Soil & Tillage Research最新文献

{"title":"Combining tillage and nitrogen practices to optimize soil nitrogen dynamics and wheat yield across various soil textures, using RZWQM2","authors":"Saadi Sattar Shahadha,&nbsp;Mawj R. Al-Hamdany","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107093","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107093","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The optimal combination of tillage and nitrogen practices could be an effective strategy for improving crop yields and mitigating soil nitrogen loss. This study aimed to identify the optimal combination of field management practices for controlling soil nitrogen distribution and enhancing wheat yield across various soil textures in the semi-arid region of Iraq, using agricultural modeling. The Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM2) was calibrated and validated using experimental field data from the 2023 and 2024 wheat-growing seasons. Various modeling scenarios were then created to evaluate and determine the optimal combination of tillage practices (deep tillage and shallow tillage) with nitrogen fertilization rates (100 and 250 kg N/ha) for sandy clay and silty clay soils. The model was successfully calibrated and validated with an accepted range of statistical indicators. Simulation results indicated that both soil textures presented comparable responses to all management practices. Simulation results indicated that, deep tillage practice reduced soil nitrate leaching and N₂O emissions by an average of 0.04 μg/cm² and 0.27 kg/ha, respectively, while increasing nitrate retention in the soil profile and wheat production by an average of 0.05 and 0.03 kg/ha, respectively, compared to shallow tillage. Applying 250 kg N/ha increased soil nitrate flux and N₂O emissions, particularly when combined with shallow tillage. Therefore, combining deep tillage with nitrogen application rates is the optimal field management approach and is suggested for both soil textures, as it minimizes soil nitrogen loss and enhances wheat productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107093"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146071660","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}

{"title":"Bio-matrix film mulching enhances Salvia miltiorrhiza quality by reprogramming the rhizosphere microbiota and activating the secondary metabolic pathway","authors":"Jin Xu ,&nbsp;Yan Wang ,&nbsp;Bing Zhao ,&nbsp;Yi-Hao Liu ,&nbsp;Mao-Qiang He ,&nbsp;Yun-Fu Gu ,&nbsp;Xiu-Mei Yu ,&nbsp;Qiang Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plastic-film mulching (PM) has been extensively employed in medicinal plant cultivation. However, plastic film residues result in severe soil pollution and further affect plant yields and quality. Bio-matrix film, made by mushroom residues and straw powders, has good potential as a sustainable alternative. Through the integration of multi-omics analyses, encompassing the rhizosphere soil microbiome, root transcriptome, and quantification of medicinal components, this study elucidated the mechanism by which bio-matrix film mulching (BM) enhances the quality of <em>Salvia miltiorrhiza</em> (<em>S. miltiorrhiza</em>), primarily by increasing the content of salvianolic acid B. The results showed that, during the root swelling period, compared with PM, BM significantly enriched <em>Bradyrhizobium</em> (normalized abundances +4.81 %) and <em>Nitrospira</em> C (+12.26 %), which drove soil nitrogen fixation (<em>nifH</em>/<em>K</em>) and nitrification (<em>hao</em>, <em>nxrB</em>), and increased NO₃^--N content (+50.09 %). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that BM induced the activation of the nitrogen metabolism pathway (<em>NRT2</em>, <em>GDH</em>, and <em>GS</em>), and the phenylpropanoid and tyrosine-derived pathway (<em>TAT</em>, <em>RAS</em>, and <em>4CL</em>) of <em>S. miltiorrhiza</em>, thereby increasing the content of salvianolic acid B by 40.67 % (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). During the harvest period, BM further enriched beneficial microbiota, including <em>Lentzea</em> (linked to enhanced C/N/P cycling) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which collectively improved root nutrient assimilation and reduced the loss rate of salvianolic acid B by 16.51 %. Hence, BM enhanced the quality of <em>S. miltiorrhiza</em> by “rhizosphere microbiota restructuring–soil nutrient activation–plant secondary metabolic network cascade response”. It offers an innovative solution with both ecological and economic benefits for cultivating medicinal plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107094"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072098","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}

