Measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture are essential for understanding the complex soil\uffe2\uff80\uff93crop\uffe2\uff80\uff93climate processes, but there are practical and economic limits to the spatial and temporal extent over which measurements can be made. Therefore, N2O models have an important role to play. As models are comparatively cheap to run, they can be used to extrapolate field measurements to regional or national scales, to simulate emissions over long time periods, or to run scenarios to compare mitigation practices. Process\uffe2\uff80\uff90based models can also be used as an aid to understanding the underlying processes, as they can simulate feedbacks and interactions that can be difficult to distinguish in the field. However, when applying models, it is important to understand the conceptual process differences in models, how conceptual understanding changed over time in various models, and the model requirements and limitations to ensure that the model is well suited to the purpose of the investigation and the type of system being simulated. The aim of this paper is to give the reader a high\uffe2\uff80\uff90level overview of some of the important issues that should be considered when modeling. This includes conceptual understanding of widely used models, common modeling techniques such as calibration and validation, assessing model fit, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty assessment. We also review examples of N2O modeling for different purposes and describe three commonly used process\uffe2\uff80\uff90based N2O models (APSIM, DayCent, and DNDC).Within the transition to a bio-based economy from a fossil reserve-based world, we face the vital dare of closing nutrient cycles and moving to a more practical and balanced resource management, taking into account not only the economical but also the environmental perspective. The manufacture and transportation of mineral fertilizers are activities that require large amounts of fossil energy. Therefore, the dependence that agriculture has on fertilizers based on mineral reserves (mainly P, N, and K) should be considered as a very serious threat to human food security and climate change. On the other hand, the existing forecast on phosphorus reserves is pessimistic. According to the latest published figures on population growth and estimated demand for nutrients in the future, depletion of this material is expected to occur within a maximum of 300\uffc2\uffa0years. At the same time, the agricultural demand that exists for mineral fertilizers is constantly growing. The main reason is the increase in the world population, together with the increase in meat consumption and the popularity of energy crops. Despite these negative perspectives, the processing or elimination of waste streams causes uncontrolled dispersion in the environment of a large amount of minerals. Thus, a new global effort is needed to draw a new scenario where improved nutrient use efficiency and, at the same time, reduced nutrient losses provide the bases for a more circular economy, to produce more necessary inputs, as food or energy, as the same time as decreasing environmental impact. This paper will show the process options which can \uffe2\uff80\uff9cupcycle\uffe2\uff80\uff9d and recover residual nutrients to high-quality end-products, defined by efficient nutrient use and will reveal the key issues to face with novel biofertilizer products and changing policies.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "13. Climate action", "11. Sustainability", "15. Life on land", "European Commission", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "6. Clean water", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13399-019-00590-3.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-019-00590-3"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Biomass%20Conversion%20and%20Biorefinery", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1007/s13399-019-00590-3", "name": "item", "description": "10.1007/s13399-019-00590-3", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1007/s13399-019-00590-3"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-01-02T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cofs.2020.11.012", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:15:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-12-09", "title": "Environmental microbiome mapping as a strategy to improve quality and safety in the food industry", "description": "In food industries, an environmentally-adapted microbiome can colonize the surfaces of equipment and tools and be transferred to the food product or intermediates of production. These complex microbial consortia may include microbial spoilers, pathogens, as well as beneficial microbes. Advances in sequencing technologies and metagenomics provide the opportunity to map the environmental microbiome in food industries at an unprecedented depth, highlighting the importance of the resident microbial communities in influencing food quality and safety, as well as the main factors shaping its composition and activities. However, specific technical issues must be considered. Although microbiome mapping in the food industry has the potential to revolutionize food safety and quality management systems, its application as routine practice is still challenging and technical issues limit the exploitation of the powerful information that can be obtained by the application of such state-of-the-art approaches.", "keywords": ["Aurora Universities Network", "0301 basic medicine", "2. Zero hunger", "0303 health sciences", "EC", "food industry", "H2020", "food quality", "Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology", "Horizon 2020 Framework Programme", "Innovation action", "food safety", "03 medical and health sciences", "contamination", "13. Climate action", "Metagenomics", "European Commission", "Knowmad Institut", "environmental microbiome", "Food Science"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/828326/1/COFS%2c2021_EnvMapping.