The following lists only preprints without a corresponding final revised paper.
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15 Apr 2025
Weathering without inorganic CDR revealed through cation tracing
Arthur Vienne, Patrick Frings, Jet Rijnders, Tim Jesper Suhrhoff, Tom Reershemius, Reinaldy P. Poetra, Jens Hartmann, Harun Niron, Miguel Portillo Estrada, Laura Steinwidder, Lucilla Boito, and Sara Vicca
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1667, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1667, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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Our study explores Enhanced Weathering (EW) using basalt rock dust to combat climate change. We treated corn-planted mesocosms with varying basalt amounts and monitored them for 101 days. Surprisingly, we found no significant inorganic carbon dioxide removal (CDR). However, rock weathering was evident through increased exchangeable bases. While immediate inorganic CDR benefits were not observed, basalt amendment may enhance soil health and potentially long-term carbon sequestration.
14 Apr 2025
Quantifying hydrological impacts of compacted sandy subsoils using soil water flow simulations: the importance of vegetation parameterization
Jayson Gabriel Pinza, Ona-Abeni Devos Stoffels, Robrecht Debbaut, Jan Staes, Jan Vanderborght, Patrick Willems, and Sarah Garré
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1166, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1166, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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We can use hydrological models to estimate how water is allocated in soils with compaction. However, compaction can also affect how much plants can grow in the field. Here, we show that when we consider this affected plant growth in our sandy soil compaction model, the resulting water allocation can change a lot. Thus, to get more reliable model results, we should know the plant growth (above and below the ground) in the field and include them in the models.
03 Apr 2025
Drivers of soil C quality and stability: Insights from a topsoil dataset at landscape scale in Ontario, Canada
Inderjot Chahal, Adam W. Gillespie, Daniel D. Saurette, and Laura L. Van Eerd
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1055, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1055, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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A dataset of 1511 samples from agricultural fields across Ontario was used to evaluate the impacts of agronomic, soil, and climatic factors on eight soil C indicators. Soil texture had a large influence on soil C and a close association of soil C with mean annual precipitation and cropping system was observed. Our results confirm the significant effects of soil management and climatic variables on soil C, which have long-term implications on soil C storage and improving soil health.
01 Apr 2025
What if publication bias is the rule and net carbon loss from priming the exception?
Jennifer Michel, Yves Brostaux, Bernard Longdoz, Hervé Vanderschuren, and Pierre Delaplace
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1067, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1067, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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We discuss three aspects to ensure (rhizosphere) priming effects are correctly perceived in their ecological context and measured at appropriate scales. (i) The first aspect is that there is little empirical evidence for net C losses from priming. (ii) The second aspect is critical publication bias. (iii) The third aspect is a need to distinguish between priming effects (PE) and rhizosphere priming effects (RPE).
31 Mar 2025
Terrain is a stronger predictor of peat depth than airborne radiometrics in Norwegian landscapes
Julien Vollering, Naomi Gatis, Mette Kusk Gillespie, Karl-Kristian Muggerud, Sigurd Daniel Nerhus, Knut Rydgren, and Mikko Sparf
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1046, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1046, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 1 comment)
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Peat depth is crucial to peatland management but often unknown. We used machine learning to map peat depth in two Norwegian landscapes, based on terrain and remotely sensed radiation. We found that terrain, especially elevation and valley bottom flatness, predicted peat depth better than radiation. Our approach improved existing maps but struggled to identify very deep peat, demonstrating that it can support regional planning but not replace field measurements for local carbon stock assessments.
28 Mar 2025
Do morphological hillslope features affect soil properties and processes promoting chestnut ink disease? The study case of the Northern Apennine mountains
William Trenti, Mauro De Feudis, Sara Marinari, Sergio Murolo, Giulia Tabanelli, Federico Puliga, Rosita Marabottini, Alessandra Zambonelli, Fausto Gardini, and Livia Vittori Antisari
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-911, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-911, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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This study aims to explore whether soil morphology and its properties influence the development of chestnut ink disease considering the whole soil depth. Soil located in a low slope position and characterized by low slope gradient promoted soil processes related to clay and water accumulation, which promote ink disease. This study highlighted the pivotal role of soil processes to shape the soil microbial community and soil-borne pathogens because of the changes of edaphic properties.
20 Mar 2025
Contribution of soil Microbial Necromass Carbon to Soil Organic Carbon fractions and its influencing factors in different grassland types
Shenggang Chen, Yaqi Zhang, Jun Ma, Mingyue Bai, Jinxiao Long, Ming Liu, Yinglong Chen, Jianbin Guo, and Lin Chen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1122, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1122, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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Fungal necromass carbon (FNC) contribution to mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) was higher than bacterial necromass carbon (BNC). In 0–20 cm, FNC and BNC contributed more to MAOC, their contributions shifted toward POC in 20–100 cm. Microbial necromass carbon was affected by total nitrogen, mean annual rainfall, and electrical conductance in 0–20, while affected by available potassium, SOC, and mean annual temperature in 20–100.
20 Mar 2025
Organic matter-mediated leaching of alkalinity in limed acid soils is affected by dissolved organic carbon adsorption and soil structure
Hannah Van Ryckel, Lynn Van Aelst, Toon van Dael, and Erik Smolders
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1012, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1012, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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Soil acidity below the plow layer harms crops and is difficult to correct with surface lime applications. Adding organic matter may help lime move deeper, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. We set up column leaching experiments to identify the mechanisms of subsurface liming. We found that combining lime with organic amendments can improve deeper soil conditions, but only in soils that do not strongly retain organic carbon. These insights can help develop better soil management strategies.
20 Mar 2025
Effect of trachyte and basalt powder on the growth and yield of maize (Zea Mays L.) in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon (Central Africa)
Bienvenu Sidsi, Claudine Vounba, Simon Djakba Basga, Aubin Nzeugang Nzeukou, Merlin Dedzo Gountie, and Désiré Tsozué
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-930, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-930, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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The study evaluates the effect of trachyte and basalt powders on soil and maize yield in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Cameroon. Texture, base saturation, and organic carbon indicate moderate limitations. The climate is favourable for maize cultivation. Rock powder application significantly improves yield, with basalt being more effective than trachyte. The advantage of using rock powders lies in their environmental benefits, long-term effectiveness, and more affordable cost.
17 Mar 2025
Quantifying spatial uncertainty to improve soil predictions in data-sparse regions
Kerstin Rau, Katharina Eggensperger, Frank Schneider, Michael Blaschek, Philipp Hennig, and Thomas Scholten
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-166, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-166, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 1 comment)
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Uneven data collection can make it hard to predict soil properties accurately in new areas. We developed a method to show where predictions are reliable and where more data is needed. By training a model in one region and applying it to another, we found that our approach effectively recognized river patterns but was biased toward overrepresented soil types. This tool can guide smarter data collection, helping improve predictions and make better use of resources for soil management.
12 Mar 2025
Regional synthesis and mapping of soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks at the Canadian Beaufort coast
Julia Wagner, Juliane Wolter, Justine Ramage, Victoria Martin, Andreas Richter, Niek Jesse Speetjens, Jorien E. Vonk, Rachele Lodi, Annett Bartsch, Michael Fritz, Hugues Lantuit, and Gustaf Hugelius
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1052, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1052, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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Permafrost soils store vast amounts of organic carbon, key to understanding climate change. This study uses machine learning and combines existing data with new field data to create detailed regional maps of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks for the Yukon coastal plain. The results show how soil properties vary across the landscape highlighting the importance of data selection for accurate predictions. These findings improve carbon storage estimates and may aid regional carbon budget assessments.
10 Mar 2025
Living cover crops reduce pesticide residues in agricultural soil
Noé Vandevoorde, Igor Turine, Alodie Blondel, and Yannick Agnan
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-943, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-943, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 1 comment)
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Cover crops (CC) help capture nitrates, but their role in mitigating pesticide impacts has been less studied. We evaluated how two CC densities (vs. bare soil) affected pesticide residues in soil and solution over 3 months in a greenhouse pot experiment. Our results show that well-developed CCs, by sustaining active edaphic microbiota, enhance pesticide biodegradation across a wide range of active substances. This further confirms the role of CCs in groundwater protection.
07 Mar 2025
In silico analysis of carbon stabilisation by plant and soil microbes for different weather scenarios
Mona Giraud, Ahmet Kürşad Sırcan, Thilo Streck, Daniel Leitner, Guillaume Lobet, Holger Pagel, and Andrea Schnepf
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-572, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-572, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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We developed a multiscale simulation model that combines 3D plant architecture with carbon cycling in the rhizosphere and soil to understand how dry spells impact carbon and water flows, focusing on the activity of the soil microbes. We found that the microbial communities’ characteristics and dry spells’ start dates significantly affect rhizosphere CO2 emissions and carbon cycling. This model can help understand the effects of climate change on plant growth and soil organic matter dynamics.
