Variety Of Soil Types Research Articles

Fossil soils from abrasive southern Baltic coastal sections and problems with their classification: A case study from Ustka Bay, Poland

This study aimed to identify the main depositional and soil-forming phases in the middle section of the Polish Baltic coast and determine the history of its landscape development. An attempt was also made to define new qualifiers to describe these compacted and eroded soils (including fossil soils), which have not previously been included in the WRB classification. The study was conducted in cliff sections located in the southern Baltic coastal zone. Selected physical and chemical properties were determined from four soil profiles using standard methods. Additionally, peat, peat-like material, mursh, and charcoals were dated using the radiocarbon method. Environmental reconstructions based on fossil soils have provided information about the development of the coast in the context of periods of relative climate stability that allowed the formation of soils of various types. The presence of sediments of different origin (glacial till, fluvioglacial and aeolian sands, interbeddings of peat, mursh and peat-like material) in the profiles compared with the obtained radiocarbon dates allowed for an assessment of the impact of environmental conditions on the potential for soil formation over thousands of years. The oldest soils, represented by Akrofluvic Stagnic Gleysols and Fluvic Stagnic Gleysols, were dated back to the Preboreal/Boreal period,whereas the youngest fossil soils (Albic Podzols (Arenic) and Aeolic Dystric Arenosols)) were developed in the SA2 phase of the Subatlantic period. The contemporary soil cover was represented by poorly developed Aeolic Dystric Arenosols with initial features of the podzolization process. No soils dated to the Atlantic period were found. Our findings are complementary to those of other studies on the history of the Polish Baltic coast and can be used for comparing with the soil cover development in other coastal regions of the Baltic Sea.

The Importance of Lentils: An Overview

The legume family includes approximately 19,300 species across three large subfamilies, of which Papilionoideae stands out with 13,800 species. Lentils were one of the first crops to be domesticated by humans, approximately 11,000 BP. They are diploid legumes that belong to the Papilionoidea subfamily and are of agricultural importance because of their resistance to drought and the fact that they grow in soil with a pH range of 5.5–9; therefore, they are cultivated in various types of soil, and so they have an important role in sustainable food and feed systems in many countries. In addition to their agricultural importance, lentils are a rich source of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They are key to human nutrition since they are an alternative to animal proteins, decreasing meat consumption. Another characteristic of legumes, including lentils, is their ability to form nodules, which gives them a growth advantage in nitrogen-deficient soils because they enable the plant to fix atmospheric nitrogen, thus contributing nitrogen to the soil and facilitating the nutrition of other plants during intercropping. Lentils have also been applied for protection against various human diseases, as well as for phytoremediation, and they also have been applied as environmental bioindicators to identify cytotoxicity. This review addresses the importance of lentils in agriculture and human health.

A Comprehensive Review on Aminochelates: Advances and Applications in Plant Nutrition

This comprehensive review explores the advances and applications of aminochelates in plant nutrition, shedding light on their significance and impact in modern agricultural practices. Aminochelates, which consist of metal ions chelated with amino acids, have gained substantial attention for their role in enhancing nutrient uptake and addressing deficiencies in various plant species. The review begins by delving into the fundamental principles of aminochelation and the unique properties that make these compounds highly effective in facilitating nutrient absorption by plants. The interaction between aminochelates and different nutrient elements is examined, providing insights into the mechanisms that contribute to improved nutrient availability in the soil and subsequent uptake by plant roots. Furthermore, the paper discusses the role of aminochelates in mitigating nutrient stress and enhancing plant growth and development. The review incorporates a comprehensive analysis of research findings, including studies on diverse crops, soil types, and environmental conditions. Special attention is given to the safety of aminochelates for plants and the environment, ensuring a balanced evaluation of their overall impact on sustainable agriculture. Additionally, the review explores recent technological advancements and innovations related to the synthesis and application of aminochelates, highlighting emerging trends and potential future developments in the field of plant nutrition.The synthesis methods, application strategies, and their efficacy in different agricultural settings are critically assessed. In conclusion, this review provides a thorough understanding of aminochelates, emphasizing their significance as a promising tool for improving plant nutrition. The insights presented in this paper contribute to the existing knowledge base, guiding future research directions and applications in the realm of sustainable and efficient agricultural practices.

