Jiahui Dai, Han Yang, Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun, Kamuran Maimaitiaili, Chenyu Ouyang
Soil organic matter (SOM) constitutes a critical component of terrestrial carbon pools, yet accurate quantification across soil depths remains challenging in arid basins. While hyperspectral techniques enable efficient SOM prediction, current models are limited by: (1) predominant focus on topsoil or single land‐use types; (2) spectral interference from multifactorial coupling effects; (3) insufficient generalization across heterogeneous environments. To address these gaps, we collected 118 multi‐depth soil samples from the Urumqi River Basin and measured their visible‐near‐infrared spectra using a portable spectrometer. Additionally, five spectral preprocessing techniques were employed, including Savitzky–Golay smoothing, Multiplicative Scatter Correction, Standard Normal Variate, first derivative, and second derivative, along with three feature selection methods (Boruta, Successive Projections, and Uninformative Variable Elimination). A suite of predictive algorithms, including Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Random Forest (RF) classifiers, were systematically evaluated to develop a generalized model for predicting SOM content at different soil depths. These multivariate statistical approaches leverage cross‐sectional data to enhance the robustness of SOM prediction through non‐invasive spectral data integration. The findings indicate: (1) The second derivative transformation exhibited prominent advantages in spectral pretreatment by amplifying subtle absorption features obscured in raw spectra. Through effective suppression of scattering interference and baseline drift, second derivative (SD)‐processed data substantially improved feature extraction efficiency, thereby elevating the robustness and generalization capacity of subsequent quantitative models. (2) All feature selection methods improved model predictive accuracy, with the Boruta algorithm outperforming SPA and UVE based on PLSR, SVM, and RF models. (3) The comparative analysis of modeling approaches revealed substantial differences in prediction accuracy for SOM across the study area. Among the evaluated models, the SD‐Boruta‐RF algorithm demonstrated superior performance, achieving notable validation metrics with a coefficient of determination ( R2 ) of 0.89, accompanied by RMSE and MAE values of 28.24 and 15.47 g/kg, respectively. This study confirms that the SD‐Boruta‐RF framework demonstrates strong predictive capabilities for modeling organic matter at different soil depths in the Urumqi River Basin. The developed methodology provides an effective technical solution for continuous organic matter monitoring and spatial estimation in arid ecosystems.
{"title":"A General Prediction Model for Organic Matter at Different Soil Depths in the Urumqi River Basin","authors":"Jiahui Dai, Han Yang, Aizemaitijiang Maimaitituersun, Kamuran Maimaitiaili, Chenyu Ouyang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70392","url":null,"abstract":"Soil organic matter (SOM) constitutes a critical component of terrestrial carbon pools, yet accurate quantification across soil depths remains challenging in arid basins. While hyperspectral techniques enable efficient SOM prediction, current models are limited by: (1) predominant focus on topsoil or single land‐use types; (2) spectral interference from multifactorial coupling effects; (3) insufficient generalization across heterogeneous environments. To address these gaps, we collected 118 multi‐depth soil samples from the Urumqi River Basin and measured their visible‐near‐infrared spectra using a portable spectrometer. Additionally, five spectral preprocessing techniques were employed, including Savitzky–Golay smoothing, Multiplicative Scatter Correction, Standard Normal Variate, first derivative, and second derivative, along with three feature selection methods (Boruta, Successive Projections, and Uninformative Variable Elimination). A suite of predictive algorithms, including Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), and Random Forest (RF) classifiers, were systematically evaluated to develop a generalized model for predicting SOM content at different soil depths. These multivariate statistical approaches leverage cross‐sectional data to enhance the robustness of SOM prediction through non‐invasive spectral data integration. The findings indicate: (1) The second derivative transformation exhibited prominent advantages in spectral pretreatment by amplifying subtle absorption features obscured in raw spectra. Through effective suppression of scattering interference and baseline drift, second derivative (SD)‐processed data substantially improved feature extraction efficiency, thereby elevating the robustness and generalization capacity of subsequent quantitative models. (2) All feature selection methods improved model predictive accuracy, with the Boruta algorithm outperforming SPA and UVE based on PLSR, SVM, and RF models. (3) The comparative analysis of modeling approaches revealed substantial differences in prediction accuracy for SOM across the study area. Among the evaluated models, the SD‐Boruta‐RF algorithm demonstrated superior performance, achieving notable validation metrics with a coefficient of determination ( <jats:italic>R</jats:italic> <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> ) of 0.89, accompanied by RMSE and MAE values of 28.24 and 15.47 g/kg, respectively. This study confirms that the SD‐Boruta‐RF framework demonstrates strong predictive capabilities for modeling organic matter at different soil depths in the Urumqi River Basin. The developed methodology provides an effective technical solution for continuous organic matter monitoring and spatial estimation in arid ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"94 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145829890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cropland afforestation is a key strategy for enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and mitigating climate change, yet its global patterns and drivers remain unclear. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 1691 observations to quantify the impact of cropland afforestation on SOC and identify key influencing factors across climatic zones, forest types and soil depths. Results revealed that cropland afforestation significantly increased SOC by 44% on average, with natural forests (+81%) exhibiting superior SOC sequestration compared to plantation forests (+36%). In addition, afforestation on wheat cropland resulted in greater increases in SOC relative to beans, maize and rape croplands. These findings indicated that the SOC response largely depended on the types of the prior cultivated crop and forest. The positive response of SOC peaked in temperate climates (+61%) and arid regions (+45%). Soil properties were the most significant predictors of SOC response upon cropland afforestation, followed by climate factors and management factors, collectively explaining 56% of the variation. Furthermore, changes in topsoil SOC after cropland afforestation were mainly driven by initial SOC, while soil pH was the dominant factor regulating SOC changes in subsoil. The response of SOC accumulation showed nonlinear relationships with soil depth and afforestation duration, peaking in topsoil and after more than 36‐year afforestation. These results highlight that converting cropland to mixed‐species forests can markedly enhance the accumulation of SOC in temperate and arid regions, amplifying the ecological benefits of cropland afforestation. This study emphasizes the ecological necessity of site‐specific afforestation strategies to maximize long‐term soil carbon stabilization and ecosystem carbon persistence.