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cofs.2020.11.012"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Current%20Opinion%20in%20Food%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cofs.2020.11.012", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cofs.2020.11.012", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cofs.2020.11.012"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-04-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113433", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:15:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2023-06-28", "title": "Contrasting transport and fate of hydrophilic and hydrophobic bacteria in wettable and water-repellent porous media: Straining or attachment?", "description": "Bacterial transport and retention likely depend on bacterial and soil surface properties, especially hydrophobicity. We used a controlled experimental setup to explore hydrophilic Escherichia coli (E. coli) and hydrophobic Rhodococcus erythropolis (PTCC1767) (R. erythropolis) transport through dry (-\u00a015,000\u00a0cm water potential) and water saturated (0\u00a0cm water potential) wettable and water-repellent sand columns. A pulse of bacteria (1\u00a0\u00d7\u00a0108 CFU mL-1) and bromide (10\u00a0mmol\u00a0L-1) moved through the columns under saturated flow (0\u00a0cm) for four pore volumes. A second bacteria and bromide pulse was then poured on the column surfaces and leaching was extended six more pore volumes. In dry wettable sand attachment dominated E. coli retention, whereas R. erythropolis was dominated by straining. Once wetted, the dominant retention mechanisms flipped between these bacteria. Attachment by either bacteria decreased markedly in water-repellent sand, so straining was the main retention mechanism. We explain this from capillary potential energy, which enhanced straining under the formation of water films at very early times (i.e., imbibing) and film thinning at much later times (i.e., draining). The interaction between the hydrophobicity of bacteria and soil on transport, retention and release mechanisms needs greater consideration in predictions.", "keywords": ["Bromides", "2040 Environment and Biodiversity", "570", "Supplementary Information", "Wetting characteristics", "Vadose zone", "610", "Soil", "Colloid and Surface Chemistry", "Sand", "Pore-scale processes", "Escherichia coli", "Physical and Theoretical Chemistry", "European Commission", "101026287", "SDG 15 - Life on Land", "Drought", "T", "Water", "Surfaces and Interfaces", "T Technology", "Interfacial processes", "3. Good health", "TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering", "Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant", "EU Horizon 2020", "SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation", "TC", "Porosity", "Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions", "Biotechnology"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113433"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Colloids%20and%20Surfaces%20B%3A%20Biointerfaces", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113433", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113433", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113433"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2023-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.063", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:15:43Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-10-15", "title": "Newly explored\u00a0Faecalibacterium\u00a0diversity is connected to age, lifestyle, geography, and disease.", "description": "Faecalibacterium is prevalent in the human gut and a promising microbe for the development of next-generation probiotics (NGPs) or biotherapeutics. Analyzing reference Faecalibacterium genomes and almost 3,000 Faecalibacterium-like metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) reconstructed from 7,907 human and 203 non-human primate gut metagenomes, we identified the presence of 22 different Faecalibacterium-like species-level genome bins (SGBs), some further divided in different strains according to the subject geographical origin. Twelve SGBs are globally spread in the human gut and show different genomic potential in the utilization of complex polysaccharides, suggesting that higher SGB diversity may be related with increased utilization of plant-based foods. Moreover, up to 11 different species may co-occur in the same subject, with lower diversity in Western populations, as well as intestinal inflammatory states and obesity. The newly explored Faecalibacterium diversity will be able to support the choice of strains suitable as NGPs, guided by the consideration of the differences existing in their functional potential.", "keywords": ["Adult", "0301 basic medicine", "pangenome", "Adolescent", "gut microbiome", "Datasets as Topic", "General Biochemistry", " Genetics and Molecular Biology", "Innovation action", "Feces", "03 medical and health sciences", "Animals", "Humans", "biotherapeutics", "European Commission", "Child", "Life Style", "Faecalibacterium", "Aged", "Aurora Universities Network", "Horizon 2020", "0303 health sciences", "EC", "Geography", "Faecalibacterium prausnitzii", "H2020", "Age Factors", "Infant", "Middle Aged", "Gastrointestinal Microbiome", "Faecalibacterium prausnitzii", " gut microbiome", " strain diversity", " pangenome", " novel probiotics", " biotherapeutics", "Child", " Preschool", "novel probiotics", "Dysbiosis", "Macaca", "Metagenome", "strain diversity", "Metagenomics", "General Agricultural and Biological Sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/819607/1/PIIS0960982220314330.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.063"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Current%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.063", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.063", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.063"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-12-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.eja.2019.125974", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:15:50Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-11-29", "title": "Protein-rich legume and pseudo-cereal crop suitability under present and future European climates", "description": "Abstract Replacing animal proteins with plant proteins in diets has been demonstrated to have both health and environmental advantages, driving a debate about the potential of protein-rich crops as dietary replacements for animal products. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how climate change could influence the potential for producing protein-rich crops. This study addresses this knowledge gap for the European Union. We analysed 13 protein-rich crops, using the crop suitability model EcoCrop and climate projections for the 2050s, based on 30 Global Circulation Models, under the Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5. The results suggest that current protein-rich crop distributions reflect climatic suitability. We demonstrate the heterogeneous impacts of climate change on crop suitability. In general, conditions in northern Europe were modelled to become more favourable for protein-rich crops, while in southern Europe modelled future climates limit the production of traditional protein-rich crops commonly grown there, including chickpea and lentil. Model results show an expanded area of high suitability for quinoa. Our results confirm the need for concerted breeding and research planning strategies to improve the tolerance of faba bean, lentil, and chickpea to the abiotic stresses that are predicted to become more common with climate change. At the same time, production in northern Europe can benefit from experimentation with protein-rich crops predicted to become more suitable there. Production planning and agricultural policy should consider these likely impacts, to encourage shifts that follow the emerging geographic patterns of crop suitability, and to support the resilience of protein-rich crop production in regions that may be negatively impacted by climate change.