Constrained modulus of fine-grained soils from in situ-based correlations and comparison with laboratory tests

The Constrained Modulus of soil is an important parameter to quantify compressibility of soils and calculate consolidation settlements, especially for clays. It is often expressed in terms of 1D constrained modulus, M or its inverse coefficient of volume change, mv. One method that has been suggested to assess M is from Cone Penetration Testing (CPTU) measurements through various correlations. Although, this is sometimes difficult, because of uncertainties regarding the appropriate stress, σ’v0, which are highly affected by the groundwater and bulk density γ, of soils. The usual method to measure M (or mv) is from oedometer tests in laboratory. Correlating in situ tests with laboratory tests results is crucial to increase the quality of soils strengths and stiffness information for design. However, most of the times it is a challenging process, which involves many uncertainties from different soils’ tests. This paper will look at comparison of CPTU derived M to oedometer tests taking into consideration various types of soils mostly from well-documented testbed sites where high quality in situ (CPTU for all sites and SDMT where available) and oedometer tests are carried out. The importance of CPTU measurements and site-specific correlations with laboratory tests to establish unique soil type coefficients for use in equations to derive CPTU-based M will be highlighted.

A versatile sensor capable of ratiometric fluorescence detection of trace water and turn-on detection of Cu2+ modulating the binding interaction of a Cu(II) complex with BSA and DNA complemented by docking studies.

A fluorescent molecule, pyridine-coupled bis-anthracene (PBA), has been developed for the selective fluorescence turn-on detection of Cu2+. Interestingly, the ligand PBA also exhibited a red-shifted ratiometric fluorescence response in the presence of water. Thus, a ratiometric water sensor has been utilized as a selective fluorescence turn-on sensor for Cu2+, achieving a 10-fold enhancement in the fluorescence and quantum yield at 446 nm, with a lower detection limit of 0.358 μM and a binding constant of 1.3 × 106 M-1. For practical applications, sensor PBA can be used to detect Cu2+ in various types of soils like clay soil, field soil and sand. The interaction of the PBA-Cu(II) complex with transport proteins like bovine serum albumin (BSA) and ct-DNA has been investigated through fluorescence titration experiments. Additionally, the structural optimization of PBA and the PBA-Cu(II) complex has been demonstrated by DFT, and the interaction of the PBA-Cu(II) complex with BSA and ct-DNA has been analyzed using theoretical docking studies.

Responses of soil bacterial communities and maize yields to sulfur application across four soil types.

This study assessed the effects of S application on maize yields and soil bacterial communities across four sites with different soil types and three S application rates (0 kg ha-1, 30 kg ha-1, and 90 kg ha-1). Changes in soil properties, bacterial community diversity, structure, and their contributions to maize production were evaluated post-S application treatments. (1) S application decreased soil pH, increased available sulfur (AS), and boosted maize yields in all soil types. (2) Reduced Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices were observed in black soil after S application. (3) Bacterial community structure was significantly affected by S application, except in sandy soil, impacting key stone taxa abundance. (4) Black soil showed higher sensitivity to S application due to less stable bacterial community structure. (5) Soil physicochemical indicators altered by S application, such as AS and pH, mediated bacterial diversity, influencing maize yield. Organic matter (OM) had the most significant direct positive effect on yield, followed by AS and bacterial community diversity. This study emphasizes the impact of S application on soil properties and bacterial communities in diverse soil types. Understanding these mechanisms can guide precision S application practices for maize yield regulation.

