Enhance Soil Quality Research Articles

Prediction, mapping, and implication for better soil organic carbon management in Ethiopia

AbstractA precise soil organic carbon (SOC) content estimate is crucial soil quality parameter for agricultural produce and ecological safety. Moreover, geospatial modeling of SOC is critical when there are limited laboratory equipment and chemical reagents for soil analysis. This study used geostatistics—ordinary kriging (OK) and inverse distance weighting (IDW)—to map SOC in Libokemkem area, Northwest Ethiopia, for improved SOC management. About 107 soil samples were obtained from the plow layer at a 20‐cm depth and SOC was determined. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24.0 was used to generate descriptive statistics, and geostatistical analysis was also performed on the data using ArcGIS platform. The coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) derived from the validation of the predicted maps were used to assess the models. The results revealed homogeneity (coefficient of variation < 10%), low (0.12%–1.74%), and optimal (1.74%–4.06%) mean levels of SOC in study area. The OK showed an R2 of 0.74 and an RMSE of 13%, and the IDW revealed an R2 of 0.69 and an RMSE of 14%. The semivariogram results indicate a moderate dependence for SOC with stable, circular, spherical, exponential, and Gaussian models. We conclude that the sustainable monitoring of SOC is significant in enhancing soil quality. However, further study considering all drivers of spatial variability for SOC in the study and other soil sampling approaches improving performance of the prediction models is needed.

The Effects of Incorporating Caraway into a Multi-Cropping Farming System on the Crops and the Overall Agroecosystem

The scientific aim of this article is to investigate the potential benefits of implementing a multi-cropping system, specifically focusing on the incorporation of caraway, to improve soil agrochemical and biological properties, prevent soil degradation and erosion, and ultimately enhance soil quality and health to better adapt to climate change. This study aims to provide valuable insights into the comparative analysis of various soil parameters and biological indicators to showcase the promising perspectives and importance of perennial crop production for improving soil quality and agricultural sustainability. These crops are designed to provide multiple benefits simultaneously, including improved yields, enhanced ecosystem services, and reduced environmental effects. However, an integrated assessment of their overall effects on the agroecosystem is crucial to understand their potential benefits and trade-offs. The field experiment was conducted over three consecutive vegetative seasons (2017 to 2021) at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy (VMU AA) in Kaunas district, Lithuania. The experimental site is located at 54°53′7.5″ N latitude and 23°50′18.11″ E longitude. The treatments within a replicate were multi-cropping systems of sole crops (spring barley (1), spring wheat (2), pea (3), caraway (4)), binary crops (spring barley–caraway (5), spring wheat–caraway (6), pea–caraway (7)), and trinary crops (spring barley–caraway–white clover (8), spring wheat–caraway–white clover (9), pea–caraway–white clover (10)) crops. However, an integrated assessment of their impact on the agroecosystem is needed to understand their potential benefits and processes. To determine the complex interactions between indicators, the interrelationships between indicators, and the strength of impacts, this study applied an integrated assessment approach using the comprehensive assessment index (CEI). The CEI values showed that integrating caraway (Carum carvi L.) into multi-cropping systems can have several positive effects. The effect of the binary spring barley and caraway and the trinary spring barley, caraway, and white clover crops on the agroecosystem is positively higher than that of the other comparative sole, binary, and trinary crops. Caraway, after spring wheat together with white clover, has a higher positive effect on the agroecosystem than caraway without white clover. Specifically, this study addresses key aspects, such as soil health, nutrient cycling, weed management, and overall agricultural sustainability, within the context of multi-cropping practices. By evaluating the effects of these cropping systems on soil agrochemical properties and ecosystem dynamics, the research provides valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices that promote environmental conservation and long-term soil health.

Changes of soil nutrients and organic carbon fractions in Caragana korshinskii forests with different restoration years in mountainous areas of southern Ningxia, China.

