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The study proved the adaptability of Drosera intermedia on a habitat identified using the bioindication method through the floristic and syntaxonomic suite. Other factors, such as soil and co-occurring species, should also be taken into account. This is not a specific transitional peatland, but a site which is syntaxonomically difficult to identify. Species from the class Scheuchzerio-Caricetea nigrae as well Oxycocco-Sphagnetea were recorded. Taxa from other classes, such as Alnetea glutinosae, were also found in smaller numbers. This study confirmed that Drosera intermedia has a wide ecological range, which is in agreement with the available literature. Soil surveys indicated, among other things, a medium pH value, high ash content and organic matter distribution. In turn, statistical tests found that the highest correlation was between the pH values (in H2O and in KCL). In contrast, the negative ones were between carbon and ash content as well as between S and pH in H2O. Higher N and C scores were associated with higher pH values in H2O in KCl and CaO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear clearings of vegetation to perform geophysical surveys, called seismic lines, are created for oil and gas exploration in boreal Canada and often persist on the landscape for decades after disturbance. Therefore, an assessment of environmental conditions on seismic lines is needed to inform restoration efforts. This study aimed to compile surface soil properties (upper 5–15 cm; dry bulk density, organic matter content, organic matter bulk density, volumetric water content, and water content by mass) on and off seismic lines across upland, transitional, and peatland ecosystems in northern Alberta, Canada (N = 1638). Soil properties differ between seismic line and reference samples, especially on older "conventional" lines. Changes included higher dry bulk density, lower organic matter content, and elimination of microtopographic variability. Changes in dry bulk density can, in part, be explained by a reduction in organic matter content, but altered carbon cycling and/or compaction are also important. Restoration techniques such as inverted mounding create an entirely distinct soil condition, with higher mean bulk densities and lower organic matter contents than both on and off seismic lines. Therefore, an assessment of microtopographic recovery should be conducted before prescribing restoration treatments to limit further degradation of soil structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and timely acquisition of soil information is crucial for precision agriculture, food security, and environmental protection. Proximal visible near-infrared reflectance (vis–NIR) spectroscopy has been widely employed for rapid and accurate soil measurement, but its point measurement nature limits its direct applicability for large-scale soil surveys. On the other hand, remote sensing techniques can provide soil information at a larger scale, but their resolution is relatively coarse. While both techniques have been used independently for soil analyses, integrating vis–NIR spectroscopy with remote sensing remains a challenge and is underexplored, especially at the field scale. This study addresses this gap by combining field vis–NIR spectra with Gaofen-1 remote sensing data to spatially analyze soil organic matter and total nitrogen at the field scale. Unlike previous work, we first applied Gaofen-1 data and 10 derived spectral indices to estimate soil organic matter and total nitrogen using partial least squares regression and random forest, identifying the optimal combination of spectral indices. Then, we integrated the proximal vis–NIR spectra with this optimal spectral index combination for improved soil property estimation. This integration advanced existing methodologies by leveraging the high spatial resolution of Gaofen-1 data and the detailed spectral information from vis–NIR spectroscopy. The results showed the following: (1) the coefficient of variation across different crop growth stages of Gaofen-1 data was more crucial for modeling these two properties compared to bare soil Gaofen-1 data; (2) integrating proximal vis–NIR spectra with Gaofen-1 data improved model performance, yielding Lin's concordance correlation coefficient ( ρ c ) values of 0.63 and 0.72 and ratios of performance to interquartile distance (RPIQ) of 1.99 and 1.59 for soil organic matter and total nitrogen, respectively; and (3) the combined use of vis–NIR spectra and Gaofen-1 data provided higher spatial estimation accuracy (R2 of 0.68 and 0.57 for soil organic matter and total nitrogen) compared to ordinary kriging (R2 of 0.63 and 0.31 for soil organic matter and total nitrogen). These results demonstrate that the synergistic use of remote sensing and proximal soil sensing is a practical approach for spatially estimating soil organic matter and total nitrogen at the field scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF) is evaluated as an alternative to conventional acid-mediated soil digestion methods for analysis of aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), silicon (Si), strontium (Sr), titanium (Ti), and zirconium (Zr). The Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory (KSSL) currently uses microwave-assisted digestion with inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) to measure the 12 elements (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Si, Sr, Ti, Zr). The equipment needed to conduct the digestion method is expensive, the materials are hazardous, and the method is laborious. The Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory (KSSL) has observed variable elemental recoveries for certain elements. The objective of the study was to evaluate an ED-XRF method as an alternative to the KSSL digestion method. The literature offers few examples of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) method development and validation. The candidate ED-XRF method offered a more efficient, less expensive, and less hazardous approach for measuring the 12 elements. Relative to the digestion method, the candidate ED-XRF method showed improved precision and accuracy for specific elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil erosion is a pressing global issue, affecting approximately 2.6 billion people across over 100 countries. It occurs from natural processes and human activities such as intensive agriculture and deforestation. In India, the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning estimates that around 146.8 million hectares of soil have been degraded. Preliminary analysis indicates an average soil erosion rate of 16.4 tons per hectare per year, leading to an annual loss of 5.3 billion tons nationwide. The Kosi River, which frequently shifts its course, exacerbates soil erosion issues in Northern Bihar. This study employs the Revised Universal Soil Equation (RUSLE) to estimate soil loss in the Kosi Basin, covering an area of 1,370,873.485 hectares, utilizing a 30-year rainfall dataset from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). Furthermore, various remote sensing data reveal that 0.20% of the area is at very high risk, while 65.88% is classified as having low to shallow risk for soil erosion. These results intend to guide regional planning and land use management in Bihar, emphasizing the importance of the soil erosion prevention model for effective environmental management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On October 11, 2018, in the Ulytau region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Soyuz-FG launch vehicle carrying a crewed MS-10 spacecraft failed. It resulted in the release into the fragile arid ecosystems of rocket propellants, i.e., jet fuel of toxic hazard class 4 and carcinogenic unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (heptyl, UDMH). In this paper, we described the results of soil surveys conducted in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. In the fragile arid ecosystems in Central Kazakhstan, due to the emergency falling of the launch vehicle, environmental consequences were registered at a total area of about 1350 m2, including spillage of jet fuel and UDMH in the territories of 400 m2 and 9 m2, respectively. The third stage disintegrated and fell down within an area of 4.4 km2. Immediately after the emergency crash of the second stage, the content of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) reached 1645 mg/kg, decreasing 10 times in 3.5 years. At the fuel tank falling site, the concentration of highly toxic carcinogenic UDMH and nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) reached 22 and 9 mg/kg, which is many times higher than the maximum permissible concentrations. Four years after reclamation, the content of both substances did not exceed 0.05 mg/kg—the lower limit of sensitivity of a highly performed liquid chromatography. The content of TPHs, water-soluble Cl− and SO42−, and alkalinity from CO32− was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in autumn of 2022, and the content of total N, water-soluble NO3− and NO2−, and alkalinity from HCO3− was higher in spring of 2023. In spring and autumn, the content of exchangeable Ca2+ and Mg2+, cation exchange capacity was similar (p > 0.05). The presented materials can be used to optimize the restoration of disturbed arid ecosystems and future monitoring work at sites of regular landing of the first stages and emergency crash sites of launch vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of land for irrigated wheat cultivation in the Ali Al-Gharbi area in Maysan Governorate.A semi detailed soil survey was conducted covering an area of 77244.66 hectares. 