Enhanced reservoir flood prevention by using leveraging sensor technology

The project focuses on the development of an intelligent flood management system utilizing Arduino-based hardware components to estimate reservoir inflow. By integrating data from rainfall and soil moisture sensors, coupled with potential inputs from upstream reservoirs, the system aims to dynamically control reservoir gates. The primary goal is to prevent flooding in the basin by implementing controlled water releases. The Arduino microcontroller processes real-time sensor data, triggering the activation of a servo motor to simulate the opening and closing of reservoir gates. The system's efficacy is enhanced by considering diverse soil types and land uses within the watershed. This automated approach not only addresses the challenges posed by uncontrolled urbanization and legal constraints but also provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for flood prevention. The project's potential impact extends to various sectors, including agriculture, industries, and residential areas, ensuring the safety of communities and safeguarding against the adverse effects of floods.

Limitations and future perspectives for satellite-based soil carbon monitoring

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a crucial role in terrestrial C storage and ecosystem services. Agricultural management practices have the potential to increase C inputs and reduce its losses. However, uniform standard protocols for measuring, monitoring, and assessing changes using remote sensing is lacking for SOC in the scientific literature. In this discussion paper, we present techniques for collecting and analyzing ground samples and employing remote sensing to quantify SOC, along with its limitations and future perspectives. Our analysis identified a number of key limitations to advancing the science for remotely sensed terrestrial C in croplands including i) lack of consensus in sampling depth and density, ii) the absence of a standard (or universally accepted) laboratory procedure and statistical methodology, and iii) lack of details on imagery pre-processing or information on the spectral properties of the targeted soils. Establishing standard protocols for ground-truth data collection and remote sensing approaches, as well as a knowledge of the impacts of diverse soil types, land uses, and landscapes on C assessment, are all required to enhance the accuracy and reliability of future SOC assessments.

Ayurveda and environmental network: Antimicrobial, pharmacological and ecological potential of Swietenia macrophylla Meliaceae (L.) Jacq.

To encapsulate the research reports on Swietenia macrophylla compounds to explore their medicinal and ecological importance. The plants of Swietenia genus may be used to recover ecological aspects and importantly to develop drugs to cure many diseases. Many research articles reported through the work that S. macrophylla possesses antidiabetic, antioxidative and antihyperlipidemic activity, antimicrobial and pharmacology potential to ecological recovery property. Herbal drugs prepared from plant extracts have an enormous range of medicinal properties. S. macrophylla species ascertained to have a broad range of medicinal properties and ecological potential to reap up beneficial things. Swietenia macrophylla Meliaceae (L.) Jacq. have immune-modulatory, anticancer, anti-diabetic, antiviral, anti-hypertension and many other curative properties. S. macrophylla gorgeous in flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, sugars and terpenoids and limonoids, is believed to have vast therapeutic potential. Mahogany can grow in perennial and seasonally dry areas and even flourish in various types of soils. Encapsulation of the research reports on Swietenia macrophylla compounds is essential to explore their medicinal and ecological importance. The plants of Swietenia genus may be used to recover ecological aspects and importantly to develop drugs to cure many diseases. However, more study is needed to categorize, describe and systematize the vital metabolites and plant extracts used in disease treatment. Abundance of limonoids and many other compounds in Swietenia genus brand this plant more noteworthy for in-depth molecular level studies to discover additional potential about its pharmacological, ecological and other possible possessions.

Net global warming potential index rather than soil carbon stock change could provide better understanding of the carbon balance in soil systems.

This study was conducted to determine the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock change factor for green manure crops that was developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 method and compare this with the net global warming potential (GWP) index that is used to evaluate the contribution of green manuring to global warming. Four treatments were barley (Hordeum vulgare L.; B), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa R.; HV), a barley/hairy vetch mixture (BHV) and a conventional treatment (C). The aboveground biomass of green manure crops was incorporated into the soil on 25 May 2018, 26 April 2019, 29 April 2020, 30 April 2021 and 2 May 2022. Maize (Zea mays L.) was transplanted as the subsequent crop after the incorporation of green manures. SOC stock decreased with green manures, even though carbon input with green manures, including B, HV and BHV, was greater than that with C. The mean value of the SOC stock change factor for green manure crops, including B, HV and BHV was 0.627 and was significantly lower than that of the C. However, the net GWP also decreased with the incorporation of green manure crops, and the mean value of the relative net GWP index across B, HV and BHV was 0.853. These conflicting results were caused by different estimation methods between annual SOC change (△SOC) and net GWP. The estimation of SOC stock change using △SOC suggested by the IPCC method may overestimate the contribution of green manure crops to global warming. The net GWP method with comprehensive input and output of carbon in the soil system could provide a better understanding of the carbon balance in soil systems. In the current study, the comparison of △SOC and net GWP was conducted for at one site of upland soil for 5years. Therefore, further research on estimating the effect of green manure crops on net GWP in various types of soil for longer years should be conducted.