Vegetation restoration can effectively enhance soil quality and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. In this study, the distribution characteristics of soil nutrients and SOC along soil profile (0-100 cm), and their responses to restoration years (16, 28, 38 years) were studied in Caragana korshinskii plantations in the southern mountainous area of Ningxia, compared with cropland and natural grassland. The results showed that: 1) the contents of SOC, soil total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), particulate organic carbon (POC), mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and the proportion of particulate organic carbon to total organic carbon (POC/SOC) all decreased with increasing soil depth. The ratio of mineral-associated organic carbon to total organic carbon (MAOC/SOC) exhibited an opposite trend. 2) The contents of SOC, TN, TP, C:P, N:P, POC and MAOC gra-dually decreased as the restoration years increased. However, the C:N ratio showed no significant change. The POC/SOC ratio initially increased and then decreased, while the MAOC/SOC ratio decreased initially and then increased. 3) In three different types of vegetation, POC, MAOC, and SOC showed a highly significant positive linear correlation, with the increase in SOC mainly depended on the increase in MAOC. The SOC, TN, TP, POC and MAOC contents in natural grassland and C. korshinskii plantations were significantly higher than those in cropland. In conclusion, soil nutrients and POC and MAOC contents of C. korshinskii plantations gradually decreased with the increases in restoration years. However, when compared with cropland, natural grassland and C. korshinskii plantations demonstrated a greater capacity to maintain and enhance soil nutrient and carbon storage.

The Impact of Long-Term Mulched Drip Irrigation on Soil Particle Composition and Salinity in Arid Northwest China

The evaluation of soil particle composition and salt dynamics is essential for promoting the sustainable development of oasis agriculture in arid regions under long-term mulched drip irrigation (MDI). In this study, we employed the space-for-time substitution method to investigate the long-term effects of MDI on soil particle composition and salinity. Additionally, seven fields, with MDI durations ranging from 0 to 16 years, were selected to represent the primary successional sequence though time in Northwest China. Soil samples were collected from three soil depths (0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, and 60–100 cm) and then analyzed in the laboratory for soil particle composition and salt content. Our findings demonstrated that influenced by the depth of mechanical cultivation and the maximum wetting front depth, the long-term application of MDI significantly altered both the structure of soil layers and the composition of soil particles after 8 years. Soil sand content and soil salinity gradually decreased, whereas the content of soil silt and clay increased with increasing MDI duration throughout 0–100 cm soil depth. Furthermore, the rates of soil desalination stabilized after 10 years of MDI application, with desalination levels exceeding 90% in the 0–100 cm soil layer. Additionally, the soil mass fractal dimension (Dm) exhibited an upward trend across 0–100 cm soil depth. The changes in soil particle composition indirectly influenced the variations in Dm and salt content. Our study demonstrated that long-term application of MDI effectively mitigated soil salinity, changed soil structure, and ultimately enhanced soil quality and cotton yield.

Advancements in Enhancing Oil Quality in Rapeseed and Mustard: A Comprehensive Review

Rapeseed and mustard are important oilseed crops cultivated worldwide for their high oil content and versatile applications in food, feed, and industrial sectors. The quality of oil derived from these crops is influenced by various genetic, environmental, and agronomic factors. Breeding efforts aimed at improving oil quality traits in rapeseed and mustard have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their impact on market value, nutritional attributes, and industrial utility. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of breeding strategies and methodologies employed to enhance oil quality traits in rapeseed and mustard. We explore the genetic basis of oil quality traits, including fatty acid composition, erucic acid content, glucosinolate content, and tocopherol content, and discuss the importance of these traits for different end-uses. Furthermore, we highlight the role of molecular markers, genomics-assisted breeding, and biotechnological approaches in accelerating the breeding process and achieving targeted improvements in oil quality. The review also addresses the challenges and constraints associated with breeding for oil quality in rapeseed and mustard, including genotype-environment interactions, trait stability, and regulatory considerations. Additionally, we discuss emerging trends and future prospects in oil quality breeding, such as genome editing, metabolic engineering, and precision breeding, which offer novel avenues for achieving desired oil quality profiles while addressing sustainability and consumer preferences. Overall, this review underscores the significance of breeding for oil quality in rapeseed and mustard and provides insights into the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in this field. By integrating multidisciplinary approaches and harnessing the power of modern breeding tools and technologies, rapeseed and mustard breeders can continue to drive innovation and deliver oilseed crops with enhanced nutritional value, functional properties, and market competitiveness.