{"title":"Dynamics and Drivers of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration by Cropland Afforestation: A Global Meta‐Analysis","authors":"Xuechun Wang, Deshuai Huang, Tianhong Liu, Cong Wang, Haiyang Ma, Minggang Xu, Wenju Zhang, Lei Wu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70383","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70383","url":null,"abstract":"Cropland afforestation is a key strategy for enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and mitigating climate change, yet its global patterns and drivers remain unclear. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 1691 observations to quantify the impact of cropland afforestation on SOC and identify key influencing factors across climatic zones, forest types and soil depths. Results revealed that cropland afforestation significantly increased SOC by 44% on average, with natural forests (+81%) exhibiting superior SOC sequestration compared to plantation forests (+36%). In addition, afforestation on wheat cropland resulted in greater increases in SOC relative to beans, maize and rape croplands. These findings indicated that the SOC response largely depended on the types of the prior cultivated crop and forest. The positive response of SOC peaked in temperate climates (+61%) and arid regions (+45%). Soil properties were the most significant predictors of SOC response upon cropland afforestation, followed by climate factors and management factors, collectively explaining 56% of the variation. Furthermore, changes in topsoil SOC after cropland afforestation were mainly driven by initial SOC, while soil pH was the dominant factor regulating SOC changes in subsoil. The response of SOC accumulation showed nonlinear relationships with soil depth and afforestation duration, peaking in topsoil and after more than 36‐year afforestation. These results highlight that converting cropland to mixed‐species forests can markedly enhance the accumulation of SOC in temperate and arid regions, amplifying the ecological benefits of cropland afforestation. This study emphasizes the ecological necessity of site‐specific afforestation strategies to maximize long‐term soil carbon stabilization and ecosystem carbon persistence.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145829896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shuai Wang, Xizhi Lv, Qiufen Zhang, Jiazhen Wang, Yongxin Ni, Li Ma, Jianwei Wang, Ruipeng Wang
Soil moisture content (SMC) is a major constraint on land use and vegetation growth in semi‐arid regions. Understanding changes in SMC is essential for the recovery and reconstruction of vegetation on the Loess Plateau. However, fewer studies have analyzed the characteristics and influencing factors of soil moisture changes through long‐term observation data. Based on the rainfall observation data and SMC data from 1954 to 2010 in Nanxiaohegou watershed, this study analyzed the variation of SMC on slopes in the gully region of the Loess Tableland. Characterization and correlation analyses of SMC changes were based on three factors: rainfall intensity, slope, and land use pattern. The following key results were obtained: (1) excessive rainfall intensity provided a weak recharge of SMC, while insufficient rainfall provided an inadequate recharge of SMC; (2) vegetation on gentle slopes of 0°–5° and steeper slopes of 25°–30° led to higher SMC; (3) compared to other land uses, the SMC infiltration process in agricultural land exhibited a lag in response to rainfall; (4) higher correlation between deep SMC. The SMC was most significantly influenced by environmental factors in grassland. The results provide new information on land use in the Loess Tableland gully region. When implementing projects such as reforestation in this region, grassland, and agricultural land with good SMC retention capacity should be selected when possible and laid down on steeper slopes.
