Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117597
Jiahong Xu , Huiru Li , Xueyong Zou , Xiaomeng Geng
Gravel-covered surfaces are common in arid regions, where both natural and artificial gravels play a key role in suppressing soil wind erosion. Previous studies have often focused on specific regions or soil types, leaving the combined effect of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics on the wind erosion rate (q) underexplored. The main objective of this study was to clarify the combined effects of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics on q and to develop a predictive equation through wind tunnel experiments using four soil samples with different particle characteristics under five incoming friction wind velocity (u*∞) for bare soil and 25 gravel-covered beds. Results showed that greater lateral coverage (λ) significantly suppressed q, but at high friction wind velocity (u*) and low λ, q intensified. Soil particle characteristics affect bare and gravel-covered beds differently, indicating that traditional adjustment methods based on bare soil erosion were unsuitable. Random Forest (RF) algorithm was applied as an auxiliary tool to rank variables affecting wind erosion: for bare soil beds, u*, mean particle diameter (d), density (ρp), sorting coefficient (σ), and sphericity (Sp); for gravel-covered beds, u*, λ, Sp, σ, d, and ρp. The RF model achieved RMSETest of 0.010 kg·m−2·s−1 for bare soil and 0.001 kg·m−2·s−1 for gravel-covered beds. Based on these insights, we proposed an extended wind-blown soil flux equation incorporating λ and Sp. This new equation achieved an RMSE of 0.004 kg·m−2·s−1. This equation effectively captures the combined effects of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics.
{"title":"Comprehensive influence of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics on wind erosion rate: A wind tunnel investigation","authors":"Jiahong Xu , Huiru Li , Xueyong Zou , Xiaomeng Geng","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gravel-covered surfaces are common in arid regions, where both natural and artificial gravels play a key role in suppressing soil wind erosion. Previous studies have often focused on specific regions or soil types, leaving the combined effect of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics on the wind erosion rate (<em>q</em>) underexplored. The main objective of this study was to clarify the combined effects of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics on <em>q</em> and to develop a predictive equation through wind tunnel experiments using four soil samples with different particle characteristics under five incoming friction wind velocity (<em>u</em><sub>*∞</sub>) for bare soil and 25 gravel-covered beds. Results showed that greater lateral coverage (<em>λ</em>) significantly suppressed <em>q</em>, but at high friction wind velocity (<em>u<sub>*</sub></em>) and low <em>λ</em>, <em>q</em> intensified. Soil particle characteristics affect bare and gravel-covered beds differently, indicating that traditional adjustment methods based on bare soil erosion were unsuitable. Random Forest (RF) algorithm was applied as an auxiliary tool to rank variables affecting wind erosion: for bare soil beds, <em>u<sub>*</sub></em>, mean particle diameter (<em>d</em>), density (<em>ρ</em><sub>p</sub>), sorting coefficient (<em>σ</em>), and sphericity (<em>S</em><sub>p</sub>); for gravel-covered beds, <em>u<sub>*</sub></em>, <em>λ</em>, <em>S</em><sub>p</sub>, <em>σ</em>, <em>d</em>, and <em>ρ</em><sub>p</sub>. The RF model achieved RMSE<sub>Test</sub> of 0.010 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>·s<sup>−1</sup> for bare soil and 0.001 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>·s<sup>−1</sup> for gravel-covered beds. Based on these insights, we proposed an extended wind-blown soil flux equation incorporating <em>λ</em> and <em>S</em><sub>p</sub>. This new equation achieved an RMSE of 0.004 kg·m<sup>−2</sup>·s<sup>−1</sup>. This equation effectively captures the combined effects of gravel cover and soil particle characteristics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117597"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145559965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-17DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117607
Giuseppe Brunetti , Radka Kodešová , Miroslav Fér , Antonín Nikodem , Aleš Klement , Jiri Šimunek
Traditional hydrological models often assume static soil hydraulic properties, neglecting the dynamic changes induced by agricultural practices and climatic stressors such as tillage and natural consolidation. However, it remains unclear if these changes produce long-term hydrological disturbances that undermine the static system modeling assumption. To address this gap, in this study, the HYDRUS-1D model is modified to simulate dynamic changes in soil bulk density and hydraulic properties induced by tillage and natural consolidation. The model is first verified against observations characterizing the joint temporal change of soil bulk density and hydraulic properties after tillage in a bare field soil in the USA. Next, Bayesian inference is combined with temporally sparse volumetric water content measurements collected from two agricultural hillslopes in Czechia, to statistically compare the dynamic model with its static counterpart. The analysis reveals that the increased complexity of the dynamic model does not lead to major fitting improvements, but instead increases the predictive uncertainty, thus suggesting that the hydrological impact of tillage-consolidation is not sufficient to outweigh the measurement errors, and it does not cause major changes in the long term hydrological balance of the system. In these conditions, the Richards-based solver with static soil hydraulic properties is sufficient to describe the hydrological behavior of the hillslopes, which the model reveals as being characterized by higher surface runoff and, thus, higher erosivity in the central part.
