https://soil.copernicus.org/articles/ Combined list of the recent articles of the journal SOIL and the recent discussion forum SOIL Discussions en https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-689-2026 Operational POM increases are over-interpreted as SOM stabilization:quantifying untransformed straw and biochar residues via magnetic separation Yuhan Xia, Sen Dou, Song Guan, and Dilimulati Yalihong SOIL, 12, 689–702, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-689-2026, 2026 Following organic amendment application, increases in particulate organic carbon (POC) are often overinterpreted as evidence of organic matter stabilization or new stable soil organic matter (SOM) formation. In fact, they may merely reflect persistent untransformed exogenous organic residues, especially pronounced in the early experimental phase. This overestimation decreases gradually with incubation time in the straw treatment, but remains stable under biochar amendment. Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-665-2026 Improvement of soil properties maps using an iterative residual correction method Chengcheng Xu, Elia Scudiero, Ray Anderson, and Nathaniel Chaney SOIL, 12, 665–687, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-665-2026, 2026 Accurate soil information is vital. This study developed a method to improve existing probabilistic soil maps, spatially continuous maps providing prior estimates, by correcting their probability distributions as new soil data emerges. By iteratively adjusting previous predictions, the method increases both accuracy and certainty of soil maps. Its application in California enhanced predictions for several soil properties. This method can be further used for more soil properties and regions. Tue, 19 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-633-2026 Mineral-bound organic carbon exposed by hillslope thermokarst terrain: case study in Cape Bounty, Canadian High Arctic Maxime Thomas, Julien Fouché, Hugues Titeux, Charlotte Morelle, Nathan Bemelmans, Melissa J. Lafrenière, Joanne K. Heslop, and Sophie Opfergelt SOIL, 12, 633–664, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-633-2026, 2026 This study examines organic carbon (OC)–mineral interactions in permafrost soils undergoing thermokarst degradation in Cape Bounty (Melville Island, Canada). Chemically stabilized OC accounts for 13 ± 5 % as organo-metallic complexes and 6 ± 2 % as associations with iron oxides. Including physical protection, up to 64 ± 10 % of OC is mineral-protected. Deeper layers show a sharp decline in mineral-bound OC, suggesting increased vulnerability to degradation when exposed by deep thaw features. Mon, 18 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-619-2026 Estimating soil carbon sequestration potential with mid-IR spectroscopy and explainable machine learning Yang Hu and Raphael A. Viscarra Rossel SOIL, 12, 619–631, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-619-2026, 2026 We analysed 482 Australian topsoils to estimate mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and the carbon storage deficit (Cdef). Using mid-infrared spectra with explainable machine learning, we predicted MAOC (R2=0.86) and Cdef (R2=0.89). Model interpretation revealed signals from organic matter and clay minerals were most significant in predicting MAOC and Cdef. Our work provides an accurate, cost-effective means to assess and better understand the drivers of soil carbon sequestration potential. Wed, 13 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-599-2026 Vulnerability of carbon in subalpine soils in the face of warmer temperatures Dario Püntener, Philipp Zürcher, Tatjana C. Speckert, Carrie L. Thomas, and Guido L. B. Wiesenberg SOIL, 12, 599–618, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-599-2026, 2026 We studied how warmer temperatures affect carbon stored in mountain soils. In a year-long experiment with forest and pasture soils, we found that even moderate warming sped up the breakdown of plant material and soil carbon. Microorganisms became less efficient at higher temperatures. This means that rising temperatures could cause mountain soils to release more carbon, reinforcing climate change. Tue, 12 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-583-2026 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 SOIL, 12, 583–598, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-583-2026, 2026 A dataset of 1490 topsoil 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. Mon, 04 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-561-2026 Destabilization of buried carbon under changing moisture regimes Teneille Nel, Manisha Dolui, Abbygail R. McMurtry, Stephanie Chacon, Joseph A. Mason, Laura M. Phillips, Erika Marin-Spiotta, Marie-Anne de Graaff, Asmeret A. Berhe, and Teamrat A. Ghezzehei SOIL, 12, 561–582, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-561-2026, 2026 Buried ancient topsoils (Brady paleosol, Nebraska) sequester vast amounts of soil organic carbon (SOC). We found repeated drying/rewetting causes greater carbon (C) loss than continuous wetting, destabilizing the slow-cycling C pool, especially in shallower soils. Decomposition rates are higher in erosional settings. Burial depth and moisture regime are key to the long-term vulnerability of these ancient C stocks under climate change. Mon, 04 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-521-2026 Formation of mineral-associated organic