28 Feb 2025
Combining electromagnetic induction and remote sensing data for improved determination of management zones for sustainable crop production
Salar Saeed Dogar, Cosimo Brogi, Dave O'Leary, Ixchel Hernández-Ochoa, Marco Donat, Harry Vereecken, and Johan Alexander Huisman
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-827, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-827, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 1 comment)
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Farmers need precise information about their fields to use water, fertilizers, and other resources efficiently. This study combines underground soil data and satellite images to create detailed field maps using advanced machine learning. By testing different ways of processing data, we ensured a balanced and accurate approach. The results help farmers manage their land more effectively, leading to better harvests and more sustainable farming practices.
21 Feb 2025
Aeration and mineral composition of soil determine microbial CUE
Jolanta Niedźwiecka, Roey Angel, Petr Čapek, Ana Catalina Lara, Stanislav Jabinski, Travis B. Meador, and Hana Šantrůčková
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-481, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-481, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 2 comments)
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Studies on how microbes use C in soils typically assume oxic conditions, but often overlook anaerobic processes and extracellular metabolite release. We examined how O2 and Fe content affect C mineralisation in forest soils by tracking 13C flow into biomass, CO2, metabolites and the active microbes under oxic and anoxic conditions. Results showed that anoxic conditions preserved C longer, especially in the high-Fe soils. We conclude that microbial exudates play a role in anoxic C stabilisation.
07 Feb 2025
High biodegradability of water-soluble organic carbon in soils at the southern margin of the boreal forest
Yuqi Zhu, Chao Liu, Rui Liu, Hanxi Wang, Xiangwen Wu, Zihao Zhang, Shuying Zang, and Xiaodong Wu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-126, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-126, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 0 comments)
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Water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) is crucial in boreal forests, but its behavior across soil depths is poorly understood. Our study found that shallow soils contain complex WSOC molecules with high biodegradability, while deeper soils have simpler molecules that are also highly biodegradable. These results reveal the significant role of WSOC in carbon cycling across soil layers, improving our understanding of carbon dynamics in boreal ecosystems impacted by climate change.
06 Feb 2025
Warming accelerates the decomposition of root biomass in a temperate forest only in topsoil but not in subsoil
Binyan Sun, Cyrill U. Zosso, Guido L. B. Wiesenberg, Elaine Pegoraro, Margaret S. Torn, and Michael W. I. Schmidt
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-299, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-299, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 2 comments)
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To understand how warming will change the dynamics of roots across soil profile, we took usage of a long-term field warming experiment and incubated 13C-labelled roots at three different depths. After 3 years of incubation, warming only accelerate the decomposition of root in topsoil (< 20 cm) but not in subsoil (> 20 cm). Hydrolysable lipids derived from root, which are considered as recalcitrant compounds and could be preserved for long time in the soil, are also decomposed faster in topsoil.
05 Feb 2025
Changes in carbon functional groups and their in situ microscale distribution under long-term continuous cropping
Zhe H. Weng, Ram C. Dalal, Brian J. Reid, Yong-Guan Zhu, Timothy I. McLaren, Brigid A. McKenna, Meghan Barnard, Casey L. Doolette, Enzo Lombi, Johannes Friedl, and Peter M. Kopittke
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-100, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-100, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 2 comments)
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Long-term cropping reduced total stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC). This study examined the microscale processes which regulates the preservation of SOC under long-term cropping, with an understanding of this being essential for predicting SOC persistence and to identify approaches to re-building SOC stocks in agroecosystems.
04 Feb 2025
Microbial carbon use for incorporating biomass phosphorus drives CO2 emission in phosphorus-supplied subtropical forest soils
Jianghao Tan, Muhammed Mustapha Ibrahim, Huiying Lin, Zhaofeng Chang, Conghui Guo, Zhimin Li, Xianzhen Luo, Yongbiao Lin, and Enqing Hou
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-310, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-310, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 3 comments)
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Controlled experiments show that adding phosphorus (P) to soils relieves microbial P limitation to degrade soil organic carbon (SOC). No alternative explanation currently exists. We show increased desorption of OC with P supply in subtropical forests, which was used to satisfy microbial C-limitation induced while incorporating P into microbial biomass, and driving CO2 emission, without further SOC degradation. We provide newer an alternative mechanism vital for constraining land C models.
22 Jan 2025
Physical Protection of Soil Carbon Stocks Under Regenerative Agriculture
Sam G. Keenor, Rebekah Lee, and Brian J. Reid
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4029, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4029, 2025
Revised manuscript under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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Regenerative soil management reduced bulk density, increased carbon stocks, and influenced aggregate stability with time. Soils were observed to become proportionally more enriched in stable aggregates over time, and to store more carbon. These stable aggregates were found to provide physical protection to labile carbon stocks. When considered alongside recalcitrant carbon, these carbon stabilisation mechanisms may provide further opportunities to deliver robust carbon sequestration.
17 Jan 2025
On soil health and the pivotal role of proximal sensing
Yang Hu, Adam Cross, Zefang Shen, Johan Bouma, and Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3939, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3939, 2025
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: open, 1 comment)
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We reviewed the literature on soil health definition, indicators and assessment frameworks, highlighting sensing technologies' significant potential to improve current time-consuming and costly assessment methods. We proposed a soil health assessment framework from an ecological perspective free from human bias, that leverages proximal sensing, remote sensing, machine learning, and sensor data fusion to enable objective, rapid, cost-effective, scalable, and integrative assessments.
07 Jan 2025
Using Monte Carlo conformal prediction to evaluate the uncertainty of deep learning soil spectral models
Yin-Chung Huang, José Padarian, Budiman Minasny, and Alex B. McBratney
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3703, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3703, 2025
Revised manuscript under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 6 comments)
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Uncertainty quantification plays a crucial role in reporting machine learning models in soil spectroscopy. This study introduces Monte Carlo conformal prediction (MC-CP), a novel method for uncertainty quantification in deep learning soil spectral models. MC-CP outperformed two established methods, providing the most reliable results. Its efficiency and robustness make it a practical choice for implementing soil spectral models in decision-making.
18 Dec 2024
A simple model of the turnover of organic carbon in a soil profile: model test, parameter identification and sensitivity
Elsa Coucheney, Anke Marianne Herrmann, and Nicholas Jarvis
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3883, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3883, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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Simulation models can be used to evaluate changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in agricultural soils that are important to soil health and climate change mitigation. We describe a simple model that considers SOC turnover in a soil profile regulated by two processes: physical protection due to aggregation and microbial energy limitation. It accurately reproduces trends in SOC in plots receiving different OC inputs and matches survey data on SOC in the soil profile in one region of Sweden.
16 Dec 2024
Rubber plant root properties induce contrasting soil aggregate stability through cohesive force and reduced land degradation risk in southern China
Waqar Ali, Amani Milinga, Tao Luo, Mohammad Nauman Khan, Asad Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Qiu Yang, Huai Yang, Wenxing Long, and Wenjie Liu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3602, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3602, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 10 comments)
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This study explores how rubber plant root traits and SOM improve soil stability via cohesive forces. Older plantations (>11 years) showed higher root density, SOM, and optimal cellulose-to-lignin ratios, enhancing soil cohesion and aggregate stability. These findings highlight the role of mature rubber plants in reducing soil degradation and offer insights for sustainable land management and agricultural productivity in tropical regions like Hainan Island.
09 Dec 2024
Research at the interface between Indigenous knowledge and soil science; weaving knowledges to understand horticultural land use in Aotearoa New Zealand
Julie Gillespie, Matiu Payne, Dione Payne, Sarah Edwards, Dyanna Jolly, Carol Smith, and Jo-Anne Cavanagh
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3546, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3546, 2024
Revised manuscript under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 6 comments)
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Addressing soil health and food security challenges requires weaving different ways of knowing. This paper presents a case study from New Zealand, showing how combining soil science with mātauraka Māori (Māori knowledge) helps reveal past food growing practices, guiding efforts to restore traditional horticulture and enhance Māori soil health. This study also offers a practical example of integrating knowledge systems to tackle complex environmental issues in real-world contexts.
03 Dec 2024
The clay mineralogy rather that the clay content determines radiocaesium adsorption in soils
Margot Vanheukelom, Nina Haenen, Talal Almahayni, Lieve Sweeck, Nancy Weyns, May Van Hees, and Erik Smolders
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3585, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3585, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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Radiocaesium (137Cs) in soil poses long-term risks of entering the food chain after nuclear accidents. This study examined its binding in soils with contrasting properties, questioning the concept that clay content controls the fate of 137Cs. Instead, soil mineralogy, such as illite content, plays a larger role. Soil structure also affects its availability, as isolated soil fractions do not fully reflect intact soils. These findings improve predictions of 137Cs bioavailability in diverse soils.