{"title":"Modeling the impact of tillage and consolidation on the vadose zone hydrological behavior for data-limited conditions","authors":"Giuseppe Brunetti , Radka Kodešová , Miroslav Fér , Antonín Nikodem , Aleš Klement , Jiri Šimunek","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Traditional hydrological models often assume static soil hydraulic properties, neglecting the dynamic changes induced by agricultural practices and climatic stressors such as tillage and natural consolidation. However, it remains unclear if these changes produce long-term hydrological disturbances that undermine the static system modeling assumption. To address this gap, in this study, the HYDRUS-1D model is modified to simulate dynamic changes in soil bulk density and hydraulic properties induced by tillage and natural consolidation. The model is first verified against observations characterizing the joint temporal change of soil bulk density and hydraulic properties after tillage in a bare field soil in the USA. Next, Bayesian inference is combined with temporally sparse volumetric water content measurements collected from two agricultural hillslopes in Czechia, to statistically compare the dynamic model with its static counterpart. The analysis reveals that the increased complexity of the dynamic model does not lead to major fitting improvements, but instead increases the predictive uncertainty, thus suggesting that the hydrological impact of tillage-consolidation is not sufficient to outweigh the measurement errors, and it does not cause major changes in the long term hydrological balance of the system. In these conditions, the Richards-based solver with static soil hydraulic properties is sufficient to describe the hydrological behavior of the hillslopes, which the model reveals as being characterized by higher surface runoff and, thus, higher erosivity in the central part.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117607"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145559957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-16DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117606
Qingbiao Rong , Mengge Yang , Yingying Deng , Mingquan Zhao , Yuliang Liao , Qingfang Tan , Tiansen Pan , Gairen Yang , Xinxiao Yu , Yuhan Huang
As the intensive monoculture plantations continue to expend, their water demand of these plantations is concurrently rising. Investigating the soil infiltration processes in plantations is essential for developing informed water resource management and appropriate ecological management practices. Field experiments were carried out to examine variations within soil infiltration among different-aged Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations (5-, 8-, 11-, and 15-year-old) using an improved surface double-ring infiltration infiltrometer. Results showed that soil infiltration rates improved as the forest matures. During the rapid infiltration phases, including initial infiltration rate , early-stage infiltration rate and mid-stage infiltration rate , the rates varied between 3374 to 10196 mm·h−1. In the slow infiltration phases, including late-stage infiltration rate, steady infiltration rate , the rates ranged from 1022 to 3195 mm·h−1. Soil structural indicators (clay and silt contents) were the primary physical factors responsible for differences in entire infiltration process across different plantation ages: increased clay content and decreased silt content enhanced soil infiltration. Furthermore, the effects of biochemical factors — soil organic matter and fine root density (FRD) — on infiltration rate exhibited significant stage specificity. Before the stable infiltration stage, FRD was the main factor inhibiting infiltration, and this inhibiting effect was evident in initial infiltration rate, early-stage infiltration rate, mid-stage infiltration rate, and late-stage infiltration rate. In contrast, soil organic matter showed a promoting effect on infiltration during the slow infiltration phase, with a particularly prominent enhancement on steady infiltration rate. The inhibiting effect of FRD decreased in the 15-year-old C. lanceolata plantation and notably increased in its infiltration rate. Consequently, to enhance soil infiltration, the rotation period for C. lanceolata plantations should ideally be extended beyond 15 years. These findings offer scientific foundations for promoting sustainable development and water conservation in subtropical plantations.
