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Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture

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A special issue of Soil Systems (ISSN 2571-8789).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 28351

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Dr. Antonella Lavini

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Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (ISAFOM), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 80055 Portici, NA, Italy
Interests: sustainable agronomic management; soil quality; alternative crops; water stress; salinity stress; agronomy; herbaceous crops; quinoa; amaranth
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Mohamed Houssemeddine Sellami

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1. Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (ISAFOM), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), 80055 Portici, NA, Italy
2. Interdepartmental Research Centre on the “Earth Critical Zone”, University of Naples Federico II, 80055 Portici, Italy
Interests: irrigation agronomy; alternative crops; legume breeding; protein crops; proximal sensing; abiotic stresses; water management in agriculture
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The need to reduce hunger in the world and to safeguard terrestrial ecosystems are the objectives of sustainable development; for this reason, innovations applied to cropping systems towards the sustainable intensification of production are very important. Globally, the decline in crop productivity is mainly due to climate change, a loss of soil fertility and a reduction in biodiversity. These findings, largely aggravated by population growth and the limited availability of arable land, require rational interventions to allow farmers to produce more efficiently.

Sustainable agriculture represents the virtuous innovation of the use and management of systemic agronomic technologies aimed, in particular, at reducing the environmental impact by emitting less CO₂ emissions and reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, thus better protecting biodiversity, water, and soil using practices that build healthy soil and reduce erosion. It is also an agricultural approach that considers the economic aspects and social issues for the well-being and health of humanity on a global scale.

This Special Issue, entitled “Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture”, focuses on new and innovative approaches to making modern agriculture more soil-friendly, as well as on strategies for enhancing soil productivity.

Dr. Antonella Lavini
Dr. Mohamed Houssemeddine Sellami
Guest Editors

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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. Soil Systems is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainable agriculture
soil quality
best agronomic practices
soil physical properties
soil management
conservation agriculture
precision agriculture
cover crop and rotation
water management
nutrient management

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 202 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture

by Mohamed Houssemeddine Sellami and Antonella Lavini

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040098 - 31 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1308

Abstract

The growing interest in soil health and sustainable agriculture has emerged as a paramount element in addressing the multifaceted challenges facing modern agriculture [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

Research

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16 pages, 1439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Soil Carbon Stock and Indices in Sandy Soil Affected by Eucalyptus Harvest Residue Management in the South of Brazil

by Jackson Freitas Brilhante de São José, Luciano Kayser Vargas, Bruno Britto Lisboa, Frederico Costa Beber Vieira, Josiléia Acordi Zanatta, Elias Frank Araujo and Cimelio Bayer

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040093 - 21 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1520

Abstract

There has been limited research on the effect of eucalyptus harvest residue management on soil organic carbon (SOC) in subtropical environments. This research evaluated the effect on soil C indices of the following eucalyptus harvest residue managements: AR, with all forest remnants left on the soil; NB, where bark was removed; NBr, in which branches were removed; NR, which removed all residues; and NRs, which is same as NR but also used a shade net to prevent the litter from the new plantation from reaching the soil surface. C stocks within the soil depths of 0–20 cm and 0–100 cm increased linearly with the C input from eucalyptus harvest residues. In the layer of 0–20 cm, the lowest soil C retention rate was 0.23 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, in the NR treatment, while in the AR treatment, the retention rate was 0.68 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. In the 0–100 cm layer, the highest C retention rate was obtained in the AR (1.47 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The residues showed a high humification coefficient (k₁ = 0.23) and a high soil organic matter decomposition rate (k₂ = 0.10). The carbon management index showed a close relationship with the C input and tree diameter at breast height. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 1545 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Paper Mill Biosolids and Forest-Derived Liming Materials Applied on Cropland: Residual Effects on Soil Properties and Metal Availability

by Bernard Gagnon and Noura Ziadi

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(2), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7020040 - 19 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1206

Abstract

Combined paper mill biosolids (PB) and forest-derived liming by-products improve soil properties, but their residual effects following several years of application have hardly been investigated. A 13-year (2009–2021) field study was initiated at Yamachiche, QC, Canada, to assess the residual effects of PB and liming materials on the properties of a loamy soil. The PB was applied during nine consecutive years (2000–2008) at 0, 30, 60, and 90 Mg wet·ha⁻¹, whereas the 30 Mg PB·ha⁻¹ rate also received one of three liming materials (calcitic lime, lime mud, wood ash) at 3 Mg wet·ha⁻¹. No amendment was applied during residual years. Past liming materials continued to increase soil pH but their effect decreased over time; meanwhile, past PB applications caused a low increase in residual soil NO₃-N. Soil total C, which represented 40% of added organic C when PB applications ceased, stabilized to 15% after six years. Soil Mehlich-3-extractable contents declined over the thirteen residual years to be not significant for P, K, and Cu, while they reached half the values of the application years for Zn and Cd. Conversely, Mehlich-3 Ca was little affected by time. Therefore, land PB and liming material applications benefited soil properties several years after their cessation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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18 pages, 2372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Natural and Anthropogenic Sources of Cadmium in Cacao Crop Soils of Santander, Colombia

by Valentina Joya-Barrero, Carme Huguet and Jillian Pearse

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7010012 - 06 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2145