Mitigation of cadmium-induced stress in maize via synergistic application of biochar and gibberellic acid to enhance morpho-physiological and biochemical traits

Cadmium (Cd), being a heavy metal, tends to accumulate in soils primarily through industrial activities, agricultural practices, and atmospheric deposition. Maize, being a staple crop for many regions, is particularly vulnerable to Cd contamination, leading to compromised growth, reduced yields, and potential health risks for consumers. Biochar (BC), a carbon-rich material derived from the pyrolysis of organic matter has been shown to improve soil structure, nutrient retention and microbial activity. The choice of biochar as an ameliorative agent stems from its well-documented capacity to enhance soil quality and mitigate heavy metal stress. The study aims to contribute to the understanding of the efficacy of biochar in combination with GA3, a plant growth regulator known for its role in promoting various physiological processes, in mitigating the adverse effects of Cd stress. The detailed investigation into morpho-physiological attributes and biochemical responses under controlled laboratory conditions provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of these interventions. The experimental design consisted of three replicates in a complete randomized design (CRD), wherein soil, each containing 10 kg was subjected to varying concentrations of cadmium (0, 8 and 16 mg/kg) and biochar (0.75% w/w base). Twelve different treatment combinations were applied, involving the cultivation of 36 maize plants in soil contaminated with Cd (T1: Control (No Cd stress; T2: Mild Cd stress (8 mg Cd/kg soil); T3: Severe Cd stress (16 mg Cd/kg soil); T4: 10 ppm GA3 (No Cd stress); T5: 10 ppm GA3 + Mild Cd stress; T6: 10 ppm GA3 + Severe Cd stress; T7: 0.75% Biochar (No Cd stress); T8: 0.75% Biochar + Mild Cd stress; T9: 0.75% Biochar + Severe Cd stress; T10: 10 ppm GA3 + 0.75% Biochar (No Cd stress); T11: 10 ppm GA3 + 0.75% Biochar + Mild Cd stress; T12: 10 ppm GA3 + 0.75% Biochar + Severe Cd stress). The combined application of GA3 and BC significantly enhanced multiple parameters including germination (27.83%), root length (59.53%), shoot length (20.49%), leaf protein (121.53%), root protein (99.93%), shoot protein (33.65%), leaf phenolics (47.90%), root phenolics (25.82%), shoot phenolics (25.85%), leaf chlorophyll a (57.03%), leaf chlorophyll b (23.19%), total chlorophyll (43.77%), leaf malondialdehyde (125.07%), root malondialdehyde (78.03%) and shoot malondialdehyde (131.16%) across various Cd levels compared to the control group. The synergistic effect of GA3 and BC manifested in optimal leaf protein and malondialdehyde levels indicating induced tolerance and mitigation of Cd detrimental impact on plant growth. The enriched soils showed resistance to heavy metal toxicity emphasizing the potential of BC and GA3 as viable strategy for enhancing maize growth. The application of biochar and gibberellic acid emerges as an effective means to mitigate cadmium-induced stress in maize, presenting a promising avenue for sustainable agricultural practices.