{"title":"Plant and microbial pathways driving soil carbon sequestration in dryland leguminous shrublands","authors":"Zi-Qiang Yuan ,&nbsp;Chao Fang ,&nbsp;Xin Song ,&nbsp;Yi Wu ,&nbsp;Feng Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiang-Wen Fang ,&nbsp;Guang-Qian Yao ,&nbsp;Kevin Van Sundert ,&nbsp;Feng-Min Li","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107096","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107096","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The establishment of leguminous shrubs has become a key strategy for dryland restoration, offering substantial potential to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, the mechanisms governing SOC stabilization in these systems remain insufficiently understood. Here, we investigated 30 <em>Caragana korshinskii</em> shrubland sites distributed across north-facing (NFS) and south-facing slopes (SFS) to identify the dominant drivers of SOC accrual within the 0–40 cm soil profile relative to adjacent croplands. Across both slope aspects, NFS shrublands exhibited a 77 % increase in particulate organic carbon (POC) and a 28 % increase in mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), whereas SFS shrublands showed a markedly larger enhancement in POC (257 %) but a comparable increase in MAOC (22 %). Shrubland soils accumulated substantially greater quantities of lignin phenols and microbial residue carbon (MRC), increasing by 43 % and 49 % on NFS and by 183 % and 75 % on SFS, respectively, compared with croplands. Isotopic signatures (δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C) were consistently more depleted in shrublands across both slope aspects, indicating shifts in organic matter sources and transformation pathways. Structural equation modelling revealed that <em>C. korshinskii</em> establishment enhanced both POC and MAOC pools by increasing root biomass and soil total nitrogen, thereby stimulating microbial activity and the accumulation of lignin phenols and MRC. Slope aspect exerted an indirect influence on POC and MAOC through its effects on root biomass, soil moisture, and mineral properties. Our findings provide direct evidence that leguminous shrubs promote SOC sequestration through the coordinated action of plant and microbial pathways, highlighting a key mechanism by which topography modulates the formation and stabilization of SOC under changing land use regimes in dryland ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107096"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072099","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}

{"title":"Depth-stratified isotopic and molecular signatures reveal decoupled soil organic matter dynamics following grassland-to-cropland conversion","authors":"Yuxin Yan,&nbsp;Yumei Peng,&nbsp;Jia Shi,&nbsp;Chunpeng Huo,&nbsp;Xiang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107095","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107095","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Land-use transitions (LUTs) from native grasslands to croplands induce duration-dependent destabilization in soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics, with subsoil pools (80–100 cm) exhibiting disproportionately high vulnerability to prolonged agricultural management. This study assessed the time-dependent impacts of LUTs on SOC dynamics, by integrating stable isotopic (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), stoichiometric (C/N), and molecular (lignin phenols) indicators across topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil layers. Our results revealed bulk soils exhibited significant enrichment in δ¹³C (Δ=1.53–2.10 ‰) and δ¹⁵N (Δ=0.03–2.91 ‰) following conversion, with mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) retaining isotopic signatures closely aligned with bulk soil. Lignin content in topsoil decreased by 18.1 % after initial cultivation but recovered under long-term management, while subsoils showed progressive lignin accumulation (+160–200 %). Compared to native systems, managed croplands exhibited a tendency toward isotopic and functional decoupling between particulate organic matter (POM) and MAOM fractions, alongside a breakdown of δ¹³C-δ¹⁵N correlations, indicative of a shift in underlying biogeochemical cycling. These changes were most pronounced in subsoils, challenging the assumption of deep SOC stability. Overall, our findings provide critical insights into the mechanisms underlying SOM persistence and vulnerability under land-use transition and highlight the need for depth- and fraction-specific assessments in managed ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107095"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072100","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}

