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Soil, land care and environmental research

Soil Research

Soil Research

Soil Research is an international journal for publishing research about fundamental and applied aspects of soil science. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: Balwant Singh and Mark Tibbett

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Soil Research has moved to a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 15 March 2024

SR23213Effects of biobased fertilisers on soil physical, chemical and biological indicators – a one-year incubation study

Lærke Wester-Larsen, Lars Stoumann Jensen, Johannes Lund Jensen 0000-0002-0415-6665 and Dorette Sophie Müller-Stöver 0000-0001-7921-4471
 

The market for novel biobased fertilisers is growing, but little is known about how they affect soil quality in the long term. In a one-year laboratory incubation experiment, this study aimed to test the effect on selected soil quality indicators of 10 biobased fertilisers, which were found to improve soil quality overall, with a compost material being the most effective. The results help to understand how different biobased fertilisers can affect soil quality beyond their fertiliser value.

Published online 01 March 2024

SR23015Changes of soil carbon along a topo-climatic gradient in rangelands of Iran: insights from 14C mean residence time and δ13C

Alireza Owji, Ahmad Landi, Saeed Hojati and Maral Khodadadi 0000-0001-5599-4071
 

Pastures contain a high amount of organic carbon and thus can play a critical role in climate change through both greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. However, the factors controlling organic carbon in those regions are largely unknown. Our findings showed that air temperature is likely the most influential factor on organic carbon stock and resistance time. Pastures, particularly in uplands, are sensitive to climate change, meaning pools stabilised for centuries to millennia are susceptible to alterations due to climate change.

Published online 27 February 2024

SR23168Sunlight can have a stronger influence than air temperature on soil solarisation: observational evidence from Australia

Maximilian McQuillan 0000-0003-3670-8935, Ronald J. Smernik and Ren Ryba
 

Our short article reports an original dataset on soil solarisation from a grassland restoration project in Australia. Using this dataset, we demonstrate that sunlight may be a more influential driver of soil solarisation than previously thought. This result empowers land managers to better plan soil solarisation for restoration projects.

Published online 26 February 2024

SR23030Atterberg limits of baseball infield soils containing over-size particles, Part II: effects of sand angularity and uniformity

Evan Christopher Mascitti 0000-0002-0143-6100, Andrew Scott McNitt 0000-0001-6840-1693 and Patrick J. Drohan 0000-0003-3103-7108
 

Baseball infield soils should be tested to determine how soil water content influences their physical properties. We discovered that the angularity of the sand in an infield soil does not affect its performance, but that the distribution of sand sizes can affect the amount of clay needed to fill the pores between the sand grains. This research will help baseball field managers and scientists understand the behaviour of baseball infield soil mixtures.

Published online 26 February 2024

SR23210Response of microbial community diversity and the abundance of nitrogen-cycling genes to Bacillus subtilis application in mulberry field soil

Yanfang Yu 0000-0002-6564-5235, Jinzhi Huang, Zhongfei Tong, Zhenhua Deng, Yawei Wang and Junwen Wang 0000-0001-9004-1356
 

Bacillus subtilis, as a widely used microbial agent, could improve the damage caused by extensive application of fertiliser. We found that application of B. subtilis agent in moderation greatly improved soil fertility, promoted beneficial microbial communities, and regulated soil nitrogen cycling, while excessive dosage of B. subtilis might reduce the microbial diversity. The results could provide reference for cultivating crops with high demand for nitrogen fertiliser.

Published online 16 February 2024

SR23112Proximal and remote sensing – what makes the best farm digital soil maps?

Patrick Filippi 0000-0003-3573-084X, Brett M. Whelan and Thomas F. A. Bishop 0000-0002-6723-7323
 

Creating maps at the farm-scale is a promising approach to for an accurate understanding of true spatial variation for a range of agronomically important soil attributes. This study assessed the value of different proximal and remote sensing datasets to map topsoil and subsoil carbon, clay content, and pH across three different farms in Australia. Results showed that using a combination of remote and proximal sensing data resulted in the best models, followed by remote only, and then proximal only.

Published online 13 February 2024

SR23164Effects of straw mulching, liming, and soil texture on ammonia volatilisation: a study of conventional and enhanced efficiency fertilisers

Bruno Maia Abdo Rahmen Cassim 0000-0003-3346-4007, Vitor Rodrigues Cordioli 0000-0001-8038-673X, Guilherme Frelo Chilante 0009-0006-4204-1910, Fabrício Linares Mazzi 0000-0002-4412-9629, Antonio Saraiva Muniz 0000-0003-0506-8584, Tadeu Takeyoshi Inoue 0000-0002-5143-6117 and Marcelo Augusto Batista 0000-0001-6233-192X
 

The use of no-till management practices is a key component to ensure food security and soil preservation. However, it may have disadvantages with respect to nitrogen use efficiency, including losses due to ammonia volatilisation. These losses trigger environmental, economic and human health problems. The study shows that under no-till, nitrogen losses can reach up to 62% with the use of urea. However, new nitrogen fertiliser technologies have reduced losses by more than 30% compared to urea, ensuring more sustainable agriculture.

