Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yingdan Yuan, Mengting Zu, Runze Li, Jiajia Zuo, Jun Tao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of two commonly used MPs, polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), on the properties and microbial communities in saline-alkali soil. It was found that MP treatment reduced soil electrical conductivity but somewhat enhanced enzyme activities and effective nutrient content. Microbial diversity was affected by the type, dose, size, and interaction of MPs, with fungi being more sensitive than bacteria. PE exerted a stronger effect on bacterial function than PP, with high-dose PE treatment suppressing soil bacteria's nitrogen fixation potential.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Fating Yin, Fenghua Zhang
Summary: The degradation potential of soil microbes significantly increased after reclamation. Bacteria were found to be the dominant microbial group, with Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria as the most abundant phyla. Soil microbial diversity and abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) encoding genes increased after reclamation, especially those related to cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin, and lignin decomposition. Deterministic and stochastic processes both played a role in microbial community succession in reclaimed soils, with soil EC, C/N ratio, Na+ content, and pH being important factors.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yunshuo Xu, Yu Gao, Wubo Li, Shuang Chen, Yajun Li, Yan Shi
Summary: This study investigated the effects of compound water retention agents on nutrient content and soil microbial diversity in saline winter wheat soils. The results showed that the application of water retention agents increased soil water content. However, the decreases in soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, and organic matter content were greater in treatments with higher amounts of compound water retention agent. The treatment with the highest amount of compound water retention agent (T2) had the highest soil microbial diversity and overall number of OTUs.
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuai Wang, Hanyu Chang, Zhenfei Dong, Yansen Ren, Tianle Tan, Hui Deng
Summary: The purpose of this study was to reduce phenolic substances in bio-mass pyrolysis fluid (BPF) and study its effect on improving saline-alkali soil. BPF was separated into upper and lower phases, with phenolic substances mainly concentrated in the upper phase. The lower phase, after dilution, was added to saline-alkali soil and significantly increased soil nutrient content, reduced soil pH and salt content, and increased soil enzyme activities. Microbial community analysis showed an increased proportion of Actinomycetes, which improved soil fertility and the growth of Chinese cabbage.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Hao Zhang, Julin Gao, Xiaofang Yu, Daling Ma, Shuping Hu, Tianao Shen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different tillage methods on soil improvement and maize growth in cropland with varying degrees of salinization. The results showed that deep straw return significantly improved soil nutrients and reduced salinity levels, leading to better growth and higher yield of maize, especially in moderately saline-alkali land.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hui Liu, Jiazhen Zhang, Luying Zhang, Xi Zhang, Rui Yang
Summary: Recent studies have found that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can accelerate the decomposition of leaf litters and alter the associated bacterial and fungal communities. This effect of AMF on decomposition is not influenced by the level of soil saline-alkali. AMF significantly increased the richness and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xing Liu, Xiang Lu, Wenqiang Zhao, Sheng Yang, Jinwang Wang, Haitao Xia, Xin Wei, Junbiao Zhang, Lei Chen, Qiuxia Chen
Summary: In a field experiment conducted in a reclaimed area along the coast of Zhejiang, China, it was found that after 3 years of Albizzia julibrissin plantation, rhizosphere soil salinity decreased, nutrients increased, creating a favorable habitat for bacteria growth, forming a complex co-occurrence network that promoted nutrient cycling.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanfen Zheng, Xuwen Cao, Yanan Zhou, Zhe Li, Yanzhe Yang, Donglin Zhao, Yiqiang Li, Zongchang Xu, Cheng-Sheng Zhang