{"title":"Study on Vertical Distribution Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Moisture on Slopes in Loess Tableland Beam Area—Based on Long‐Term Observation Data","authors":"Shuai Wang, Xizhi Lv, Qiufen Zhang, Jiazhen Wang, Yongxin Ni, Li Ma, Jianwei Wang, Ruipeng Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70395","url":null,"abstract":"Soil moisture content (SMC) is a major constraint on land use and vegetation growth in semi‐arid regions. Understanding changes in SMC is essential for the recovery and reconstruction of vegetation on the Loess Plateau. However, fewer studies have analyzed the characteristics and influencing factors of soil moisture changes through long‐term observation data. Based on the rainfall observation data and SMC data from 1954 to 2010 in Nanxiaohegou watershed, this study analyzed the variation of SMC on slopes in the gully region of the Loess Tableland. Characterization and correlation analyses of SMC changes were based on three factors: rainfall intensity, slope, and land use pattern. The following key results were obtained: (1) excessive rainfall intensity provided a weak recharge of SMC, while insufficient rainfall provided an inadequate recharge of SMC; (2) vegetation on gentle slopes of 0°–5° and steeper slopes of 25°–30° led to higher SMC; (3) compared to other land uses, the SMC infiltration process in agricultural land exhibited a lag in response to rainfall; (4) higher correlation between deep SMC. The SMC was most significantly influenced by environmental factors in grassland. The results provide new information on land use in the Loess Tableland gully region. When implementing projects such as reforestation in this region, grassland, and agricultural land with good SMC retention capacity should be selected when possible and laid down on steeper slopes.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145813207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joanna Katarzyna Jóźwik, Krystyna Kozioł, Marcin Frankowski, Marta Jakubiak, Kamil Nowiński, Mariusz Jędrysek, Danuta Szumińska, Żaneta Polkowska
Permafrost is rapidly degrading in the sporadic zone, including palsa mires in Scandinavia. Peatlands in the area have likely accumulated heavy metals from atmospheric deposition of industrial contaminants in the wider region. As the palsa mire chemical composition is not well known, and in other permafrost regions the permafrost thaw may contribute elevated heavy metal concentrations in surface waters, we hypothesized that palsa mires may act as a source of inorganic input to the local aquatic environment. We verified this hypothesis in a short‐term study of water and sediment composition in the area of Skalluvaara palsa mire in northern Finland. During a time of likely palsas thaw, we compared the physical and chemical parameters in the collected water and aquatic sediment samples from the Skalluvaara palsa mire and its drainage to other streams, rivers, and lakes (in the area facing Varanger Fjord that is, the Jääräjoki‐Nuorgam area). The determined levels of water temperature, conductivity, pH, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), and isotope ratios (δ 17 O, δ 18 O, and δ 2 H), and the elemental and ionic concentrations, total organic carbon (TOC), and chlorophyll a concentration showed clear differences for objects related to the Skalluvaara palsa mire and outside of it, as revealed in the principal component analysis (PCA). In particular, elevated rock weathering indices and anomalous concentrations of Ni, Zn, and Hg were found in these aquatic environments. However, the highest concentrations of several metals and metalloids, including heavy metals, were found in the water not impacted by palsa mires, and their concentrations correlated with TOC concentrations. We conclude that other sources are more important inorganic inputs in the area, and it may be possibly connected to the erosion of peat or soil, which requires further investigation.
{"title":"Does Palsa Thaw in Northern Finland Contribute to Remobilisation of Metals Accumulated in Peat Into Surface Waters?","authors":"Joanna Katarzyna Jóźwik, Krystyna Kozioł, Marcin Frankowski, Marta Jakubiak, Kamil Nowiński, Mariusz Jędrysek, Danuta Szumińska, Żaneta Polkowska","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70370","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70370","url":null,"abstract":"Permafrost is rapidly degrading in the sporadic zone, including palsa mires in Scandinavia. Peatlands in the area have likely accumulated heavy metals from atmospheric deposition of industrial contaminants in the wider region. As the palsa mire chemical composition is not well known, and in other permafrost regions the permafrost thaw may contribute elevated heavy metal concentrations in surface waters, we hypothesized that palsa mires may act as a source of inorganic input to the local aquatic environment. We verified this hypothesis in a short‐term study of water and sediment composition in the area of Skalluvaara palsa mire in northern Finland. During a time of likely palsas thaw, we compared the physical and chemical parameters in the collected water and aquatic sediment samples from the Skalluvaara palsa mire and its drainage to other streams, rivers, and lakes (in the area facing Varanger Fjord that is, the Jääräjoki‐Nuorgam area). The determined levels of water temperature, conductivity, pH, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), and isotope ratios (δ <jats:sup>17</jats:sup> O, δ <jats:sup>18</jats:sup> O, and δ <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> H), and the elemental and ionic concentrations, total organic carbon (TOC), and chlorophyll a concentration showed clear differences for objects related to the Skalluvaara palsa mire and outside of it, as revealed in the principal component analysis (PCA). In particular, elevated rock weathering indices and anomalous concentrations of Ni, Zn, and Hg were found in these aquatic environments. However, the highest concentrations of several metals and metalloids, including heavy metals, were found in the water not impacted by palsa mires, and their concentrations correlated with TOC concentrations. We conclude that other sources are more important inorganic inputs in the area, and it may be possibly connected to the erosion of peat or soil, which requires further investigation.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"29 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145813206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emanuele Spada, Giacomo Falcone, Salvatore Praticò, Maria Carmela Benedetto, Giovanni Gulisano, Nathalie Iofrida, Anna Irene De Luca