15 pedons were described and 40 surface samples were collected. The study area included three physiographic units: the riverbed unit, the river basin unit, and the depressions unit. Land suitability assessment was conducted following the methodologies outlined by Sys et al., 1993, and the approach proposed by Al-Rubaie )10(. This evaluation encompassed soil characteristics, topography, and irrigation water needs. The results indicated that the determining factor for wheat cultivation is soil salinity and calcium carbonate content. Climate suitability results for wheat cultivation within category S1 reached a rating of (98.8)%, according to the assessment. However, according to the suitability categories outlined by Sys et al., 1993, the unsuitable areas (N2) for cultivation covered an area of 76,336.36 hectares, accounting for 98.82% of the study area, while the suitable category (S1) covered an area of 908.30 hectares, representing 1.18% of the study area. According to the proposal by Al-Rubaie )10(, water availability fell within the limited suitability category S3, with a rating of (66.74)%. The final suitability assessment placed the area within the unsuitable category N1, covering 75,572.73 hectares and representing 97.84% of the study area, and the limited suitability category S3, covering 1,671.93 hectares and representing 2.16% of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil conditions of croplands are a frequent topic of scientific research. In contrast, less is known about large-scale commercial plantations of perennial crops such as oil palm. Oil palm is a globally important tropical commodity crop which contributes to both food and energy security due to its exceptional productivity. However, oil palm crops are associated with short lifecycles and high nutrient demands, which may disproportionately affect soil health. With the goal of exploring baseline soil properties in commercial oil palm plantations, we evaluated data from two large-scale soil surveys carried out in 2014/2015 and 2018/2019 across more than 400 fields located throughout Peninsular Malaysia. We examined variation in field-measured soil quality indicators with a focus on soil organic carbon content at three depths (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, 30–45 cm) and investigated links with spatial covariates, including plantation age. We found SOC contents to be low (1.6–2%) across the sampled locations with limited correlation with spatial predictors employed in soil organic carbon modelling. Furthermore, we found that immature and young mature plantations, which consisted of fields that were re-planted as part of a 20-year-long oil palm rotation, were characterised by significantly lower soil organic carbon content than the mature plantations. This suggests that management practices should target younger oil palm plantations for soil organic conservation measures to increase the overall baseline SOC content, which will subsequently accumulate over the plantation's lifespan. We further provide recommendations for future soil sampling efforts, which could increase the robustness of collected data and facilitate their use for soil monitoring through modelling approaches involving, for example, digital soil mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Zone Research / Ganhanqu Yanjiu is the property of Arid Zone Research Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Basic inventory is required for proper understanding and utilization of Earth's natural resources, especially with increasing soil degradation and species loss. Soil carbon is newly refined at >30,000 Gt C (gigatonnes C), ten times above prior totals. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is up to 24,000 Gt C, plus plant stocks at ~2400 Gt C, both above- and below-ground, hold >99% of Earth's biomass. On a topographic surface area of 25 Gha with mean 21 m depth, Soil has more organic carbon than all trees, seas, fossil fuels, or the Atmosphere combined. Soils are both the greatest biotic carbon store and the most active CO2 source. Values are raised considerably. Disparity is due to lack of full soil depth survey, neglect of terrain, and other omissions. Herein, totals for mineral soils, Permafrost, and Peat (of all forms and ages), are determined to full depth (easily doubling shallow values), then raised for terrain that is ignored in all terrestrial models (doubling most values again), plus SOC in recalcitrant glomalin (+25%) and friable saprock (+26%). Additional factors include soil inorganic carbon (SIC some of biotic origin), aquatic sediments (SeOC), and dissolved fractions (DIC/DOC). Soil biota (e.g., forests, fungi, bacteria, and earthworms) are similarly upgraded. Primary productivity is confirmed at >220 Gt C/yr on land supported by Barrow's "bounce" flux, C/O isotopes, glomalin, and Rubisco. Priority issues of species extinction, humic topsoil loss, and atmospheric CO2 are remedied by SOC restoration and biomass recycling via (vermi-)compost for 100% organic husbandry under Permaculture principals, based upon the Scientific observation of Nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rice-vegetable is one of the remunerative and profitable cropping systems in Odisha to be grown in kharif and rabi season, respectively. From GPS based soil survey and analysis by AICRP on Micronutrient, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, it was observed that boron deficiency is widespread in soils of Odisha (8-79%) and is a major constraint in light texture sandy loam soils under vegetable production. Growing of a shallow rooted crop like rice as direct crop followed by a deep-rooted vegetable crop can utilize leached boron efficiently from subsoil thereby benefitting both. farmers in coastal Odisha generally grow knol-khol after rice. Methods: A field experiment was conducted at E-block of Central Research Station under AICRP on micronutrient, OUAT, Bhubaneswar to standardize the dose and frequency of boron application for rice-knolkhol cropping system, where boron is applied to first crop and knol-khol gets residual boron. In the present investigation, residual effect of different graded doses of boron and its frequency of application on growth, yield, quality, post-harvest shelf life and economics of knol-khol for the year 2018-19 was studied under factorial randomized block design with three replications and four doses of boron (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg ha-1) at three different frequencies (application of boron once, alternate year and every year). Result: The maximum values of growth parameters, highest yield and yield attributing characters such as diameter of knob (8.70 cm), length of knob (6.53 cm) and total knob yield (224.72 q ha-1), highest B: C (2.27) were recorded with residual effect of boron @ 1.5 kg ha-1 in every year application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an approach for predicting soil class probabilities by integrating synthetic composite imagery of bare soil with long-term vegetation remote sensing data and soil survey data. The goal is to develop detailed soil maps for the agro-innovation center "Orlovka-AIC" (Samara Region), with a focus on lithological heterogeneity. Satellite data were sourced from a cloud-filtered collection of Landsat 4–5 and 7 images (April–May, 1988–2010) and Landsat 8–9 images (June–August, 2012–2023). Bare soil surfaces were identified using threshold values for NDVI (<0.06), NBR2 (<0.05), and BSI (>0.10). Synthetic bare soil images were generated by calculating the median reflectance values across available spectral bands. Following the adoption of no-till technology in 2012, long-term average NDVI values were additionally calculated to assess the condition of agricultural lands. Seventy-one soil sampling points within "Orlovka-AIC" were classified using both the Russian and WRB soil classification systems. Logistic regression was applied for pixel-based soil class prediction. The model achieved an overall accuracy of 0.85 and a Cohen's Kappa coefficient of 0.67, demonstrating its reliability in distinguishing the two main soil classes: agrochernozems and agrozems. The resulting soil map provides a robust foundation for sustainable land management practices, including erosion prevention and land use optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil aggregate stability is an important soil physical measurement that is closely related to a range of soil health functions. It is defined by its analytical method and often within‐method variability and inter‐method comparability have not been addressed and quantified. The current Natural Resources Conservation Service Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory (KSSL) method for analyzing aggregate stability uses non‐standardized equipment and hand‐sieving techniques and is not easily scalable. The objective of this study was to evaluate and modify an alternative method that uses a single sieve mechanical wet sieving apparatus (MWS method) to produce results comparable to the current KSSL method and evaluate another alternative method that uses multiple sieves in a custom‐fabricated Yoder‐type apparatus. The two methods were evaluated for efficiency, repeatability, and scalability. The MWS method uses standardized equipment and methods, which should be scalable and reproducible in different laboratories. Sample preparation, pretreatment, and sieving parameters of the MWS method were adjusted to produce analytical results which most closely matched the KSSL method. Repeated analysis of soil sample standards showed that within‐method variability of the MWS method was slightly less than in the KSSL method. In a comparison of 90 samples of widely varying properties, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient was 0.927, indicating a moderate strength of agreement between the MWS method and KSSL method. Results from a modified Yoder method were not comparable to the KSSL method, and the greater time requirements, procedural complexity, and large equipment footprint were identified as practical limitations for use in large‐scale laboratory applications. Core Ideas: The mechanical wet sieving (MWS) aggregate stability method is practical and efficient.Bulk soil standard samples can be used to show within‐procedure and inter‐laboratory comparability.Data from the MWS method are generally comparable to data from the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory method.The MWS aggregate stability method is scalable to small and large laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sorghum (Jowar), a nutritionally