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Mining activities lead to significant environmental degradation, including soil erosion, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. In South Korea, abandoned coal mines cause considerable ecological disturbances in mountainous regions. Forest rehabilitation has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate these impacts, but its effectiveness depends on successfully integrating ecosystem services (ES). This study assesses the social value of ES in post-mining rehabilitation by incorporating perspectives from local communities and experts in forestry and mining sectors. A mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews was employed to gather stakeholder views on 18 ES, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and habitat services. Results indicate that local communities prioritize cultural and regulating services, such as mental health, aesthetic value, and climate regulation, while experts emphasize regulating services like soil erosion control and carbon sequestration. This divergence highlights the need for a balanced approach that integrates both ecological and socio-cultural benefits, suggesting that community needs have not been adequately reflected in current practices. The study findings underscore the importance of incorporating community input into forest management to ensure both ecological outcomes and social value, offering a framework for adaptive management that aligns ecological goals with community needs, ultimately promoting sustainability and resilience in post-mining landscapes. Full article

Active biomonitoring of mercury (Hg) using non-indigenous moss bags was performed for the first time within and around the former Hg mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore (Mt. Amiata, central Italy). The purpose was to discern the Hg spatial distribution, identify the most polluted areas, and evaluate the impacts of dry and wet deposition on mosses. The exposed moss bags consisted of a mixture of Sphagnum fuscum and Sphagnum tenellum from an external uncontaminated area. In each site, two different types of moss bags, one uncovered (to account for the wet + dry deposition) and one covered (to evaluate the dry deposition), were exposed. The behavior of arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in the mosses was investigated to assess the potential relationship with Hg. GEM (Gaseous Elemental Mercury) concentrations were also measured at the same sites where the mosses were exposed, although only as a reference in the initial stages of biomonitoring. The results revealed that the main Hg emissions sources were associated with the former mining area of Abbadia San Salvatore, in agreement with the measured GEM concentrations, while arsenic and antimony were related to soil enriched in As-Sb waste material. The three elements registered higher concentrations in uncovered mosses with respect to the covered ones, i.e., wet deposition was the key factor for their accumulation on the uncovered mosses, while dry deposition was especially important for the covered samples in the mining area. Hg was accumulated in the mosses via GEM adsorption, uptake of particulate Hg, and precipitation via raindrops/snowfall, with almost no loss and without post-deposition volatilization. The results testified that the chosen biomonitoring technique was an extremely useful tool for understanding Hg transport and fate in a contaminated area. Full article

Global warming may reduce maize yields and soil organic carbon (SOC), potentially threatening global food security and soil health. To address this concern in Northeast China, one of the world’s major maize production areas, the maize Agricultural Production Systems Simulator Model (APSIM) was used to evaluate how different tillage methods and straw return practices affect maize yields and SOC under future climate scenarios. The purpose of this study is to deal with the threat of global warming to the yield and SOC in the northeastern maize-producing areas, explore sustainable agricultural management strategies to stabilize the yield, enhance the soil carbon pool, counter the impact of climate change, and seek ways to ensure regional food and soil health. This study explored three tillage methods—plowing tillage (PT), rotary tillage (RT), and no-tillage (NT)—and two straw return methods—straw return (SR) and no straw return (SN)—under two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios: RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The results showed that under the climate change scenarios: (1) For different tillage methods, no-tillage (NT) management showed the greatest increase in crop yield at 6.2%. SOC is highest under NT in the 0–20 cm soil layer under both straw return methods and climate scenarios. (2) For different straw return methods, SOC decreases when the straw is removed (SN) but increases when the straw is returned (SR) in both scenarios. Soil organic carbon density (SOCD) declines but can be mitigated by straw return. (3) Overall, tillage and straw return practices can significantly impact SOC under RCP4.5 but not under RCP8.5. Tillage and straw return practices together explain more than 50% yield changes under climate change scenarios. Through the modeling approach, this study revealed the potential benefits of integrating tillage and straw management practices to sustain maize yields and SOC. These practices can mitigate long-term climate change impacts on crop yields and soil health. Full article