Forest ecosystem services (ESs) are garnering increasing public attention as awareness grows regarding society's fundamental dependence on them for well‐being. Forest fires, one of the major disturbances of ESs, are becoming more frequent and destructive, exacerbated in part by climate change. Quantifying the value of ESs can foster responsible behavior and offer suggestions to public decision‐makers in planning activities and mitigating damaging events. The objective of this study is to provide a monetary valuation of the reduction in ESs' use value in a protected forest area in southern Italy. The study focused on the Aspromonte National Park (ANP) in Calabria, a region with typical Mediterranean characteristics, which experienced a significant fire in August 2021. By combining a geographic information system (GIS) and field surveys with tailored estimation methodologies rooted in the total economic value (TEV) approach, the study effectively addressed the distinctive variables of both ESs and the forest, enabling the economic quantification of the resulting loss. The analysis showed that the total damage amounted to roughly €26 million. The ESs with the highest incidence of economic damage were identified as hydrogeological protection, wood resources, and naturalistic function. Following this, a detailed valuation of the most representative forest categories was conducted, revealing that all systems, including the simplest ones, possess substantial value and fulfill specific ecological roles. Findings establish a promising framework for informing silvicultural strategies and represent a suggestion system to identify damage phenomena and safeguard the continued existence of forests and the ESs they provide.
{"title":"Wildfires' Cost for Societal Welfare: Economic Evaluation of Forestry Ecosystem Services Losses in Southern Italy","authors":"Emanuele Spada, Giacomo Falcone, Salvatore Praticò, Maria Carmela Benedetto, Giovanni Gulisano, Nathalie Iofrida, Anna Irene De Luca","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70356","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70356","url":null,"abstract":"Forest ecosystem services (ESs) are garnering increasing public attention as awareness grows regarding society's fundamental dependence on them for well‐being. Forest fires, one of the major disturbances of ESs, are becoming more frequent and destructive, exacerbated in part by climate change. Quantifying the value of ESs can foster responsible behavior and offer suggestions to public decision‐makers in planning activities and mitigating damaging events. The objective of this study is to provide a monetary valuation of the reduction in ESs' use value in a protected forest area in southern Italy. The study focused on the Aspromonte National Park (ANP) in Calabria, a region with typical Mediterranean characteristics, which experienced a significant fire in August 2021. By combining a geographic information system (GIS) and field surveys with tailored estimation methodologies rooted in the total economic value (TEV) approach, the study effectively addressed the distinctive variables of both ESs and the forest, enabling the economic quantification of the resulting loss. The analysis showed that the total damage amounted to roughly €26 million. The ESs with the highest incidence of economic damage were identified as hydrogeological protection, wood resources, and naturalistic function. Following this, a detailed valuation of the most representative forest categories was conducted, revealing that all systems, including the simplest ones, possess substantial value and fulfill specific ecological roles. Findings establish a promising framework for informing silvicultural strategies and represent a suggestion system to identify damage phenomena and safeguard the continued existence of forests and the <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\">ESs</jats:styled-content> they provide.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145813208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Plant root‐induced variations in soil‐colloid electrochemical properties contribute to changes in rill flow detachment on the Loess Plateau. This field‐based study was conducted to examine the influence of various electrochemical properties of soil colloids caused by roots on rill flow detachment on the Loess Plateau, because this phenomenon has not gotten much attention. A total of 288 samples of undisturbed soil were collected from two soil layers (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) across eight typical vegetation plots. The samples underwent scouring with six flow discharges (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30 L s −1 ) on a slope of 15°. The findings showed that plant roots had a marked influence on the electrochemical properties of soil colloids. The electrochemical properties of soil colloids for the respective 0–10 and 10–20 cm layers over the different sampling sites were soil surface electric field (1–22 × 10 8 and 4–23 × 10 8 V m −1 ), |surface potential|(94–160 and 114–162 mV), surface charge density (0.1–1.6 and 0.3–1.7 C m −2 ), specific surface area (17–201 and 14–89 m 2 g −1 ), surface charge number (7–13 and 6–10 cmol kg −1 ), and exchangeable sodium percentage (0.3%–0.6% and 0.5%–0.8%). These properties showed either a linear or exponential relationship with root length density (R 2 of 0.4 to 0.5; p < 0.01). Fine roots (0 < d ≤ 2 mm) played a prominent role in this process. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of soil colloids had marked effects on the rill detachment rate , with rates across the sampling sites ranging from 8 to 62 g m −2 s −1 in the 0–10 cm soil layer and from 29 to 59 g m −2 s −1 in the 10–20 cm soil layer, and showing either linear or exponential relationships with soil‐colloid electrochemical properties (R 2 of 0.5 to 0.6; p < 0.01). Soil specific surface area explained most of the variations in the rill detachment rate (46%). In conclusion, plant roots were found to alter soil‐colloid electrochemical properties by providing charge and ion‐binding sites, which in turn control rill flow detachment by regulating soil internal repulsive forces. Assessments of soil‐colloid electrochemical properties should therefore be a form part of strategies to prevent and control rill erosion.