Summary: Soil salinization is a serious global environmental problem that affects the sustainable development of agriculture. This study shows that salt-tolerant legumes Glycine soja and Sesbania cannabina can effectively ameliorate coastal saline soil by reducing salinity and increasing nutrient content. The enrichment of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as Azotobacter, in legumes contributes to soil nitrogen accumulation and improves the soil microbial community. Overall, this research highlights the importance of legumes and soil microbes in the phytoremediation of saline soils.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qianjun Yu, Lizhu Suo, Ji Qi, Yi Wang, Qiuli Hu, Yan Shan, Ying Zhao
Summary: This study investigated the parameters and analyzed soil samples of 36 typical Tamarix chinensis communities in the Yellow River Delta. The results showed that T. chinensis density, ground diameter, and canopy coverage increased with increasing distance from the coast, but the communities with the highest plant species diversity were found at 10 to 20 km distance from the coastline. Soil texture, water, and salinity were identified as the main factors influencing T. chinensis community diversity.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Barbara Prack McCormick, Veronica A. El Mujtar, Andrea Cardozo, Valeria E. Alvarez, Hernan A. Rodriguez, Pablo A. Tittonell
Summary: This study assessed the impacts of management systems and organic nutrient sources on soil chemical quality and microbial biodiversity in raspberry production. The results showed that the effects varied between different areas. In the raspberry rows, the organic nutrient source influenced soil respiration, biodiversity indexes, and bacterial community structure. In the inter-rows, the management system, organic nutrient source, age, or their interactions affected soil electrical conductivity, extractable phosphorus, and total nitrogen. Furthermore, associations were found between soil chemical properties and microbial biodiversity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Zhen Liu, Jing Li, Yitao Zhang, Huarui Gong, Ruixing Hou, Zhigang Sun, Zhu Ouyang
Summary: The study found that soil microbes play a significant role in the formation of inorganic carbon in saline-alkali lands. In addition to the abiotic mechanisms, the microbial mechanisms behind this process were investigated. After isolating soil microbes from saline-alkali farmland, it was determined that seven strains were capable of forming carbonate precipitates. These findings provide insights into the microbial perspective of inorganic carbon formation in saline-alkali lands and highlight the potential of soil microbes for carbon sequestration.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Cui Zhang, J. Viridiana Garcia Meza, Keqiang Zhou, Jiazhi Liu, Shaoxian Song, Min Zhang, Delong Meng, Jinhui Chen, Ling Xia, Xiheng Hu
Summary: A salt-tolerant superabsorbent polymer (ST-SAP) was developed for use in saline-alkali soil. The ST-SAP exhibited excellent swelling capacity and stability under high salt conditions. Addition of ST-SAP to saline-alkali soil significantly extended the water retention time.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Shalini Tiwari, Barkha Sharma, Neha Bisht, Lakshmi Tewari
Summary: Soil salinity is a major concern worldwide as it negatively affects soil health and reduces crop yield. Salinity stress causes several secondary stresses such as osmotic stress, nutrient limitation, and ionic stress, leading to poor plant growth. However, certain beneficial soil microorganisms have evolved phytostimulating mechanisms that enhance plant growth and mitigate nutrient stress, including the synthesis of osmoprotectants, siderophores, ACC deaminase activity, phosphate solubilization, and hormone production. Bacterial species like Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Klebsiella, and fungal strains such as Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Fusarium, as well as phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms, play a role in reducing salinity stress and aiding in nutrient acquisition. The use of native halotolerant/halophilic soil microbial gene pool with multifunctional traits and stress-induced gene expression can be developed as bio-inoculants to enhance stress tolerance and optimize plant growth in saline soils.
Article
Agronomy
Wubo Li, Min Yang, Zenghui Hao, Xiulin Wang, Yan Shi
Summary: In this experiment, synergistic phosphate fertilizer was prepared by polymerizing itaconic acid, maleic acid, acrylic acid, and potassium persulfate and wrapping them on the surface of phosphate fertilizer particles. Four treatments were designed to explore their effects on soil nutrient and microbial diversity in wheat. The results showed that the T2 treatment performed the best, significantly improving soil nutrient concentration and microbial diversity.