{"title":"Straw return modulates surface energy balance and soil hydrothermal dynamics during freeze-thaw period","authors":"Wanning Wang ,&nbsp;Hexiang Zheng ,&nbsp;Xingwang Wang ,&nbsp;Delong Tian ,&nbsp;Qian Wang ,&nbsp;Zailin Huo","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107083","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107083","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Straw return modifies topsoil properties that are crucial for understanding soil-atmosphere interactions and their impact on soil hydrothermal conditions in seasonally frozen areas. However, the effects of uniformly returning crushed straw (3–5 cm in length at 1.6–1.8 kg·m⁻²) on the surface energy balance (SEB) and soil water-heat dynamics during the freeze-thaw period remain inadequately quantified. We conducted a two-year field experiment in a cold-arid region of Northwest China, employing a Bowen ratio energy balance system (BREBS) to monitor SEB components (Rn, Gs, H, LE), alongside soil temperature and moisture. Results demonstrated that straw return (ST) obviously altered SEB components during freeze-thaw periods. Specifically, over the two-year period, seasonal variations showed that ST reduced Rn by 8.6–9.1 W·m⁻² relative to NT, decreased Gs by 0.24 W·m⁻², lowered LE by 49 %, while increased the Bowen ratio by 48 % and H. During the thawing period, diurnal variations showed LE decreasing by 36 % and H increasing by 11 % under ST compared to NT. Furthermore, ST delayed topsoil thawing by 3–7 days, increased unfrozen water content (UWC) by 2.9–4.3 %, reduced freezing depth, and stabilized deep-layer soil temperature and moisture. These findings endorse straw return as a viable strategy for conserving soil moisture, mitigating frost damage, and optimizing spring sowing schedules in arid cold regions.’</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107083"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146047955","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}

{"title":"Assessing soil organic carbon responses to tillage and extreme weather in Pakistan using the CQESTR model","authors":"Adnan Zahid ,&nbsp;Hero T. Gollany ,&nbsp;Sajid Ali ,&nbsp;Mukhtar Ahmad ,&nbsp;Nadeem Iqbal","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2025.107047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2025.107047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Intensive tillage has depleted soil organic carbon (SOC) and threatened the sustainability of the rice-wheat cropping system of South Asia. This study assessed SOC dynamics using the CQESTR model, a process-based model, to identify the best management option under five tillage and extreme weather scenarios: (i) conventional tillage (S-1), (ii) residue incorporation (S-2), (iii) direct seeding with straws removed (S-3), (iv) direct seeding with rice straw returned while wheat straw removed (S-4), and (v) conservation tillage with both rice and wheat residues retained (S-5). Five yield scenarios (i.e., current yield, 5 or 10 % decrease/increase) were simulated with three extreme weather scenarios. The CQESTR-simulated and the measured values were strongly correlated (r = 0.991, p &lt; 0.001) for the 0–45 cm soil depth across different tillage scenarios. Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.99, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.36, and a mean square deviation (MSD) of 0.13 confirmed simulated and measured values were well correlated. Among the tillage scenarios, the highest SOC gain of 1.84 Mg ha-¹ year-¹ was recorded under the S-5 scenario, followed by 0.24, 0.21, and 0.21 Mg ha-¹ year-¹ under S-4, S-3, and S-2, respectively. In contrast, conventional tillage (S-1) was predicted to lose 0.49 Mg ha⁻¹ under predictive periods of 2019–2038. The conservation tillage with residues retained (S-5) sequestered SOC, while S-1 depleted SOC across all scenarios. The S-5 had a maximum SOC increase of 3.0 Mg ha⁻¹ at 110 % yield and 2.6 Mg ha⁻¹ with baseline weather under RCP 4.5 during 20 predictive years. Therefore, continuous conservation tillage with total residue returned (S-5) can potentially reduce the effects of extreme weather while increasing SOC and enhancing the region's sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107047"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038960","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}