Executive editor
This article demonstrates that soil mineralogy, not just clay content, determines the radiocaesium interception potential of soils, i.e. the absorption of 137Cs and hence its bioavailability. It, therefore, highlights the need for recalibration of existing 137Cs bioavailability models to predict regional contamination risk, but also the need for more careful soil analysis at the regional scale.
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28 Nov 2024
Missing the input: The underrepresentation of plant physiology in global soil carbon research
Sajjad Raza, Hannah V. Cooper, Nicholas T. Girkin, Matthew S. Kent, Malcolm J. Bennett, Sacha J. Mooney, and Tino Colombi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3644, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3644, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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Plant physiology has been addressed by less than 10 % of peer-reviewed soil organic carbon research published in the last century. Thus, our understanding of soil carbon dynamics is overwhelmingly built on research that neglects the fundamental processes underlying organic carbon inputs. The active engagement of plant scientists in soil carbon research is imperative to shed light on this blind spot and to develop holistic policies that support soil carbon sequestration.
Executive editor
This is an important forum article highlighting the lack of awareness into plant physiology in global soil carbon research. This issue is highly relevant as much of soil carbon cycling is driven by plant activity, in particular in the rhizosphere or related to plant symbionts. Their results are clear—the large majority of soil carbon studies do not include plant physiology even though a plant physiological perspective could provide novel or more mechanistic insights on soil carbon processes and could inform a new direction in soil carbon modelling.
27 Nov 2024
Calcium is associated with specific soil organic carbon decomposition products
Mike C. Rowley, Jasquelin Pena, Matthew A. Marcus, Rachel Porras, Elaine Pegoraro, Cyrill Zosso, Nicholas O. E. Ofiti, Guido L. B. Wiesenberg, Michael W. I. Schmidt, Margaret S. Torn, and Peter S. Nico
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3343, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3343, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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This study shows calcium helps to preserve soil organic carbon in acidic soils, challenging previous beliefs that their interactions were largely limited to alkaline soils. Using spectromicroscopy, we found calcium is co-located with aromatic and phenolic-rich carbon and that this association was disrupted when the calcium was removed, and only reformed during decomposition with added calcium. This suggests that calcium amendments could enhance soil organic carbon stability.
Executive editor
This study investigates interactions between soil organic carbon (SOC) and calcium (Ca). It reveals that Ca contributes to SOC stability even in acidic soils, a finding that departs from previous assumptions that Ca's role is limited to neutral or alkaline soils. It also investigates the formation mechanisms driving the association of Ca with a characteristic fraction of SOC, highlighting the importance of decomposition processes in its formation. In this work, the authors employ advanced spectromicroscopy and targeted experiments to confirm that Ca binds SOC compounds rich in aromatic and phenolic groups after decomposition, preventing their loss as dissolved organic carbon. The identification of this biogeochemical mechanism has direct implications for improving soil carbon models and guiding Ca amendment practices in agriculture, enhancing soil carbon retention and contributing to climate resilience.
21 Nov 2024
Portable X-Ray Fluorescence as a Tool for Urban Soil Contamination Analysis: Accuracy, Precision, and Practicality
Eriell Jenkins, John Galbraith, and Anna Paltseva
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3101, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3101, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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This review examines the use of portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) technology to detect harmful metals in urban soils. PXRF provides a fast, cost-effective method for analyzing contaminated soils, essential for safe urban agriculture. The review highlights PXRF's accuracy and limitations, stressing the need for proper calibration and sample preparation. These findings will help inform future efforts to enhance soil health and environmental safety in urban areas.
07 Nov 2024
Overcoming barriers in long-term, continuous monitoring of soil CO2 flux: A low-cost sensor system
Thi Thuc Nguyen, Nadav Bekin, Ariel Altman, Martin Maier, Nurit Agam, and Elad Levintal
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3156, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3156, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 5 comments)
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This study presents a new, low-cost sensor system for measuring soil CO2 gas continuously over long periods. Built using easy-to-get hardware components, the system costs USD700. It was tested for six months in desert soil, proving to be reliable, easy to maintain, and capable of capturing important changes in soil CO2. The CO2 flux calculations from this system closely matched those from a standard measurement device, making it a practical tool for research requiring multiple sensor systems.
05 Nov 2024
Exploring the link between cation exchange capacity and magnetic susceptibility
Gaston Matias Mendoza Veirana, Hana Grison, Jeroen Verhegge, Wim Cornelis, and Philippe De Smedt
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3306, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3306, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 3 comments)
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This study explores the link between soil magnetic susceptibility and cation exchange capacity (CEC) to improve prediction models for CEC in European soils. Results show that magnetic susceptibility significantly enhances CEC prediction in sandy soils, achieving high accuracy (R2 = 0.94). This offers a rapid, cost-effective way to estimate CEC, emphasizing the value of geophysical data integration in soil assessment.
22 Oct 2024
Pooled Error Variance and Covariance Estimation of Sparse In Situ Soil Moisture Sensor Measurements in Agricultural Fields in Flanders
Marit G. A. Hendrickx, Jan Vanderborght, Pieter Janssens, Sander Bombeke, Evi Matthyssen, Anne Waverijn, and Jan Diels
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2943, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2943, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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We developed a method to estimate errors in soil moisture measurements using limited sensors and infrequent sampling. By analyzing data from 93 cropping cycles in agricultural fields in Belgium, we identified both systematic and random errors for our sensor setup. This approach reduces the need for extensive sensor networks and is applicable to agricultural and environmental monitoring, and ensures more reliable soil moisture data, enhancing water management and improving model predictions.
17 Oct 2024
Managing Soil Nitrogen Surplus: The Role of Winter Cover Crops in N2O Emissions and Carbon Sequestration
Victoria Nasser, René Dechow, Mirjam Helfrich, Ana Meijide, Pauline Sophie Rummel, Heinz-Josef Koch, Reiner Ruser, Lisa Essich, and Klaus Dittert
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2849, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2849, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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This study evaluated the impact of diverse cover crops on topsoil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N2O emissions, and carbon (C) sequestration. Non-legume cover crops reduced SMN levels, showed potential for mitigating indirect N2O emissions, and increased C sequestration, but did not significantly reduce cumulative N2O emissions compared to fallow. The results highlight the need for tailored cover crop strategies to balance SMN capture, N2O emissions, and C sequestration effectively.
14 Oct 2024
A quantitative assessment of the behavior of metallic elements in urban soils exposed to industrial dusts near Dunkirk (Northern France)
Marine Casetta, Sylvie Philippe, Lucie Courcot, David Dumoulin, Gabriel Billon, François Baudin, Françoise Henry, Michaël Hermoso, and Jacinthe Caillaud
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1875, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1875, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
Short summary
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This study examines soils in the highly industrialized Dunkerque agglomeration in France. Our work reveals the contamination of urban soils by metals from industrial dust, including Cr, Ni, Mo, Mn, Cd and Zn. While Cr, Ni and Mo are relatively stable in soils, Mn, Cd and Zn are more mobile and may pose environmental and health problems. Our findings highlight the need of careful consideration of future land use near industrial emitters, such as allotment gardens, due to these potential hazards.
11 Oct 2024
Modeling of greenhouse gas emissions from paludiculture in rewetting peatlands is improved by high frequency water table data
Andres F. Rodriguez, Johannes W. M. Pullens, Jesper R. Christiansen, Klaus S. Larsen, and Poul E. Lærke
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3030, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3030, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
Short summary
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This study investigates if more detailed water depth and water chemistry data can improve greenhouse gas (GHG) emission estimations from rewetted peatlands under paludiculture. Results showed that in enriched nutrient areas, greenhouse gas emissions can potentially be reduced by paludiculture, depending on the end use of the harvested biomass, additionally, more data on water depth and water chemistry can improve GHG emission estimations, which is especially relevant in rewetted peatlands.
10 Oct 2024
Methane oxidation potential of soils in a rubber plantation in Thailand affected by fertilization
Jun Murase, Kannika Sajjaphan, Chatprawee Dechjiraratthanasiri, Ornuma Duangngam, Rawiwan Chotiphan, Wutthida Rattanapichai, Wakana Azuma, Makoto Shibata, Poonpipope Kasemsap, and Daniel Epron
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2937, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2937, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 5 comments)
Short summary
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Tropical forest soils are vital for methane uptake, but deforestation and agriculture can alter soil methane oxidation. An experiment in Thailand shows that fertilization significantly suppresses methane oxidation in rubber plantation soils, affecting depths up to 60 cm. Without fertilization, deeper soil layers (below 10 cm) actively oxidize methane. These findings suggest that fertilization negatively impacts the methane uptake capacity of deep-layer soils in rubber plantations.