The demand for intensive agriculture to boost food and crop production has increased. High nitrogen (N) fertilizer use is crucial for increasing agricultural productivity but often leads to significant nitrate losses, posing risks to surface and groundwater quality. This study examines the role of biochar as a soil amendment to enhance nutrient retention and mitigate nitrate leaching. By improving nitrogen efficiency, biochar offers a sustainable strategy to reduce the environmental impacts of intensive agriculture while maintaining soil fertility. An incubation study investigated four biochar feedstocks: spruce bark biochar at 550 °C (SB550), hardwood biochar (75% sugar maple) at 500 °C (HW500), sawdust (fir/spruce) biochar at 427 °C (FS427), and softwood biochar at 500 °C (SW500), to identify the most effective nitrate adsorbent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) were employed to analyze biochar morphology and surface functional groups. Adsorption isotherms were modeled using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The results indicated that surface functional groups, such as aromatic C=C stretching and bending, aromatic C–H bending, and phenolic O–H bending, play crucial roles in enhancing electrostatic attraction and, consequently, the nitrate adsorption capacity of biochar. The equilibrium adsorption data from this study fit well with both the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. Among the four biochar types tested, SB550 exhibited the highest nitrate adsorption capacity, with a maximum of 184 mg/g. The adsorption data showed excellent conformity to the Langmuir and Freundlich models, with correlation coefficients (R²) exceeding 0.987 for all biochar types. These findings highlight the high accuracy of these models in predicting nitrate adsorption capacities. Full article

Landslides, as natural hazards, have far-reaching impacts beyond their immediate effects on human lives and infrastructure; landslides disrupt both carbon storage and ecosystem stability, and their role in the global carbon cycle cannot be underestimated. This study delves into the complex relationship between landslides and carbon stocks such as, in particular, soil organic carbon (SOC) and above-ground biomass (AGB), and outlines the spatial relationship between different types of landslides, soil organic carbon (SOC), and the carbon cycle, underscoring the importance of understanding these interconnections for environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation efforts. By employing machine learning algorithms on the Google Earth Engine platform, landslide susceptibility maps were created for different landslide types across Italy, and their spatial patterns with SOC accumulation were analyzed using the Python environment. The findings reveal a nuanced relationship between landslide hazard levels and SOC dynamics, with varying trends observed for different landslide types. In addition, this study investigates the potential impact of large-scale landslide events on carbon sequestration in the short term via a case study of the May 2023 landslide event in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. The analysis reveals a substantial reduction in above-ground biomass by 35%, which approximately accounts for the loss of 0.133 MtC, and a decrease in SOC accumulation in 72% of the affected areas, indicating that landslides can transform carbon sinks into carbon sources, at least in the short term, and suggested that carbon released from extreme landslide events at a larger scale needs to be accounted for in regional or national carbon emissions. This research underscores the importance of considering landslides in carbon cycle assessments and emphasizes the need for sustainable land management strategies to protect and enhance carbon sinks, such as forests and healthy soils, in the face of increasing natural hazards and climate change impacts. Full article

Soil nutrient buildup is a key process in nutrient-poor arid and semiarid regions. However, our knowledge of the factors that control soil nutrient buildup in these systems is still limited. An experiment was set up and carried out for five and a half years in order to investigate how precipitation and other site factors control soil nutrient buildup. Topsoil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) derived from litter (soil nutrient buildup) were tracked twice a year at two sites differing in terms of climate and soils (Urat: arid and Naiman: semiarid, both in Inner Mongolia). Precipitation was manipulated at both sites to include seven precipitation levels: three reduced levels (−20, −40, and −60% with respect to the background), background (control), and three enhanced levels (+20, +40, and +60% with respect to the background). The dynamic buildup (i.e., amount of nutrients released among consecutive samplings) for all nutrients was controlled by precipitation (nonlinearly), site effects (lower buildup at the site dominated by aeolian pedogenesis), and seasonality (higher under warm conditions). However, the considered nutrients differed in the factor that most determined their buildup. Through studying the concurrent dynamics of litter decomposition and soil nutrient buildup, we can foresee that changes in precipitation and land degradation are most likely to affect the soil nutrient pools in these ecosystems. Full article