rich, great millet is frequently cultivated in semi-arid tracts of India but at places without considering the suitable soil-sites, which result in lower productivity. Thus, understanding of sorghum-growing pedo-environment vis-à-vis crop requirements is a pre-requisite for soil-site evaluation of crop and hence present case study was carried out in Mahabubnagar rural mandal of Mahabubnagar district, Telangana state. Methods: The detailed soil survey (1:10000 scale) of Mahabubnagar Rural mandal (Mahabubnagar district), Telangana was carried out using Sentinel 2 satellite data and mapped with 66 mapping units. These mapping units along with relevant physical and chemical properties were evaluated for their suitability for sorghum farming. Result: Our results indicated that major sorghum-growing soils of Mahabubnagar Rural mandal have been grouped as Typic Rhodustalfs, Aquic Haplustalfs, and Typic Haplusterts at the sub group level. Out of the 18-soil series, major sorghum-growing soils belong to Telugugudam, Kotakadira and Potanpalle series occupying 7.56% of the geographical area. The soil-site evaluation study indicated that the maximum area (33.99 per cent) was rated as marginally suitable with limitations of gravelliness, nutrient availability, rooting conditions, and texture while 1.51 per cent area was highly suitable for sorghum cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: An alternative interpretation of Borehole Resistivity Logging surveys when conventional methods do not provide a satisfactory interpretation. In this paper, we present the application of a special soil resistivity model, the Exponentially Graded Multilayered Soil model, to the interpretation of Borehole Resistivity Logging surveys. The model, which was recently introduced by the authors, offers an alternative to the interpretation provided by constant resistivity layer models. The model is applied to synthetic soil surveys as well as to a real survey that is not satisfactorily interpreted using conventional models. This model aids in the design and calculation of grounding systems in electrical engineering, providing an alternative to calculations performed by traditional layered models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed soil property maps are increasingly important for land management decisions and environmental modeling. The US Soil Survey is investing in production of the Soil Landscapes of the United States (SOLUS), a new set of national predictive soil property maps. This paper documents initial 100‐m resolution maps of 20 soil properties that include various textural fractions, physical parameters, chemical parameters, carbon, and depth to restrictions. Many of these properties have not been previously mapped at this resolution. A hybrid training strategy helped increase training data by roughly 10‐fold over previous similar studies by combining commonly used laboratory data with underutilized field descriptions tied to soil survey map unit component property estimates (to help represent within polygon variability) as well as randomly selected soil survey map unit weighted average property estimates. Relative prediction intervals were used to help select which training data sources improved model performance. Conventional and spatial cross‐validation strategies yielded generally strong coefficients of determination between 0.5 and 0.7, but with substantial variability and outliers among the various properties, types of training data, and depths. Internal review of the maps highlighted both strengths and weaknesses of the maps, but most of the critical comments were in areas with high model uncertainty that can be used to guide future improvements. Generally, previously glaciated areas and complex large alluvial basins were harder to model. The new SOLUS 100‐m maps will be updated in the future to address identified issues and feedback as users interact with the data. Core Ideas: A total of 20 soil properties were mapped for conterminous United States at 100‐m resolution.New training data sources improved predictive soil property mapping in areas with previously sparse data.Relative prediction intervals were useful for optimizing training sets and corroborated independent map reviews [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major challenge to implementing effective soil health assessments is how to distinguish the effects of management from underlying soil variability driven by inherent soil properties. This challenge has important consequences for the use of soil health indicators as tools for monitoring and assessment because soil‐forming factors constrain the range of indicator values and the magnitude of management‐induced changes. Here, we present results from a statewide survey of 15 soil health indicators measured on 30 fields on commercial farms across four major land resource areas in Minnesota. Fields included in the study differed in tillage, cover crop implementation, and crop rotation. Within each field, we collected samples from upper and lower hillslope positions to quantify the effect of topography. We consistently detected differences in soil health indicators between regions (13/15 indicators) and hillslope positions (8/15 indicators). However, only wet aggregate stability was sensitive to management across regions and years, highlighting the importance of physical indicators of soil health. This result was surprising in light of existing literature supporting the sensitivity of many soil health indicators to management, but it is consistent with other studies conducted in high organic matter soils in the Upper US Midwest. Our results highlight the need for regionally representative datasets to guide the development of interpretations and benchmarks for soil health indicators. This is particularly important when soil health indicators are applied outside traditional research contexts (such as in commercial soil health testing), where interpretation must take place without the benefit of historical baseline data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topography is one of the dominant factors in regional soil formation and development. Soil distribution has a certain pattern from high to low in space, and this pattern has a high degree of consistency with slope position. Most of the current research on soil mapping uses landscape types generated by existing methods directly as environmental covariates, and there are few landscape classification methods specifically oriented toward soil surveys. There is rarely any research on landform classification using relative slope position (RSP) and elevation. Therefore, we designed a landform classification method based on RSP and elevation, Terrainforms (TF), and combined the landform type with land use type to construct soil–landscape units for soil type and attribute spatial prediction. In this study, two commonly used landform classification methods, Geomorphons and Landforms, were also used to compare with this design method. It was found that the constructed soil–landscape units had a high consistency with the soil spatial distribution. The landform types based on RSP and elevation obtained the second-highest prediction accuracy in both soil type and soil organic carbon (SOC), and the constructed soil–landscape types obtained the highest prediction accuracy. The results show that the landform classification method based on RSP and elevation is not easily limited by the analysis scale, and is an efficient and accurate landform classification method. The TF landform type and its constructed soil–landscape types can be used as an important environmental variable in soil prediction and sampling, which can provide some guidance and reference for landform classification and digital soil mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) fertilization of the ocean mitigates global warming by sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) in phytoplankton, but the effect of Fe fertilization on carbon (C) sequestration in arable soils remains unknown. Iron is often added to rice paddies as blast furnace slag (BFS), a byproduct of steel manufacturing used as a silicon (Si) fertilizer to improve productivity. However, BFS also contains large amounts of Fe oxides, which might promote C sequestration by forming complexes with organic matter. To investigate this, we first analyzed data from a national survey of soils from South Korea to estimate the effect of continuous Fe addition via BFS on soil organic C (SOC) stocks. This revealed a strong positive correlation between SOC and extractable Fe and available Si concentrations, indicating that periodic silicate fertilizer application contributed to an increase in SOC stock. Second, to isolate the effect of Fe addition on SOC stocks, we conducted an incubation test with BFS enriched with Fe oxides (0–5%, wt wt−1). Soil respiration was significantly reduced by silicate fertilizer application, and this effect was strengthened with the Fe-enriched fertilizer. Finally, to verify the effect of Fe addition on SOC stock changes in the field, we added three different Fe-enriched silicate fertilizers to rice paddies and quantified SOC stock changes by net ecosystem C budget (NECB) estimation. Silicate fertilizer significantly increased net primary production (NPP) by 18–20% over the control, and this effect was strengthened with increasing Fe addition. Silicate fertilizer application decreased soil respiration by 15–30% over the control, and this effect was strengthened further by Fe enrichment. As a result, silicate fertilizer application during rice cultivation increased the SOC stock by 0.65–0.68 Mg C ha−1 over the control and by 0.90–0.96 Mg C ha−1 for Fe-enriched fertilizer. In conclusion, the positive effect of BFS addition on SOC stock is related in part to the role of Fe oxides, primarily through the suppression of soil respiration. Fe-enriched silicate fertilizer therefore provides a management strategy to increase SOC stocks and crop productivity in rice paddies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The Richmond District of Queensland (Australia) hosts seleniferous soils and is the habitat of selenium (Se) hyperaccumulator