07 Oct 2024
Operationalizing fine-scale soil property mapping with spectroscopy and spatial machine learning
Thorsten Behrens, Karsten Schmidt, Felix Stumpf, Simon Tutsch, Marie Hertzog, Urs Grob, Armin Keller, and Raphael Viscarra Rossel
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2810, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2810, 2024
Revised manuscript under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 6 comments)
Short summary
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We integrate various methods to create soil property maps for soil surveyors, which they can utilize as a reference before beginning their fieldwork. A new sampling design based on a geographical stratification is proposed focussing on local feature space variability. It allows for a systematic analysis of predictive accuracy for varying densities. The spectral and spatial models yielded high accuracies. Our study highlights the value of integrating pedometric technologies in soil surveys.
30 Sep 2024
Cultivation reduces quantities of mineral-organic associations in the form of amorphous coprecipitates
Floriane Jamoteau, Emmanuel Doelsch, Nithavong Cam, Clément Levard, Thierry Woignier, Adrien Boulineau, François Saint-Antonin, Sufal Swaraj, Ghislain Gassier, Adrien Duvivier, Daniel Borschneck, Marie-Laure Pons, Perrine Chaurand, Vladimir Vidal, Nicolas Brouilly, and Isabelle Basile-Doelsch
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2933, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2933, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
Short summary
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This study shows that cultivating natural soils disrupts crucial mineral-organic associations, leading to carbon loss and reduced soil fertility. By analyzing soil samples from a forest and crop andosols, we found that these associations exist as amorphous coprecipitates (nanoCLICs). Cultivation reduces quantities of nanoCLICs by 50 %, highlighting their vulnerability to environmental changes and the need to develop strategies to preserve them to maintain soil fertility.
30 Sep 2024
Cr(VI) reduction, electricity production, and microbial resistance variation in paddy soil under microbial fuel cell operation
Huan Niu, Xia Luo, Peihan Li, Hang Qiu, Liyue Jiang, Subati Maimaitiaili, Minghui Wu, Fei Xu, Heng Xu, and Can Wang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2771, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2771, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 7 comments)
Short summary
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Soil microbial fuel cell (SMFC) to eliminate Cr(VI) from paddy soil and metal tolerance analysis; 76 % of Cr(VI) elimination, 0.97 V power output, and heavy metal resistance genes elevation; Enrichment of exoelectrogens, Cr(VI) reducers, and tolerators contributed to SMFC performance; Bio-physical adsorption and electrochemical-microbial reduction simultaneously reduced Cr(VI).
26 Sep 2024
Benchmarking soil multifunctionality
E. R. Jasper Wubs
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2851, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2851, 2024
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 6 comments)
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Soil health is of critical importance and many soils are threatened. Benchmarking sustainable soil management is a challenge as there is no comprehensive indicator set. Here, I introduce a novel conceptual approach to soil health, representing soil functions as complex and hard to measure variables. I outline a new methodology to study soil multifunctionality using latent variable models to represent soil functions. This is a new starting point for soil health research and ultimately monitoring.
12 Sep 2024
Using 3D observations with high spatio-temporal resolution to calibrate and evaluate a process-focused cellular automaton model of soil erosion by water
Anette Eltner, David Favis-Mortlock, Oliver Grothum, Martin Neumann, Tomas Laburda, and Petr Kavka
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2648, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2648, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
Short summary
Executive editor
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This study develops a new method to improve the calibration and evaluation of models that predict soil erosion by water. By using advanced imaging techniques, we can capture detailed changes of the soil surface over time. This helps improve models that forecast erosion, especially as climate change creates new and unpredictable conditions. Our findings highlight the need for more precise tools to better model erosion of our land and environment in the future.
Executive editor
Annette Eltner et al. presented a very insightful and innovative study, which is exactly what is needed in erosion modelling. The high quality of the manuscript was underlined by both anonymous reviewers who were quite enthusiastic about it. Overall, it is a manuscript worth reading for new ideas in erosion modelling.
02 Aug 2024
Gradual drying of permafrost peat decreases carbon dioxide in drier peat plateaus but not in wetter fens and bogs
Aelis Spiller, Cynthia M. Kallenbach, Melanie S. Burnett, David Olefeldt, Christopher Schulze, Roxane Maranger, and Peter M. J. Douglas
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2248, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2248, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
Short summary
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Permafrost peatlands are large reservoirs of carbon. As frozen permafrost thaws, drier peat moisture conditions can arise, affecting microbial production of climate-warming greenhouse gases like CO2 and N2O. Our study suggests that future peat CO2 and N2O production depends on whether drier peat plateaus thaw into wetter fens or bogs and on their diverging responses of peat respiration to more moisture-limited conditions.
18 Jul 2024
Isotopic exchangeability reveals that soil phosphate is mobilised by carboxylate anions whereas acidification had the reverse effect
Siobhan Staunton and Chiara Pistocchi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1791, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1791, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
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Mineral phosphate is a finite resource and so ways must be found to optimize the use of native soil P. We have used isotopic dilution to assess how acidification and the addition of citrate or oxalate modify the lability of soil P in four contrasting soils from the Mediterranean region. Acidification did not mobilise soil P, whereas both carboxylate anions promoted soil P lability. This suggests that soil amendments and the choice of crops that exude carboxylates could optimize P nutrition.
16 Jul 2024
Conquering Soil Acidification: The Synergistic Effects of Basalt Powder, Lime, and PAM
Qianmei Zhang, Xiuhong Peng, and Hongxia Zhu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1870, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1870, 2024
Revised manuscript under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 11 comments)
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Soil acidification is crucial in soil degradation, affecting plant and microbial growth, threatening human productivity. It involves decreased pH, loss of basic ions, physical deterioration, nutrient deficiency, and toxic aluminum release. This study shows basalt powder and lime, with polyacrylamide, raise pH, boost nutrients, and reduce aluminum toxicity to plants.
06 May 2024
Soil contamination in arid environments and assessment of remediation applying surface evaporation capacitor model; a case study from the Judean Desert, Israel
Rotem Golan, Ittai Gavrieli, Roee Katzir, Galit Sharabi, and Uri Nachshon
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1014, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1014, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 5 comments)
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This study investigates contaminant transport and accumulation in sandy arid soils, focusing on a severe pollution event in 2017 in the Ashalim basin, Israel. It employs long-term field monitoring, lab experiments, and numerical models to understand pollutants transport dynamics. Findings reveal contaminants persist near the surface and circulate vertically. The 'surface evaporation capacitor' concept proves useful in predicting contaminant fate along the soil profile.
11 Apr 2024
Measurement of greenhouse gas fluxes in agricultural soils with a flexible, open-design automated system
Samuel Franco-Luesma, María Alonso-Ayuso, Benjamin Wolf, Borja Latorre, and Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-804, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-804, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for SOIL (discussion: final response, 4 comments)
Short summary
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Agriculture may have a significant role on the climate change mitigation. For that reason, it is necessary to have good estimation of the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from the agricultural activities. In this work, two different chamber systems to determine GHG were compared. Our results highlighted that automated chamber systems, compared to manual chamber systems, are a powerful tool for quantifying GHG fluxes, allowing to capture the large temporal variability that characterizes them.
22 Dec 2023
Use of soil respiration measurements and RothC modelling show effects of catch crops and precision and traditional agriculture on productivity and soil organic carbon dynamics in a 5 year study in Mediterranean climate
Enrico Balugani, Alessia Castellucci, Matteo Ruggeri, Pierluigi Meriggi, Benedetta Volta, and Diego Marazza
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2966, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2966, 2023
Preprint under review for SOIL (discussion: final response, 5 comments)
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To become more sustainable, agriculture needs practices that decrease net carbon emission to the atmosphere, increase soil carbon, and simultaneously increase yields and profits. In this study, we show that, in two different areas in Italy, the use of technology-informed managements of catch and cover crops could increase soil carbon sequestration, decrease overall carbon emissions, and increase agricultural yields.
09 Jun 2022
Weathering intensities in tropical soils evaluated by machine learning, clusterization and geophysical sensors
Danilo César de Mello, Tiago Osório Ferreira, Gustavo Vieira Veloso, Marcos Guedes de Lana, Fellipe Alcantara de Oliveira Mello, Luis Augusto Di Loreto Di Raimo, Diego Ribeiro Oquendo Cabrero, José João Lelis Leal de Souza, Elpídio Inácio Fernandes-Filho, Márcio Rocha Francelino, Carlos Ernesto Gonçalves Reynaud Schaefer, and José A. M. Demattê
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2022-17, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2022-17, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 10 comments)
Short summary
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We proposed a different method to evaluate different intensities of weathering in a heterogeneous area (soils, geology and relief) and small number of samples. We use combined data from three geophysical sensors, clustering and machine learning (nested-leave-one-out-cross-validation) to distinguish weathering intensities and assess the relationship of these variables with weathering, relief, geology, and soil types and attributes. and we obtained satisfactory performances of models evaluation.