Abstract

Elevated cadmium (Cd) levels in cacao products have been detected in a major cacao-producing region of Colombia, with concentrations well above those permitted for export and posing a potential threat to human health. Geochemical and petrographic analyses of fertilizer, soil and rocks from three farms were used to determine the origin of Cd. Parent rocks were the main source of the Cd in soils, while organic fertilizer may have further contributed to elevated metal content in one farm. High Cd levels in the organic fertilizer were most likely due to bioaccumulation, since it was sourced from animals in the same area. Even though the soil pH range, elevated OM content and the presence of Mn and K diminish bioavailability, the extremely high Cd content in soils results nonetheless in significant uptake by the plants and subsequent accumulation in cocoa beans. Traditional methods to reduce Cd adsorption, such as the addition of calcium, will not be effective in this case. Instead, the selection of cacao species that are naturally low accumulators and amendment with soil microorganisms with mineralization and biotransformation capabilities, as well as testing of fertilizers before application, could all be cost-effective solutions to reduce Cd in the final product. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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13 pages, 1973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic C Fractions in Topsoil under Different Management Systems in Northeastern Brazil

by Adriano Venicius Santana Gualberto, Henrique Antunes de Souza, Edvaldo Sagrilo, Ademir Sergio Ferreira Araujo, Lucas William Mendes, Erika Valente de Medeiros, Arthur Prudêncio de Araujo Pereira, Diogo Paes da Costa, Renato Falconeres Vogado, João Rodrigues da Cunha, Marcos Lopes Teixeira and Luiz Fernando Carvalho Leite

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7010011 - 05 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1919

Abstract

The conversion from native forest to other land-use systems can decline the soil organic carbon (SOC) in tropical soils. However, conservationist management could mitigate SOC losses, promoting the functioning and stability of agricultural soils. This study aimed to address the influence of conversion from native forest to different land-use systems on SOC fractions in Northeastern Brazil. Topsoil soil samples were collected in areas under pasture (PAS), no-tillage (NT1 and NT2), eucalyptus (EUC), and native forests of Cerrado in Northeastern, Brazil. Total organic C, microbial biomass (MBC), particulate (POC), and mineral-occluded organic C (MOC), as well as fulvic acids (C-FA), humic acids (C-HA), and humin (C-HUM) fractions were accessed. The results showed that land conversion maintained similar levels of humic fractions and total organic carbon (TOC) stocks in the PAS, NT1, NT2, and EUC as compared to native Cerrado. Soils with the input of permanent and diverse fresh organic material, such as NT2, PAS, and EUC, presented high levels of MBC and POC, and the lowest C-FA:TOC and C-HA:TOC ratios. The land conversion to agricultural systems that include cropping rotations associated with pasture species such as Mombasa grass and eucalyptus prevents topsoil losses of active C compartments in the Cerrado of the Brazilian Northeast. It suggests that sustainable and conservationist management should be emphasized to maintain and improve the status of soil organic C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 2666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytoremediating a Wastewater-Irrigated Soil Contaminated with Toxic Metals: Comparing the Efficacies of Different Crops

by Iftikhar Ahmad, Saeed Ahmad Malik, Shafqat Saeed, Atta-ur Rehman and Tariq Muhammad Munir

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(4), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6040077 - 10 Oct 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1560

Abstract

A formidable challenge in suburban agriculture is the sustainability of soil health following the use of wastewater for irrigation. The wastewater irrigation likely toxifies the crop plants making them unconsumable. We used a multivariate, completely randomized design in a greenhouse, comparing the phytoextraction capacities of Brassica juncea, Eruca sativa, Brassica rapa, and Brassica napus—all grown on silt loam soil irrigated with industrial wastewater, canal water, and a 1:1 mixture, during 2018. The studied Brassica plants were generally closely efficient in remediating toxic metals found in wastewater irrigated soil. Substantial differences between Brassica and Eruca plants/parts were recorded. For example, B. napus had significantly higher metal extraction or accumulation compared to E. sativa for Zn (71%), Cu (69%), Fe (78%), Mn (79%), Cd (101%), Cr (57%), Ni (92%). and Pb (49%). While the water and plant were the main predictors of metal extraction or accumulation, an interaction between the main effects substantially contributed to Cu, Mn, and Fe extractions from soil and accumulations in plants. Significant correlations between biological accumulation coefficient and biological transfer coefficient for many metals further supported the metal extraction or accumulation efficiencies as: B. napus > B. juncea > B. rapa > E. sativa. Root-stem mobility index correlation with stem-leaf mobility index indicated the metal translocation along the root-stem-leaf continuum. Therefore, we suggest that these crops may not be used for human or animal consumption when grown with industrial wastewater of toxic metal concentrations ≥ permissible limits. Rather these plants may serve as effective remediators of toxic metal-polluted soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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10 pages, 1014 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Manganese Uptake to Wheat Shoot Meristems Is Differentially Influenced by Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungal Communities Adapted to Acidic Soil

