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Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2024 | Viewed by 35443

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Prof. Dr. José L. S. Pereira

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Agrarian School of Viseu, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Quinta da Alagoa, 3500-606 Viseu, Portugal
Interests: agricultural science; waste management; air, soil and water pollution; ammonia and greenhouse gases emissions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho

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Agricultural School (ESAV) and CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu (IPV), 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal
Interests: agricultural economics; sustainability; land use; regional planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Soil is a key resource for agricultural production and consequently for food supply and sustainable development. In fact, the quality of the soil impacts the characteristics of the outputs obtained and the income of the farms, with implications for the performance of the agricultural sector and the various associated upstream and downstream activities. Soil and climate conditions are among the first variables considered by agricultural decision makers when they need to select the most adequate production to draw up agricultural plans. On the other hand, food supply chains and various socioeconomic activities have impacts on soil quality, generating in some cases what can be called circular and cumulative processes. In these frameworks, an integrated soil management is fundamental to preserve the quality of the soil and its functions for a sustainable development and to guarantee the safety and security of the food obtained for human health and balanced nutrition. In this perspective, this special issue aims to bring a broader perspective on soil management, namely in its relationship with food supply, environmental dimensions and socioeconomic activities. We suggest the following topics:

Soil quality and agricultural performance;
Impacts of agricultural activities on soil quality;
Soil management and food safety and security;
Soil functions and sustainability;
Climate-Smart Agriculture and soil management;
Agriculture 4.0 and soil characteristics;
Industry 4.0 and impacts on soil;
Heavy metals in soil quantification;
PTEs in soil calculation;
Organic agriculture and soil parameters.

Prof. Dr. José L. S. Pereira
Dr. Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho
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. 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

agrofood chains
soil modeling
sustainability
agricultural planning
rural development
economic growth
broader approaches
carbon sink
efficiency
productivity
greenhouse gas emissions
climate-smart agriculture

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selenium and Heavy Metals in Soil–Plant System in a Hydrogeochemical Province with High Selenium Content in Groundwater: A Case Study of the Lower Dniester Valley

by Sergey Sheshnitsan, Nadezhda Golubkina, Tatiana Sheshnitsan, Otilia Cristina Murariu, Alessio Vincenzo Tallarita and Gianluca Caruso

Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010007 - 05 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1331

Abstract

The bioaccumulation of selenium (Se) and heavy metals (HMs) in plants is important because it can affect plant health and human nutrition. Recognizing the factors affecting Se accumulation in plants may have important implications for agricultural practices and human health in selenium-rich regions. The study primarily focused on the interactions between Se and HMs in the soil–plant system of the Lower Dniester Valley. Total concentrations of HMs (Cu, Mn, Zn) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, while Se concentrations were determined by a sensitive single-test-tube fluorometric method in solutions and extracts. Water-soluble Se (0.09 ± 0.03 mg·kg⁻¹) in soils was 32.1% of the total Se (0.33 ± 0.13 mg·kg⁻¹) and increased with the total rising Se content (r = 0.845). The results indicated that plants had a greater Zn accumulation capacity than that of the other HMs, suggesting its importance as a trace element for plant requirements. Se also had a high bioaccumulation rate. Se and Zn accumulation varied in different soil types, reflecting differences in bioavailability. In contrast, Mn and Cu showed low bioaccumulation, which varied with soil conditions and anthropogenic Cu pollution. Despite the Cu contamination of the soils in the investigated region, it can be inferred that the hydrogeochemical province with high Se content in groundwater has favorable conditions for Se mobilization in soils. The absence of antagonistic interactions with HMs in the soil–plant system contributes to the enhanced Se accumulation in plants in the Lower Dniester Valley. These results emphasize the complexity of the interactions between Se and HMs in the soil–plant system and their potential impact on agricultural practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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20 pages, 8168 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rotational Tillage Practices to Deal with Soil Compaction in Carbon Farming

