above-ground nutrient uptake of P, K, Ca, Na, and Mg in BCM also increased by 139%, 171%, 129%, 182%, and 71%, respectively, compared to that in the control. This positive effect was attributed to the increase in soil pH (3.29 units), cation exchange capacity (5.66 cmol kg⁻¹), soil available P (241%), K (513%), Ca (245%), Mg (265%), exchange base (3.36 cmol kg⁻¹), base saturation percentage (65.7%), and decrease in the exchangeable acidity, especially exchangeable Al³⁺ content (<0.1 cmol kg⁻¹). Our results demonstrated that rice straw-derived BC application to soil at 22.5 t ha⁻¹ was found to be highly consistent in decreasing soil acidity and reducing soluble and exchangeable Al³⁺, indicating its higher ameliorating capacity in the south of China in the long run. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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Open AccessArticle

Contrasting Effects of Nitrogen and Organic Fertilizers on Iron Dynamics in Soil after 38–Year Fertilization Practice

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Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020371 - 27 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 779

Abstract

Various environmental factors and anthropogenic practices can affect the Fe biogeochemical cycles in soils. Nitrogen and carbon states are closely associated with Fe dynamics. However, we still have a limited understanding of the complex response of Fe biogeochemical processes to long–term nitrogen– and organic–fertilization regimes. This study investigated the Fe fraction and distribution, as well as the link between Fe and nitrogen/carbon, in bulk soil and in soil aggregates. The results showed that the long–term application of the nitrogen fertilizer increased the contents of water–soluble iron (Ws–Fe) and carbonate–bound iron (Ca–Fe) in the bulk soil and various sizes of aggregates, as well as the iron contents in soybeans. The decreased pH and enhanced Feammox reaction in response to the nitrogen–fertilizer treatments were responsible for the increase in the Ws–Fe and Ca–Fe fractions. By contrast, the long–term application of the organic fertilizer decreased the contents of Ws–Fe and Ca–Fe, while it increased the contents of Ox–Fe and Or–Fe. Moreover, the contents of Ox–Fe and Or–Fe were positively correlated with the organic–carbon contents in the micro–aggregates of 0.053–0.25 mm and <0.053 mm. These results indicated that the long–term use of the organic fertilizer encouraged Fe immobilization in organo–inorganic compounds. However, the application of the nitrogen fertilizer alleviated the Fe retention induced by the organic fertilizer. In conclusion, long–term nitrogen and organic fertilization have contrasting influences on the mineralogy and availability of Fe in soil. This study is useful for understanding the mechanism underlying the interaction between Fe and nitrogen/carbon, as well as Fe’s phytoavailability in response to different fertilization practices in brown soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Core Rhizosphere Taxa and Peanut Nodulation Capacity under Different Cover Crop Amendments

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Agronomy 2023, 13(2), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13020311 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 533

Abstract

Adequate exploitation of legume–rhizobia symbiosis for nitrogen fixation may help to alleviate the overuse of chemical nitrogen fertilizer and aid in sustainable agricultural development. However, controlling this beneficial interaction requires thorough characterization of the effects of soil rhizosphere microorganisms, especially core taxa, on the legume–rhizobia symbiosis. Here, we used Illumina sequencing to investigate the effects of cover crop (Raphanus sativus L. and Lolium perenne L.) residue on the rhizosphere soil microbial community and peanut nodulation ability. The results indicated that Raphanus sativus L. amendment (RS) significantly increased soil available phosphorus (AP) content and peanut nodulation ability, while the Lolium perenne L. amendment (LP) had no noticeable impact on peanut nodulation. LP and RS significantly elevated bacterial and rhizobial diversity, reduced fungal diversity, and shifted microbial community structure (bacteria, 14.7%, p = 0.001; rhizobia, 21.7%, p = 0.001; fungi, 25.5%, p = 0.001). Random forest analysis found that the core rhizosphere taxa, sharing similar ecological preferences, were the primary drivers of peanut nodulation. By least squares regression, soil AP content was found to be positively correlated with the relative abundance of key ecological clusters. Furthermore, RS was found to promote peanut nodulation by increasing the relative abundance of critical rhizosphere taxa. Overall, our findings emphasize that core microbial taxa might play an essential function in the modulation of legume nodulation and provide scientific evidence for the effective management of the plant microbiome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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Open AccessArticle

Beneficial Effects of Biochar Application with Nitrogen Fertilizer on Soil Nitrogen Retention, Absorption and Utilization in Maize Production

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Agronomy 2023, 13(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13010113 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1427

Abstract

The irrational use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer has become a major threat to soil quality and food security, resulting in serious ecological and environmental problems. Holistic approaches to N fertilizer application are required to maintain a high N utilization efficiency (NUE) and sustainable agriculture development. Biochar is an efficient carbon-rich material for amending soil quality and promoting crop N uptake, but knowledge pertaining to the promoting effects of biochar application on N fertilizers is still limited. In this study, a field plot experiment was designed to detect the combined effects of biochar (0, 15 and 30 t ha⁻¹) and N fertilizer (204, 240 and 276 kg N ha⁻¹) on the soil nutrient levels, NUE, plant growth performance and crop production of maize. The results demonstrated that the combined application of N fertilizer and biochar can significantly decrease the soil pH and increase the contents of soil organic carbon, mineral N, available phosphorus and potassium. The crop N uptake and N content were largely promoted by the addition of N fertilizer and biochar, resulting in higher leaf photosynthetic efficiency, dry matter accumulation and grain yields. The highest yields (14,928 kg ha⁻¹) were achieved using 276 kg N ha⁻¹ N fertilizer in combination with 15 t ha⁻¹ biochar, and the highest NUE value (46.3%) was reached with 204 kg N ha⁻¹ N of fertilizer blended with 30 t ha⁻¹ of biochar. According to structural equation modeling, the beneficial effects of N fertilizer and biochar on the plant biomass of maize were attributed to the direct effects related to soil chemical properties and plant growth parameters. In conclusion, N fertilizer combined with biochar application is an effective strategy to enhance the utilization of N fertilizer and crop production for maize by increasing soil fertility, improving plant crop uptake and promoting plant growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Properties, Microorganisms and Plants in Soils after Amelioration)

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