Converted paddy to upland in saline-sodic land could improve soil ecosystem multifunctionality by enhancing soil quality and alleviating microbial metabolism limitation

Soil salinization is one of the major soil degradation threats worldwide, and parameters related to soil quality and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) are crucial for evaluating the success of reclamation efforts in saline-sodic wasteland (WL). Microbial metabolic limitation is also one of the main factors that influences EMF in agricultural cropping systems. A ten-year localization experiment was conducted to reveal the key predictors of soil quality index (SQI) values, microbial metabolic characteristics, and EMF in different farmland cropping systems. A random forest model showed that the β-glucosidase (BG), cellobiosidase (CBH) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (SHC) of the SQI factors were the main driving forces of soil EMF. Compared to monoculture models, such as paddy field (PF) or upland field (UF), the converted paddy field to upland field (CF) cropping system was most effective at improving EMF in reclaimed saline-sodic WL, increasing this metric by 275.35 %. CF integrates practices from both PF and UF planting systems, improved soil quality and relieves microbial metabolic limitation. Specifically, both CF and PF significantly reduced soil pH (by 16–23 %) and sodium adsorption ration (SAR) (by 65–83 %) and significantly reduced the abundance of large macroaggregates. Moreover, CF significantly improved soil saturated hydraulic conductivity relative to PF and UF (p < 0.05), indicating an improvement in soil physical properties. Overall, although reclamation improved SQI compared to WL (0.25), the EMF of CF (0.56) was significantly higher than that of other treatments (p < 0.05). Thus, while increasing SQI can improve soil EMF, it was not as effective alone as it was when combined with more comprehensive efforts that focus on improving various soil properties and alleviating microbial metabolic limitations. Therefore, our results suggested that future saline-sodic wasteland reclamation efforts should avoid monoculture systems to enhance soil EMF.

Remediation of soda-saline-alkali soil through soil amendments: Microbially mediated carbon and nitrogen cycles and remediation mechanisms

Due to the high salt content and pH value, the structure of saline-sodic soil was deteriorated, resulting in decreased soil fertility and inhibited soil element cycling. This, in turn, caused significant negative impacts on crop growth, posing a major challenge to global agriculture and food security. Despite numerous studies aimed at reducing the loss of plant productivity in saline-sodic soils, the knowledge regarding shifts in soil microbial communities and carbon/nitrogen cycling during saline-sodic soil improvement remains incomplete. Consequently, we developed a composite soil amendment to explore its potential to alleviate salt stress and enhance soil quality. Our findings demonstrated that the application of this composite soil amendment effectively enhanced microbial salinity resistance, promotes soil carbon fixation and nitrogen cycling, thereby reducing HCO3− concentration and greenhouse gas emissions while improving physicochemical properties and enzyme activity in the soil. Additionally, the presence of CaSO4 contributed to a decrease in water-soluble Na+ content, resulting in reduced soil ESP and pH by 14.64 % and 7.42, respectively. Our research presents an innovative approach to rehabilitate saline-sodic soil and promote ecological restoration through the perspective of elements cycles.

Sewage sludge amendment of rice as a potential alternative to mineral fertilizer: Analyses of physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms of plant response

Sewage sludge (SS) disposal poses environmental concerns, yet its organic matter, macro- and micronutrients, make it potentially beneficial for enhancing soil quality and crop yield. This study focuses on three types of SS: “R10” (SS1), which is commonly used in agricultural practices, and two environmentally friendlier options (SS2 and SS3), as alternatives to mineral fertilizer (urea) for rice cultivation. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the ecophysiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of rice at three different growth stages. SS application led to a significant increase in biomass production (particularly SS3), along with increased nitrogen (N) levels. Enhanced chlorophyll content was observed in SS-treated plants, especially during inflorescence emergence (with the highest content in SS3 plants). At the ecophysiological and biochemical levels, SS treatments did not adversely affect plant health, as evidenced by unchanged values of maximal PSII photochemical efficiency and malondialdehyde by-products. At biochemical and gene expression levels, antioxidant enzyme activities showed transient variations, likely related to physiological adjustments rather than oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid and glutathione did not significantly vary. This study concludes that the use of SS in soil can be a viable alternative fertilizer for rice plants, with positive effects on biomass, chlorophyll content, and no adverse effects on plant health. Among the tested SSs, SS3 showed the most positive effect, even compared to commercial fertilizer. These results suggest that SS application could improve rice yield while addressing environmental concerns surrounding SS disposal.