{"title":"Greenhouse gas emissions in response to tillage and crop phase in a four-year crop rotation","authors":"Upendra M. Sainju ,&nbsp;William B. Stevens ,&nbsp;Jalal D. Jabro ,&nbsp;William M. Iversen ,&nbsp;Brett L. Allen ,&nbsp;Sikiru Y. Alasinrin","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107089","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107089","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cropping systems can affect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to variations in farm operations, root respiration, and soil organic matter mineralization that need further exploration. We examined the effect of tillage (conventional till [CT] and no-till [NT]) and crop phases (sugarbeet [<em>Beta vulgaris</em> L.] and corn [<em>Zea mays</em> L.]) on CO₂, N₂O, and CH₄ fluxes and GHG balance (GHGB or sum of CO₂ equivalents of all GHGs) in an irrigated barley (<em>Hordeum vulgare</em> L.)-sugarbeet-corn-soybean (<em>Glycine max</em> L.) rotation from 2016 to 2020 in the US northern Great Plains. A static chamber method was used to measure GHG fluxes at 3–30 d intervals, depending on crop performance and soil environment, throughout the year. While CO₂ peak fluxes occurred mostly during the crop growing season, N₂O peak fluxes occurred throughout the year. The CH₄ flux was minimal, except for some peaks in October 2017 and January and April 2019. Cumulative CO₂ flux from May to April and GHGB were 26–44 % greater for CT with sugarbeet than NT with sugarbeet or corn in 2016–2017 and 24–41 % greater for NT with sugarbeet than CT with corn in 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. Cumulative N₂O flux was 70–244 % greater for CT with sugarbeet than NT with sugarbeet in 2016–2017 and 2019–2020 and 38–73 % greater for NT with sugarbeet than other treatments in 2018–2019. Cumulative CH₄ flux did not vary among treatments in any year. The GHG emissions can be reduced by using CT with corn and NT with corn and sugarbeet compared with CT with sugarbeet during the dry year and using CT with corn compared with other treatments during the wet year in the barley-sugarbeet-corn-soybean rotation under sandy loam soils of the US northern Great Plains, indicating that treatments effect on reducing GHG emissions varied with climatic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107089"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146038961","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}

{"title":"Coupling root morphology and soil mechanics: The R–S MAFI model for predicting root–soil interactions","authors":"He Zheng ,&nbsp;Dongfang Li ,&nbsp;Lei Wei ,&nbsp;Min He ,&nbsp;Hao Sun ,&nbsp;Lin Zhu ,&nbsp;Maohua Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107092","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107092","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Barnyardgrass roots markedly alter soil mechanical behavior and pose significant challenges to rotary tillage and mechanical weeding in paddy fields. However, most existing studies rely on 2D or soilless observations that cannot represent real three-dimensional (3D) fibrous root architecture, and they rarely consider the bidirectional mechanical feedback between root growth and soil shear strength. Consequently, the spatiotemporal evolution of barnyardgrass root systems and their reinforcement effect on soil remains poorly quantified. To address these deficiencies, this study develops a Root–Structure–Mechanics–Adaptive Fractal Integration (R–S MAFI) model that integrates 3D root morphological development with soil porosity–dependent mechanical feedback. The model facilitates dynamic simulation of root architecture (e.g., length and distribution depth) for a period of 0–32 days, and the obtained parameters are highly consistent with experimental measurements, validating the model's geometric reliability. Direct shear tests and simulation results further demonstrated that roots considerably enhance soil shear strength: at 32 days, the predicted shear strength of the root–soil composite was 39.5 % higher than that of bare soil, closely matching the experimentally measured improvement of 36.2 %. The shear strength distribution over time and soil depth indicated that the most significant reinforcement occurred in shallow layers (30–60 mm), with weaker reinforcement observed at greater depths (&gt;90 mm). The R–S MAFI model provides a robust tool for studying root–soil interactions in crops and weeds and offers theoretical support for the optimization of rotary tillage, mechanical weeding, and soil amendment practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107092"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033228","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}