plants. These soils are also naturally enriched in vanadium (V) and molybdenum (Mo). This study aimed to survey soils and plants of the Richmond area with a focus on the Se hyperaccumulator Neptunia amplexicaulis. Methods: Field collection of plant specimens and soils from the seleniferous outcrops of the Richmond District (including the Julia Creek area) was undertaken and the samples were analyzed for Se, V, Mo and other elements. Results: The results show that three modes of Se accumulation can be observed with most plant species having from ~10 μg Se g−1 up to 70 μg Se g−1 in shoots, some having between 75 and 250 μg Se g−1 in shoots while both N. amplexicaulis and Acacia tephrina contained 450–700 μg Se g−1 in their shoots. There was high Se accumulation in the phyllode tips of A. tephrina. Previously unrecorded populations of N. amplexicaulis were discovered near Julia Creek. Selenium concentrations in soil are lower than historically reported from similar localities (up to 23.2 mg Se kg−1). Molybdenum concentrations between 213 and 329 μg Mo g−1 occurred in the two Se hyperaccumulators N. amplexicaulis and A. tephrina, whilst Salsola australis had the highest accumulation of V (31–66 μg V g−1). Conclusions: The results suggest that the Toolebuc Formation is the source of Se in the region, but temporal variability alters how much Se is bioavailable to plants. The presence of high Mo in plant tissues is linked to Se hyperaccumulation, and V accumulation appears to have little impact on plant ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in cultivated land use significantly impact food production capacity, which in turn affects food security. Therefore, accurately understanding the spatial and temporal variations in cultivated land use is critical for strategic decision-making regarding national food security. Since the second national soil survey was conducted in around 1980, China has implemented major efforts, such as a nationwide soil testing and fertilization project in around 2005 and the establishment of the National Standards for Cultivated Land Quality Grading in 2016. However, limited research has focused on how cultivated land use has changed during these periods and the mechanisms driving these changes. This study, using Enshi Prefecture in the mountainous region of southwestern Hubei Province as a case study, examines the spatiotemporal changes in cultivated land use during 1980–2018. Land use data from 1980, 2005, and 2018 were combined with statistical yearbook data from Enshi Prefecture, and remote sensing and GIS technology were applied. Indicators such as the dynamic degree of cultivated land use, the relative rate of change in cultivated land use, and a Geoscience Information Atlas model were used to explore these changes. Additionally, principal component analysis was employed to examine the mechanisms influencing these changes. The results show that (1) the area of cultivated land in Enshi Prefecture increased slightly from 1980 to 2005, while from 2005 to 2018, it significantly decreased; compared with the earlier period, the transformation of land use types during 2005–2018 was more intense; (2) the increase in cultivated land area from 1980 to 2005 was mainly due to deforestation, the creation of farmland from lakes, and the reclamation of wasteland, while the decrease in land area was primarily attributed to the conversion of farmland back to forests and grassland. From 2005 to 2018, the main drivers for the increase in cultivated land were deforestation and the reclamation of wasteland, while the return of farmland to forests remained the primary reason for the decrease in land area; (3) from 1980 to 2005, the dynamic degree of cultivated land use in each county and city of Enshi Prefecture was generally low. However, between 2005 and 2018, the dynamic degree increased in most counties and cities except Enshi City and Xianfeng County; (4) there were significant variations in the relative rate of change in cultivated land utilization across counties and cities from 1980 to 2005. However, from 2005 to 2018, the relative rate of change decreased in all counties and cities compared to the previous period; (5) since 1980, nearly 50% of the cultivated land in Enshi Prefecture has undergone land classification conversion, with frequent shifts between different land classes; and (6) economic development, population growth, capital investment, food production, and production efficiency are the dominant socioeconomic factors driving changes in cultivated land use in Enshi Prefecture. The results of this study can provide a scientific basis for the protection and optimization of cultivated land resources in the mountainous regions of southwestern Hubei Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Estimates of the van Genuchten (1980, abbreviated as VG) parameters and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) were made for the contiguous United States at a resolution of 100 m and seven soil depths by combining the SoilGrids+ (SG+) soil property maps of Ramcharan et al. with the R3H3 member of the Rosetta3 hierarchical pedotransfer functions (PTFs) of Zhang et al. To this end, we developed multi‐threaded code that significantly speeds up computation (up to a factor 25) depending on the level of parallelism. We verified estimates first by calculating simple summary statistics of estimated basic properties of SG+ with actual measured soil properties for 14,113 pedons in the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) (2023) labsample database. Next, we computed summary statistics of PTF‐estimated moisture contents for NCSS and SG+ data. The results show estimation errors are dominated by intrinsic errors of the PTF, and that (potentially correctable) systematic errors are present in SG+ soil properties and PTF estimates. The resulting hydraulic property maps contain well over 750 million points for each of the seven layers and show considerable horizontal and depth variation for each VG parameter and Ks, except the VG "n" parameter, which is dominated by values between 1.25 and 1.6. The hydraulic property maps are 99.9% complete, and we demonstrate that plausible profiles and uncertainty information can be generated for virtually each point. The maps are available as two multi‐channel GeoTIFF maps per SG+ layer: one with the five hydraulic parameters and one with the corresponding covariances. Core Ideas: van Genuchten parameters and saturated hydraulic conductivity were estimated for the contiguous United States and seven depths.Retention estimates were verified with National Cooperative Soil Survey soil data and analyzed for systematic errors.Parallelized code was developed to speedup future repeat analyses.Uncertainty in hydraulic characteristics can be expressed individually for every point.Data available as GeoTIFF files at 100‐m resolution, two files (parameters and covariances) for each depth. Plain Language Summary: Soil hydraulic properties are needed to calculate the infiltration of water into soils and to estimate flooding potential. Such properties can be measured in the laboratory which is usually an expensive and labor‐intensive task. Pedoytransfer functions are statistical methods that can estimate soil hydraulic properties from primary soil properties such as soil texture and bulk density. Recently, maps of primary properties were published for the contiguous United States at a resolution of 100 m. The present work applies artificial neural network pedotransfer functions to these maps and evaluates the accuracy of the estimates by soil depth and other criteria. The results are encouraging with some suggestions for future improvements. The developed code and estimated data are publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key challenge in helium (He) exploration is determining the efficacy of surficial soil gas surveys. While soil gas surveys can detect helium, the mechanisms leading to these signals are often poorly understood, hindering reliable interpretation for exploration purposes. Here we present the results of seven new He soil gas surveys (n = 1974) at the Akah Nez Field, Beautiful Mountain Field, Porcupine Dome area, Rattlesnake Field, Tom area, Tohache Wash area, and White Rock area, on the Colorado Plateau, Four Corners area, United States. Utilizing 2D seismic, well logs, and geophysical potential field data, structural maps were constructed of potential He reservoirs at depth and relationships were examined. Given geospatial relationships are being examined using the soil gas survey data, it is important to understand the mechanism that allows subsurface He to migrate upwards into the soil. In several fields interpreted basement faults act as migration conduits from the basement to the surface (i.e., leaky reservoir seals), and in other cases there is evidence for reservoir flank/crest fracturing likely due to differential compaction. Based on the regional geologic history, advective systems are likely responsible for the observed He soil gas signatures. Additionally, based on the Tohache Wash data (most prospective He area) an effective and risk-reducing novel technique is presented that constructs a predictive He exploration model utilizing soil gas geochemistry, high-resolution geophysical data, well data and seismic data using Bayesian ANOVA techniques, which may be translated to areas outside of the Four Corners area, United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terrain in the loess hilly area of western Henan is fragmented, with steep slopes and weak soil erosion resistance. The substantial soil erosion in this region results in plenty of problems, including decreased soil productivity and ecological degradation. These problems significantly hinder the social and economic development in the region. Soil conservation planning and ecological development require accurate soil erosion surveys. However, the studies of spatio-temporal patterns, evolution, and the driving force of soil erosion in this region are insufficient. Therefore, based on a multi-stage, unequal probability, systematic area sampling method and field investigation, the soil erosion of the loess