Article
Soil Science
Li Ji, Chunjie Tian, Eiko E. Kuramae
Summary: This study explored the relationship between microbial functions and soil element turnover during rice cultivation in saline-alkali soil over varying durations. The results showed that rice cultivation greatly improved soil nutrients, soil nutrient stoichiometry, and soil aggregate stability. It also enhanced the microbial functions involved in nutrient cycling, but these functions exhibited a succession pattern with the years of remediation. Correlation analysis indicated that soil microbial functions were closely related to changes in soil properties, especially phosphorus availability. Therefore, managing phosphorus during saline-alkali soil remediation should be prioritized.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Shudong Zhang, Guofang Liu, Qingguo Cui, Zhenying Huang, Xuehua Ye, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
Summary: There are common wind response patterns in plant-size-related traits across different steppe species, while the response patterns in shoot traits vary among species. It indicates the species-specific ways by which plants balance growth and mechanical support facing wind stress. Our new field wind manipulation methodology was effective in altering wind speed with the intended magnitude, showing great potential for future field wind velocity enhancement experiments to understand the impact of different wind regimes on plant performance.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shudong Zhang, William K. Cornwell, Weiwei Zhao, Richard S. P. van Logtestijn, Eveline J. Krab, Rien Aerts, Johannes H. C. Cornelissen
Summary: This study provides empirical evidence that the decomposition ability and flammability of forest litter are decoupled traits, which can be explained by different trait spectra.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
He Zhang, Aurore Degre, Caroline De Clerck, Shuangshuang Li, Jinshan Lian, Yuanyuan Peng, Tao Sun, Lindan Luo, Yanan Yue, Guihua Li, Jianfeng Zhang
Summary: The continuous expansion of sandy soil poses a threat to crop security. The use of chitin-rich organic material and attapulgite as soil amendments can improve degraded soil by increasing nutrient content and enzyme activity and altering bacterial community structure. This study provides insights into the link between soil properties, bacterial community structure, and microbial carbon metabolism function.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xian Zhou, Yi Jiang, Ganghua Leng, Wanting Ling, Jian Wang
Summary: Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) residues have significant impacts on soil pollution remediation. The addition of exogenous functional microbial consortium and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) can promote the degradation of bound PAH residues. This study fills the cognitive gap of GRSP in regulating the degradation of bound PAH residues in soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Soil Science
Xinyu Zhao, Evrim Elcin, Lizhi He, Meththika Vithanage, Xiaokai Zhang, Jie Wang, Shuo Wang, Yun Deng, Nabeel Khan Niazi, Sabry M. Shaheen, Hailong Wang, Zhenyu Wang
Summary: The increase of cultivated varieties of Chinese herbal remedies, the expansion of cultivation area, and long-term monoculture cropping have led to aggravated problems of soil diseases, yield loss, and quality reduction. Biochar, as a carbon-rich material, has the potential to improve soil quality and alleviate continuous crop obstacles for Chinese herbal remedies.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Editorial Material
Soil Science
Melanie M. Pollierer, Anton Potapov, Andrey Zaitsev
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Yajie Wang, Jiefeng Li, Yongfen Wei, Zhiyi Deng, Xiaodi Hao, Fusheng Li
Summary: This study investigates the impacts of heavy metal pollution caused by coal production on soil microbial ecology in the semi-arid region of Heilongjiang. The results reveal negative correlations between heavy metals and bacterial abundance and diversity. Twelve sensitive bacterial taxa and corresponding models were identified. Water content and total phosphorus were also found to play vital roles in regulating the bacterial community in the soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Sujit Das, Sunanda Biswas, B. Ramakrishnan, T. K. Das, T. J. Purakayastha, B. H. Gawade, Priya Singh, Partha Sarathi Ghorai, Saloni Tripathy, Kanchan Sinha