by Chris Cavalaris, Theofanis Gemtos and Christos Karamoutis

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040090 - 18 Oct 2023

Viewed by 1565

Abstract

Conservation tillage practices, such as reduced tillage and no-tillage, have recently garnered significant attention as core elements of the regenerative agriculture and carbon farming concepts. By minimizing mechanical soil disturbance, these practices preserve soil carbon and facilitate CO₂ fixation in the soil. Despite the widely acknowledged benefits, many farmers still approach no-tillage with skepticism. Their primary concerns are weed management and soil compaction. While weeds can be effectively controlled with the deployment of integrated weed management strategies, urgent soil compaction problems can be rapidly resolved only with mechanical interventions. That is why many no-till farmers resort to occasional heavy tillage, in a scheme characterized as rotational tillage, inadvertently sacrificing their regenerative assets in soil carbon. This is also a pivotal issue within carbon farming: the fate of soil carbon at the end of a compliant scheme focused on carbon fixation. The present study explores data of soil organic matter (SOM), soil penetration resistance (PR), and dry bulk density (DBD) from the initial, six-year period of a long-term tillage experiment in Greece. During that period, modifications to the experimental design allowed diverse combinations of five tillage methods (conventional tillage, 3 reduced tillage methods, and no-tillage). The findings indeed underscore the farmers’ concerns about soil compaction. High levels of PR and DBD were observed even at the topsoil layer of the no-tillage (NT). Conventional, moldboard plowing (MP) or reduced, chisel plowing (CP) applied after four years of uninterrupted no-tillage ameliorated most of the soil compaction; however, at the same time, this induced unfavorable consequences for SOM. In contrast, NT applied permanently for six years resulted in a substantial enhancement in SOM that reached 2.24%, for a sampling depth 0–0.30 m compared to 1.54% for permanent MP. When no-tillage was rotated with plowing in the fifth year, almost 50% of the sequestered carbon was lost and the SOM dropped to 1.87%. Nevertheless, the amount of SOM observed at the deeper 0.15–0.30 m layer was greater compared to permanent NT. This suggests that while plowing induced some loss of SOM, it also facilitated the uniform distribution into the soil profile, in contrast with the accumulation in the topsoil at prolonged NT. The permanent CP method and the NT/CP rotation provided comparative outcomes in terms of both soil compaction and soil carbon sequestration with the rotational NT/MP scheme, while all the other tillage combinations were inferior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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14 pages, 293 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Enhance Growth and Increase Concentrations of Anthocyanin, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity of Black Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

by Sabaiporn Nacoon, Wasan Seemakram, Jindarat Ekprasert, Piyada Theerakulpisut, Jirawat Sanitchon, Thomas W. Kuyper and Sophon Boonlue

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7020044 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1594

Abstract

Black rice (Oryza sativa L.) contains high concentrations of bioactive compounds that are associated with human-health benefits. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can increase plant performance and concentrations of these bioactive compounds. In a pot experiment, the effects of four different species of AMF (Claroideoglomus etunicatum; Rhizophagus variabilis; Rhizophagus nov. spec.; Acaulospora longula) were assessed on growth performance, grain yield, concentrations of phenolic compounds and anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity of two black-rice cultivars. The experiment was a completely randomized factorial design with two factors, viz. cultivar (Niew Dam Hmong and Maled Phai) and treatment (four different species of AMF and two non-inoculated treatments, without and with mineral fertilizer). Results showed that cultivar, treatment, and their interaction were almost always significant sources of variation for both plant performance parameters and concentrations of bioactive compounds. Maled Phai showed higher performance and higher concentrations of phenolics and anthocyanins but lower antioxidant activity than Niew Dam Hmong. The non-inoculated treatment without mineral fertilizer showed the lowest performance. The non-inoculated treatment with mineral fertilizer resulted in larger root and shoot biomass than the mycorrhizal treatments, but grain yield was higher in the mycorrhizal treatments. Inoculation with R. variabilis resulted in the highest concentration of phenolics and anthocyanins. We conclude that R. variabilis was the best inoculum for increasing grain yield and bioactive compounds, especially in Maled Phai. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

17 pages, 1584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Natural Phytohormones on Growth, Nutritional Status, and Yield of Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) and N Availability in Sandy-Loam Soil of Sub-Tropics

by Aasma Parveen, Muhammad Mahran Aslam, Rashid Iqbal, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Kamran, Mona S. Alwahibi, Muhammad Akram and Mohamed S. Elshikh

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(2), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7020034 - 10 Apr 2023