Dendrocalamus brandisii (Munro) Kurz: Unveiling the Significance of an Essential Bamboo Species

Dendrocalamus brandisii is a very large evergreen bamboo with a dense tufted growth habit, commonly known as `Burma bamboo'. Burma bamboo is renowned for its distinctive attributes, including its substantial size, straight growth pattern, and notably, its lack of thorns, distinguishing it from other local bamboo varieties. This comprehensive article explores the significance of D. brandisii, encompassing its morphology, flowering patterns, habitat, and distribution. The emphasis is on its adaptability to diverse altitudes and soil types, enhancing its value in agroforestry and environmental conservation. Detailed discussions highlight the economic importance of D. brandisii, elaborating on its versatile applications in construction, crafts, and pulp fiber production. Various applications of the bamboo, ranging from manufacturing value-added products to potential health food uses, are explored. Furthermore, the examination of silicon variation and phytolith morphology provides intriguing insights into the physiological aspects of the plant. The article also highlights the positive impact of varying planting durations of D. brandisii on soil bacterial communities, indicating its role in enhancing soil quality. This thorough examination positions D. brandisii as a versatile and economically significant bamboo species with promising applications in sustainable land use, resource conservation, and diverse industries.

Prediction of the mobility and persistence of eight antibiotics based on soil characteristics

Antibiotics are widely used in intensive animal husbandry in the Netherlands and are subsequently emitted to soil via manure. To predict degradation and mobility in soil, generic sorption models have been derived. However, most of the coefficients used in generic models are based on a limited range of soils and have not been validated for agricultural soils in the Netherlands. To improve model predictions and assess to what extent differences among soils affect sorption and degradation, an experimental study has been performed. Using a recently developed experimental approach, both the degradation (DT50) and mobility (Kd) of eight selected commonly used antibiotics were determined in 29 typical Dutch agricultural soils. Median DT50 values range from 5.3 days for Sulfadiazine to 120 days for Trimethoprim but are affected by soil type. The ratio of the lowest and highest DT50 for a given antibiotic among soils can be as large as 151, for Tylosin. Measured values of the logKd also range from 0.19 for Sulfadiazine to more than 2 for Doxycycline, Flumequine, Trimethoprim, Tylosin and Enrofloxacine. The impact of soil on Kd is large, especially for more mobile antibiotics such as Sulfadoxine and Sulfadiazine. Both the range in DT50 and Kd can be predicted reasonably well using a Freundlich type regression model that accounts for the variation in soil type and sampling depth. Organic matter, iron oxides, pH and clay content appear to be the main constituents and explain between 29 % (Trimethoprim) and 77 % of the variation in DT50 and between 64 % (Lincomycin) and 87 % (Sulfadoxine and Sulfadiazine) of the variation of Kd. The effect of depth on DT50 and Kd is however limited. The information thus obtained in combination with local data on soil type can be used to more accurately predict the potential risk of relevant antibiotics in soil and transport to ground- and nearby surface waters.

Effect of microplastics on soil greenhouse gas emissions in agroecosystems: Does it depend upon microplastic shape and soil type?