Despite being long-lived and massive, giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) J. Bucholz) are susceptible to erosion given their relatively shallow root structure. Human-caused soil compaction and vegetation loss through social trails are primary drivers of erosion in giant sequoia groves, particularly for trees that are near formal trails and access roads. We develop a method to observe and quantify the near-tree impacts from park visitors and to relate the overall amount of use with ground cover impact parameters to assess whether the desired conditions of each grove are being met for the park to maintain a spectrum of recreational opportunities. We collected data on visitation, ground cover, soil compaction, and social trailing using a combination of targeted surveys and observations at the three giant sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park. The Mariposa Grove receives the most visitation, and use levels among groves were consistent with relative size and facilities available. Selected parameters for ground cover data were analyzed by comparing values within undisturbed versus trampling-disturbed subplots at both 0–2 m and 2–8 m. Exposed soil cover and compaction were generally higher in anthropogenically disturbed subplots versus undisturbed subplots, and vegetation cover was reduced in some disturbed subplots. Each grove had one surveyed tree where average soil compaction was ≥2.2 kg/cm², which may limit root growth and impact seedling regeneration. Each of the three groves had some trees with social trail presence, yet less than 7% of mature trees within any grove were impacted by social trails, and most social trails were rated as having low impairment. Coupling soil compaction measurements and estimates of trampling-disturbed areas with mapping of social trail conditions within groves provides a general assessment of visitor-associated impacts to sequoia groves and can facilitate a relatively rapid way to track hotspot (i.e., increasingly impacted) trees over time. Full article

Agricultural innovations in the past decades have addressed the mounting challenges of food, feed, and biofuel security. However, the overreliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture has exacerbated biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and soil health deterioration. Leveraging beneficial soil microorganisms, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, offers an emerging solution to reduce dependence on synthetic agrochemicals in crop production. Understanding the mechanisms can help maximize AM fungi’s benefits in response to abiotic stresses. In this review, we explore the main mechanisms of AM fungi in promoting soil nutrient mobilization and uptake, increasing water absorption, stimulating antioxidative enzyme activities, altering morphophysiological structure, and performing hormonal crosstalk when mycorrhizal plants face an abiotic stressor. Also, we highlight the necessity of innovating practical ways to cope with variations in AM fungal species, diversity in host species, soil, and environmental conditions, as well as difficulties in mass multiplication for commercialization. Understanding the mechanisms and limitations may help explore the biofertilizer potential of AM fungal symbiosis, benefiting crop production while addressing the environment and soil health issues. Full article

The loss of agricultural land is one of the main problems facing the global agricultural sector, and it is related to multiple phenomena; one of the main causes is soil salinization, induced both by natural processes and human activities. Among the strategies adopted to deal with soil salinization and its mitigation, the cultivation of species able to survive in saline soils seems to be an effective way of making salt-compromised lands usable. Iris pallida is a rustic plant and a species of high economic value that is mostly cultivated for perfume production. Consequently, the application of I. pallida to cover soils not suitable for crops traditionally cultivated for human and livestock nutrition could be considered; therefore, a preliminary test on the capacity of I. pallida to tolerate salinity during the acclimatization phase of micropropagated plants was conducted. Plantlets were treated with exogenous melatonin during the in vitro phase by adding it to the culture medium; therefore, during the acclimatization phase, crescent salt doses (150, 300, and 400 mM) were added to the soil every 14 days, administering melatonin to plants by a spray solution 24 h before each salt addition. At the end of the experiment, biometric measurements, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and macro-element contents were measured, and the relative water content (RWC) was determined in each salt addition. The results showed that orris plants can survive soil salt concentrations of up to 400 mM, and that the 50 µM melatonin spray treatment can protect orris rhizomes from salt side effects. Full article