There is growing interest in soil carbon as a climate mitigation strategy by the private and public sectors in Australia and globally. There is a scarcity of evidence in Australia for two of the key eligible management activities farmers can implement as part of the Australian soil carbon method for carbon sequestration. Farm-level data with credible evidence of soil carbon improvement at depth is lacking due to lack of long-term studies and shallow soil sampling.

Published online 08 February 2024

SR23138Estimating surrogates, utility graphs and indicator sets for soil capacity and security assessments using legacy data

Wartini Ng 0000-0002-5053-6917, Sandra J. Evangelista, José Padarian, Julio Pachon, Tom O’Donoghue, Peipei Xue, Nicolas Francos and Alex B. McBratney
 

Legacy datasets enable a preliminary study for soil security assessment to inform future research questions. In this study, we identified potential surrogates and the use of potential indicators for the assessment of soil to support a certain role. This work is important and enables the use of potential indicators when the surrogate is not available or difficult to obtain.

Published online 02 February 2024

SR23096Estimating the attainable soil organic carbon deficit in the soil fine fraction to inform feasible storage targets and de-risk carbon farming decisions

Senani Karunaratne 0000-0002-9278-7941, Christina Asanopoulos 0000-0002-5612-5510, Huidong Jin, Jeff Baldock 0000-0002-6428-8555, Ross Searle, Ben Macdonald 0000-0001-8105-0779 and Lynne M. Macdonald
 

We argue that the term ‘potential’ soil organic carbon (SOC) storage is not quantifiable using historical and current empirical data. We propose a framework that defines an upper limit of ‘attainable’ SOC that varies with soil properties, environmental conditions and applied management practices. We conclude that continuous update of the derived attainable deficit values will be required when new datasets covering different or new management practices capable of improving the capture of carbon to soil become available.

Published online 25 January 2024

SR23198Mechanisms driving spatial and temporal changes in soil organic carbon stocks in saline soils in a typical county of the western Songnen Plain, northeast China

Bing Liang 0000-0002-7588-3114, Jianbing Wei 0000-0001-6377-3420, Haiqin Zhao, Shangyu Wu, Yongxia Hou and Susu Zhang
 

The main contribution of this paper lies in exploring the driving mechanisms of changes in soil organic carbon storage over a 40-year period, based on the spatiotemporal distribution of soil organic carbon density, using random forest and structural equation models. This contribution holds significant theoretical and practical implications, providing a scientific basis for the improvement of saline-alkali soils and the development of carbon sequestration potential.

Published online 19 January 2024

SR22246Soybean and corn yield as affected by crop rotation and surface liming under a no-tillage system

Sandra Mara Vieira Fontoura, Albert Matheus Melinski, Antônio Carlos Vargas Motta 0000-0001-9117-1881, Lenir Fátima Gotz 0000-0001-6145-4717, Eloá Moura Araujo 0000-0002-7096-6666, Stephen A. Prior and Volnei Pauletti 0000-0002-9231-7851
 

In no-tillage systems, surficial liming may induce an alkalinisation front that can be affected by lime rate, time after application, and rotation crops. Different winter plant species did not interfere with soybean and corn yield, lime effects in deeper layers, or liming need. The surficial liming was efficient in maintaining the acidity in the topper and deeper soil layers (up to 60 cm) in a soil with high buffering power, without reducing the grain yield.

Published online 11 January 2024

SR23029Atterberg limits of baseball infield soils containing over-size particles, Part I: effect of particle size

Evan Christopher Mascitti 0000-0002-0143-6100, Andrew Scott McNitt 0000-0001-6840-1693 and Patrick J. Drohan 0000-0003-3103-7108
 

Baseball infield soils should be tested to determine how soil water content influences their physical properties. Current test methods are not applicable to these soils, but by modifying the protocol to permit coarser sand, more accurate results can be obtained. This research will give baseball field managers and scientists more accurate data about the performance of baseball infield playing surfaces.

Published online 08 January 2024

SR23128Fertilisation with P, N and S requires additional Zn for healthy plantation tree growth on low fertility savanna soils

Stan J. Rance, David M. Cameron, Emlyn R. Williams and Carl R. Gosper 0000-0002-0962-5117
 

Soil nutrient limitations characterise savanna soils and are one constraint on establishing productive tree plantations and enhancing economic opportunities in tropical regions. We found positive tree growth responses to phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur fertilisation, yet unhealthy trees developed in which zinc limitation and small-scale variation in soil characteristics was confirmed. Nutrient additions to enhance tree growth will need to encompass trace elements in addition to phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur, and consider small-scale variability in cation exchange capacity and composition.

Published online 19 December 2023

SR23136Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching losses under cropping and zone-specific variable-rate irrigation

John J. Drewry 0000-0002-8781-2604, Carolyn B. Hedley 0000-0002-6998-0997, Stephen J. McNeill, Ahmed G. El-Naggar 0000-0003-3487-5326, Kishor K. Karakkattu and David J. Horne
 

Irrigation and farming practices can increase nutrient leaching losses, which affects water quality. Under zone-specific management of variable rate irrigation and mixed cropping, over 5 years, drainage flux meters worked well for the well-drained sandy loam; nutrient concentrations and leaching loads generally had greater uncertainty in the poorly drained silt loam. Drainage flux meters are more reliable in the sandy loam than the silt loam.

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

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Best Student-Led Paper

The Best Student-Led Paper published in 2022 has been awarded to Rima Hadjouti.

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