{"title":"Influence of the root–soil complex on soil infiltration stages and their temporal changes in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantations","authors":"Qingbiao Rong , Mengge Yang , Yingying Deng , Mingquan Zhao , Yuliang Liao , Qingfang Tan , Tiansen Pan , Gairen Yang , Xinxiao Yu , Yuhan Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As the intensive monoculture plantations continue to expend, their water demand of these plantations is concurrently rising. Investigating the soil infiltration processes in plantations is essential for developing informed water resource management and appropriate ecological management practices. Field experiments were carried out to examine variations within soil infiltration among different-aged <em>Cunninghamia lanceolata</em> plantations (5-, 8-, 11-, and 15-year-old) using an improved surface double-ring infiltration infiltrometer. Results showed that soil infiltration rates improved as the forest matures. During the rapid infiltration phases, including initial infiltration rate , early-stage infiltration rate and mid-stage infiltration rate , the rates varied between 3374 to 10196 mm·h<sup>−1</sup>. In the slow infiltration phases, including late-stage infiltration rate, steady infiltration rate , the rates ranged from 1022 to 3195 mm·h<sup>−1</sup>. Soil structural indicators (clay and silt contents) were the primary physical factors responsible for differences in entire infiltration process across different plantation ages: increased clay content and decreased silt content enhanced soil infiltration. Furthermore, the effects of biochemical factors — soil organic matter and fine root density (FRD) — on infiltration rate exhibited significant stage specificity. Before the stable infiltration stage, FRD was the main factor inhibiting infiltration, and this inhibiting effect was evident in initial infiltration rate, early-stage infiltration rate, mid-stage infiltration rate, and late-stage infiltration rate. In contrast, soil organic matter showed a promoting effect on infiltration during the slow infiltration phase, with a particularly prominent enhancement on steady infiltration rate. The inhibiting effect of FRD decreased in the 15-year-old <em>C. lanceolata</em> plantation and notably increased in its infiltration rate. Consequently, to enhance soil infiltration, the rotation period for <em>C. lanceolata</em> plantations should ideally be extended beyond 15 years. These findings offer scientific foundations for promoting sustainable development and water conservation in subtropical plantations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117606"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145535996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-16DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117604
Zhiyong Zhang , Chenghao Zheng , Tao Yang , Zihao Li , Xinjun Chen , Ansa Rebi , Liang Dong , Jinxing Zhou
Bedrock exposure alters the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) in karst ecosystems; however, the responses of plant- and microbial-derived carbon—key indicators for assessing SOC stability—to bedrock exposure rates remain unclear. To address this, we employed lignin phenols and amino sugars as biomarkers to track plant-derived and microbial necromass carbon (MNC), respectively, across a bedrock exposure gradient (0 %–70 %). Our findings revealed that MNC contributed substantially more to SOC (30.37 %–40.83 %) than plant-derived lignin phenols (1.06 %–3.52 %), with fungal necromass identified as the dominant component of MNC. Both plant- and microbial-derived carbon exhibited significant nonlinear relationships with the bedrock exposure rate. Along the bedrock exposure gradient, mineral (Ca) provided a stabilization foundation for both carbon fractions, with lignin phenol accumulation further enhanced on humification and soil nutrient balance, and soil nutrient balance, and MNC accumulation further enhanced by microbial metabolic activity. This study elucidates the distinct stabilization mechanisms between plant- and microbial-derived carbon in karst soils, providing crucial mechanistic insight for predicting the persistence of soil carbon in rocky desertification environments.