Soil quality evaluation of different land use modes in small watersheds in the hilly region of southern Jiangsu

The Yixing Yuantianjian small watershed is a provincial soil erosion key management area in the hilly region of southern Jiangsu. It has been implemented key national soil erosion control project for small watershed management, which is typical and representative in the region. It is important to quantitatively evaluate the soil quality of the area under different land use modes and then select suitable ecological restoration measures to promote the ecological and economic construction of small watersheds in the hilly region of southern Jiangsu. Used four types of land use (forest land, garden land, arable land and abandoned land) in the Yixing Yuantianjian small watershed as the research object, 13 soil physical and chemical property indicators were screened based on principal component analysis, correlation analysis and Norm value calculation to construct a minimum data set (MDS) for soil quality evaluation. The results showed that the variability of soil chemical indicators of land use modes was higher than that of soil physical indicators in the study area. The MDS indicators affected by soil quality in the small watershed are sand content (Sand), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available potassium (AK), total soil porosity (TSP) and bulk density (BD), which provide valid information on soil quality in the area with high accuracy. The soil quality index for different land use modes in the small watershed in the hilly areas of southern Jiangsu was SQI forest land (0.83) > SQI cultivated land (0.74) > SQI garden land (0.66) > SQI abandoned land (0.46), with soil quality at a medium to high level. AN was the key factor limiting the soil quality of this watershed. This study can provide a scientific basis for soil quality enhancement and ecological restoration in the small watersheds of the southern Jiangsu hilly region.

Effect of pineapple waste biochar and compost application on the growth and yield of pineapple varieties in Ghana

IntroductionBiochar is one of the commonly used soil amendments for sustainable agriculture. The effect of biochar on crop yields depends on the quality of the biochar, which is influenced by feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions. Sole application of pineapple waste biochar and compost, and their combination has not been rigorously investigated. In this study, we investigated the effects of pineapple waste biochar and compost applied solely or in combination on growth and yield of pineapple on a coastal savanna Acrisol in Ghana.MethodsThe split-plot design with three replications was used, with pineapple varieties as the main plot and fertilizer application rates as the sub-plots.Results and discussionThe results showed that sole application of biochar and compost or their combination as a soil amendment increased pineapple growth and yield as compared to the unamended soil. Biochar applied in combination with compost/or inorganic NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) fertilizer significantly increased plant height and the number of leaves of pineapple plant, which resulted in improved fruits yield of the three (sugar loaf, MD2 and smooth cayenne) pineapple varieties at maturity over control, sole application of biochar, compost and inorganic NPK fertilizer. The Smooth cayenne variety outperformed MD2 and Sugar loaf variety.ConclusionIn conclusion, the results revealed that biochar applied solely or in addition to compost or inorganic NPK fertilizer has the capability to enhance soil quality and improve pineapple yield. Application of biochar in combination with compost/or inorganic NPK improves pineapple growth and yield.

Geostatistical modeling approach for studying total soil nitrogen and phosphorus under various land uses of North-Western Himalayas