hilly area of western Henan was quantitatively evaluated by the Chinese Soil Loss Equation (CSLE) in 2022. The impact forces of soil erosion were analyzed by means of a geographic detector and multiple linear regression analysis, and the key driving factors of the spatio-temporal evolution of soil erosion in this region were revealed. The results were as follows. (1) The average soil erosion rate of the loess hilly area in western Henan in 2022 was 5.94 t⋅ha−1⋅a−1, with a percentage of soil erosion area of 29.10%. (2) High soil erosion rates mainly appeared in the west of Shangjie, Xingyang, and Jiyuan, which are related to the development of production and construction projects in these areas. The areas with a high percentage of soil erosion area were in the north (Xinan and Yima), west (Lushi), and southeast (Songxian and Ruyang) of the study area. Moreover, areas with the most erosion were found in forest land, cultivated land, and areas with a slope above 25°. (3) At the landscape level, the number and density of patches of all land types, except orchard land, increased significantly, and the boundary perimeter, landscape pattern segmentation, and degree of fragmentation increased. (4) The geographical detector and multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the driving forces of soil erosion are mainly topographic and climatic (slope length, elevation, precipitation, and temperature). Soil erosion was significantly influenced by the density of landscape patches. These maps and factors influencing soil erosion can serve as valuable sources of information for regional soil conservation plans and ecological environment improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper conducted a study on soil pollution with heavy metals in the Aktobe region using mapping methods. Evaluation and information maps have been developed in the GIS environment describing the spatial distribution of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), boron (B) in the soil. The scientific novelty of the study is to determine the concentration of heavy metal propagation based on inversely weighted distance interpolation (IDW). The paper describes the results of a field soil survey performed in sanitary protection zones (SPZ) of Donskoy Ore Mining and Processing Plant and Aktobe Ferroalloy Plant. Soil samples were examined for chemical analysis in the laboratory. The determination of heavy metals was carried out on the basis of chemical analysis by spectrometry. The results of the research represent a comprehensive cartographic model, which indicates sampling maps and the spatial distribution of individual elements, which make it possible to determine areas of increased concentration of heavy metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytosociological surveys and soil quality studies are relevant tools for the implementation of restoration programmes. This study aimed to characterise the vegetation of the tree and sapling strata in preserved riparian forests of the middle portion of the Rio Doce watershed in the Atlantic Rain Forest, Brazil. In addition, we tested the association between edaphic factors and the vegetation community. We sampled three sites of the middle sector of the Rio Doce watershed in Itueta (two sites) and Santa Rita do Itueto (one site) municipalities in Minas Gerais, south-eastern Brazil. At each sampling site, we inventoried 15 plots of 100 m2 (10 × 10 m) for the tree stratum. Within each plot of the tree stratum we delimited a 25 m2 (5 × 5 m) plot, totalling 4 500 m2 and 1 125 m2 respectively for the tree and sapling strata. We employed co-inertia analysis to test the relationship between soil factors and the plant community and to highlight the taxon– environment relationship. We recorded 157 species belonging to 31 families, with 105 species from 24 families in the tree stratum, and 85 species from 22 families in the sapling stratum. Edaphic factors were highly heterogeneous among plots, although most of the plots presented soils with neutral pH and high fertility (base saturation > 50%). Co-inertia analyses showed highly significant associations between edaphic factors and the plant community, both for the tree (RV = 0.486, p < 0.001) and the sapling strata (RV = 0.692, p < 0.001). We highlighted the existence of a clear edaphic– floristic gradient, with a significant association of certain species with contrasting soil conditions. Knowledge about the association between environmental characteristics and floristic composition can assist in the selection of species with greater chances to establish in specific environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite farmers' knowledge and awareness of soil health practices and the growing body of evidence indicating their effective use, many farmers continue to reject such practices. To further explore the role of information source credibility in the adoption of soil health practices, we sought to measure wheat farmers' perceived source credibility of research scientists, Extension scientists, industry scientists, and general scientists and the likelihood they would adopt information about reduced and no-till practices and cover crop practices from these sources. Using an experimental survey instrument, we collected data from 127 U.S. wheat farmers. We found most wheat farmers considered themselves, Extension professionals, researchers, and other producers as scientists when seeking information about soil health practices. Participants perceived other producers, Extension professionals, and themselves as having the most trust with Extension professionals, other producers, and themselves as having the most goodwill. The means and standard deviations of perceived source credibility suggest that participants perceived each information source--general scientists, research scientists, Extension scientists, and industry scientists--as similarly credible information sources about soil health practices with a statistically significant relationship between farmers' perceived course credibility of the four scientists and likelihood of adopting information about soil health practices from them. Our results did not indicate differences between participants' perceived credibility of the four types of scientists or their likelihood to adopt information about soil health practices from the scientists. Effective communication has potential to impact wheat production positively, but achieving communication effectiveness could take years without intentionality from credible information sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research is the property of Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The world, at present, is witnessing a serious scarcity of fresh water resource whereas, sub-optimum utilization and mismanagement of water resources are equally contributing towards worsening of the problem. Currently, access to fresh water resources has become a daunting challenge for meeting the increased demand of water. The criticality level has intensified by several-folds due to flawed industrial demand and uncontrolled population growth, which is not only contributed to the pollution of much needed water resource but also, equally, threatened human health. Therefore, the deliberation of water managers, policy makers, and academicians were shifted from the supply management to demand management after 2000's United Nations ministerial declaration. In the present study, an attempt has been made to fill research gap regarding accounting of water footprint (WFP) at district level in Purvanchal, Uttar Pradesh (U. P.). It offers a comprehensive understanding of WFP including blue, green and grey components. The paper also contributes to extension of calculating sub-components of grey WFP, which has not been reported anywhere in the literature so far. Purvanchal, one of the political regions of U. P. state, was considered for spatial assessment of WFPs in wheat cultivation at field of its 17 districts. The data for this study was collected from statistical abstract—U. P., state agricultural directorate, national bureau of soil survey and land use planning (NBSS & LUP), published reports and the field survey. The WFP for each component was estimated by a set of frameworks proposed by Chapagain and Hoekstra et al. 2003 and, further elaborated by Aldaya and Llamas et al. 2008. The results show that the blue WFP has highest share, which contributes about 92% to WFP, i.e., it presents an average of 1332 cubic meter per ton in wheat cultivation. In contrast, the average grey and green WFPs have been estimated at 26 and 97 cubic meters per ton, respectively, of WFP. However, spatial variability was also been reported from the selected districts. Therefore, a rational approach is being recommended to ensure sustainability and efficiency in wheat cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past two decades, repeated discoveries of numerous geometric earthworks in interfluvial regions of Amazonia have shed new light onto the territorial extent and the long-term impact of pre-Columbian populations on contemporary landscapes. In particular, the recent development of LiDAR imagery has accelerated the discovery of earthworks in densely forested hinterlands throughout the Amazon basin and the Guiana Shield. This study aimed to evaluate the extent and landscape-scale spatial variations of pre-Columbian disturbances at three ring ditch sites in the French Guiana hinterland. We carried out extensive soil surveys along approximately 1 km-long transects spanning from ring ditches through the surrounding landscapes, and drawn upon multiple indicators, including archaeological artifacts, macro- and micro-charcoals, soil colorimetry, and physicochemical properties to retrace the pre-Columbian history of these sites in terms of occupation periods, anthropogenic soil alteration, and ancient land use. Our results revealed a perennial occupation of these sites over long periods ranging from the 5th and 15th centuries CE, with local enrichments in chemical indicators (Corg, N, Mg, K, Ca) both within the enclosures of ring ditches and in the surrounding landscapes. Physicochemical properties variations