{"title":"Microbial necromass carbon dominates the accumulation of soil organic carbon in bedrock-exposed areas of karst regions","authors":"Zhiyong Zhang , Chenghao Zheng , Tao Yang , Zihao Li , Xinjun Chen , Ansa Rebi , Liang Dong , Jinxing Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bedrock exposure alters the stability of soil organic carbon (SOC) in karst ecosystems; however, the responses of plant- and microbial-derived carbon—key indicators for assessing SOC stability—to bedrock exposure rates remain unclear. To address this, we employed lignin phenols and amino sugars as biomarkers to track plant-derived and microbial necromass carbon (MNC), respectively, across a bedrock exposure gradient (0 %–70 %). Our findings revealed that MNC contributed substantially more to SOC (30.37 %–40.83 %) than plant-derived lignin phenols (1.06 %–3.52 %), with fungal necromass identified as the dominant component of MNC. Both plant- and microbial-derived carbon exhibited significant nonlinear relationships with the bedrock exposure rate. Along the bedrock exposure gradient, mineral (Ca) provided a stabilization foundation for both carbon fractions, with lignin phenol accumulation further enhanced on humification and soil nutrient balance, and soil nutrient balance, and MNC accumulation further enhanced by microbial metabolic activity. This study elucidates the distinct stabilization mechanisms between plant- and microbial-derived carbon in karst soils, providing crucial mechanistic insight for predicting the persistence of soil carbon in rocky desertification environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117604"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145536032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117596
Yao Xiao , Guojie Hu , Lin Zhao , Erji Du , Ren Li , Tonghua Wu , Xiaodong Wu , Guangyue Liu , Defu Zou , Zanpin Xing , Nan Zhou , Yifan Wu
Permafrost degradation is reshaping soil moisture regimes in cold regions, yet the vertical structure and regulatory mechanisms of moisture remain underexplored in marginal permafrost zones. Here, we integrate 75 shallow profiles (0–3 m) and 15 boreholes (up to 20 m) across forests, grasslands, and wetlands in the Genhe Basin, Northeast China, to investigate how vegetation and permafrost jointly control volumetric water content (VWC). Vegetation—especially wetland cover—dominates the 0–0.5 m layer; a mid-depth coupling zone is evident where vegetation and permafrost jointly control VWC; and 1.5–2.0 m moisture maxima at permafrost sites reflect accumulation above the permafrost table. Machine learning and structural equation modeling reveal that surface characteristics (e.g., wetland cover, soil organic carbon) dominate shallow moisture, while bulk density and permafrost extent govern subsurface retention. Climatic effects operate indirectly through insulation and freeze–thaw buffering. These findings demonstrate a vertically stratified control system shaped by vegetation–permafrost interactions, underscoring the need to incorporate vertical coupling into process-based models.
{"title":"Vegetation and permafrost interactions shape soil moisture stratification in marginal permafrost zones","authors":"Yao Xiao , Guojie Hu , Lin Zhao , Erji Du , Ren Li , Tonghua Wu , Xiaodong Wu , Guangyue Liu , Defu Zou , Zanpin Xing , Nan Zhou , Yifan Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117596","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117596","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Permafrost degradation is reshaping soil moisture regimes in cold regions, yet the vertical structure and regulatory mechanisms of moisture remain underexplored in marginal permafrost zones. Here, we integrate 75 shallow profiles (0–3 m) and 15 boreholes (up to 20 m) across forests, grasslands, and wetlands in the Genhe Basin, Northeast China, to investigate how vegetation and permafrost jointly control volumetric water content (VWC). Vegetation—especially wetland cover—dominates the 0–0.5 m layer; a mid-depth coupling zone is evident where vegetation and permafrost jointly control VWC; and 1.5–2.0 m moisture maxima at permafrost sites reflect accumulation above the permafrost table. Machine learning and structural equation modeling reveal that surface characteristics (e.g., wetland cover, soil organic carbon) dominate shallow moisture, while bulk density and permafrost extent govern subsurface retention. Climatic effects operate indirectly through insulation and freeze–thaw buffering. These findings demonstrate a vertically stratified control system shaped by vegetation–permafrost interactions, underscoring the need to incorporate vertical coupling into process-based models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117596"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117594
Cuixia Wang , Caihong Zhang , Chao Zhang , Yongshen Wu , Quanhong Liu , Huaiping Feng , Hongyuan Fang
Frost heave is primarily caused by the formation of ice lenses, which is heavily influenced by water migration driven by temperature gradients. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying water migration in soil nanochannels under temperature gradients remain unclear. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the microstructural characteristics of water molecules, as well as the effects of temperature gradients and nanochannel wettability on water migration in confined clay channels. The results show that water migration is significantly influenced by the interplay of temperature gradient, ambient temperature, and channel surface properties. As the temperature gradient increases, water molecules migrate toward the colder region, with migration peaking at the gradients between 1.2 K/nm and 1.8 K/nm. Beyond this range, reducing atomic activity at lower temperatures limits water mobility. Hydrophilic surfaces interact with water molecules more strongly, promoting the formation of more hydrogen bonds and hourglass-like structures. Notably, single-sided hydrophilic nanochannels achieve water migration distances approximately 8.27 times greater than those of double-sided hydrophilic nanochannels, with a corresponding 6.75-fold increase in the driving force generated by temperature gradients. In contrast, double-sided hydrophobic nanochannels exhibit negligible water migration due to insufficient driving forces. This work offers a molecular-level understanding of the mechanisms driving water migration in frozen soils.