The distribution of total soil nitrogen (TSN) and total soil phosphorus (TSP) plays a pivotal role in shaping soil quality, fertility, agricultural practices, and environmental balance, especially in ecologically sensitive regions like the North-Western Himalayas (NWH). The primary objectives of this study were to contribute to clarify the impact and the rationale of various land uses on the spatial variation of TSN and TSP in the corresponding soils. This study aimed to explore the relation of TSN and TSP distribution in NWH soils with various factors like landscape physiography and soil physical and chemical properties using random sampling and geostatistical analyses. Employing random sampling, 300 soil surface samples (at a depth of 0–20 cm) were collected across various 500 m × 500 m grids from agriculture, horticulture, forest and fallow lands in the NWH region. The spatial land heterogeneity of TSN and TSP were systematically analyzed using standard statistical and geostatistical approaches (Gaussian, spherical, exponential, and linear). Results revealed a decreasing order of TSN and TSP levels i.e., horticulture (0.410 and 0.723 mg/kg) > agriculture (0.314 and 0.597 mg/kg) > forest (0.236 and 0.572 mg/kg) > fallow (0.275 and 0.342 mg/kg). Stepwise multiple regression results demonstrated a correlation between TSN and soil organic carbon (SOC), while TSP was correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC) and fine-grained soil particles. Nugget % values indicated the following spatial variability for TSN: agricultural (1.4) > horticultural (3.2) > forest (3.9) > fallow land (4.8) > mixed land (5.8), whereas the spatial variability of TSP showed a similar trend for all land uses. The optimized conceptual framework and isotropy models varied for TSN and TSP on dependence on land use type. The results of this study revealed the spatial patterns and land use-related variations and improved the prediction of nutrient distribution, so contributing an optimized conceptual framework for future studies. Finally, this study provided crucial insights to enhance soil quality, fertility, agricultural sustainability, and environmental equilibrium in the ecologically fragile NWH region, contributing to solve a significant research gap in the global understanding of soil dynamics.

Functionally responsive hydrogels with salt-alkali sensitivity effectively target soil amelioration

The long-standing crisis of soil salinization and alkalization poses a significant challenge to global agricultural development. High soil salinity-alkalinity, water dispersion, and nutrient loss present major hurdles to soil improvement. Novel environmentally friendly gels have demonstrated excellent water retention and slow-release capabilities in agricultural enhancement. However, their application for improving saline-alkali soil is both scarce and competitive. This study proposes a new strategy for regulating saline-alkali soil using gel-coated controlled-release soil modifiers (CWR-SRMs), where radical-polymerized gels are embedded on the surface of composite gel beads through spray coating. Characterization and performance analysis reveal that the three-dimensional spatial network structure rich in hydrophilic groups exhibits good thermal stability (first-stage weight loss temperature of 257.7 °C in thermogravimetric analysis) and encapsulation efficiency for fulvic acid‑potassium (FA-K), which can enhance soil quality in saline-alkali environments. The molecular chain relaxation under saline-alkali conditions promotes a synergistic effect of swelling and slow release, endowing it with qualifications as a water reservoir, Ca2+ source unit, and slow-release body. The results of a 6 weeks incubation experiment on 0–20 cm saline-alkaline soil with different application gradients showed that the gradient content had a significant effect on the soil improvement effect. Specifically, the T2 (the dosage accounted for 1 % of soil mass) treatment significantly increases water retention (30 % ~ 90 %), and nutrient levels (30 % ~ 50 %), while significantly decreasing soil sodium colloid content (30 % ~ 60 %) and soil pH (10 % ~ 15 %). Furthermore, PCA analysis indicates that the addition of 1 % CWR-SRMs as amendments can significantly adjust the negative aspects of soil salinity and alkalinity. This highlights the excellent applicability of CWR-SRMs in improving saline-alkali agricultural ecosystems, demonstrating the potential value of novel environmentally friendly gels as an alternative solution for soil challenges persistently affected by adverse salinity and alkalinity.

Hierarchically porous magnetic biochar as an amendment for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in alkaline Cd-contaminated soils: Impacts on plant growth, soil properties and microbiota