Summary: This study assessed the impact of conservation agriculture on the biological soil health index in a rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains. The results showed that zero till direct seeded rice and crop residue incorporation could improve soil organic carbon, enzyme activities, and microbial population. Specifically, the inclusion of mungbean residues and sesbania brown manuring significantly increased the abundance of the nifH gene in the soil.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Xingxiu Huang, Genxing Pan, Lianqing Li, Xuhui Zhang, Hailong Wang, Nanthi Bolan, Bhupinder Pal Singh, Chongjian Ma, Fuwei Liang, Yanjie Chen, Huashou Li
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of using a mixture of biomass waste ash and biochar on soil pH, heavy metal remediation, and plant growth. The results showed that the mixed use could ameliorate soil acidification, reduce absorption of cadmium and lead by plants, and promote plant growth. The special fertilizer prepared from the mixture can be used to promote crop growth and reduce environmental pollution.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Astrid C. H. Jaeger, Martin Hartmann, Rafaela Feola Conz, Johan Six, Emily F. Solly
Summary: This study investigates the effects of tree mortality on soil microbial communities using a mesocosm experiment. The results show that tree death influenced soil microbial abundance and composition, with the potential to affect soil processes in forest ecosystems.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Dane C. Elmquist, Subodh Adhikari, Ina Popova, Sanford D. Eigenbrode
Summary: This study investigated the effects of soil arthropod communities from cereal-based agroecosystems on wheat plant growth and above-belowground interactions. The results showed that wheat grown in soils with arthropod communities had better growth and defense against aphids, compared to wheat grown in soils without arthropod communities.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Lei Wang, Jing Wang, Zhonghou Tang, Jidong Wang, Yongchun Zhang
Summary: This study found that the application of organic fertilizer enhances carbon and phosphorus cycling enzyme activities in soil, reshapes the soil microbial community structure, and regulates the interactions between these crucial indicators through soil organic carbon.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Soil Science
M. Pawlett, N. T. Girkin, L. Deeks, D. L. Evans, R. Sakrabani, P. Masters, K. Garnett, N. Marquez-Grant
Summary: The modern funeral industry faces environmental risks and challenges, and natural burial offers a more sustainable alternative. However, there is a lack of research comparing the risks and benefits of natural burial practices, including groundwater contamination and atmospheric emissions. More scientific research is needed to understand and regulate funeral options, as well as cultural incentives for natural burial.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhongcheng Wang, Jin Zhao, Dan Xiao, Meifeng Chen, Xunyang He
Summary: Root AMF colonization, diversity, and interactions vary with soil depth. Higher soil nutrient levels and root biomass promote colonization but suppress diversity and interactions in the upper soil layer compared to deeper layers.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Zhiyang Zhang, Shiting Zhang, Riikka Rinnan
Summary: This study revealed the mechanisms behind the effects of dung deposition on soil heterotrophic respiration, providing insights for grassland management and carbon feedback prediction in grazed ecosystems.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Ismail Ibrahim Garba, Graham R. Stirling, A. Marcelle Stirling, Alwyn Williams
Summary: Integrating diverse cover crops into dryland crop-fallow rotations can enhance soil nutrient and water retention, suppress soil-borne pests, and improve soil health. The effects on soil nematode communities are modulated by the functional type and mixture composition of the cover crops. Selecting cover crops with appropriate traits can improve soil health through suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes, promotion of free-living nematodes, and enhancement of soil food web complexity.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Soil Science
Min Li, Chao He, Miao Wei, Junmeng Long, Jingru Wang, Xinrong Yang, Kehan Wang, Xueli He
Summary: In extreme desert environments, black septate endophytes (DSE) can benefit the relict plant Gymnocarpos przewalskii by assisting it to survive and maintain ecosystem stability. The colonization of DSE in the roots of G. przewalskii varies significantly with seasons and sites, with soil properties being a major factor affecting the composition of DSE. Additionally, the functional metabolite composition of DSE strains varies greatly with different drought levels and isolates, indicating the potential complementarity between different strains in helping hosts cope with drought stress.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2024)