{"title":"Water migration driven by temperature gradients in confined clay channels","authors":"Cuixia Wang , Caihong Zhang , Chao Zhang , Yongshen Wu , Quanhong Liu , Huaiping Feng , Hongyuan Fang","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Frost heave is primarily caused by the formation of ice lenses, which is heavily influenced by water migration driven by temperature gradients. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying water migration in soil nanochannels under temperature gradients remain unclear. In this paper, molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the microstructural characteristics of water molecules, as well as the effects of temperature gradients and nanochannel wettability on water migration in confined clay channels. The results show that water migration is significantly influenced by the interplay of temperature gradient, ambient temperature, and channel surface properties. As the temperature gradient increases, water molecules migrate toward the colder region, with migration peaking at the gradients between 1.2 K/nm and 1.8 K/nm. Beyond this range, reducing atomic activity at lower temperatures limits water mobility. Hydrophilic surfaces interact with water molecules more strongly, promoting the formation of more hydrogen bonds and hourglass-like structures. Notably, single-sided hydrophilic nanochannels achieve water migration distances approximately 8.27 times greater than those of double-sided hydrophilic nanochannels, with a corresponding 6.75-fold increase in the driving force generated by temperature gradients. In contrast, double-sided hydrophobic nanochannels exhibit negligible water migration due to insufficient driving forces. This work offers a molecular-level understanding of the mechanisms driving water migration in frozen soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117594"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145535844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117605
Yujuan Liu , Siyuan Cai , Yuqi Chen , Xiuyun Liu , Lingying Xu , Xu Zhao , Xiaoyuan Yan
Paddy rice systems in Northeast China rely on comparatively modest fertilizer nitrogen (N) inputs yet exhibit high N use efficiency, making the soil intrinsic N supply capacity a critical factor for rice production sustainability in this region. N mineralization potential (Nmp) underpins this capacity, but its regional behavior and controls remain poorly constrained. Here we compiled data from 15 peer-reviewed studies, augmented by an incubation experiment on 24 representative paddy soils, to create the first regional dataset of Nmp. Dynamic-kinetic fitting showed that mixed kinetics models best describe over 80 % of incubation curves, and meta-analysis yielded a region-wide mean Nmp of 113 mg N kg−1. Using deep learning regression, permutation importance and SHapley additive explanations, we identified sand content, CEC, total N, total organic carbon, and growing degree day (GDD) as the dominant predictors of Nmp. The final model, trained jointly on literature and experimental data, explained 59 % of the variance in Nmp (RMSE = 36.4). Upscaling Nmp to a 250 m grid, using the refined deep-learning model and high-resolution soil properties and GDD layers, resolved a pronounced “north–south high, central low” pattern across the Northeast China rice cultivated region. Our integrated workflow—combining meta-analysis, process-based kinetics and interpretable machine learning—provided a transparent, spatially explicit assessment of soil N supply capacity in one of the Chinese most important rice-producing regions. This spatially explicit foundation offers a practical way for site-specific N fertilizer management considering the soil mineralizable-N reserves, upon which context-specific decisions that consider economic and social dimensions can be built.