{"title":"Evaluation of phosphate adsorption and desorption on Andosols using a stirred flow chamber","authors":"Yuika Ochi,&nbsp;Takehide Hama","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107090","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107090","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Andosols are soils derived from volcanic ash minerals and contain significant amounts of active aluminum and iron, which strongly adsorb phosphorus (P). However, the excessive P accumulation can lead to water pollution. Reaction time can affect the adsorption and desorption dynamics of P, and therefore, it is a key factor to understand P cycling. Nevertheless, the kinetics of phosphate adsorption/desorption in Andosols is not well understood, and the relationship between phosphate desorption amount and the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), which is the main factor, is also unclear. Therefore, in this study, the adsorption/desorption behavior of phosphate under oxidizing and reducing conditions was investigated using a stirred-flow chamber test, which is suitable for evaluating the reaction kinetics and desorption process. The results indicated that phosphate strongly adsorbed under oxidative conditions, with the maximum adsorption correlating to the active aluminum levels. Further, phosphate desorbed as Fe(Ⅲ) reduced under reducing conditions and formed soluble Fe(Ⅱ). The desorption process could be described by a Gompertz-type model, which showed an exponential increase in phosphate/Fe(Ⅱ) desorption with decreasing pe + pH values. The maximum phosphate desorption showed strong correlations with Fe-P bond and active iron content, whereas the maximum Fe(II) desorption was statistically correlated with active aluminum and iron contents. Based on the established relationship between pe + pH and phosphate/Fe(Ⅱ) desorption, the maximum loss of phosphate/Fe(II) can be calculated by measuring the temporal change in pe + pH on farmland. This study provides understanding the phosphate adsorption/desorption kinetics in Andosols and contribute to preventing eutrophication.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107090"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033229","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}

{"title":"Evaluating the influence of grass distribution patterns on runoff and sediment yield dynamics: A flow path length perspective","authors":"Youdong Cen ,&nbsp;Kuandi Zhang ,&nbsp;Mingwang Zhang ,&nbsp;Jiahui Li ,&nbsp;Matteo Rubinato","doi":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107085","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.still.2026.107085","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Vegetation distribution patterns exert a first-order control on hillslope hydrology and erosion; however, the mechanisms by which spatial heterogeneity in vegetation regulates runoff generation and sediment yield remain inadequately understood. This knowledge gap constrains the development of physically based erosion models and effective soil conservation strategies. To elucidate how heterogeneous vegetation distributions govern hillslope hydrological connectivity and associated runoff–erosion processes, rainfall–runoff plot experiments were conducted under five vegetation distribution patterns—vertical strips (VS), horizontal strips (HS), X-shaped strips (XS), chessboard uniform distribution (CD), and random patchy distribution (RP)—with a bare slope (BS) serving as the control. Hydrological connectivity was quantified using relative flow path length (<em>RFL</em>), allowing systematic assessment of its influence on overland flow hydraulics, runoff and sediment yield. Results show that key hydrodynamic parameters respond nonlinearly to <em>RFL</em> and are well described by quadratic relationships (adjusted <em>R</em>² &gt; 0.70). Mean flow velocity (<em>v</em>), stream power (<em>ω</em>), and unit energy (<em>E</em>) initially increased and subsequently declined with increasing <em>RFL</em>, reaching extreme values at <em>RFL</em> = 1. Under rainfall intensities of 60–120 mm·h⁻¹ , <em>v</em>, <em>ω</em>, and <em>E</em> increased by 100–114 %, 54–79 %, and 18–38 %, respectively. In contrast, flow resistance (<em>f</em>) and shear stress (<em>τ</em>) exhibited inverse responses, decreasing by 78–85 % and 11–29 % under the same conditions. Erosion rate (<em>ER</em>) also displayed a pronounced nonlinear response to <em>RFL</em>: as <em>RFL</em> increased from 0.513 to 1, <em>ER</em> rose by 65–118 %, with the sensitivity of <em>ER</em> to <em>RFL</em> diminishing at higher rainfall intensities. Building on these relationships, an erosion rate model coupling stream power <em>ω</em> and <em>RFL</em> was developed and validated using multi-source datasets. The model exhibited strong predictive skill and robustness, with adjusted <em>R</em>² and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (<em>NSE</em>) values exceeding 0.75, and substantially outperformed the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model (adjusted <em>R</em>² = 0.316; <em>NSE</em> = −0.283). Overall, this study establishes a clear mechanistic link between vegetation-induced heterogeneity in hillslope hydrological connectivity and erosion dynamics, providing new insights for improving erosion modeling and designing vegetation-based soil conservation measures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49503,"journal":{"name":"Soil & Tillage Research","volume":"259 ","pages":"Article 107085"},"PeriodicalIF":6.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146033227","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}