by Jorge M. S. Faria, Dora Martins Teixeira, Diana Ferreira, Pedro Barrulas, Isabel Brito, Ana Paula Pinto and Mário Carvalho

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(2), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6020050 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1940

Abstract

Soil acidity is a strong promoter of the bioavailability of Al, Fe, and Mn, whose concentrations can sometimes reach toxic levels for plants. In agricultural soils, the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has shown a protective influence on wheat growth under Mn toxicity. The intact extraradical mycelium (ERM) promotes faster AMF colonization, leading to a higher wheat shoot weight, lower Mn uptake, and changes in antioxidant enzyme activity. Its effect on the uptake and distribution of plant nutrients according to the developmental stage of shoot organs has seldomly been analyzed. In the present study, Mn, Mg, Ca, and K were quantified by ICP–MS in leaves and apical meristems of wheat grown in soil with two different ERM consortia, developed from the native plants Lolium rigidum (LOL) and Ornithopus compressus (ORN). The ORN treatment induced the highest wheat shoot weights and the lowest Mn levels. In the leaves, no significant differences were detected for Mg, Ca, or K, but in the apical meristems, the ORN treatment slightly lowered the Ca concentration. The AMF associated with ORN was seen to enhance wheat weight partly by protecting the zones of active growth against high Mn levels in Mn toxic soils. The use of ORN in acidic soils with Mn toxicity provides a sustainable alternative and an efficient complement to current farming practices to lower the negative impacts of farming on the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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19 pages, 2191 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nitrogen Budget and Statistical Entropy Analysis of the Tiber River Catchment, a Highly Anthropized Environment

by Alessandra De Marco, Maria Francesca Fornasier, Augusto Screpanti, Danilo Lombardi and Marcello Vitale

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6010017 - 02 Feb 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2307

Abstract

Modern farming causes a decline in the recycling of the soil’s inorganic matter due to losses by leaching, runoff, or infiltration into the groundwater. The Soil System Budget approach was applied to evaluate the net N budget at the catchment and sub-catchment levels of the Tiber River (central Italy) in order to establish the causes for different N budgets among the sub-catchments. Statistical Entropy Analysis (SEA) was used to evaluate the N efficiency of the Tiber River and its sub-catchments, providing information on the dispersion of different N forms in the environment. The total N inputs exceeded the total outputs, showing a low N retention (15.8%) at the catchment level, although some sub-catchments showed higher N retention values. The Utilized Agricultural Area was important in the determination of the N balance, as it was linked to zoo- and agricultural activities, although the Random Forest analysis showed that the importance ranking changed with the land use. The low N retention of the Tiber catchment was due to the soil characteristics (Cambisols and Leptosols), loads from atmospheric deposition, biological fixation, and the livestock industry. The SEA simulations showed a reduction of the N released into the atmosphere and groundwater compartments from 34% to 6% through a reduction of the N loads by 50%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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12 pages, 499 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leonardites Rich in Humic and Fulvic Acids Had Little Effect on Tissue Elemental Composition and Dry Matter Yield in Pot-Grown Olive Cuttings

by Margarida Arrobas, Surian Fernanda de Almeida, Soraia Raimundo, Lucas da Silva Domingues and Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6010007 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3340

Abstract

The use of humic substances in agriculture has increased in recent years, and leonardite has been an important raw material in the manufacture of commercial products rich in humic and fulvic acids. Leonardite-based products have been used to improve soil properties and to help plants cope with abiotic and biotic stresses. In this study, the effects of two commercial leonardites and an organic compost, in addition to a control treatment, were assessed for pot-grown olive plants over a period of fourteen months on soil properties, tissue elemental composition and dry matter yield (DMY). Three organic amendments were applied at single and double rates of that set by the manufacturer. The study was arranged in two experiments: one containing the seven treatments mentioned above and the other containing the same treatments supplemented with mineral nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization. Overall, organic compost increased soil organic carbon by ~8% over the control. In the experiment without NPK supplementation, N concentrations in shoots and P in roots were the highest for the compost application (leaf N 12% and root P 32% higher than in the control), while in the experiment with NPK supplementation, no significant differences were observed between treatments. Total DMY was ~10% higher in the set of treatments with NPK in comparison to treatments without NPK. Leonardites did not affect significantly any measured variables in comparison to the control. In this study, a good management of the majority of environmental variables affecting plant growth may have reduced the possibility of obtaining a positive effect on plant nutritional status and growth from the use of commercial leonardites. The leonardites seemed to have caused a slight effect on biological N immobilization. This is not necessarily an advantage or a drawback; it is rather a feature that must be understood to help farmers make better use of these products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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Review