植物根系诱导的土壤胶体电化学特性变化对黄土高原细沟分离的影响。由于黄土高原细沟分离现象尚未引起广泛的关注，本研究旨在研究根系引起的土壤胶体的各种电化学性质对细沟分离的影响。在8个典型植被样地的0-10 cm和10-20 cm两个土层中采集了288份未扰动土壤样品。样品在坡度为15°的6种水流（0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20、0.25和0.30 L s−1）下进行冲刷。结果表明，植物根系对土壤胶体的电化学性质有显著影响。土壤胶体的电化学性能相应的清廉和10 - 20 cm层在不同采样地点土壤表面电场(22页×10 8和4-23 8×10 V m−1),表面潜在| |(94 - 160和114 - 162 mV),表面电荷密度(0.1 - -1.6和0.3 - -1.7 C m−2),比表面积(17 - 201和14 - 89 m 2 g−1),表面电荷数量(7 - 13,6 - 10 cmol公斤−1),和可交换钠比例(0.3% -0.8% -0.6%和0.5%)。这些性状与根长密度呈线性或指数关系（r2为0.4 ~ 0.5;p < 0.01）。细根（0 < d≤2mm）在这一过程中发挥了突出作用。此外，土壤胶体的电化学性质对细沟剥离率有显著影响，在0-10 cm土层的速率为8 ~ 62 g m−2 s−1，在10-20 cm土层的速率为29 ~ 59 g m−2 s−1，并且与土壤胶体的电化学性质呈线性或指数关系（r2为0.5 ~ 0.6;p < 0.01）。土壤比表面积解释了细沟脱落率的大部分变化（46%）。综上所述，植物根系通过提供电荷和离子结合位点来改变土壤胶体的电化学性质，从而通过调节土壤内部排斥力来控制细沟流脱离。因此，评估土壤胶体的电化学特性应该成为预防和控制细沟侵蚀策略的一个组成部分。
{"title":"Root‐Induced Variations in Electrochemical Properties of Soil Colloids Influence Rill Flow Detachment on the Loess Plateau","authors":"Junyang Liu, Zhengchao Zhou, Weixiao Han","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70390","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70390","url":null,"abstract":"Plant root‐induced variations in soil‐colloid electrochemical properties contribute to changes in rill flow detachment on the Loess Plateau. This field‐based study was conducted to examine the influence of various electrochemical properties of soil colloids caused by roots on rill flow detachment on the Loess Plateau, because this phenomenon has not gotten much attention. A total of 288 samples of undisturbed soil were collected from two soil layers (0–10 cm and 10–20 cm) across eight typical vegetation plots. The samples underwent scouring with six flow discharges (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30 L s <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) on a slope of 15°. The findings showed that plant roots had a marked influence on the electrochemical properties of soil colloids. The electrochemical properties of soil colloids for the respective 0–10 and 10–20 cm layers over the different sampling sites were soil surface electric field (1–22 × 10 <jats:sup>8</jats:sup> and 4–23 × 10 <jats:sup>8</jats:sup> V m <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ), |surface potential|(94–160 and 114–162 mV), surface charge density (0.1–1.6 and 0.3–1.7 C m <jats:sup>−2</jats:sup> ), specific surface area (17–201 and 14–89 m <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> g <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ), surface charge number (7–13 and 6–10 cmol kg <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ), and exchangeable sodium percentage (0.3%–0.6% and 0.5%–0.8%). These properties showed either a linear or exponential relationship with root length density (R <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> of 0.4 to 0.5; <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 0.01). Fine roots (0 < d ≤ 2 mm) played a prominent role in this process. Moreover, the electrochemical properties of soil colloids had marked effects on the rill detachment rate <jats:italic>,</jats:italic> with rates across the sampling sites ranging from 8 to 62 g m <jats:sup>−2</jats:sup> s <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in the 0–10 cm soil layer and from 29 to 59 g m <jats:sup>−2</jats:sup> s <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> in the 10–20 cm soil layer, and showing either linear or exponential relationships with soil‐colloid electrochemical properties (R <jats:sup>2</jats:sup> of 0.5 to 0.6; <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 0.01). Soil specific surface area explained most of the variations in the rill detachment rate (46%). In conclusion, plant roots were found to alter soil‐colloid electrochemical properties by providing charge and ion‐binding sites, which in turn control rill flow detachment by regulating soil internal repulsive forces. Assessments of soil‐colloid electrochemical properties should therefore be a form part of strategies to prevent and control rill erosion.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145813205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yasmmin Tadeu Costa, Paulo Angelo Fachin, Bruno Teixeira Ribeiro, Edivaldo Lopes Thomaz, Alberto Vasconcellos Inda Junior, Nilton Curi
Wildfires have become increasingly frequent and intense worldwide, raising concerns about their impacts on soil systems. However, the thermal responses of clay‐rich Oxisols, dominated by Fe and Al oxides, remain poorly understood. In this study, samples from the 0 to 5 cm layer of six Oxisols were subjected to controlled heating at temperatures ranging from 100°C to 600°C, and two complementary indicators of soil structural quality were evaluated: aggregate stability (AS) and tensile strength (TS). A critical threshold was observed at 300°C, when soil organic matter decreased sharply and TS dropped by more than 30%, accompanied by the appearance of microcracks in aggregates. In contrast, AS increased progressively with heating, reflecting the contribution of mineral transformations at higher temperatures. These contrasting responses demonstrate that AS and TS are governed by distinct mechanisms, with AS primarily influenced by mineral transformations and TS by organic matter degradation under thermal stress. The findings highlight the vulnerability of Oxisols to moderate fire temperatures and provide insights to guide soil recovery strategies after burning.