Hierarchically porous magnetic biochar (HMB) had been found to act as an effective amendment to remediate cadmium (Cd) in water and soil in a previous study, but the effects on wheat growth, Cd uptake and translocation mechanisms, and soil microorganisms were unknown. Therefore, soil Cd form transformation, soil enzyme activity, soil microbial diversity, wheat Cd uptake and migration, and wheat growth were explored by adding different amounts of HMB to alkaline Cd-contaminated soil under pot experiments. The results showed that application of HMB (0.5 %–2.0 %) raised soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and available Fe concentration, decreased soil available Cd concentration (35.11 %–50.91 %), and promoted Cd conversion to less bioavailable Cd forms. HMB treatments could reduce Cd enrichment in wheat, inhibit Cd migration from root to stem, rachis to glume, glume to grain, and promote Cd migration from stem to leaf and stem to rachis. HMB (0.5 %–1.0 %) boosted antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced photosynthesis in wheat seedlings. Application of 1.0 % HMB increased wheat grain biomass by 40.32 %. Besides, the addition of HMB (0.5 %–1.0 %) could reduce soil Cd bioavailability, increase soil enzyme activity, and increase the abundance and diversity of soil bacteria. Higher soil EC brought forth by HMB (2.0 %) made the wheat plants and soil bacteria poisonous. This study suggests that applying the right amount of HMB to alkaline Cd-contaminated soil could be a potential remediation strategy to decrease Cd in plants' edible parts and enhance soil quality.

How to enhance soil quality in dryland farming systems in Indonesia (Review)

Soil quality is one of the factors that determines the sustainability of an agricultural system. The ability of types of soil to support the health and habitat of living things, maintain the production of plants and animals, and preserve the quality of the water and air is known as soil quality. Soil quality is not limited to agricultural land, but also includes how to maintain soil function as part of the ecology. In dryland farming systems, the issue of soil quality has become a concern of researchers and agribusiness actors because there are many problems related to dryland management systems, especially in Indonesia, where most farmers have not mastered good farming techniques. This paper presents a review of soil quality in Indonesian dryland farming systems and offers several solutions to improve soil quality through an agroecological approach.

Predicting Soil Quality Index with a Deep Regression Approach

ABSTRACT The detection, preservation and enhancement of soil quality is essential for ecosystem managers to offer the appropriate support after discovering factors that are linked to soil’s functional capability. In this study, soil quality indicators were combined to establish a soil quality index (SQI) by conducting an efficiency analysis for using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Gradient Boosting Methods (GBM) and Decision Tree (DT) approaches. For this purpose, soil’s intrinsic parameters, namely indicators, are utilized in case of fitting a deeper regression model. The experiments were carried out with analysis results of 545 soil samples obtained from previously studies conducted on different areas such as watershed, delta, pasture and farmland. The performance of each model is validated by the reported data. Compared to gradient boosting models, the proposed CNN model with mean absolute loss function achieves a lower error rate of 2.71 in Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and best average correlation coefficient 0.90 in R2, which proves generalizability of CNN based regression. The findings show that CNNs may be utilized as an effective tool as giving a better prediction accuracy level and reliability in terms the establishing correlations and providing a conceptual framework for modeling of soil quality.

Evaluating Agriculture Robots: Case Study and Analysis

The technical revolution paved the way for the development of robots that can now operate in a variety of areas. The smart farming technique called robotic agrifarming has the potential to alleviate the worldwide labor shortage while increasing agricultural productivity and food safety. From planting to harvesting, agribots perform field operations that enhance soil quality and ensure long-term growth. That's why it's essential to create a decision-support system that helps choose the best robot for an agricultural task. The goal of this study is to create an integrated decision system for assessing agriculture robots using the method based on removal effects of criteria (MEREC). Founded on a lot of alternatives like project viability, ecosystem aptness, community conditions, governmental embracing, and profit, the performance of seven field robots is evaluated. The advantage of the developed ranking technique is that it follows the additive ratio assessment (ARAS) method, which is indeed a specific technique used for multi-attribute decision-making (MADM), particularly in the field of environmental management and evaluation. It's commonly employed when there are multiple factors or criteria to consider in decision-making processes and prioritizing the alternatives.