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

This study explored a novel cementitious material developed from subway tunnel muck (STM) intended for ecological concrete (EC) preparation. The effects of three alkaline activators (NaOH, KOH, and CaO) on the properties of the cementitious materials were systematically examined. The results indicated that NaOH exhibited the most effective activation performance, followed by KOH, with CaO being the least effective. The NaOH-activated materials exhibited the highest compressive strength (reaching up to 12.15 MPa), the densest microstructure (characterized by the lowest porosity and smallest average pore size), the most substantial gel formation (evidenced by the highest mass loss in thermogravimetric analysis), and the optimal gel structure (indicated by the pronounced peak sharpening in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) after a 28-day curing period. Moreover, the crystallization of potassium salts under KOH activation detrimentally impacted the microstructure of KOH-activated materials. To balance the need for structural strength and nutrient provision, NaOH + KOH-activated materials were selected for the preparation of EC. Notably, the application of NaOH + KOH-activated materials resulted in a significant increase in K⁺ concentration in the soil layer, compared to common soil. Furthermore, NaOH + KOH-activated materials exhibited a slow-release effect, thereby offering sustained nutrient support conducive to plant development. Full article

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the method of use and different fertilization of the foothill soil on the manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) concentration in leachates and the loads of trace elements leached from the soil profile. An experiment was carried out in Wiśnicz Foothills (Malopolska Province, Poland). In each plot, three lysimeters were installed, placed at a depth of 0–30 cm. The experiment included six variants, five on meadow, without fertilization (A—control); with mineral fertilization (B); with liquid manure (C) and with manure application (D); non-fertilized and non-mowed (E); and on arable land with mineral fertilization (F), in three repetitions each. Leachates were collected for three years in three periods: I—intensive growing, II—slow growing, and III—non-growing seasons. In general, the highest concentrations of Mn, Cu, Cd and Pb were recorded in leachates during period III. The lowest amounts of Cu and Cd were found in leachates in period II and Mn and Pb in period I. The exception were leachates from the following treatments: fertilized with liquid manure, which contained the most Mn and Cd in period II and the least Cd in period I; unused meadow, which contained the least Pb in period I; and leachates from arable land contained the least Cd in period I. The differences in the content of trace elements in the leachates were significant and amounted to 150–200% for Cd and Pb and about 20% for Mn and Cu. Mineral fertilization generally did not affect significantly Mn, Cu, Pb and Cd content in relation to the control, and the contents of Mn, Cu and Pb were even lower than in the leachates from the control. There was a significant increase in Mn concentration in leachates from unused meadow and arable land, Cu, Pb and Cd after both natural fertilizer applications and from arable land compared to other objects, in addition to Cd from unused meadow. Generally, the highest loads of trace elements were removed in period II and the smallest in period I of the study. Differences in leached loads during these periods were 2- to 8-fold and greater after liquid manure and manure application. The differences in Mn, Cd and Pb loads in subsequent years were 1.5- to 2-fold, and Cu loads in all years were similar. Natural fertilizers increased the trace element loads 1.5–4-fold compared to the control. Smaller differences concerned Mn and Cu and larger Pb loads. The method of land use significantly affected the quantity and quality of water percolates through the soil profile. Contrary to popular belief, the leachates from the unused meadow were not of the best quality, which resulted from their increased permeability into the soil under these conditions. Due to the quantity and quality of leachate waters and surface runoff in the foothill and mountain areas, it is advisable to limit tillage treatments, and the rational use of meadows and pastures with moderate fertilization is recommended. It is important to emphasize the importance of the proper management of the use of foothill and mountain areas for the optimal supply of plants with trace elements. Substantial losses of microelements necessary for optimal plant development may require their use in the form of fertilizers, which will result in increased agricultural production expenditures, reduce economic effects and slow down the pace of achieving sustainable agriculture. Full article