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19 pages, 4060 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research Evolution on the Impact of Agronomic Practices on Soil Health from 1996 to 2021: A Bibliometric Analysis

by Mohamed Houssemeddine Sellami and Fabio Terribile

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(3), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7030078 - 11 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1577

Abstract

In the last two decades, there has been a significant shift in focus towards soil health by international institutions, organizations, and scholars. Recognizing the vital role of soil in sustaining agriculture, ecosystems, and mitigating climate change, there has been a concerted effort to study and understand soil health more comprehensively. In this study, a bibliometric analysis was performed in order to determine the research trend of the articles published in the Scopus database in the last 26 years on soil health experimental studies and agronomic practices conducted in field conditions on agricultural soils. It has been observed that, after 2013, there has been a significant increase in research articles on soil health, with the USA and India research institutions ranking as the most productive on this topic. There is an asymmetry in international cooperation among research institutions, as well as for scholars. In addition, the research topic is gradually shifting from the effects of soil management strategies, especially nutrient management, on soil organic carbon and yield to the study of the impact of soil management on biochemistry and microbiological soil activities and greenhouse gas emissions. Future research should focus into more integrated approaches to achieve soil indicators enabling to evaluate the impact of sustainable management practices (e.g., cropping practices) on soil health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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17 pages, 1347 KiB

Open AccessReview

Symbiotic and Asymmetric Causality of the Soil Tillage System and Biochar Application on Soil Carbon Sequestration and Crop Production

by Amare Assefa Bogale, Anteneh Agezew Melash and Attila Percze

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(2), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7020048 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2159

Abstract

Agriculture faces a significant challenge in maintaining crop production to meet the calorie demand of the ever-growing population because of limited arable land and climate change. This enforces a search for alternative multifarious agricultural-based solutions to meet the calorie demand. In search of alternatives, agricultural soil management has been highlighted and is expected to contribute to climate change mitigation through soil carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through effective agricultural management practices. The addition of biochar to the soil significantly improves the soil nitrogen status, soil organic carbon, and phosphorus, with greater effects under the different tillage systems. This symbiosis association could further change the bacterial structure in the deeper soil layer which thus would be important to enhancing productivity, particularly in vertisols. Biochar also has an environmental risk and negative consequences. Heavy metals could be present in the final food products if we use contaminated raw materials to prepare biochar. However, there is a need to investigate biochar application under different climatic conditions, seasons, soil tillage systems, and crop types. These indicate that the positive effect of proper biochar fertilization on the physiology, yield formation, nutrient uptake, and soil health indicators substantiate the need to include biochar in the form of nutrients in the crop production sector, especially in light of the changing climate and soil tillage systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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19 pages, 1289 KiB

Open AccessReview

Micronutrients in Food Production: What Can We Learn from Natural Ecosystems?

by Sarah M. Denton-Thompson and Emma J. Sayer

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6010008 - 12 Jan 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5462

Abstract

Soil micronutrients limit crop productivity in many regions worldwide, and micronutrient deficiencies affect over two billion people globally. Microbial biofertilizers could combat these issues by inoculating arable soils with microorganisms that mobilize micronutrients, increasing their availability to crop plants in an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective manner. However, the widespread application of biofertilizers is limited by complex micronutrient–microbe–plant interactions, which reduce their effectiveness under field conditions. Here, we review the current state of seven micronutrients in food production. We examine the mechanisms underpinning microbial micronutrient mobilization in natural ecosystems and synthesize the state-of-knowledge to improve our overall understanding of biofertilizers in food crop production. We demonstrate that, although soil micronutrient concentrations are strongly influenced by soil conditions, land management practices can also substantially affect micronutrient availability and uptake by plants. The effectiveness of biofertilizers varies, but several lines of evidence indicate substantial benefits in co-applying biofertilizers with conventional inorganic or organic fertilizers. Studies of micronutrient cycling in natural ecosystems provide examples of microbial taxa capable of mobilizing multiple micronutrients whilst withstanding harsh environmental conditions. Research into the mechanisms of microbial nutrient mobilization in natural ecosystems could, therefore, yield effective biofertilizers to improve crop nutrition under global changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancements in Soil and Sustainable Agriculture)

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