东北地区水稻系统氮肥投入相对较少,但氮素利用效率较高,土壤内在氮供应能力是影响该地区水稻生产可持续性的关键因素。氮矿化潜力(Nmp)支撑了这一能力,但其区域行为和控制仍然缺乏约束。在这里,我们收集了来自15项同行评议研究的数据,并通过在24个具有代表性的水稻土壤上进行孵化实验来增强数据,从而创建了第一个Nmp区域数据集。动态-动力学拟合表明,混合动力学模型最能描述80%以上的孵化曲线,荟萃分析得出区域平均Nmp为113 mg N kg - 1。利用深度学习回归、排列重要性和SHapley加性解释,我们发现砂含量、CEC、全氮、总有机碳和生长度日(GDD)是Nmp的主要预测因子。最后的模型,在文献和实验数据的联合训练下,解释了Nmp中59%的方差(RMSE = 36.4)。利用改进的深度学习模型、高分辨率土壤特性和GDD层,将Nmp升级到250 m网格,解决了东北水稻种植区明显的“南北高,中部低”格局。我们的综合工作流程-结合元分析,基于过程的动力学和可解释的机器学习-为中国最重要的水稻产区之一的土壤氮供应能力提供了透明,空间明确的评估。这种空间上明确的基础为考虑土壤可矿化氮储量的特定地点氮肥管理提供了一种实用的方法,在此基础上可以建立考虑经济和社会维度的特定环境决策。
{"title":"Unveiling spatially explicit soil nitrogen mineralization potential in Northeast China: A meta-analysis coupled by experimental validation","authors":"Yujuan Liu , Siyuan Cai , Yuqi Chen , Xiuyun Liu , Lingying Xu , Xu Zhao , Xiaoyuan Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Paddy rice systems in Northeast China rely on comparatively modest fertilizer nitrogen (N) inputs yet exhibit high N use efficiency, making the soil intrinsic N supply capacity a critical factor for rice production sustainability in this region. N mineralization potential (Nmp) underpins this capacity, but its regional behavior and controls remain poorly constrained. Here we compiled data from 15 peer-reviewed studies, augmented by an incubation experiment on 24 representative paddy soils, to create the first regional dataset of Nmp. Dynamic-kinetic fitting showed that mixed kinetics models best describe over 80 % of incubation curves, and <em>meta</em>-analysis yielded a region-wide mean Nmp of 113 mg N kg<sup>−1</sup>. Using deep learning regression, permutation importance and SHapley additive explanations, we identified sand content, CEC, total N, total organic carbon, and growing degree day (GDD) as the dominant predictors of Nmp. The final model, trained jointly on literature and experimental data, explained 59 % of the variance in Nmp (RMSE = 36.4). Upscaling Nmp to a 250 m grid, using the refined deep-learning model and high-resolution soil properties and GDD layers, resolved a pronounced “north–south high, central low” pattern across the Northeast China rice cultivated region. Our integrated workflow—combining <em>meta</em>-analysis, process-based kinetics and interpretable machine learning—provided a transparent, spatially explicit assessment of soil N supply capacity in one of the Chinese most important rice-producing regions. This spatially explicit foundation offers a practical way for site-specific N fertilizer management considering the soil mineralizable-N reserves, upon which context-specific decisions that consider economic and social dimensions can be built.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117605"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117593
Zhenghu Ge , Kang Gao , Xiaoting Liu , Ning Huang , Kan He , Hongchao Dun
Dust particles play a crucial role in the formation and stability of soil aggregates, significantly influencing dust emissions from source areas. The gradual intensification of freeze–thaw cycles substantially affects soil erosion in alpine regions. However, the mechanisms governing aggregate stability during freeze–thaw cycles and the subsequent wind-driven dust emission processes remain unclear. In this paper, we present an experimental study into the microscopic changes in soil aggregates and the mechanisms of dust emission resulting from repeated freeze–thaw cycles. Specifically, we analyze the effects of the number of freeze–thaw cycles on dust emission, erosion rates, and dust contribution rates. Our results show that freeze–thaw cycles cause the deflection and separation of aggregates, increase surface porosity, promote localized particle fragmentation, and generate new particulate matter. The erosion rate of soil aggregates and the vertical dust release flux both increased with the number of freeze–thaw cycles, eventually stabilizing at levels 1.5 and 1.8 times higher, respectively, than those observed on unfrozen surfaces. Additionally, freeze–thaw cycles enhanced dust emission from dry soil aggregates, increasing the contribution to soil erosion by 22 %, with a significant increase in dust particle concentrations in the 10 to 32 μm range. This study provides valuable insights into the structural changes in soil aggregates and the mechanisms of dust emission under freeze–thaw conditions.