were accompanied by variations in soil colorimetry, with darker soils within the enclosure of ring ditches in terra-firme areas. Interestingly however, soil properties did not meet all the characteristics of the so-called Amazonian Dark Earths, thus advocating a paradigm shift towards a better integration of Amazonian Brown Earths into the definition of anthropogenic soils in Amazonia. Soil disturbances were also associated to local enrichments in macro- and micro-charcoals that support in situ fire management that could be attributed to forest clearance and/or slash-and-burn cultivation. Taken together, our results support the idea that pre-Columbian societies made extensive use of their landscapes in the interfluvial regions of the French Guiana hinterlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the characteristics of the soft soil subgrade in the Haiou Island section of Nansha Bridge, a comprehensive geological survey and soil analysis were conducted. Based on the analysis results, a corresponding design scheme for the soft soil subgrade was formulated to ensure bridge safety and stability. Furthermore, various reinforcement measures such as compaction, drainage, and lightweight soil were implemented to mitigate the impact of soft soil filling on the bridge structure. To evaluate the effectiveness of our treatment method, post-construction effect testing was performed using both static pressure and vibration acceleration methods. The static pressure method provided crucial parameters related to bearing capacity and compressibility of the soft soil subgrade while vibration acceleration analysis reflected response characteristics under dynamic load conditions. By comparing and analyzing results obtained from these two methods comprehensively evaluated feasibility of our treatment approach. Finally, based on experimental study findings and data analysis outcomes, it is recommended that post-construction effect testing for Haiou Island section's soft soil subgrade should employ both static pressure method and vibration acceleration method along with targeted reinforcement measures selected specifically to minimize adverse impacts on bridge structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Revealing the role of regional species pool size in community assembly rules is essential for extending the species‐pool framework to large‐scale community ecology, and thus for more comprehensive understanding of biodiversity formation. However, little has been done to couple the regional species‐pool effect into local ecological processes in soil fungal communities, which play essential roles in ecosystems worldwide. Here, we performed large‐scale soil surveys of fungal communities to examine the linkage between regional species pool size and Dispersal–Selection Relationships (DSRs), and their relations to community structure. Location: China. Time period: July–August 2019. Major taxa studied: Fungal communities. Methods: By conducting the nationwide soil survey of ~1200 samples from various ecosystems across China, including agricultural, forest, grassland, and wetland soils, we examined the linkage between regional species pool size and DSRs, and their relationship to fungal community structure. Results: We found that selection was negatively related to dispersal, which was consistent with the general view that the strength of selection is weakened by dispersal homogenization, and that this relationship was stronger in regions with larger species pools. Moreover, an increase in community dispersion was correlated with stronger effect size of DSRs, implying greater heterogeneity among fungal communities under larger species pools. Main conclusions: Our study clearly illustrates the association of regional species pool size with local assembly rules and community formation of soil fungi across terrestrial ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yingfeng Area is located within Shiquan Xunyang National-level Gold Deposit Exploration Area in Shaanxi Province, characterized by favorable metallogenic geological conditions and promising prospecting potential. A 1:25 000 soil geochemical survey was conducted, analyzing the variation coefficients, correlations, and cluster analysis of 10 elements. The results indicate that the distribution of Au is uneven, with a high degree of dispersion, identifying it as the primary ore-forming element. By studying Au anomalies and comprehensive anomalies in conjunction with metallogenic geological conditions and mineralization characteristics, 5 gold alteration zones were delineated. Verification through geochemical profiles, trench exploration, and drilling projects resulted in the delineation of 17 gold ore (mineralized) bodies, further confirming the area's promising prospecting potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) plays an integral part in Iowa's economic and environmental activities through its role as an essential nutrient and waterborne pollutant. However, the amount of phosphorus transported through these activities has not been well quantified. This study estimates the annual mass of P entering and exiting Iowa's landscape from 1998 to 2022 through seven transport pathways. Four input pathways (fertilizer application, manure production, industrial sources, and human sources) and three output pathways (harvesting, livestock grazing, and stream export) were quantified using various agricultural, economic, and water quality datasets. We also estimated the total mass of P present in the top 0.61 m layer of Iowa's landscape using results from a statewide soil sampling survey. The harvest component was the largest, with annual values consistently above 200 million kg. This was followed by the fertilizer and manure components, with annual values near 100 million kg. The other components were much smaller; the mean grazing and stream export values were 15 and 19 million kg, respectively, and human and industrial sources were less than 4 million kg. Stream export was the most dynamic pathway, with the largest coefficient of variation (0.59). The net P budget (inputs–outputs) was negative in 20 of the 25 years assessed, indicating that Iowa typically runs a P deficit. A trend analysis revealed that the manure, human, industry, and harvesting components increased across the 1998–2022 period while the grazing component decreased. The mass of P in Iowa's top layer of soil was 81.5 billion kg—orders of magnitude larger than any individual budget component. This analysis provides a new perspective on P transport pathways in Iowa and may help inform policymakers as they make decisions on the many activities involving P. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigated agricultural lands in arid and semi-arid regions are prone to soil degradation. Remote sensing technology has proven useful for mapping and monitoring the extent of this issue. To accurately discern soil salinity, it is essential to choose appropriate spectral wavelengths. This study evaluated the potential of the land degradation index (LDI) using the visible and near infrared (VNIR) and the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectral bands compared to that of soil salinity indices by integrating only the VNIR wavelengths. Landsat-OLI and Sentinel-MSI data, acquired 2 weeks apart, were rigorously preprocessed and used. This research was conducted over irrigated agricultural land in Morocco, which is well known for its semi-arid climate and moderately saline soil. Furthermore, a field soil survey was conducted and 42 samples with variable electrical conductivity (EC) were collected for index calibration and validation of the results. The results showed that the visual analysis of the derived maps based on the examined indices exhibited a clear spatial pattern of gradual soil salinity changes extending from the elevated upstream plateau to the downstream of the plain, which limits agricultural activities in the southwestern sector of the study area. The results of this study show that LDI is effective in identifying soil salinity, as indicated by a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.75 when using Sentinel-MSI and 0.72 with Landsat-OLI. The R2 value of 0.89 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.87 dS/m for soil salinity maps generated from LDI with Sentinel-MSI demonstrate high accuracy. In contrast, the R2 value of 0.83 and RMSE of 1.24 dS/m for maps produced from Landsat-OLI indicate lower accuracy. These findings indicate that high-resolution Sentinel-MSI data significantly improved the prediction of salinity-affected soils. Furthermore, this study highlights the benefits of using VNIR and SWIR bands for precise soil salinity mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of agrochemical survey of soils of the Dolyna territorial community of Ivano-Frankivsk region. The agro-productive grouping of all soils of the district was carried out. There are five agroproductive soil groups within the district: sod-podzolic soils on ancient alluvial, water-glacial deposits, moraine, and eluvium of magmatic rocks; sod-podzolic and podzolic-sod surface-gleyed medium-loamy soils; deep non-gleyed and gleyed medium-loamy sod soils and their podzolized variants on ancient alluvial, water-glacial deposits, moraine, and eluvium of magmatic rocks; brown-podzolic, sod-brown-podzolic, brown mountain-forest podzolized gleyed and surface-gleyed non-eroded and slightly eroded heavy loamy and light clayey soils; sod gleyed soils; sod-brown and meadow-brown gleyed soils on alluvial and deluvial deposits, medium-loamy stony soils. These soils exhibit acidic pH, are moderately deficient in available phosphorus, and have medium levels of potassium. They are potentially fertile but require liming and the application of organic-mineral fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2018 LUCAS (Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey) Soil Pesticides survey provides a European Union (EU)‐scale assessment of 118 pesticide residues in more than 3473 soil sites. This study responds to the policy need to develop risk‐based indicators for pesticides in the environment. Two mixture risk indicators are presented for soil based, respectively, on the lowest and the median of available No Observed Effect Concentration (NOECsoil,min and NOECsoil,50) from publicly available toxicity datasets. Two further indicators were developed based on the corresponding equilibrium concentration in the aqueous phase and aquatic toxicity data, which are available as species sensitivity distributions. Pesticides were quantified in 74.5% of the sites. The mixture risk indicator based on the NOECsoil,min exceeds 1 in 14% of the sites and 0.1 in 23%. The insecticides imidacloprid and chlorpyrifos and the fungicide epoxiconazole are the largest contributors to the overall risk. At each site, one or a few substances drive mixture risk. Modes of actions most likely associated with mixture effects include modulation of acetylcholine metabolism (neonicotinoids and organophosphate substances) and sterol biosynthesis inhibition (triazole fungicides). Several pesticides driving the risk have been phased out since 2018. Following LUCAS surveys will determine the effectiveness of substance‐specific risk management and the overall progress toward risk reduction targets established by EU and UN policies. Newly generated data and knowledge will stimulate needed future research on pesticides, soil health, and biodiversity protection. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1639–1653. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). Key Points: The 2018 LUCAS Pesticide survey provides a European Union (EU)‐scale assessment of 118 pesticide residues in more than 3473 soil sites.Mixture soil risk indicators were developed for use in retrospective assessments.Results set a baseline to track progress toward meeting EU policy objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and high-resolution spatial soil information is crucial for efficient and sustainable land use, management, and conservation. Since the establishment of digital soil mapping (DSM) and the GlobalSoilMap working group, significant advances have been made in spatial soil information globally. However, accurately predicting soil variation over large and complex areas with limited samples remains a challenge, especially for China, which has diverse soil landscapes. To address this challenge, we utilized 11,209 representative multi-source legacy soil profiles (including the Second National Soil Survey of China, World Soil Information Service, First National Soil Survey of China, and regional databases) and high-resolution soil-forming environment characterization. Using advanced Quantile Regression Forest algorithms and a high-performance parallel computing strategy, we developed comprehensive maps of 23 soil physical, chemical and fertility properties at six standard depth layers from 0 to 2 meters in China with a 90 m spatial resolution (China dataset of soil properties for land surface modeling version 2, CSDLv2). Data-splitting and independent samples validation strategies were employed to evaluate the accuracy of the predicted maps quality. The results showed that the predicted maps were significantly more accurate and detailed compared to traditional soil type linkage methods (i.e., CSDLv1, the first version of the dataset), SoilGrids 2.0, and HWSD 2.0 products, effectively representing the spatial variation of soil properties across China. The prediction accuracy of most soil properties at the 0–5 cm depth interval ranged from good to moderate, with Model Efficiency Coefficients for most soil properties ranging from 0.75 to 0.32 during data-splitting validation and from 0.88 to 0.25 during independent sample validation. The wide range between the 5 % lower and 95 % upper prediction limits may indicate substantial room for improvement in current predictions. The relative importance of environmental covariates in predictions varied with soil properties and depth, indicating the complexity of interactions among multiple factors in the soil formation processes. As the soil profiles used in this study mainly originate from the Second National Soil Survey of China during 1970s and 1980s, they could provide new perspectives of soil changes together with existing maps based on 2010s soil profiles. The findings make important contributions to the GlobalSoilMap project and can also be used for regional Earth system modeling and land surface modeling to better represent the role of soil in hydrological and biogeochemical cycles in China. This dataset is freely available and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.11888/Terre.tpdc.301235 (Shi et al, 2024). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) has been paid great emphasis for its linkage to the nutrient cycling as well as the global climate changes. Despite the extensive changes in land use, climate, and field management practices that have profoundly affected SOC in Shaanxi Province, few studies have investigated the vertical dynamics of SOC across different soil depths. In this paper, we investigated vertical (0–100 cm with 20 cm intervals) changes of SOC based on soil surveys conducted in 1980s and 2010s in Shaanxi Province as well as three subregions (LP, GP, and QM) by using Geographic Regression Weighted Kriging (GRWK) method. The results indicated that the first four soil layers received 0.87, 0.79, 0.48, and 0.34 g/kg SOC increments, respectively, while SOC decreased by 0.49 g/kg in 80–100 cm. Spatially, most of study area received slight SOC increment (0–2 g/kg) among all soil layers, significant (>4 g/kg) SOC increments were distributed in the junction area of three subregions, while significant (<−4 g/kg) SOC decrement area was occurred in the western QM. SOC was increased in first four soil layers and decreased in 80–100 cm in LP relating to the implement of revegetation program that many cultivated land changed into grassland and forestland. SOC was increased in first two layers and decreased in last three layers in GP relating to the intensive agricultural activities, and it was decreased in the top layers and increased in sublayers in QM due to decreasing trend of NDVI in the western QM. Even several anthropogenic and environmental variables were highly related to SOC dynamics in Shaanxi, human activities were significantly controlled SOC changes than the natural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2 flux measurements and soil gas samples were collected to determine the origin and distribution characteristics of soil gas discharged at Andeok area, Jeju, South Korea. Additionally, this study aims to discuss agricultural activities that may contribute to increased soil CO2 emissions. CO2 flux was measured at 127 points, while soil gas sampling for gas components and carbon-13 (δ13CCO2) analysis was performed at 56 points. The measured CO2 fluxes in the study area ranged from 0.8 to 83.8 g/m2/d (mean: 14.3 g/m2/d), which was lower than CO2 fluxes observed in areas with geogenic CO2 discharge (e.g., near active volcanoes, faults, and CO2-rich water sources). The soil gas analysis revealed that the CO2 concentration and δ13CCO2 ranged from 491 to 23,722 ppmv (mean: 3,205 ppmv) and from −25.2 to −10.7‰ (mean: −19.4‰), respectively. In the cumulative probability diagram, the threshold values for CO2 flux and soil CO2 concentration were 41.3 g/m2/d and 6,693 ppmv, respectively. Samples exceeding the CO2 flux threshold were affected by urea fertilizer application based on land use nearby, and did not overlay with samples exceeding the soil CO2 threshold, indicating different transport mechanisms. Results from a detailed survey near a soil gas sampling location close to high soil CO2 showed that soil CO2 concentrations increased with depth, especially during summer when atmospheric temperatures increased. Spatially, higher soil CO2 concentrations were observed in areas with accumulated plant debris from tangerine orchards. The δ13CCO2 and relationships among CO2-O2, N2-CO2, and N2/O2-CO2 indicated that all collected samples had a biogenic origin. Although geogenic soil gases were not observed in this study, our findings are useful for future research on Jeju Island, as they provide baseline values for distinguishing geogenic soil gas from those with natural and agricultural origins. Moreover, this result provides insights into agricultural activities such as urea fertilization and plowing and their contribution to soil CO2 increase, and inspires future research on negative soil CO2 flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research was to map and classify some soils of coastal plain sands origin in Edo State, Nigeria. The study covered two areas, including Site A (4 hectares) and Site B (12 hectares). The methodology used was a systematic soil survey using a rigid grid at detailed scales (1:5000 for Site A and 1:10,000 for Site B), with two mapping units delineated at each site. A representative pedon was excavated in each mapping unit, described, and sampled for analysis. Soil samples were analyzed using standard laboratory methods, and the data were processed with descriptive statistics. Soil classification followed USDA soil taxonomy, the World Reference Base for Soil Resources, and local systems. The morphological properties showed reddish soil colors when moist, with structures varying from single grain crumb to sub-angular blocky, and textures from sand to sandy clay loam. The content of sand, silt, and clay ranged from =742.0 to =886.00 g/kg, from =15.00 to =26.00 g/kg, and from =88.00 to =190.00 g/kg, respectively. Meanwhile, pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, and base saturation ranged from =5.24 to =5.58, from =4.80 to =13.70, from =6.71 to =11.90 cmol/kg, and from =9.80 to =21.60 cmol/kg, consecutively. Pedons 2A and 2B were classified as Rhodic kandiudults by USDA, Rhodic Nudiargic Acrisols (Arenic, Vetic) by WRB, and locally as the Orlu series. Pedon 1A was classified as Typic Udipsamments by USDA, Eutric Rhodic Arenosols (Transportic) by WRB, and locally as the Ahiara series. Pedon 1B was classified as Typic Eutrudepts by USDA, Eutric Rhodic Cambisols (Arenic, Ochric) by WRB, and locally as the Kulfo series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A soil suitability evaluation