Viewed by 2590

Abstract

Climate changes and poor soil nutrient profiles in sub-tropics are determinant factors to estimate crop productivity. This study aims to evaluate the impact of phytohormones, e.g., indole acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA₃), on mung bean yield, seed nutritional profile, and soil N availability in the sub-tropical region of Pakistan. The mung bean plants were treated with three levels (0, 30, and 60 mg L⁻¹) of IAA and GA₃ individually and/or in combination using a hydraulic sprayer. The amendments were applied in the flowering stage (approximately 25 days after germination) in a randomized complete block design. The results revealed that the 60 mg L⁻¹ concentration of IAA and GA₃ led to significant changes in the growth and yield traits compared to non-treated plants. For example, GA₃ positively influenced the biological yield (35.0%), total carbohydrate (7.0%), protein (16.0%), and nitrogen (14.0%) contents in mung bean seeds, compared to the control (CK). Additionally, the combined foliar treatment of IAA and GA₃ (IAA₂ + GA₂) displayed a much stronger influence on yield attributes, such as the number of pods by 66.0%, pods’ weights by 142.0%, and seed yield by 106.5%, compared with the CK. Mung bean plants showed a significant improvement in leaf photosynthetic pigments under a higher level (60 mg L⁻¹) of sole and combined treatments of IAA and GA₃. Moreover, except abscisic acid, the endogenous concentration of IAA, GA₃, and zeatin was enhanced by 193.0%, 67.0%, and 175.0% after the combined application of IAA and GA₃ (IAA₂ + GA₂) compared to the CK treatment. In addition, soil N availability was increased by 72.8% under the IAA₂ treatment and 61.5% under IAA₂ + GA₂, respectively, compared with the control plot. It was concluded that the combined treatment of IAA and GA₃ (IAA₂ + GA₂) followed by the sole application of GA₃ and IAA at a 60 mg L⁻¹ concentration were most effective treatments to improve the morpho-physiology and nutrient profile of mung beans; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms need to be explored further. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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15 pages, 1508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Large Chestnut Trees Did Not Respond to Annual Fertiliser Applications, Requiring a Long-Term Approach to Establishing Effective Fertilisation Plans

by Margarida Arrobas, João Silva, Mariah Ruaro Busato, Ana Carolina Ferreira, Soraia Raimundo, Abel Pereira, Taciane Finatto, Nilvania Aparecida de Mello, Carlos Manuel Correia and Manuel Ângelo Rodrigues

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7010002 - 05 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1419

Abstract

Due to the high value of the fruit, the European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), usually grown in agroforestry systems, has been planted as a single species in orchards managed with increasingly intensive cropping practices, such as the regular use of fertilisers. This justifies research into establishing fertilisation programmes oriented towards ecological intensification. In this study, the results of fruit production, plant nutritional status and soil properties are reported from a field trial in which three NPK fertilisers (20:7:10, 13:11:21 and 7:14:14) and a control treatment were used. Chestnut yields did not vary significantly between treatments, although the mean values of the control showed a clear downward trend. N supplied by the fertilisers seems to have been the most important factor in the difference between the fertilised and control treatments, since leaf N concentrations were lower in the control and often below the lower limit of the sufficiency range. Soil inorganic N levels in the autumn, and tissue N concentrations of the herbaceous vegetation developing beneath the trees, indicated risks of N loss to the environment and highlighted the importance of this vegetation remaining during the winter. The chestnuts’ poor response to fertiliser applications was attributed to the buffering effect of the large perennial structure of the trees on the distribution of nutrients to the growing plant parts. In large trees, it seems appropriate to base the annual fertilisation plan on leaf nutrient concentration. Thus, farmers probably should avoid spending money on fertilizer applications as long as leaf nutrient concentrations do not approach the lower limits of sufficiency ranges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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16 pages, 5348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Landfill Leachate on the Surrounding Environment: A Case Study on Amin Bazar Landfill, Dhaka (Bangladesh)

by Rysul Hasan Hredoy, Md. Abu Bakar Siddique, Md. Ahedul Akbor, Md. Aftab Ali Shaikh and Md. Mostafizur Rahman

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(4), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6040090 - 29 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6318