{"title":"Moderate Fire Temperatures Affect the Structure of Clayey Oxisol Aggregates","authors":"Yasmmin Tadeu Costa, Paulo Angelo Fachin, Bruno Teixeira Ribeiro, Edivaldo Lopes Thomaz, Alberto Vasconcellos Inda Junior, Nilton Curi","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70303","url":null,"abstract":"Wildfires have become increasingly frequent and intense worldwide, raising concerns about their impacts on soil systems. However, the thermal responses of clay‐rich Oxisols, dominated by Fe and Al oxides, remain poorly understood. In this study, samples from the 0 to 5 cm layer of six Oxisols were subjected to controlled heating at temperatures ranging from 100°C to 600°C, and two complementary indicators of soil structural quality were evaluated: aggregate stability (AS) and tensile strength (TS). A critical threshold was observed at 300°C, when soil organic matter decreased sharply and TS dropped by more than 30%, accompanied by the appearance of microcracks in aggregates. In contrast, AS increased progressively with heating, reflecting the contribution of mineral transformations at higher temperatures. These contrasting responses demonstrate that AS and TS are governed by distinct mechanisms, with AS primarily influenced by mineral transformations and TS by organic matter degradation under thermal stress. The findings highlight the vulnerability of Oxisols to moderate fire temperatures and provide insights to guide soil recovery strategies after burning.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"81 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145807692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Soil carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) stoichiometry, which reflects nutrient availability, responds species‐specifically to mixed‐species afforestation. However, how mixed species affect soil C:N:P stoichiometry with depth remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap is critical in the Loess Hilly Region, where understanding depth‐dependent nutrient dynamics is essential for ecological restoration and sustainable management. Here, we investigated C:N:P dynamics across soil depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) and associated influencing factors (i.e., afforestation measures and soil physicochemical properties) in mixed stands ( Robinia pseudoacacia/Prunus davidiana ; R. pse/Prunus sibirica ), pure Robinia ( R. pse ), and Prunus ( P. dav ; P. sib ). The results showed that stand type significantly influenced the vertical migration of N and P elements in soil profiles ( p < 0.05). Compared to pure Robinia, mixed stands ( R. pse/P. dav ) enhanced N cycling, while mixtures with P. sib demonstrated N complementarity. In contrast, P . dav and P . sib mixtures promoted P cycling due to contrasting soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition effects between R. pse (inhibitory) and the other two species (enhancing). Soil organic C and total N (TN) across soil depths primarily derived from SOM, whereas soil total P originated predominantly from mineral sources. The nodule bacteria of R. pse enhanced TN concentrations, whereas mixed planting accelerated P release from SOM and minerals. Soil C:N:P stoichiometry at 20–40 cm depth was more influenced by the proportion of clay, associated with improved microenvironment, for example, soil water content. These findings demonstrate that mixing R. pse and P . dav enhances soil nutrient cycles through soil physical‐dominated properties, which provides new insights for optimizing mixed afforestation strategies in arid land ecosystems.