Integrated Farming Systems for Environment Sustainability: A Comprehensive Review

This review article explores the holistic approach of Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) as a sustainable strategy for meeting diverse agricultural demands while ensuring environmental sustainability. Characterized by the integration of crops, livestock, fishery, and allied activities within a single farm, IFS is hypothesized to enhance farm resilience, livelihoods, food security, and ecosystem services. The literature review reveals that IFS can significantly improve farm profitability (265%) and employment (143%) compared to single enterprise farms. Furthermore, IFS contribute to nutrient recycling, reducing external input purchases and enhancing soil quality indicators. The adoption of IFS plays a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, improves soil organic carbon, and contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its advantages, challenges in adoption include the need for skills, knowledge, resources, labor, and capital among small and marginal farmers. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating productivity, profitability, and environmental sustainability variables in a unified evaluation framework to enhance the adaptability of IFS. In conclusion, IFS emerges as a holistic and climate-resilient model with the potential for sustainable agriculture, requiring continued research, policy support, and innovative strategies for widespread adoption.

A new strategy of using periphyton to simultaneously promote remediation of PAHs-contaminated soil and production of safer crops

Contaminated farmland leads to serious problems for human health through biomagnification in the soil-crop-human chain. In this paper, we have established a new soil remediation strategy using periphyton for the production of safer rice. Four representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including phenanthrene (Phe), pyrene (Pyr), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), were chosen to generate artificially contaminated soil. Pot experiments demonstrated that in comparison with rice cultivation in polluted soil with ΣPAHs (50 mg kg−1) but without periphyton, adding periphyton decreased ΣPAHs contents in both rice roots and shoots by 98.98% and 99.76%, respectively, and soil ΣPAHs removal reached 94.19%. Subsequently, risk assessment of ΣPAHs based on toxic equivalent concentration (TEQ), pollution load index (PLI), hazard index (HI), toxic unit for PAHs mixture (TUm), and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) indicated that periphyton lowered the ecological and carcinogenicity risks of PAHs. Besides, the role of periphyton in enhancing the rice productivity was revealed. The results indicated that periphyton alleviated the oxidative stress of PAHs on rice by reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) content and increasing total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Periphyton reduced the toxic stress of PAHs on the soil by promoting soil carbon cycling and metabolic activities as well. Periphyton also improved the soil's physicochemical properties, such as the percentage of soil aggregate, the contents of humic substances (HSs) and nutrients, which increased rice biomass. These findings confirmed that periphyton could improve rice productivity by enhancing soil quality and health. This study provides a new eco-friendly strategy for soil remediation and simultaneously enables the production of safe crops on contaminated land.

Soil and water conservation effects of different tillage measures on phaeozems sloping farmland in northeast China

AbstractConventional tillage is still widely practiced in phaeozems sloping farmland, which leads to serious soil erosion. Adopting effective farming methods is crucial for mitigating soil erosion. To prevent and control soil and water loss in phaeozems sloping farmland, field experiments were conducted in 2022 using three tillage methods and their combination modes: subsoiling tillage (SF), ridge tillage and pitting field (RF), ridge tillage and pitting field + subsoiling tillage (RF‐S), contour tillage (TP), contour tillage + ridge tillage and pitting field (TP‐R), and contour tillage + subsoiling tillage (TP‐S). The study aimed to assess the impact these different tillage methods on soil and water conservation. The results showed that the contour tillage + ridge field treatment significantly reduced surface runoff and soil loss (p &lt; 0.05), with no observed nutrient loss. Compared with other treatments, this method significantly reduced runoff, erosion, and nutrient loss. In contrast, the contour tillage + subsoiling tillage treatment significantly decreased the soil three‐phase R‐value, improved the soil texture, and exhibited higher yield, harvest index, and water use efficiency (WUE) compared to alternative treatments. Overall, the comprehensive findings indicate that contour tillage + subsoiling tillage can reduce soil erosion, enhance soil quality, and improve the WUE, all while maintaining high production capacity. Furthermore, the results of this study provide a theoretical basis for conserving soil and water resources, improving soil fertility, and increasing farmland yield in the phaeozems area of northeast China.