of Kanamadi South sub-watershed in the Northern Dry Zone of India was carried out during April 2019 to define the soil fitness for the production of pigeonpea, chickpea, greengram and cowpea the four major pulses that are widely grown in the area. Methods: A detailed soil survey of Kanamadi South sub-watershed was carried out using IRS P6 LISS-IV image and Vijayapura district toposheet. The soils of Kanamadi south sub watershed were grouped into 19 mapping units based on studied 50 profiles. The studied physical and chemical properties were evaluated using the FAO (1976) framework for land evaluation was followed in the evaluation of soil-site suitability for major crops grown in Kanamadi South sub-watershed. This classification recognized two orders of land suitability, order 'S' (suitable) and order 'N' (not suitable) which are further subdivided into land suitability classes. Result: The studied 19 mapping units were moderately (S2) to marginally suitable (S3) for pigeonpea and greengram having marginal to severe limitations of rainfall and soil physico-chemical properties and none to slight limitation of land form characteristics. The mapping units were moderately suitable (S2) to marginally suitable (S3) for chickpea and cowpea having moderate to severe limitation of temperature, rainfall, depth and pH and none to slight limitation of land form characteristics. The suitability of the study area for all the pulses were said to be moderately suitable (S2) for growing pulse crop for improving productivity and improving biological nitrogen fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Chinese Journal of Inorganic Analytical Chemistry / Zhongguo Wuji Fenxi Huaxue is the property of Beijing Research Institute of Mining & Metallurgy Technology Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reduction in soil salinity in the entire project area is a key indicator of proper functioning of the implemented subsurface drainage (SSD) projects. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) surveys were carried out to facilitate spatiotemporal assessment of soil salinity of a SSD project site in Kahni, Haryana (India). The surveys were conducted in two time frames: immediately after the start of SSD project in 2019 and after 2 years of successful operation in 2021. The collected data of 2 surveys was used to derive a depth‐specific calibrated correlation between the observed salinity (ECe) of collected soil samples and surveyed apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) observations in vertical (ECav) and horizontal (ECah) modes. Spatiotemporal analysis of soil salinity revealed notable changes in areas under different salinity classes over a period of 2 years, indicating the impact of SSD on soil desalinization. During the course of 2 years (2019–2021) of SSD operation, area under moderate salinity (4–8 dS m−1) in the top 0–0.15 m soil increased by 54.5% while it decreased by 40% and 6.6% under high (8–12 dS m−1) and very high (12–16 dS m−1) salinity classes. The rice and wheat yields were also enhanced by 24% and 7% respectively after 2 years operation of SSD in hitherto severally waterlogged saline soils. Overall findings of this study reinforce the scope of using EMI approach to quickly and effectively assess the efficacy of subsurface drainage. Creation of measurable soil salinity maps by proposed EMI and GIS techniques can help in planning and implementing site‐specific management strategies in saline soil reclamation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We scrutinize the nature and significance of the measurements obtained by electro-magnetic sensors (EMS) when applied to the Earth's surface. These measurements are expressed as a number, whose sense is often overlooked, not fully explained, or misinterpreted in publications and reports on soils or another subsurface-feature exploration. Commonly, the target of the exploration is not the electrical conductivity (EC) itself, but some imaginable related feature "X," such as soluble salt content, water content, stoniness, voids, artificial structures, and so on. However, these measurements are often reported as apparent electrical conductivity "ECa" rather than being qualified as "apparent X." Our scrutiny of this issue involves example calculations of EMS response to different distributions of soil electrical conductivity in order to highlight the strict meaning of these EMS readings. For this purpose, we discuss abandoning the ECa notation. Our rationale can be extended to the prospections in other fields like geology, hydrology, and archeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid and cost‐effective techniques for soil analysis are essential to guide sustainable land management and production agriculture. This study aimed at evaluating the performance and consistency of portable handheld Fourier‐transform near‐infrared spectrometers and the NeoSpectra scanners in estimating 12 common soil physical and chemical properties including pH; organic carbon (OC); inorganic carbon (IC); total nitrogen (TN); cation exchange capacity (CEC); clay, silt, and sand fractions; and exchangeable potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). A diverse set of samples (n = 600) were retrieved from a national‐scale soil archive of the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory of USDA‐NRCS and scanned with five NeoSpectra scanners. Predictive models for the soil properties were developed using partial least squares regression (PLSR), Cubist, and memory‐based learning (MBL). Cubist outperformed PLSR and MBL, with the best prediction performance for clay, OC, and CEC (R2 > 0.7), followed by IC, sand, silt, and Mg (R2 > 0.6), and then pH, TN, and Ca (R2 > 0.5). K and P were predicted somewhat poorly with R2 of 0.48 and 0.22. All five NeoSpectra yielded comparable near‐infrared (NIR) spectral data and the PLSR models for the soil properties (in terms of model regression coefficients). However, the consistency assessment showed that the model performance was significantly decreased when the training and testing spectra were from different NeoSpectra scanners. It is concluded that NeoSpectra scanners could be rapid and cost effective for estimating certain soil properties, and calibration transfer should be considered for applications where multiple devices are involved and high estimation accuracy from NIR data is required. Core Ideas: Soil samples (n = 600) were retrieved from Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory and analyzed with 5 NeoSpectra scanners.Partial least squares regression (PLSR), Cubist, and memory‐based learning (MBL) were employed to estimate 12 soil properties from NIR data.Cubist outperformed PLSR and MBL, with 10 of 12 properties having R2 > 0.5.The five NeoSpectra scanners yielded comparable NIR spectral data and PLSR models.Cross‐device assessment suggested that calibration transfer is needed to maintain higher accuracy of NIR models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tropical grasslands of the Central Nicobar Islands have long been perceived as anthropogenic formations, which has influenced their conservation and management in the region. Despite their ecological and cultural significance, these grasslands have received limited scholarly attention, rendering them vulnerable to alternative land uses and conversion. This study aims to address these knowledge gaps through an extensive vegetation survey, soil analysis, and ethnographic research. The outcomes of the vegetation survey and soil analysis reveal that these grasslands are the result of serpentine soil formations, managed by Nicobari communities by fire. The ethnographic research reveals the cultural importance of the grassland commons and its governance through the tuhet system. Further, the study shows that the access regimes have undergone a rapid transformation during post-tsunami resettlement, endangering local instuitions and the sustainability of the grassland commons of the Nicobars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are a finite resource that is under threat, mainly due to human pressure. Therefore, there is an urgent need to produce maps of soil properties, functions and behaviors that can support land management and various stakeholders' decisions. Compaction is a major threat to soil functions, such as water infiltration and storage, and crops' root growth. However, there is no general agreement on a universal and easy-to-implement indicator of soil susceptibility to compaction. The proposed indicators of soil compaction require numerous analytical determinations (mainly bulk density measurements) that are cost prohibitive to implement. In this study, we used data collected in numerous in situ topsoil observations during conventional soil survey and compared field observations to usual indicators of soil compactness. We unraveled the relationships between field estimates of soil compactness and measured soil properties. Most of the quantitative indicators proposed by the literature were rather consistent with the ordering of soil compactness classes observed in the field. The best relationship was obtained with an indicator using bulk density and clay (BDr2) to define three classes of rooting limitation. We distinguished six clusters of topsoil behaviors using hierarchical clustering. These clusters exhibited different soil behaviors to compaction that were related to soil properties, such as particle-size fractions, pH, CaCO3 and organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity, and some BDr2 threshold values. We demonstrate and discuss the usefulness of field observations to assess topsoil behavior to compaction. The main novelty of this study is the use of large numbers of qualitative field observations of soil profiles and clustering to identify contrasting behavior. To our knowledge, this approach has almost never been implemented. Overall, analysis of qualitative and quantitative information collected in numerous profiles offers a new way to discriminate some broad categories of soil behavior that could be used to support land management and stakeholders' decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]