Abstract

Currently, a total of about 15,000 tons/day of waste is generated in the entire Dhaka city with an average per capita waste generation of 0.641 kg/day. Only 37% of this waste is collected and dumped into the two sanitary landfill sites, which is the only waste management system in Dhaka. To investigate the impact of landfill leachate of Amin Bazar landfill on the environmental compartments, a total of 14 composite samples (two leachates, three surface water, three groundwater, three soil, and three plants) were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and heavy metal(loid)s concentration. Based on the result of physicochemical parameters, all results were found higher in the leachate samples than the permissible limit. The heavy metal(loid)s in leachate samples have a value of high levels of contamination. Surface water, groundwater, soil, and vegetation are all polluted as a result of high levels of metal contamination. Although the Water Quality Index values of the samples based on heavy metal(loid)s concentrations were within the acceptable range, heavy metal concentrations in the soil and plants were quite high. The concentrations of lead (Pb—8 mg/kg), cadmium (Cd—0.4 mg/kg), chromium (Cr—2.26 mg/kg), and cobalt (Co—1.72 mg/kg) in all plant samples were found to be higher than the allowable limit. The individual concentration of arsenic (As—0.021 mg/L) in the leachate was higher than the maximum allowed limit. Inverse Distance Weighted analysis through ArcGIS showed that landfill leachate has the maximum probability of contaminating the surrounding environment with heavy metal(loid)s. Results showed that samples collected near the landfill have higher concentrations of heavy metal(loid)s than others, which establishes the contribution of landfill leachate in contaminating the environment with heavy metal(loid)s. The improper leachate management of landfill has a high impact on the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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14 pages, 1643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Interrelationships of Soil Nutrient Balances with the Agricultural Soil Emissions and Food Production

by Vítor João Pereira Domingues Martinho, José L. S. Pereira and José Manuel Gonçalves

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(2), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6020032 - 31 Mar 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2323

Abstract

Sustainable and adjusted soil management practices are crucial for soil quality, namely in terms of the nutrient budget. On the other hand, soil characteristics are interlinked with agricultural sustainability and food supply. In other words, soil quality influences agricultural performance and food chains, but it is also impacted by agricultural activities. In this context, this research aims to evaluate the spatial correlations of the soil nutrient balance around the world and analyse how this variable is interrelated with agricultural soil emissions, agricultural output, and food supply. To achieve these goals, data from the FAOSTAT database were considered. This statistical information was analysed with spatial autocorrelation approaches to identify spatial clusters around the world that can be considered as a basis for designing common policies. To perform panel data regressions to identify marginal effects between variables, data were first evaluated using correlation matrices and factor analysis. The results highlight that there is space for common strategies worldwide to preserve soil quality, as in some parts of the world the problems are similar. In these frameworks, the international organizations may have a determinant contribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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Review

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16 pages, 360 KiB

Open AccessReview

Managing Root Parasitic Weeds to Facilitate Legume Reintroduction into Mediterranean Rain-Fed Farming Systems

by Diego Rubiales

Soil Syst. 2023, 7(4), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7040099 - 01 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1633

Abstract

Grain and forage legumes are important sources of food and feed, key for sustainable agriculture given the environmental services they provide. However, their cultivation is hampered in the Mediterranean Basin and Near East by the widespread occurrence of the root parasitic weed crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata). Other broomrape species such as O. minor, O. foetida, and Phelipanche aegyptica are also of local importance. As for other parasitic weeds, a number of management strategies have been proposed, but considering that temperate legumes in the area are low-input crops, these strategies are largely uneconomical or hard to achieve, leaving the use of resistant cultivars as the most desirable option. Breeding for broomrape resistance is not an easy task, but significant progress has been achieved by classical breeding and selection and will profit from recent developments in phenomics and genomics. Here, achievements and prospects in broomrape management and resistance breeding are presented and critically discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

37 pages, 1765 KiB

Open AccessReview

Conservation Agriculture as a Sustainable System for Soil Health: A Review

by Belén Cárceles Rodríguez, Víctor Hugo Durán-Zuazo, Miguel Soriano Rodríguez, Iván F. García-Tejero, Baltasar Gálvez Ruiz and Simón Cuadros Tavira

Soil Syst. 2022, 6(4), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems6040087 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 15317

Abstract

Soil health is a term used to describe the general state or quality of soil, and in an agroecosystem, soil health can be defined as the ability of the soil to respond to agricultural practices in a way that sustainably supports both agricultural production and the provision of other ecosystem services. Conventional agricultural practices cause deterioration in soil quality, increasing its compaction, water erosion, and salinization and decreasing soil organic matter, nutrient content, and soil biodiversity, which negatively influences the productivity and long-term sustainability of the soil. Currently, there are many evidences throughout the world that demonstrate the capability of conservation agriculture (CA) as a sustainable system to overcome these adverse effects on soil health, to avoid soil degradation and to ensure food security. CA has multiple beneficial effects on the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil. In addition, CA can reduce the negative impacts of conventional agricultural practices on soil health while conserving the production and provision of soil ecosystem services. Today, agricultural development is facing unprecedented challenges, and CA plays a significant role in the sustainability of intensive agriculture. This review will discuss the impact of conservation agricultural practices on soil health and their role in agricultural sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Soil Management: Food Supply, Environmental Impacts, and Socioeconomic Functions)

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