28 Jan 2022
Meso- and microplastic distribution and spatial connections to heavy metal contaminations in highly cultivated and urbanised floodplain soilscapes – a case study from the Nidda River (Germany)
Collin J. Weber, Christian Opp, Julia A. Prume, Martin Koch, and Peter Chifflard
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2022-1, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2022-1, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 7 comments)
Short summary
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Plastics, as new contaminations in soils, occur within also in near-river floodplain soils. Until know it remains unclear, how microplastics are spatially distributed within floodplain soils, how they are reaching those soils and if they interact with other pollutants. Within this study, we found both plastics and heavy metal enrichments within the studied floodplain soils. Both contaminants have a different spatial distribution, indicating different sources and periods of soil contamination.
27 Jan 2022
Stronger microbial nutrient limitations in subsoil along the precipitation gradient of agroecosystem: Insights from soil enzyme activity and stoichiometry
Jingjing Yang, Pingting Guan, Peng Zhang, Yunga Wu, Deli Wang, and Donghui Wu
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-140, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-140, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
Short summary
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Understanding the key processes by which precipitation threatens microbial nutrient limitation allows the assessment of nutrient trade-offs in agroecosystems, which can help us meet crop production goals under change in precipitation. We observed an increase in microbial P limitation in the topsoil and a stronger limitation of microbial C and P in the subsoil compared to the topsoil and elucidated the differentiation of mechanisms among the soil profiles of agroecosystem.
03 Dec 2021
Dynamic and migration characteristics of soil free amino acids during the whole growth period of rice after application of milk vetch
Jing Yang, Yi Lin, Christopher Rensing, Liming Zhang, Biqing Zhou, Shihe Xing, and Wenhao Yang
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-130, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-130, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
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Soil FAAs concentration was highest at seedling stage and lowest at tillering stage. Application of CMV increased FAAs in paddy soil, but overdose had inhibitory effect，which may affect the capture of N by plants. Neutral FAAs, especially serine, glycine and proline displayed a strong migration. The driving factors of FAAs were pH, SOM, protease, microbial biomass and community, and Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Nitrospirae significantly affected the dynamics of FAAs in bacterial communities.
30 Nov 2021
Combined application of animal manure and straw benefit soil fauna community in dryland farming
Ling Sun and Jinggui Wu
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-132, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-132, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 9 comments)
Short summary
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Returning straw and animal manure to the field is an effective practice that facilitates the management of agricultural residues. Animal manure combined with straw led to increased the number of soil fauna groups and individuals, and affected the composition of fauna communities. There was a certain correlation between soil fauna community and soil organic carbon fractions. The application of maize straw plus pig manure was the most effective treatment for enhancing soil fauna community.
24 Nov 2021
Migration behavior of benzobicyclon hydrolysate and associated influencing factors in different agricultural soils
Lang Liu, Lei Rao, Wenwen Zhou, Limei Tang, and Baotong Li
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-125, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-125, 2021
Publication in SOIL not foreseen (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
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In this paper, in order to investigate whether the migration behavior of pesticides in soil can lead to soil and groundwater contamination, thin layer chromatography and soil column leaching were used to study the horizontal and vertical migration behavior of pesticides in soil.
10 Nov 2021
The distribution of phosphorus from recycled fertilizers to different soil fractions determines the phosphorus availability in soil
Yuan Wang, Wei Zhang, Torsten Müller, Prakash Lakshmanan, Yu Liu, Tao Liang, Lin Wang, Huaiyu Yang, and Xinping Chen
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-127, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-127, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 7 comments)
Short summary
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The current study demonstrated that different P sources had different effects on soil P availability. They distributed P differently among different P fractions. Our result show that cattle manure out-performed all other recycled phosphorous (P) sources used in improving soil P availability. And addition of mineral P fertilizer, poultry manure and cattle manure increased P fixation in a red soil more than that in a fluvo-aquic soil.
10 Nov 2021
Microbial soil characteristics of grassland and arable soils linked to thermogravimetry data: correlations, use and limits
Helena Doležalová-Weissmannová, Stanislav Malý, Martin Brtnický, Jiří Holátko, Michael Scott Demyan, Christian Siewert, David Tokarski, Eliška Kameníková, and Jiří Kučerík
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-109, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-109, 2021
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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Soil provides many ecosystem functions, which are orchestrated by the activity of soil microorganisms. For the assessment of the activity is necessary to employ many, sometimes, time-consuming, methods. We aim to replace all these methods by thermogravimetry, which registers mass losses induced by heating and previously appeared useful for analysis of soil carbon and nitrogen. Here, we show the potential of thermogravimetry to replace some methods and discuss its limits and problems.
30 Sep 2021
Additional soil organic carbon storage potential in global croplands
José Padarian, Budiman Minasny, Alex B. McBratney, and Pete Smith
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-73, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-73, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
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Soil organic carbon sequestration is considered an attractive technology to partially mitigate climate change. Here, we show how the SOC storage potential varies globally. The estimated additional SOC storage potential in the topsoil of global croplands (29–67 Pg C) equates to only 2 to 5 years of emissions offsetting and 32 % of agriculture's 92 Pg historical carbon debt. Since SOC is temperature-dependent, this potential is likely to reduce by 18 % by 2040 due to climate change.
01 Sep 2021
The response of desert biocrust bacterial communities to hydration-desiccation cycles
Capucine Baubin, Noya Ran, Hagar Siebner, and Osnat Gillor
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-88, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-88, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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In this manuscript, we describe changes in desert biocrust bacterial community during drought, rainfall, and dehydration in the Negev Desert. We followed the active bacterial community composition and their potential activity and showed that rainfall changes the bacterial community, triggers photosynthesis in soil phototrophs, and induces the production of extracellular polymeric substances that retain water during dehydration allowing bacterial cells to persist during the dehydration stage.
30 Aug 2021
Prediction of the vertical scaling of soil organic carbon in temperate forest soils using percolation theory
Fang Yu, Jinping Zheng, Qiang Liu, and Chunnan Fan
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-84, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-84, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
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We hypothesized the vertical distribution of SOC in temperate forest soils is limited by the percolating water in soil, and proposed a model derived from percolation theory to describe the vertical scaling of SOC. We evaluated the model with our field data and external data from published papers. Results show that regardless of the spatial variability of SOC, the vertical pattern of SOC follow the theoretical scaling well. There is also good agreement between prediction of SOC with observation.
24 Aug 2021
Potential and limits of vegetation indices compared to evaporite mineral indices for soil salinity discrimination and mapping
Abderrazak Bannari and Abdelgader Abuelgasim
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-55, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-55, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
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The study aims to analyze the ability of vegetation indices (VI’s) to map soil salt contents compared to the potential of evaporite mineral indices (EMI). The method used is based on simulated and satellite data acquired over two study areas: Kuwait-State and Omongwa salt-pan in Namibia. The obtained results demonstrated that it is impossible for VI’s to discriminate or to predict soil salinity. While, the EMI performed very well for the salt-affected soil classes mapping.
24 Aug 2021
Effect of freezing on the microstructure of a highly decomposed peat material close to water saturation when used prior to X-ray micro computed tomography
Hassan Al Majou, Ary Bruand, Olivier Rozembaum, and Emmanuel Le Trong
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-86, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-86, 2021
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 10 comments)
Short summary
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Freezing is increasingly used for X-ray micro computed tomography as required by the need to increase the resolution of the 3D images of the peat structure recorded. Two samples of a peat material were analyzed before and after freezing. Results showed an alteration of the structure in the whole range of pore size studied. They showed also that the consequences of the increase in the specific volume of water because of freezing appear as being responsible for the structure alteration recorded.
20 Aug 2021
Can the models keep up with the data? Possibilities of soil and soil surface assessment techniques in the context of process based soil erosion models – A Review
Lea Epple, Andreas Kaiser, Marcus Schindewolf, and Anette Eltner
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-85, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-85, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
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Intensified extreme weather events due to climate change can result in changes of soil erosion. These unclear developments make an improvement of soil erosion modelling all the more important. Assuming that soil erosion models cannot keep up with the current data, this work gives an overview of 44 models, their strengths and weaknesses and discusses their potential for further development with respect to new and improved soil and soil erosion assessment techniques.
06 Jul 2021
Soil water repellency influences maize yield by changing soil water availability under long-term tillage management
Shengping Li, Guopeng Liang, Xueping Wu, Jinjing Lu, Erwan Plougonven, Huijun Wu, Zixuan Han, Ahmed Ali Abdelrhmana, and Xiaotong Liu
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-57, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-57, 2021
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
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Soil water repellency (SWR) is an intrinsic physiochemical property in soils. No-tillage can increase SWR, which further affects some soil processes and plant growth. However, studies about the effect of SWR on yield are lacking. We found that despite there was no direct relationship between SWR and yield, SWR had the potential influence on grain yield by changing soil water availability and the effect of SWR on yield was worthy of further study under conservation tillage practices.