{"title":"Depth‐Dependent Soil C:N:P Stoichiometry in Robinia pseudoacacia Mixed Versus Pure Stands and Its Drivers in the Chinese Loess Hilly Region","authors":"Senbao Lu, Yarong Sun, Yunming Chen, Jordi Sardans, Josep Peñuelas","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70185","url":null,"abstract":"Soil carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) stoichiometry, which reflects nutrient availability, responds species‐specifically to mixed‐species afforestation. However, how mixed species affect soil C:N:P stoichiometry with depth remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap is critical in the Loess Hilly Region, where understanding depth‐dependent nutrient dynamics is essential for ecological restoration and sustainable management. Here, we investigated C:N:P dynamics across soil depths (0–20, 20–40, and 40–60 cm) and associated influencing factors (i.e., afforestation measures and soil physicochemical properties) in mixed stands ( <jats:italic>Robinia pseudoacacia/Prunus davidiana</jats:italic> ; <jats:italic>R. pse/Prunus sibirica</jats:italic> ), pure Robinia ( <jats:italic>R. pse</jats:italic> ), and Prunus ( <jats:italic>P. dav</jats:italic> ; <jats:italic>P. sib</jats:italic> ). The results showed that stand type significantly influenced the vertical migration of N and P elements in soil profiles ( <jats:italic>p</jats:italic> < 0.05). Compared to pure Robinia, mixed stands ( <jats:italic>R. pse/P. dav</jats:italic> ) enhanced N cycling, while mixtures with <jats:italic>P. sib</jats:italic> demonstrated N complementarity. In contrast, <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> . <jats:italic>dav</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> . <jats:italic>sib</jats:italic> mixtures promoted P cycling due to contrasting soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition effects between <jats:italic>R. pse</jats:italic> (inhibitory) and the other two species (enhancing). Soil organic C and total N (TN) across soil depths primarily derived from SOM, whereas soil total P originated predominantly from mineral sources. The nodule bacteria of <jats:italic>R. pse</jats:italic> enhanced TN concentrations, whereas mixed planting accelerated P release from SOM and minerals. Soil C:N:P stoichiometry at 20–40 cm depth was more influenced by the proportion of clay, associated with improved microenvironment, for example, soil water content. These findings demonstrate that mixing <jats:italic>R. pse</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>P</jats:italic> . <jats:italic>dav</jats:italic> enhances soil nutrient cycles through soil physical‐dominated properties, which provides new insights for optimizing mixed afforestation strategies in arid land ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145807366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Agroforestry‐based soil management practices offer a promising solution for enhancing soil health and carbon sequestration, particularly in vulnerable calcareous soil. This study evaluated the impact of integrated tillage and mulching strategies on soil microbial activity, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling in the semi‐arid calcareous soils of the Sulaiman Range, Pakistan. The field experiment was initiated at wheat sowing in November 2022, and soil sampling for the present analysis was conducted after two consecutive wheat‐growing seasons (April 2024), enabling the assessment of medium‐term treatment effects. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with five treatments: conventional tillage without mulch (CT), reduced tillage with organic mulch (RT), no‐tillage with cover crop mulch (NTC), strip tillage with plastic mulch (STP), and no‐tillage with biochar mulch (NTB). Results revealed that NTB significantly improved soil health indicators, with 76.2% and 98.2% increases in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, respectively, compared to CT. Microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were also highest under NTB, aligning with elevated enzyme activities (β‐glucosidase, N‐acetylglucosaminidase, and phosphatase) and enhanced microbial carbon use efficiency. Microbial necromass carbon, estimated via amino sugar biomarkers, contributed substantially to soil organic carbon under NTB, highlighting the role of microbial residues in soil carbon stabilization. Additionally, vector and stoichiometric analyses of enzyme activities indicated that NTB alleviated phosphorus and nitrogen limitations for microbial communities. These findings demonstrate that no‐tillage combined with biochar mulch fosters microbial‐mediated carbon accumulation and nutrient retention in calcareous soils, offering a viable strategy for climate‐resilient agroforestry systems in the Sulaiman Range and similar semi‐arid regions.