Soil nutrient distribution in desert grasslands is predominantly influenced by climatic factors, particularly precipitation and temperature. Siziwang Banner, situated within the desert grassland belt of Inner Mongolia, represents a typical arid zone where soil nutrient dynamics are shaped by the interplay of precipitation, temperature, and topography. This study aims to investigate the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and assess the dominant role of climatic factors in this region, using geostatistical analyses and GIS techniques. The results reveal that soil nutrients exhibit higher concentrations in surface layers, gradually decreasing with depth. Horizontally, a pronounced gradient can be observed, with nutrient levels being higher in the southern regions and lower in the northern regions. Precipitation and temperature emerge as decisive factors driving these patterns; increased precipitation enhances the accumulation of soil organic matter and nitrogen, whereas elevated temperatures accelerate decomposition of organic matter, leading to nutrient losses. These findings underscore the critical role of climatic factors in governing soil nutrient distribution, offering valuable insights for soil management and ecological restoration efforts in arid ecosystems. Full article

Agroforestry improves the stability and productivity of agro-ecosystems and reduces environmental pressures, making it extremely flexible and useful in a variety of physical and social contexts. This practice is crucial to farmers’ livelihoods on both an ecological and economical level. Using an interview schedule, data were gathered from 170 heads of rural families who were chosen at random. Of the responders, the majority (77.5%) were young (25 to 40 years old). Of those who had completed more than five years of schooling, only 46.7% were literate, while a sizable majority (53.3%) were illiterate. For the vast majority of responders (62.4%), farming was their primary source of income. Given that over 54% of the respondents only owned up to five acres of land, small farming was extremely common. The majority (61.3%) were considered poor with a monthly income of less than PKR 18,000. “good source of fuel wood” was placed at the top (mean = 3.1%) when it came to the effect of agroforestry on the food security of rural households. One of the main obstacles was having a small land holding (mean = 2.52). The majority of respondents believed that the primary benefit of agroforestry was a reduction in soil loss. The amount of land held, income source, and educational attainment all significantly correlated with the perception of poverty. The study found that the best way of sustainably assuring food security in the study area and satisfying rural residents’ needs for food for extended periods of time is to incorporate agroforestry into the current farming system. Full article

Soil moisture is a key variable that affects ecosystem carbon and water cycles and that can directly affect climate change. Remote sensing is the best way to obtain global soil moisture data. Currently, soil moisture remote sensing products have coarse spatial resolution, which limits their application in agriculture, the ecological environment, and urban planning. Soil moisture downscaling methods rely mainly on optical data. Affected by weather, the spatial discontinuity of optical data has a greater impact on the downscaling results. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) backscatter coefficient is strongly correlated with soil moisture. This study was based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform, which integrated Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) optical and SAR backscattering coefficients and used machine learning methods to downscale the soil moisture product, reducing the original soil moisture with a resolution of 10 km to 1 km and 100 m. The downscaling results were verified using in situ observation data from the Shandian River and Wudaoliang. The results show that in the two study areas, the downscaling results after adding SAR backscattering coefficients are better than before. In the Shandian River, the R increases from 0.28 to 0.42. In Wudaoliang, the R value increases from 0.54 to 0.70. The RMSE value is 0.03 (cm³/cm³). The downscaled soil moisture products play an important role in water resource management, natural disaster monitoring, ecological and environmental protection, and other fields. In the monitoring and management of natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, it can provide key information support for decision-makers and help formulate more effective emergency response plans. During droughts, affected areas can be identified in a timely manner, and the allocation and scheduling of water resources can be optimized, thereby reducing agricultural losses. Full article