18 Jun 2021
Effects of application of biochar and straw on sustainable phosphorus management
Xue Li, Na Li, Jinfeng Yang, Yansen Xiang, Xin Wang, and Xiaori Han
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-49, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-49, 2021
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
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The application of biochar in soil not only solves the problem of resource waste and environmental pollution caused by agricultural and forestry wastes but also improves the soil environment. In this study, the basic properties of the soil, P fractions, change in P forms, the relationship between Hedley-P, and distribution of different P forms in the soil were studied.
17 May 2021
The geographical distribution of soil elements determines the boundaries of the Daodi-zone of medicinal plant (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.)
Hongyang Lv, Hai Wang, Qian Fang, Lei Kang, Guiqi Han, Xiaorui Zhang, Qin Si, Dongmei He, and Zhuyun Yan
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-37, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-37, 2021
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 2 comments)
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This study successfully verified the best production zone of medicinal plant has a natural boundary. Moreover, we put forward the method of identifying the suitable growth area of L.chuanxiong based on soil elements, which can also provide a practical basis for dividing other economic plants' growth environment with narrow appropriate growth areas.
01 Apr 2021
Soil properties after 36 years of N fertilization under continuous corn and corn-soybean management
Nakian Kim, Gevan D. Behnke, and María B. Villamil
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-26, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-26, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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Loss of agricultural land calls for preserving our most fertile soils. Abrupt reductions in soil pH and increases in NO3− within continuous corn at the highest N rate, imply strong acidification and nitrification. Greater yields and return of corn residues in fertilized systems improved WAS and BD and decreased P and K, whereas SOM remains unchanged. Rotating with soybeans improved yields across N levels yet hindered the gains in WAS. Further research should focus on microbial nutrient cycling.
25 Jan 2021
Deforestation effects on soil erosion rates and soil physicochemical
properties in Iran: a case study of using fallout radionuclides in
a Chernobyl contaminated area
Maral Khodadadi, Christine Alewell, Mohammad Mirzaei, Ehssan Ehssan-Malahat, Farrokh Asadzadeh, Peter Strauss, and Katrin Meusburger
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-2, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2021-2, 2021
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
Short summary
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Forest soils store carbon and therefore play an important role in mitigating climate change impacts. Yet again, deforestation for farming and grazing purposes has grown rapidly over the last decades. Thus, its impacts on soil erosion and soil quality should be understood in order to adopt sustainable management measures. The results of this study indicated that deforestation can prompt soil loss by multiple orders of magnitude and deteriorate the soil quality in both topsoil and subsoil.
01 Dec 2020
Patterns of microbial processes shaped by parent material and soil
depth in tropical rainforest soils
Laurent K. Kidinda, Folasade K. Olagoke, Cordula Vogel, Karsten Kalbitz, and Sebastian Doetterl
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-80, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-80, 2020
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
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In deeply weathered tropical rainforest soils of Africa, we found that patterns of microbial processes differ between soils developed from geochemically contrasting parent materials due to differences in resource availability. Across investigated geochemical regions and soil depths, soil microbes were P-limited rather than N-limited. Topsoil microbes were more C-limited than their subsoil counterparts but inversely P-limited.
21 Nov 2020
Simulating soil organic C dynamics in managed grasslands under
humid temperate climatic conditions
Asma Jebari, Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes, Guillermo Pardo, María Almagro, and Agustin del Prado
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-76, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-76, 2020
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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In order to ensure climate change mitigation via carbon sequestration by temperate grasslands, we suggested modifications to soil organic carbon model to be more adapted to grassland-based livestock systems under humid temperate conditions. The modifications do not impair the performance of the model under temperate conditions and so represent a broadening in its capability. It could be a useful tool for policy makers to develop effective strategies to reduce climate change effect.
30 Sep 2020
Origin, distribution, and characteristics of Archaeological Dark Earth soils – A review
Michael O. Asare, Jerry Owusu Afriyie, and Michal Hejcman
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-51, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-51, 2020
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 7 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Archaeological Dark Earth (ADE) is distributed from the tropics (Amazonian Terra preta, African ADE), moderate climatic zones (European ADE) up to the Arctic (kitchen middens). ADEs have stable organic matter content, reduced acidity, higher CEC, and C, N, P, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mg, Fe, Sr, and Ba content compared to surrounding soils.
Although generally productive, comparison of herbage production and crop yields between ADEs and natural soils are still rare.
09 Apr 2020
Iron oxides control sorption and mobilisation of iodine in a tropical rainforest catchment
Laura Balzer, Katrin Schulz, Christian Birkel, and Harald Biester
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-20, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2020-20, 2020
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
04 Feb 2020
Management-intensive Grazing Affects Soil Health
Casey Shawver, James A. Ippolito, Joe Brummer, Jason Ahola, and Ryan Rhoades
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-91, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-91, 2020
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Management-intensive Grazing (MiG) on irrigated, perennial pastures is steadily increasing due to numerous environmental pressures. However, many unknowns exist regarding MiG and its environmental impact, especially related to soil health. MiG improved biological soil health, but negatively impacted physical soil health due to grazing when soils were near saturation. If managed correctly, MiG systems have the potential for success with regards to supporting grazing and improving soil health.
28 Jan 2020
Short-term effects of fertilization on dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil leachate
Alexandra Tiefenbacher, Gabriele Weigelhofer, Andreas Klik, Matthias Pucher, Jakob Santner, Walter Wenzel, Alexander Eder, and Peter Strauss
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-97, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-97, 2020
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
20 Jan 2020
Evaluating soil erosion and sediment deposition rates by the 137Cs fingerprinting technique at karst gabin basin in Yunnan Province, southwest China
Yanqing Li, Zhongcheng Jiang, Zhihua Chen, Yang Yu, Funing Lan, Xiangfei Yue, Peng Liu, and Jesús Rodrigo-Comino
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-94, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-94, 2020
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
08 Jan 2020
Soil Aggregate Stability of Forest Islands and Adjacent Ecosystems in West Africa
Amelie Baomalgré Bougma, Korodjouma Ouattara, Halidou Compaore, Hassan Bismarck Nacro, Caleb Melenya, Samuel Ayodele Mesele, Vincent Logah, Azeez Jamiu Oladipupo, Elmar Veenendaal, and Jonathan Lloyd
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-87, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-87, 2020
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
To better understand the development of forest islands in west Africa, our study focused on soil aggregates stability of these patches across a precipitation transect. Soil samples were taken from 0 to 5 cm and 5 to 10 cm depths and aggregate fractions with diameters: > 500, 500–250 μm and 250–53 μm determined using the water sieving method. The results showed significant higher proportion of stable meso and macroaggregates in forest islands and natural savanna compared to agricultural soil.
18 Nov 2019
Efficient Eco-Friendly Organic Wastes Mixed with Growth Promoting Bacteria to Remediate and Increase Fertility of Saline Sodic Soil in Egypt
Mohamed Hafez, Mohamed Rashad, Sally F. Abo El-Ezz, and Alexander I. Popov
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-69, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-69, 2019
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
One of the main obstacles to agricultural production in Egypt is soil salinization and degradation. Application of agro-industrial organic wastes as soil amendments such as the Brewers' spent grain, 85 % of the total by-products generated and compost with bacteria inoculation to reclamation saline soil for free. Applied spent grain with Azospirillum, depending on their biological and chemical properties might have a positive effect on soil properties, especially in the absence of compost.
04 Nov 2019
Elemental Composition, Leachability Assessment and Spatial Variability Analysis of Surface Soils in the Mugan Plain in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Junho Han, Zaman Mammadov, Elton Mammadov, Seoyeon Lee, Jisuk Park, Garib Mammadov, Guliyev Elovsat, and Hee-Myong Ro
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-66, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-66, 2019
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
The Republic of Azerbaijan has suffered from low agricultural productivity caused by soil salinization and erosion, and limited and insufficient soil data are available for economic and political reasons. This study has provided a foundation for the international study of Azerbaijani soil by sharing soil and salinization data with researchers worldwide and can help to diminish or solve agricultural problems in both Azerbaijan and neighboring countries suffering from soil salinization.
03 Jun 2019
Spatial variability and sampling density of chemical attributes in archaeological black earths under pasture in southern Amazonas, Brazil
Alan F. L. de Lima, Milton C. C. Campos, José M. da Cunha, Laércio S. Silva, Flávio P. de Oliveira, Bruno C. Mantovanelli, Elilson G. de Brito Filho, and Romário P. Gomes
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-26, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-26, 2019
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
Short summary
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The work has as contribution, to develop and to present results evidencing that
the knowledge about spatial mapping of soil chemical attributes is essential for
sampling efficiency and agricultural planning management, ensuring a regional
development and sustainability of the unique characteristics of archaeological black
earths (ABEs).