{"title":"Freeze-thaw cycles enhance dust emission from soil aggregates","authors":"Zhenghu Ge , Kang Gao , Xiaoting Liu , Ning Huang , Kan He , Hongchao Dun","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Dust particles play a crucial role in the formation and stability of soil aggregates, significantly influencing dust emissions from source areas. The gradual intensification of freeze–thaw cycles substantially affects soil erosion in alpine regions. However, the mechanisms governing aggregate stability during freeze–thaw cycles and the subsequent wind-driven dust emission processes remain unclear. In this paper, we present an experimental study into the microscopic changes in soil aggregates and the mechanisms of dust emission resulting from repeated freeze–thaw cycles. Specifically, we analyze the effects of the number of freeze–thaw cycles on dust emission, erosion rates, and dust contribution rates. Our results show that freeze–thaw cycles cause the deflection and separation of aggregates, increase surface porosity, promote localized particle fragmentation, and generate new particulate matter. The erosion rate of soil aggregates and the vertical dust release flux both increased with the number of freeze–thaw cycles, eventually stabilizing at levels 1.5 and 1.8 times higher, respectively, than those observed on unfrozen surfaces. Additionally, freeze–thaw cycles enhanced dust emission from dry soil aggregates, increasing the contribution to soil erosion by 22 %, with a significant increase in dust particle concentrations in the 10 to 32 μm range. This study provides valuable insights into the structural changes in soil aggregates and the mechanisms of dust emission under freeze–thaw conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117593"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117603
Yuepeng Yin , Xin Tang , Yurong Wang , Changfeng Ding , Zhigao Zhou , Xingxiang Wang
It is widely recognized that iron-sulfur (Fe-S) reduction is a dominant biogeochemical process in paddy soils. Individually, Fe or S remediation techniques have been proven effective in reducing the accumulation of Cd or As in rice grains. However, the combined effects of Fe-S remediation technology on Cd/As co-contaminated paddy soil remain unclear. This study investigated the dynamic effects of Fe and S reduction on Cd and As in soil-rice systems by adding typical iron oxides (ferrihydrite) and sulfates (potassium sulfate) in pot experiments. Unexpectedly, the Fe-S reduction technique had a contrary influence on the migration behavior of Cd and As. Fe-S coupling reduction resulted in synergistic remediation, with a greater effect (61.4%) than that of either of the individual methods (46.3%, 43.2%). This was attributed to the synergistic effect of Fe-S passivators, with Fe-S-coupled reduction stabilizing the structures of amorphous iron oxides and facilitating the formation of FeS, thereby enhancing Cd immobilization. Interestingly, the biogeochemical effects of sulfur-induced arsenic reduction exhibited a double-edged effect, both decreasing total soluble As through sulfide formation and simultaneously facilitating the biotransformation and mobilization of methylarsenic species in pore water, ultimately resulting in increased dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) accumulation in rice grains. While Fe reduction remediation alone decreased As accumulation in the rice grains by 13.6%, sulfate addition resulted in a 120% increase in DMA facilitated by sulfate reduction. Given rice’s tendency to hyperaccumulate methylated substances compared to inorganic As, this led to a 41.3% increase in the total As content in the grains. Additionally, although Fe-S coupling remediation technology synergistically increased iron plaque formation on the root surface (47.8%) and enhanced the blocking effect of this iron plaque on Cd/As (57.9%/33.7%), DMA produced by sulfate-mediated methylation appeared to suppress the retention capability of this plaque. Overall, the findings emphasize that Fe-S biogeochemistry and cycling have inconsistent effects on the migration of Cd/As, suggesting that selective Fe and S remediation strategies should be applied accordingly in situations involving heavy metal pollution.
{"title":"Iron-Sulfur reduction coupling Controls Cadmium and arsenic dynamics in paddy Soil-Rice Systems: Insights from biogeochemical cycling","authors":"Yuepeng Yin , Xin Tang , Yurong Wang , Changfeng Ding , Zhigao Zhou , Xingxiang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is widely recognized that iron-sulfur (Fe-S) reduction is a dominant biogeochemical process in paddy soils. Individually, Fe or S remediation techniques have been proven effective in reducing the accumulation of Cd or As in rice grains. However, the combined effects of Fe-S remediation technology on Cd/As co-contaminated paddy soil remain unclear. This study investigated the dynamic effects of Fe and S reduction on Cd and As in soil-rice systems by adding typical iron oxides (ferrihydrite) and sulfates (potassium sulfate) in pot experiments. Unexpectedly, the Fe-S reduction technique had a contrary influence on the migration behavior of Cd and As. Fe-S coupling reduction resulted in synergistic remediation, with a greater effect (61.4%) than that of either of the individual methods (46.3%, 43.2%). This was attributed to the synergistic effect of Fe-S passivators, with Fe-S-coupled reduction stabilizing the structures of amorphous iron oxides and facilitating the formation of FeS, thereby enhancing Cd immobilization. Interestingly, the biogeochemical effects of sulfur-induced arsenic reduction exhibited a double-edged effect, both decreasing total soluble As through sulfide formation and simultaneously facilitating the biotransformation and mobilization of methylarsenic species in pore water, ultimately resulting in increased dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) accumulation in rice grains. While Fe reduction remediation