{"title":"Agroforestry‐Based Soil Health: Impact of Tillage and Mulching on Soil Properties, Microbial Communities, and Microbial Necromass in Calcareous Soils","authors":"Sidra Fatima, Zhang Ying","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70255","url":null,"abstract":"Agroforestry‐based soil management practices offer a promising solution for enhancing soil health and carbon sequestration, particularly in vulnerable calcareous soil. This study evaluated the impact of integrated tillage and mulching strategies on soil microbial activity, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling in the semi‐arid calcareous soils of the Sulaiman Range, Pakistan. The field experiment was initiated at wheat sowing in November 2022, and soil sampling for the present analysis was conducted after two consecutive wheat‐growing seasons (April 2024), enabling the assessment of medium‐term treatment effects. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with five treatments: conventional tillage without mulch (CT), reduced tillage with organic mulch (RT), no‐tillage with cover crop mulch (NTC), strip tillage with plastic mulch (STP), and no‐tillage with biochar mulch (NTB). Results revealed that NTB significantly improved soil health indicators, with 76.2% and 98.2% increases in soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, respectively, compared to CT. Microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were also highest under NTB, aligning with elevated enzyme activities (β‐glucosidase, N‐acetylglucosaminidase, and phosphatase) and enhanced microbial carbon use efficiency. Microbial necromass carbon, estimated via amino sugar biomarkers, contributed substantially to soil organic carbon under NTB, highlighting the role of microbial residues in soil carbon stabilization. Additionally, vector and stoichiometric analyses of enzyme activities indicated that NTB alleviated phosphorus and nitrogen limitations for microbial communities. These findings demonstrate that no‐tillage combined with biochar mulch fosters microbial‐mediated carbon accumulation and nutrient retention in calcareous soils, offering a viable strategy for climate‐resilient agroforestry systems in the Sulaiman Range and similar semi‐arid regions.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"123 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145807691","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ziheng Wang, Hongli Chen, Qiang Li, Jin Liang, Fubo Zhao, Dengfeng Liu, Bo Ming, Puxia Wu, Ruili Wang
The global expansion of photovoltaic (PV) energy has raised growing concern about its potential ecological impacts. In this study, we investigated the impacts of large‐scale, long‐term ecological PV installations on vegetation and soil properties in the semi‐arid region of Shenmu City, northern Shaanxi Province. Field surveys were conducted at three PV power stations that have been operating for approximately 10 years, each covering more than 100 ha. Using a stratified random sampling approach, we compared four distinct microhabitats—beneath photovoltaic panels (Z1, Z4) and inter‐panel spaces (Z2, Z3). A total of 45 vegetation samples and 135 soil samples were collected from per site to evaluate species diversity, biomass, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that PV‐induced shading led to a 31.4% reduction in plant species diversity, particularly affecting light‐dependent species, whereas drought‐tolerant plants such as Cleistogenes squarrosa exhibited resilience and niche differentiation. Plant biomass increased in zones Z3 and Z4, particularly with the microhabitats behind the PV panels (Z4), whereas shaded zones (Z2, Z3) exhibited noticeable topsoil coarsening. Although PV infrastructure initially disrupted soil nutrient cycling, our findings suggest localized recovery of soil fertility facilitated by vegetation litter accumulation and root exudates, indicating a delayed yet positive feedback loop between plant regrowth and soil restoration. Redundancy analysis identified total potassium and organic matter as the principal factors mediating vegetation–soil interactions, with species‐specific effects contributing to community restructuring. These findings underscore the crucial role of PV‐induced microhabitats in shaping ecological dynamics. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of PV‐induced microhabitats in shaping soil–vegetation dynamics. The study provides an empirical basis for integrating renewable energy deployment with ecological restoration, offering insights for sustainable land‐use strategies that balance carbon neutrality objectives with ecosystem resilience.
{"title":"Photovoltaic Alters Microhabitats and Soil–Vegetation Feedbacks in a Fragile Semi‐Arid Ecosystem","authors":"Ziheng Wang, Hongli Chen, Qiang Li, Jin Liang, Fubo Zhao, Dengfeng Liu, Bo Ming, Puxia Wu, Ruili Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.70362","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.70362","url":null,"abstract":"The global expansion of photovoltaic (PV) energy has raised growing concern about its potential ecological impacts. In this study, we investigated the impacts of large‐scale, long‐term ecological PV installations on vegetation and soil properties in the semi‐arid region of Shenmu City, northern Shaanxi Province. Field surveys were conducted at three PV power stations that have been operating for approximately 10 years, each covering more than 100 ha. Using a stratified random sampling approach, we compared four distinct microhabitats—beneath photovoltaic panels (Z1, Z4) and inter‐panel spaces (Z2, Z3). A total of 45 vegetation samples and 135 soil samples were collected from per site to evaluate species diversity, biomass, and soil physicochemical properties. The results showed that PV‐induced shading led to a 31.4% reduction in plant species diversity, particularly affecting light‐dependent species, whereas drought‐tolerant plants such as <jats:styled-content style=\"fixed-case\"> <jats:italic>Cleistogenes squarrosa</jats:italic> </jats:styled-content> exhibited resilience and niche differentiation. Plant biomass increased in zones Z3 and Z4, particularly with the microhabitats behind the PV panels (Z4), whereas shaded zones (Z2, Z3) exhibited noticeable topsoil coarsening. Although PV infrastructure initially disrupted soil nutrient cycling, our findings suggest localized recovery of soil fertility facilitated by vegetation litter accumulation and root exudates, indicating a delayed yet positive feedback loop between plant regrowth and soil restoration. Redundancy analysis identified total potassium and organic matter as the principal factors mediating vegetation–soil interactions, with species‐specific effects contributing to community restructuring. These findings underscore the crucial role of PV‐induced microhabitats in shaping ecological dynamics. Overall, these findings highlight the critical role of PV‐induced microhabitats in shaping soil–vegetation dynamics. The study provides an empirical basis for integrating renewable energy deployment with ecological restoration, offering insights for sustainable land‐use strategies that balance carbon neutrality objectives with ecosystem resilience.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"67 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145807690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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