03 May 2019
Changes in soil properties in a low-quality broadleaf mixed forest after cutting strip reforms in a 9-year period in Northeastern China
Huiwen Guan, Xibin Dong, Tian Zhang, Yuan Meng, Jiafu Ruan, and Zhiyong Wang
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-10, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-10, 2019
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
The results show that most soil physical properties were damaged by cutting within 3 years and can be restored after 6 years. Over the 9 years, soil physical properties displayed some differences across cutting strip widths, while chemical properties did not display any differences. In view of the current research years, the soil quality could not be restored in the 18-m harvesting zone within nine years. The cutting width of 10 m is more obvious than that of other transformation widths.
15 Apr 2019
Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur (CNS) status and dynamics in Amazon basin upland soils, Brazil
Jörg Matschullat, Roberval Monteiro Bezerra de Lima, Sophie F. von Fromm, Solveig Pospiech, Andrea M. Ramos, Gilvan Coimbra Martins, and Katharina Lenhart
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-16, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2019-16, 2019
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Against common understanding, Amazon basin upland soils contain average carbon, nitrogen and sulfur concentrations similar to, e.g., European soils. The same applies for average C / N ratios. Post-forest land (e.g., pasture land, plantations) show up to 20 % of carbon and nitrogen losses after deforestation. Distinct seasonal dynamics are visible for the generally low pH-values and very low electrical conductivities in soil solution – a likely driver of seasonal element mobility.
23 Jan 2019
Beneath the arctic greening: Will soils lose or gain carbon or perhaps
a little of both?
Jennifer W. Harden, Jonathan A. O'Donnell, Katherine A. Heckman, Benjamin N. Sulman, Charles D. Koven, Chien-Lu Ping, and Gary J. Michaelson
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2018-41, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2018-41, 2019
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 7 comments)
Short summary
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We examined changes in soil carbon (C) associated with permafrost thaw, warming, and ecosystem shifts using a space-for-time study. Soil C turnover was estimated for soil C fractions using soil C and radiocarbon data. Observations informed a simple model to track soil C change over time. Both losses and gains of soil C occur in the profile due to shifts in C among density-separated fractions. Thawing initially resulted in C gains to mineral soil and eventually C losses as warming persists.
05 Jun 2018
Mapping homogeneous spectral response zones in a soil profile
Edward J. Jones and Alex B. McBratney
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2018-12, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2018-12, 2018
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
Short summary
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Variable soil moisture content is one of the main factors limiting field application of visible near-infrared spectroscopy. External parameter orthogonalisation of soil spectra was found to conserve intrinsic soil information under variable moisture conditions. k-means clustering of treated spectra yielded similar classifications under in situ, field moist (laboratory) and air-dried condition. Homogeneous spectral response zones were identified that corresponded with field observed horizons.
04 Jun 2018
Phosphorus transport in lateral subsurface flow at forested hillslopes
Jakob Sohrt, Heike Puhlmann, and Markus Weiler
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2018-13, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2018-13, 2018
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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We sampled concentrations of phosphorus (P) in laterally flowing water in the organic layer of three beech forest sites. Sampling frequency was in the range to minutes to ours with the intent of capturing short term variability of this parameter and the underlying mechanisms, which were analyzed with a modeling approach. While site affiliation was found to be a strong influence on P concentrations in lateral flow, some universal effects – like antecedent soil moisture – could also be determined.
15 Feb 2017
Estimating hydraulic conductivity of a crusted loamy soil from beerkan experiments in a Mediterranean vineyard
Vincenzo Alagna, Vincenzo Bagarello, Simone Di Prima, Fabio Guaitoli, Massimo Iovino, Saskia Keesstra, and Artemio Cerdà
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-79, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-79, 2017
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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Beerkan infiltration tests along with BEST (Beerkan Estimation of Soil Transfer parameters) algorithm led to accurate estimates of the hydraulic conductivity in both crusted and un-crusted soils. A sampling strategy implying beerkan tests carried out along and between the vine-rows allowed to assess the reduction in hydraulic conductivity with extemporaneous measurements alone. The effect of the cycling occurrence of crusting due to rainfalls and wetting–drying cycles on the vineyard inter-row.
01 Feb 2017
Isovolumetric replacement and aeolian deposition contributed to Terrae
calcis genesis in Franconia (central Germany)
Bernhard Lucke, Helga Kemnitz, and Stefan Vitzethum
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2017-4, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2017-4, 2017
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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There is no general agreement on the genesis of Cambisols on limestone (Terrae calcis), which limits the interpretation of these soils as environmental archives, in particular regarding the role of climate for their formation. We re-visited profiles of brown (Terra fusca) and red (Terra rossa) clays on limestone that had in the 1930s been suggested to have formed by metasomatism, and found that isovolumetric replacement of limestone by clay and aeolian deposition contributed to their genesis.
02 Jan 2017
Compared impact of compost and digestate on priming effect and
hydrophobicity of soils depending on textural composition
Amrei Voelkner, Charlotte Diercks, and Rainer Horn
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-62, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-62, 2017
Preprint retracted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
18 Nov 2016
Two different microbial communities did not cause differences in occlusion of particulate organic matter in a sandy agricultural soil
Frederick Büks, Philip Rebensburg, Peter Lentzsch, and Martin Kaupenjohann
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-73, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-73, 2016
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 2 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Microbial communities play a role in soil aggregate formation. However, the influence of the microbial community structure on POM occlusion within soil aggregates is still unproved. In this experiment, sterile sandy agricultural soil was incubated in two variants – inoculated with soil extract and infected with air-born microorganisms. After 76 days of incubation soils show a strongly differing microbial populations structure, but no significant difference in POM occlusion.
17 Aug 2016
Geomorphic Threshold Estimation for Gully Erosion in the Lateritic Soil of
Birbhum, West Bengal, India
Sandipan Ghosh and Sanat Kumar Guchhait
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-48, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-48, 2016
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Continuous loss of land and soil cover will make the situations of food and water security, climate regulation, land degradation and desertification more critical. The present study examines the processes and thresholds of gully erosion in the tropical region of India. This research work highlights an intimate relation between critical valley slope and drainage basin area. It identifies the spatial dominance of overland flow erosion to initiate gully on the laterites.
01 Aug 2016
Vertical nutrient and trace element migration in cambisols after application of residues from anaerobic digestion of manure
M. Sager
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-44, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-44, 2016
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Groundwater and well-water composition relies on release and filtering properties of soils and subsoil layers. This paper is about to monitor changes of respective soil properties from long-term sewage-sludge disposal, when a load of manure is applied.
04 Jul 2016
Soil organic carbon stocks in semi-arid West African drylands: implications for climate change adaptation and mitigation
Jérôme Ebagnerin Tondoh, Issa Ouédraogo, Jules Bayala, Lulseged Tamene, Andrew Sila, Tor-Gunnar Vågen, and Antoine Kalinganiré
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-45, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-45, 2016
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
The present paper is intended to fill in the gap of field data on soil carbon sequestration in west african dry areas. As increased carbon concentration in soils through improved agricultural management practices is one of the options to mitigate greenhouse gases and improved soil quality, the results of this study will help designing the most promising practices in the study sites.
04 Jul 2016
Lime and zinc application influence soil zinc availability, dry
matter yield and zinc uptake by maize grown on Alfisols
Sanjib K. Behera, Arvind K. Shukla, Brahma S. Dwivedi, and Brij L. Lakaria
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-41, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-41, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 7 comments)
Short summary
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Zinc (Zn) deficiency is widespread in all types of soils of world including acid soils affecting crop production and nutritional quality of edible plant parts. The present study was carried out to assess the effects of lime and farmyard manure addition to two acid soils of India on soil properties, extractable zinc by different extractants, dry matter yield, Zn concentration and uptake by maize. Increased level of lime application led to enhancement of soil pH and reduction in extractable Zn in
22 Jun 2016
Approaches to calibrate in-situ capacitance soil moisture sensors and some of their implications
N. A. L. Archer, B. R. Rawlins, B. P. Machant, J. D. Mackay, and P. I. Meldrum
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-40, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-40, 2016
Preprint withdrawn (discussion: closed, 3 comments)
Short summary
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This study investigates the importance of using techniques, such as soil water release curves, soil shrinkage measurements and field observations to create reference points to determine the best-fit calibrations for estimating volumetric water content (VWC). We also show that calibrating soil moisture sensors in disturbed clay soils over-estimates VWC and we suggest that undisturbed soil cores provide better calibrations to estimate VWC in clay soils.
24 May 2016
Hydrological corridors for landscape and climate restoration: Prioritization of re-greening areas in Kenya and Tanzania
Judith E. M. Klostermann, Luuk Fleskens, Erik Querner, Herbert Ter Maat, Ronald Hutjes, Fons Jaspers, and Sander de Haas
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-29, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-29, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 5 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Regreening of degraded land can prevent erosion and increase water availability. If it is done at a sufficiently large scale it may also lead to positive climate feedbacks such as increased rainfall. We aimed to select the best locations for such a regreening effort. The selection method was based on soil characteristics, water systems, climate patterns and adaptive capacity of local societies. We concluded that the best place for a regreening corridor probably is in East Tanzania.