Microplastics have emerged as a significant pollutant in terrestrial ecosystems, with their accumulation in agricultural fields influencing soil greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, the specific impact of microplastics, particularly in relation to their varying shapes, and how this effect manifests across diverse soil types, remains largely unexplored. In this study, a 56-day incubation experiment was conducted to assess the influence of microplastic shapes (fibers, films, and spheres) on CO2 and N2O emissions in three types of soils (Chernozems, Luvisols, and Ferralsols), while also investigating potential associations with the compositional and functional characteristics of soil bacterial communities. When compared to the control group, the introduction of microplastic fibers resulted in an increase of 21.7 % in cumulative CO2 emissions and a 31.4 % rise in cumulative N2O emissions in Ferralsols. This increase was closely linked to the proliferation of the Actinobacteria and Bacilli classes and the orders of Catenulisporales, Bacillales, Streptomycetales, Micrococcales, and Burkholderiales within the bacterial communities of Ferralsols, alongside an observed elevation in N-acetyl-glucosaminidase enzyme activity. The inclusion of microplastic fibers did not result in significant alterations in greenhouse gas emissions within Chernozems and Luvisols. This is likely attributed to the inherent buffering capacity of these soils, which helps stabilize substrate and nutrient availability for microbial communities. These findings highlight that the response of greenhouse gas emissions to microplastic additions is contingent upon the shape of the microplastics and the specific soil types.

Analysis and evaluation of the current state of sanitary and parasitological methods of soil investigation

Introduction. The unregulated use of undisinfected sewage, their sludge, manure and runoff from livestock farms plays a leading role in the contamination of soil, agricultural, vegetable, and berry crops with invasive material, creating a high risk of infection for people and animals with pathogens of helminthiases and intestinal protozoal diseases. 
 The purpose of the research was to analyze and evaluate the current state of the presented sanitary and parasitological methods for studying soils. 
 Materials and methods. The material was retrospectively analyzed literary data, state reports of Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing on the pollution of residential soils for 2019–2021. 
 Results. As part of the experimental studies, there was made an assessment of approved sanitary and parasitological methods for studying soils, modern PCR methods and the patented IFM-IMS. The following results were obtained: Lamblia intestinalis, Toxocara spp. failed to be detected by Romanenko’s method found in 33.8% of cases, by Padchenko’s method Lamblia intestinalis – in 21.2% of cases, Toxocara spp. not detected, by the patented IMS-IFM method Lamblia intestinalis were found in 75.4%, Toxocara spp. – in 69.7%, by PCR , Lamblia intestinalis – in 11.4%, and Toxocara spp – in 34.1%.
 Limitations are related to the use in our own experimental studies of 2 types of parasitic agents – geohelminth eggs Toxocara spp. and cysts of the protozoan Lamblia intestinalis, as well as 2 types of soils, while data from state reports of the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing contain the results of sanitary and parasitological control over the entire range of pathogens detected in various types of soils of the Russian Federation.
 Conclusion. It seems promising to introduce new parasitological soil research methods along with those approved to obtain a more complete and reliable picture of the level of parasitic contamination of soils in the Russian Federation for the timely implementation of stages of preventive measures.

Impact of eco-physiological factors on the weed seed germination and emergence: A review on its role in weed management

Dormancy is a typical feature of many weed seed populations, which makes forecasting the time and magnitude of weed emergence difficult. The mean minimum temperatures required for undergoing germination of different weed seeds varies considerably depending on the place of their origin as well as the season on which the plants grow. For instance, the temperature requirement for the germination of summer weeds was observed to be 40% higher than for the winter weeds. Decreasing the water potential from 0 Mpa (mega pascal) to -1.0 Mpa tends to reduce the germination capacity of many weed seeds with some seeds totally failing to germinate at -1.0 Mpa (Chloris truncate, Retama raetam). The effects of planting depth on seed germination and seedling growth of Aframomum citratum on varied soil types indicated that sowing depth greatly influenced the plant's cumulative germination percentage and early growth. The seeds of Sysimbrium officinale (L.), a summer annual species, displayed greater sensitivity to nitrates and lost dormancy throughout the winter. The germination of Thlaspi arvense was also discovered to be stimulated by nitrate only in the presence of light. Tilling the surface of soil has a positive impact in the weed seed germination, however if the tillage depth increases more than 9cm, it tends to lower down the germination of several weed species. However, weed seeds of Bernard grass are among the exceptions in which they germinate better at a shallow depth (2cm). The nature and the thickness of the mulching component influence the germination of weed seeds. Thicker mulches and mulching materials like pearl millet resulted in a greater suppression of the weed seed germination due to an increased allelopathic effects.