matter via rock weathering: an experimental test for the organo-metallic glue hypothesis Kaori Matsuoka, Jo Jinno, Hiroaki Shimada, Emi Matsumura, Ryo Shingubara, Puu-Tai Yang, and Rota Wagai SOIL, 12, 521–543, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-521-2026, 2026 The organo-mineral assemblage formation from the mixture of crushed rocks and leaf compost was promoted by (i) microbial re-working of OM (indicated by lower C:N and higher δ13C and δ15N compared to the original leaf compost) and (ii) the supply of extractable metals (esp. oxalate-extractable Fe phase) from the rock weathering. These findings supported the organo-metallic glue hypothesis (Wagai et al., 2020) and suggest that C accretion during early pedogenesis. Fri, 01 May 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-545-2026 Soil health approaches to assess the impacts of no-tillage with agricultural terraces in southern Brazil Ariane Lentice de Paula, Luis Miguel Schiebelbein, Regiane Kazmierczak Becker, Eduardo Augusto Agnellos Barbosa, Fabrício Tondello Barbosa, Carolina Weigert Galvão, Rafael Mazer Etto, Heverton Fernando Melo, Adriel Ferreira da Fonseca, and Neyde Fabiola Balarezo Giarola SOIL, 12, 545–559, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-545-2026, 2026 This study evaluated soil health in an area under no-tillage with terraces, using four approaches to develop the indices: principal component analysis, expert opinion, the soil fertility and biology approach based on the Soil Bioanalysis framework, and Soil Management Assessment Framework. The results showed that the expert opinion and soil fertility and biology approaches were more sensitive to identify differences in soil health, and crop productivity was associated with soil health. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-497-2026 Prediction of peat properties from transmission mid-infrared spectra Henning Teickner and Klaus-Holger Knorr SOIL, 12, 497–519, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-497-2026, 2026 We developed models that predict physical and chemical peat properties from mid-infrared spectra (MIRS). These peat properties are necessary for modeling peatland dynamics. Compared to direct measurements of these properties, measurements of MIRS require less sample material and save time. Unlike existing models that focus on peat, the models developed here are openly available, relatively easy to use and have basic quality checks and estimates for prediction errors. Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-471-2026 Drivers and vertical CO2 flux balances in a Sahelian agroforestry system: Insights from high frequency measurements Seydina M. Ba, Olivier Roupsard, Lydie Chapuis-Lardy, Frédéric Bouvery, Yélognissè Agbohessou, Maxime Duthoit, Aleksander Wieckowski, Torbern Tagesson, Mohamed H. Assouma, Espoir K. Gaglo, Claire Delon, Bienvenu Sambou, and Dominique Serça SOIL, 12, 471–495, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-471-2026, 2026 This study offers a major advancement in understanding CO2 fluxes in Sahelian agro-silvo-pastoral systems by combining continuous high-frequency automated soil chambers and Eddy Covariance methods over one year. It reveals the critical role of Faidherbia albida trees in carbon cycling and ecosystem productivity, providing rare, high-resolution data to inform climate mitigation strategies and ecosystem models in semi-arid African landscapes. Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-451-2026 Soil degradation assessment across tropical grassland of Western Kenya John N. Quinton, Gabriel Yesuf, German Baldi, Mengyi Gong, Kelvin Kinuthia, Ellen L. Fry, Yuda Odongo, Barthelemew Nyakundi, Joseph Hitimana, Patricia de Britto Costa, Alice A. Onyango, Sonja M. Leitner, Richard D. Bardgett, and Mariana C. Rufino SOIL, 12, 451–469, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-451-2026, 2026 We studied soil degradation in smallholder grazing areas in Western Kenya, comparing remote sensing (RS) classifications with soil data from 90 sites. Carbon and nutrient measures aligned somewhat with RS, but fast-changing variables did not. Results suggest combining RS with microbial biomass C, soil P, % C, % N, and pH can improve detection of degraded soils and guide restoration efforts Wed, 22 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-441-2026 Proglacial wetlands: an overlooked CO2 sink within recently deglaciated landscapes Sigrid van Grinsven, Noortje E. M. Janssen, Collin van Rooij, Ruben Peters, and Arnaud Temme SOIL, 12, 441–450, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-441-2026, 2026 When glaciers retreat, new land surface is revealed. Using detailed glacial retreat maps, it is possible to determine for how long a location has been ice-free. That age is used in this study to analyse how fast carbon is incorporated into the soil. Our results show that the wetness of the soil strongly determines the CO2 uptake and carbon incorporation rates. Wetlands cover a small percentage of the land surface but are nonetheless important for the carbon storage in the deglaciated area. Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-421-2026 Weathering without realizing inorganic CO2 removal revealed through base cation monitoring Arthur Vienne, Patrick Frings, Jet Rijnders, Lucilla Boito, Jens Hartmann, Harun Niron, Reinaldy Poetra, Miguel Portillo Estrada, Tom Reershemius, Laura Steinwidder, Tim Jesper Suhrhoff, and Sara Vicca SOIL, 12, 421–440, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-421-2026, 2026 Our study explores Enhanced Weathering (EW) using basalt rock dust to combat climate change. We treated maize-planted mesocosms with varying basalt amounts and monitored them for 101 d. Surprisingly, we found no significant realized inorganic CO2 removal. However, rock weathering was evident through increased exchangeable bases. While inorganic CO2 removal was not realized within this experiment, basalt amendment may enhance soil health and potentially long-term carbon sequestration. Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-371-2026 In silico analysis of carbon and water dynamics in the rhizosphere under drought conditions Mona Giraud, Ahmet Kürşad Sırcan, Thilo Streck, Daniel Leitner, Guillaume Lobet, Holger Pagel, and Andrea Schnepf SOIL, 12, 371–419, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-371-2026, 2026 We developed a multiscale model that combines 3D plant architecture with carbon flow in the rhizosphere and soil to understand how dry spells impact carbon and water dynamics, 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 short-term carbon allocation. This model can help understand the effects of climate change on plant growth and rhizosphere carbon dynamics. Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-347-2026 Soil indicators for ecosystem services: a focus on water regulation Binyam Alemu Yosef, Angelo Basile, Antonio Coppola, Fabrizio Ungaro, Claudio Zucca, and Marialaura Bancheri SOIL, 12, 347–369, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-347-2026, 2026 This study investigates the intricate relationship between soil properties and water-related processes, with a focus on their collective impact on ecosystem service provision. Key soil characteristics were analyzed for their role in regulating the overall hydrological balance in three diverse regions. The study highlights the value of process-based modelling for disentangling soil–climate interactions and cautions against the use of static indicators in hydrological and soil health assessments. Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-295-2026 Assessing long-term effects of Tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivation on soil quality in highland agroecosystems: a case study in Lam Dong, Vietnam Tao Anh Khoi SOIL, 12, 295–299, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-295-2026, 2026 This study evaluates how long-term tea cultivation affects soil quality and yield in Vietnam's highlands. Results show declines in organic carbon, phosphorus, and water capacity, leading to reduced profitability. The study identifies critical soil thresholds to support sustainable management of tropical tea plantations. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-301-2026 A GLUE-based assessment of WaTEM/SEDEM for simulating soil erosion, transport, and deposition in soil conservation optimised agricultural watersheds Kay D. Seufferheld, Pedro V. G. Batista, Hadi Shokati, Thomas Scholten, and Peter Fiener SOIL, 12, 301–319, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-301-2026, 2026 Soil erosion threatens global food security, yet modeling soil conservation remains challenging. We evaluated WaTEM/SEDEM (Water and Tillage Erosion Model/Sediment Delivery Model) in six highly instrumented micro-scale watersheds optimised for soil conservation using a GLUE (Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimation) framework. The model captured the magnitude of very low sediment yields but showed limited accuracy for annual steps. However, it performed well over eight-year timeframes and larger spatial scales, demonstrating its suitability for strategic, long-term soil conservation planning. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-321-2026 Assessing the potential of complex artificial neural networks for modelling small-scale soil erosion by water Nils Barthel, Simone Ott, Benjamin Burkhard, and Bastian Steinhoff-Knopp SOIL, 12, 321–346, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-321-2026, 2026 This study compares neural networks and a random forest model for predicting soil erosion in agricultural cropland using long-term data from northern Germany. All models captured general erosion patterns, while more complex neural networks slightly improved the distinction between soil loss classes. A permutation importance analysis identified slope and machine direction vs. aspect as the most influential predictors across all models. Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:26:39 +0200 https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-279-2026 Leaching behavior of steelmaking slag fertilizer under repeated wetting and drying conditions simulating upland soil Takayuki Iwama, Shohei Koizumi, Megumi Obara, and Shigeru Ueda SOIL, 12, 279–294, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-12-279-2026, 2026 Acidic soils can lock up nutrients and release harmful metals, reducing crop growth. In a laboratory soil-column experiment, we tested steelmaking slag, an alkaline by-product, under repeated wetting and drying. The slag-mixed layer showed lasting improvement in acidity for twenty-four weeks, while nearby layers changed little. Slag released calcium slowly and formed surface coatings, suggesting durable, place-specific treatment and guidance for rate, depth, and reapplication. Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:26:39 +0100