20 May 2016
Potential for agricultural production on disturbed soils mined for apatite using legumes and beneficial microbe
Rebecca Swift, Liza Parkinson, Thomas Edwards, Regina Carr, Jen McComb, Graham W. O'Hara, Giles E. St. John Hardy, Lambert Bräu, and John Howieson
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-33, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-33, 2016
Preprint retracted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
18 Mar 2016
Investigation of rootzone salinity with field monitoring system at tsunami affected rice fields in Miyagi, Japan
Ieyasu Tokumoto, Katsumi Chiba, Masaru Mizoguchi, and Hideki Miyamoto
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-12, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-12, 2016
Preprint retracted (discussion: closed, 3 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
After the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, we used the Field Monitoring System (FMS), which is remote sensing technology of wireless real-time soil data through the internet data sever to investigate high soil moisture and high salinity in the tsunami affected region in Miyagi, Japan. Our finding was that the shallow groundwater provided salinity to the soil surface in 2014, but the FEM allowed us to monitor high EC (< 6 dS m−1) even in saturated soil condition.
09 Mar 2016
Feeding the world with soil science: embracing sustainability, complexity and uncertainty
P. Tittonell
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-7, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-7, 2016
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Current agriculture falls short of achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals: 1) It depends on non-renewable resources; 2) Impacts negatively on biodiversity and the environment; 3) Is not apt to produce food where people need it most. To contribute to food security and nutrition, new soil science must address these aspects of agricultural sustainability, while considering the complexity and uncertainties inherent to agroecosystems around the world, and communicate this better to society.
07 Mar 2016
Relation of aggregate stability and microbial diversity in an incubated sandy soil
Frederick Büks, Philip Rebensburg, Peter Lentzsch, and Martin Kaupenjohann
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-14, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-14, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 7 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Soil microbial biofilms are supposed to increase agglomeration of soil particles and therefore reduce erodibility. After inoculation with two strongly differing microbial communities, a sandy agricultural soil did not develop significant differences in aggregate stability. This leads to the assumption that mechanical properties of biofilms do not vary considerably across different biological/chemical compositions, which implies that aggregate stability is a resilient factor of soil fertility.
16 Feb 2016
Characterization of soil organic matter by near infrared spectroscopy – determination of glomalin in different soils
Jiří Zbíral, David Čižmár, Stanislav Malý, and Elena Obdržálková
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-9, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-9, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Characterizing soil organic matter (SOM) cheaply and reliably can help to support decisions concerning sustainable land management and climate policy. Glomalin is produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and it is a promising indicator of SOM quality. Determining glomalin in soils using classical chemical methods is too complicated and time consuming and therefore limits the use of this parameter in large scale surveys. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can solve this problem easily.
01 Feb 2016
Determining the susceptibility of soils materials to erosion by rain-impacted flows
P. I. A. Kinnell
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-5, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2016-5, 2016
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Soils have a susceptibility to being eroded by rainfall which can be determined when the the ability of rain to cause erosion is known and controlled. A laboratory method is described where the important rain and flow factors are well controlled in order to determine the susceptibility of surfaces eroding under flows impacted by raindrops can be assessed.
18 Jan 2016
Calculating the sediment budget of a tropical lake in the Blue Nile basin: Lake Tana
F. A. Zimale, M. A. Mogus, M. L. Alemu, E. K. Ayana, S. S. Demissie, S. A. Tilahun, and T. S. Steenhuis
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2015-84, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2015-84, 2016
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
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Sediment impact on tropical lakes is not well known, because of lack of data. In this study we extent the limited available data by first modeling the hydrology with saturation excess model. Then based on the flow prediction we predict sediment concentrations and loads. We found that yearly over 90% of the 16 million ton (lower bound) or more likely 37 million ton generated in the 12,000 square km Lake Tana watershed in Ethiopia is trapped on the flood plains and in lake.
15 Jan 2016
Natural versus anthropogenic genesis of mardels (closed depressions) on the Gutland plateau (Luxembourg); archaeometrical and palynological evidence of Roman clay excavation from mardels
J. M. van Mourik, D. J. G. Braekmans, M. Doorenbosch, W. J. Kuijper, and J. van der Plicht
SOIL Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2015-82, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2015-82, 2016
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Paleoecological studies of mardels could not solve the problem concerning the geological versus anthropogenic genesis of mardels.
The results of archaeometrical tests show that colluvial clay, excavated from mardels has been used in Roman Time to produce ceramics.
Mardels are initially natural depressions, filled with pre Roman colluvial clay, excavated in the Roam Time and refilled with clay after the Roman Time.
30 Oct 2015
Compound-specific 15N stable isotope probing of N assimilation by the soil microbial biomass: a new methodological paradigm in soil N cycling
A. F. Charteris, T. D. J. Knowles, K. Michaelides, and R. P. Evershed
SOIL Discuss., 2, 1135–1160, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-1135-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-1135-2015, 2015
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
03 Jun 2015
Organic nitrogen storage in mineral soil: implications for policy and management
A. H. Bingham and M. F. Cotrufo
SOIL Discuss., 2, 587–618, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-587-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-587-2015, 2015
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 3 comments)
01 Jun 2015
Analysis of the linearised observation operator in a soil moisture and temperature analysis scheme
I. Dharssi, B. Candy, and P. Steinle
SOIL Discuss., 2, 505–535, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-505-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-505-2015, 2015
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
31 Mar 2015
Ecological sanitation products reuse for agriculture in Sahel: effects on soil properties
D. Sangare, B. Sawadogo, M. Sou/Dakoure, D. M. S. Ouedraogo, N. Hijikata, H. Yacouba, M. Bonzi, and L. Coulibaly
SOIL Discuss., 2, 291–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-291-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-291-2015, 2015
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
Closed-loop sanitation systems provide a way to reduce health risks while also recovering useful nutrients for agriculture in Sahelian areas. However, the soil salinity issue is significant because urine and/or greywater, which are potential salt sources. There is very limited information on soil salinity and sodicity from greywater in conjunction with urine/compost. These products can be reused as a nutrient source and water for food production, provided that soil salinity is monitored.
03 Mar 2015
Ecological soil quality affected by land use and management on semi-arid Crete
J. P. van Leeuwen, D. Moraetis, G. J. Lair, J. Bloem, N. P. Nikolaidis, L. Hemerik, and P. C. de Ruiter
SOIL Discuss., 2, 187–215, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-187-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-187-2015, 2015
Manuscript not accepted for further review (discussion: closed, 6 comments)
05 Jan 2015
Effect of land management on soil properties in flood irrigated citrus orchards in Eastern Spain
A. Morugán-Coronado, F. García-Orenes, and A. Cerdà
SOIL Discuss., 2, 1–27, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-1-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-2-1-2015, 2015
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 8 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
-Different uses of soil have an important effect on the soil microbial structure.
-This research shows the effect of three different management practices in soil microbial community under Mediterranean conditions.
-The application of organic farming increased the organic carbon content, microbial biomass, enzymatic activities and basal soil respiration.
27 Nov 2014
Geospatial variation of grapevine water status, soil water availability, grape composition and sensory characteristics in a spatially heterogeneous premium wine grape vineyard
D. R. Smart, S. Cosby Hess, R. Plant, O. Feihn, H. Heymann, and S. Ebeler
SOIL Discuss., 1, 1013–1072, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-1013-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-1013-2014, 2014
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 3 comments)
Short summary
Short summary
The key element of this report concerns the finding that micro-geological variation (within a vineyard of approximately 2 hectares) had a definitive influence on fruit sensory and chemical properties most often associated with high quality. This finding calls into question the regional level interpretation of the concept of terroir. This variation was found to be most highly influenced by the calculated plant available water in soil and strongly correlated with vine water status.
19 Sep 2014
Depth distribution of radiocesium in Fukushima paddy fields and implications for ongoing decontamination works
H. Lepage, O. Evrard, Y. Onda, I. Lefèvre, J. P. Laceby, and S. Ayrault
SOIL Discuss., 1, 401–428, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-401-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-401-2014, 2014
Revised manuscript not accepted (discussion: closed, 4 comments)
29 Aug 2014
Organic carbon, water repellency and soil stability to slaking under different crops and managements: a case study at aggregate and intra-aggregate scales
A. Jordán, J. García-Moreno, Á. J. Gordillo-Rivero, L. M. Zavala, and A. Cerdà
SOIL Discuss., 1, 295–325, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-295-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/soild-1-295-2014, 2014
Revised manuscript has not been submitted (discussion: closed, 2 comments)