English

Salinity and drought are among the major abiotic stresses, leading to decreased crop productivity. Fungi are notorious for their detrimental effects on crop growth and development. In light of these circumstances, the primary objective of this project is to assemble a collection of endophytic fungi to develop new organic bio-stimulants that can effectively combat salinity and drought. To achieve this goal, diverse soil types, including cultivated, desert, and salt marshes, were sampled (five samples each) from different habitats and locations in the southern part of Sinai, the Saint Katherine Protectorate (SKP) is part of the upper Sinai massif, spanning specific coordinates (33°550 to 34°300 E and 28°300 to 28°350 N). Additionally, 80 samples of the predominant medicinal plant species from ten localities in the SKP were collected. The results of survey showed that the highest abundance of endophytic fungi was observed in Artemisia judaica L. and Alkanna orientalis (L.) Boiss., with both species exhibiting 61.1 % endophytic fungi. Five isolates of fungi labeled as SAF41, SAF46, SAF51, SAF57, and SAF63, were assessed for their tolerance to salinity stress by exposing them to different NaCl concentrations. Isolate SAF63 had the most substantial negative and significant correlation with salinity stress (R2=0.9565; p<0.001), followed by SAF51 (R2=0.9432; p<0.001) and SAF41 (R2=0.9351; p<0.001). The results indicate that different fungi isolates exhibited distinct responses to varying salinity levels and drought stress, as measured by their growth in different NaCl concentrations. Isolate SAF63 demonstrated the most significant negative correlation with salinity stress, followed by SAF51 and SAF41. These findings suggest that specific endophytic fungi isolates exhibit enhanced tolerance to both salinity and drought stress, underscoring their promising potential in mitigating metabolic and physiological damage in date palm plants, ultimately leading to increased growth and yields

Glyphosate/AMPA adsorption on magnetite under different conditions: The effect of pH and electrolytes

As a result of the frequent use, glyphosate (GLY) and its major metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), have emerged as ubiquitous environmental contaminants worldwide. Glyphosate, applied in agriculture, adsorbs on soil minerals, such as iron oxides, facilitating its fixation in soils and preventing leaching into groundwater sources. However, the adsorption capacity of various types of soils exhibits substantial variability. In this work the adsorption of GLY and AMPA on magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) was studied under different conditions: at pH ∼ 6 and ∼ 8, and in the presence of 10 mmol/L NaCl, an indifferent electrolyte, and 10 mmol/L CaCl2, which contains a specific cation mainly present in soils. The pH-dependent zeta potential measurements revealed the difference between the effect of Na+ and Ca2+ ions on the charge state and aggregation of MNPs. The adsorption of GLY/AMPA shows significant pH dependence, with the bound amounts decreasing rapidly above pH ∼ 7 in both 10 mmol/L NaCl and CaCl2 solutions. The phosphonate adsorption capacity of MNPs, as determined from the fitting of the Langmuir isotherm equation, was approximately 0.35 mmol/g and 0,09 mmol/g at pH ∼ 6 and pH ∼ 8, respectively. The diverse bound amounts at different pHs are of environmental importance: under alkaline soil conditions, the mobilization of GLY may be more probable. GLY and AMPA bind to the surface of MNPs via complex formation at ≡Fe-OH sites, primarily involving phosphate groups, preferably at acidic pH, where the MNPs carry positive charges, and the near-surface concentration of phosphonate anions is higher due to electrostatic attraction. Furthermore, in the presence of Ca2+ ions, Ca-bridging occurs, as supported by the findings from the ATR-FTIR spectra. Additionally, it is worth noting that the complex formation between Ca2+ and phosphonates in the solution phase reduces the probability of Ca-bridge and surface complex formation, hindering the fixation of GLY/AMPA in soils.