alone decreased As accumulation in the rice grains by 13.6%, sulfate addition resulted in a 120% increase in DMA facilitated by sulfate reduction. Given rice’s tendency to hyperaccumulate methylated substances compared to inorganic As, this led to a 41.3% increase in the total As content in the grains. Additionally, although Fe-S coupling remediation technology synergistically increased iron plaque formation on the root surface (47.8%) and enhanced the blocking effect of this iron plaque on Cd/As (57.9%/33.7%), DMA produced by sulfate-mediated methylation appeared to suppress the retention capability of this plaque. Overall, the findings emphasize that Fe-S biogeochemistry and cycling have inconsistent effects on the migration of Cd/As, suggesting that selective Fe and S remediation strategies should be applied accordingly in situations involving heavy metal pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117603"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145500382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-14DOI: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117599
Peng He , Xuewei Wang , Jianing Wang , Dijun Zhang , Rui Li , Ning Ling , Tengfei Ma
Plant-soil feedback (PSF) processes represent fundamental drivers of ecosystem succession, yet the dynamic characteristics and regulatory mechanisms under combined multi-stubble planting and straw amendment systems remain insufficiently understood. In this study, a controlled greenhouse-based PSF experimental system incorporating multi-stubble planting (0, 1, 3, and 5 stubbles) and gradient straw amendments (0, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), along with a long-term maize monoculture control (5 stubbles), was established to investigate the soil legacy effects on subsequent maize (Zea mays L.) growth performance. By assessing the variation patterns of root-associated fungal communities (rhizosphere vs. endosphere), and bulk soil physicochemical properties of maize, we elucidated microecological mechanisms governing PSF dynamics. Our results showed that compared with straw amendments, multi-stubble planting of alfalfa exhibited a greater impact on the growth performance of subsequent maize. Increasing frequency of multi-stubble planting of alfalfa shifted maize PSF effects (calculated as ln-transformed maize total biomass differences between conspecific and heterospecific soils) toward negative feedback, while straw amendments effectively mitigated this trend. Compared to root endophytic fungal community, maize rhizosphere fungal community were predominantly governed by deterministic processes, serving as a key biotic predictor of PSF. Furthermore, rhizosphere fungal guilds (saprotrophs, symbiotrophs, and pathotrophs) actively modified the PSF dynamics, particularly through pathogenic guilds, promoting a shift toward positive feedback effects. Such mediation processes demonstrated significant correlations with soil inorganic nitrogen availability and multifunctionality. These findings provide important implications for advancing resource-efficient ecological agriculture through targeted management of rhizosphere microbial guilds and synergistic improvement of nutrient cycling efficiency.
{"title":"Dynamic plant-soil feedback under multi-stubble and straw amendment systems: Fungal guild-mediated rhizosphere processes drive plant growth","authors":"Peng He , Xuewei Wang , Jianing Wang , Dijun Zhang , Rui Li , Ning Ling , Tengfei Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.geoderma.2025.117599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plant-soil feedback (PSF) processes represent fundamental drivers of ecosystem succession, yet the dynamic characteristics and regulatory mechanisms under combined multi-stubble planting and straw amendment systems remain insufficiently understood. In this study, a controlled greenhouse-based PSF experimental system incorporating multi-stubble planting (0, 1, 3, and 5 stubbles) and gradient straw amendments (0, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%) of alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L.), along with a long-term maize monoculture control (5 stubbles), was established to investigate the soil legacy effects on subsequent maize (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) growth performance. By assessing the variation patterns of root-associated fungal communities (rhizosphere vs. endosphere), and bulk soil physicochemical properties of maize, we elucidated microecological mechanisms governing PSF dynamics. Our results showed that compared with straw amendments, multi-stubble planting of alfalfa exhibited a greater impact on the growth performance of subsequent maize. Increasing frequency of multi-stubble planting of alfalfa shifted maize PSF effects (calculated as ln-transformed maize total biomass differences between conspecific and heterospecific soils) toward negative feedback, while straw amendments effectively mitigated this trend. Compared to root endophytic fungal community, maize rhizosphere fungal community were predominantly governed by deterministic processes, serving as a key biotic predictor of PSF. Furthermore, rhizosphere fungal guilds (saprotrophs, symbiotrophs, and pathotrophs) actively modified the PSF dynamics, particularly through pathogenic guilds, promoting a shift toward positive feedback effects. Such mediation processes demonstrated significant correlations with soil inorganic nitrogen availability and multifunctionality. These findings provide important implications for advancing resource-efficient ecological agriculture through targeted management of rhizosphere microbial guilds and synergistic improvement of nutrient cycling efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12511,"journal":{"name":"Geoderma","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 117599"},"PeriodicalIF":6.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145528168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}