A dynamic soil freezing characteristic curve model for frozen soil

The soil freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) plays a fundamental role in comprehending thermo-hydraulic behavior and numerical simulation of frozen soil. This study proposes a dynamic model to uniformly express SFCCs amidst varying total water contents throughout the freezing-thawing process. Firstly, a general model is proposed, wherein the unfrozen water content at arbitrary temperature is determined as the lesser of the current total water content and the reference value derived from saturated SFCC. The dynamic performance of this model is verified through test data. Subsequently, in accordance with electric double layer (EDL) theory, the theoretical residual and minimum temperatures in SFCC are calculated to be −14.5 °C to −20 °C for clay particles and −260 °C, respectively. To ensure that the SFCC curve ends at minimum temperature, a correction function is introduced into the general model. Furthermore, a simplified dynamic model is proposed and investigated, necessitating only three parameters inherited from the general model. Additionally, both general and simplified models are evaluated based on a test database and proven to fit the test data exactly across the entire temperature range. Typical recommended parameter values for various types of soils are summarized. Overall, this study provides not only a theoretical basis for most empirical equations but also proposes a new and more general equation to describe the SFCC.

Influence of Soil Type, Land Use, and Rootstock Genotype on Root-Associated Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Communities and Their Impact on Grapevine Growth and Nutrition

Soil characteristics, land management practices, and plant genotypes influence arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities, leading to the proliferation of AMF taxa with different growth and nutritional outcomes in their hosts. However, the specific patterns driving these relationships are still not well understood. This study aimed to (1) evaluate the influence of soil characteristics, land use, and rootstock on AMF diversity and community structure and (2) assess the effect of those AMF communities on grapevine growth and nutrition. Soil samples were collected from vineyard and non-agricultural areas in Lisbon and Pegões, Portugal, and trap cultures established using Richter 110 and 1103 Paulsen rootstocks. After 3.5 months growth under greenhouse conditions, root-associated AMF communities were assessed by amplicon metagenomic sequencing using AMF-specific primers. Alpha diversity was only influenced by the soil type, while in β-diversity, an interaction was found between the soil type and land use. Both diversity measures were positively correlated with foliar K and negatively with leaf Mn and Mg. Notably, the concentrations of these nutrients were highly correlated with the relative abundance of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) within the genera Glomus, Rhizophagus, and Claroideoglomus. These results are valuable for supporting AMF selection for improved plant nutrition based on varying soil types and land uses.

Modeling the soil-machine response of secondary tillage: A deep learning approach

Seedbed preparation constitutes a highly important step in the crop establishment process since it directly influences both quality and yield expectation in crop fields. The quality of seedbed preparation is usually assessed by the operator of the tractor or a supervising farmer and thus dependent on qualified field personnel which are scarce today. Subsequent to the visual assessment of the current seedbed structure, a qualified operator can manually adapt the secondary tillage machine in order to optimize resource efficiency (e.g., fuel consumption) while maintaining optimal seedbed preparation according to local soil conditions. In this work, we propose to use an automated approach for real-time in-situ measurement of seedbed quality. Stereo cameras mounted in the front and the back of the tractor provide images and depth-information. Additionally, telemetry data such as working speed, power take-off (PTO) speed, fuel consumption and engine torque utilization of the tractor are logged. Based on this data, we develop a Deep-Learning-based model to predict seedbed quality (measured in form of the Roughness Coefficient), engine torque utilization and engine fuel rate. Thus, we model the interaction of the soil and the machine (soil-machine response) when preparing the seedbed with different machine configurations and environment states. For training and evaluating our model, we collected data from 16 field runs with varying soil types ranging from loamy sand to silty clay in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Based on this data, we demonstrate that our novel model is able to predict the soil-machine response on previously unseen fields with high accuracy – in our setting with a relative root mean squared error (rRMSE) between 12.2 and 14.4 %. Our proposed model has two main advantages: (1) it allows farmers to plan the optimal machine configuration in advance by simulating different machine configurations and thus reduce the complexity for the operator and (2) it can serve as a basis for the training of intelligent control agents.