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Horizon 2020", "abiotic stress", "EC", "legumes", "H2020", "Soil Science", "Plant Science", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "crops", "Energy Research", "01 natural sciences", "proteins", "Research and Innovation action", "climate change", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "European Commission", "Agronomy and Crop Science", "Knowmad Institut", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2019.125974"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/European%20Journal%20of%20Agronomy", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.eja.2019.125974", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.eja.2019.125974", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.eja.2019.125974"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-02-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1039/c9ew00220k", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:17:46Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-04-29", "title": "Long-term performance evaluation of an anoxic sulfur oxidizing moving bed biofilm reactor under nitrate limited conditions", "description": "An anoxic sulfur-oxidizing moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treating sulfur and nitrate-contaminated synthetic wastewater was monitored for 306 days under feed nitrogen-to-sulfur (N/S) molar ratios of 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1.
", "keywords": ["Aurora Universities Network", "570", "Horizon 2020", "EC", "Environmental Engineering", "218 Environmental engineering", "116 Chemical sciences", "H2020", "116", "6. Clean water", "218", "European Joint Doctorates", "11. Sustainability", "European Commission", "Knowmad Institut", "Netherlands", "Water Science and Technology"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2019/EW/C9EW00220K"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ew00220k"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Environmental%20Science%3A%20Water%20Research%20%26amp%3B%20Technology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1039/c9ew00220k", "name": "item", "description": "10.1039/c9ew00220k", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1039/c9ew00220k"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.jece.2020.104657", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:16:26Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2020-10-24", "title": "Reductive/oxidative sequential bioelectrochemical process for Perchloroethylene (PCE) removal: effect of the applied reductive potential and microbial community characterization", "description": "Abstract In this paper, a bioelectrochemical process has been developed by the combination of two membrane-less reactors equipped with an internal graphite granules counterelectrode for the perchloroethylene (PCE) removal through a reductive/oxidative sequence. In the reductive reactor, the cathodic chamber supplied the reducing power to PCE dechlorinating biomass while a rutile electrode promoted the aerobic dechlorination of the less chlorinated PCE byproducts by oxygen in situ evolution. Two potentiostatic conditions, -350 and -550 mV vs SHE, were tested on the reductive reactor, which showed the capability to completely reduce the PCE into vinyl chloride (VC) and ethylene (Eth). These compounds were completely removed by the oxidative reactor with an average VC and Eth removal efficiency of 94 \u00b1 1% and 98 \u00b1 1%. The -350 mV vs SHE condition resulted in the higher coulombic efficiency for the reductive dechlorination which reached 22 \u00b1 7 % while by increasing the reductive potential to -550 mV the coulombic efficiency drop down to 6 \u00b1 1 % in favor of the methanogenesis reaction. Dehalococcoides mccartyi was found at high abundance in the reducing reactor while a heterogeneous bacterial consortium was observed in the oxidative reactor. Microbiome characterization of the reductive and oxidative reactors showed the concomitant presence of different redox niches in each compartment suggesting that the exchange of ionic species between the electrode and the counterelectrode allowed the co-existence of both reducing and oxidative reactions.", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "0303 health sciences", "EC", "reductive dechlorination; oxidative dechlorination; bioremediation; bioelectrochemical systems; chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons; groundwater remediation", "Reductive dechlorination", "Process Chemistry and Technology", "H2020", "Pollution", "Horizon 2020 Framework Programme", "6. Clean water", "Research and Innovation action", "Bioelectrochemical systems", "03 medical and health sciences", "bioremediation", "Chemical Engineering (miscellaneous)", "European Commission", "Waste Management and Disposal"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104657"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Environmental%20Chemical%20Engineering", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.jece.2020.104657", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.jece.2020.104657", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.jece.2020.104657"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-02-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.nbt.2019.10.010", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:16:33Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-11-12", "title": "Advances in combined enzymatic extraction of ferulic acid from wheat bran", "description": "Wheat bran could be utilised as feedstock for innovative and sustainable biorefinery processes. Here, an enzymatic hydrolysis process for ferulic acid (FA) extraction was optimised step by step for total wheat bran (Tritello) and then also applied to the outer bran layer (Bran 1). Proteins, reducing sugars, total phenols and FA were quantified. The highest FA yields (0.82-1.05\u202fg/kg bran) were obtained either by rehydrating the bran by autoclaving (Tritello) or by steam explosion (Bran 1) using a bran/water ratio of 1:20, followed by enzymatic pre-treatment with Alcalase and Termamyl, to remove protein and sugars, and a final enzymatic hydrolysis with Pentopan and feruloyl esterase to solubilise phenol. FA was recovered from the final digestate via solid phase extraction. A 40-fold scale-up was also performed and the release of compounds along all the process steps and at increasing incubation times was monitored. Results showed that FA was initially present at a minimum level while it was specifically released during the enzymatic treatment. In the final optimized process, the FA extraction yield was higher than that obtained with NaOH control hydrolysis while, in comparison with other FA enzymatic extraction methods, fewer process steps were required and no buffers, strong acid/alkali nor toxic compounds were used. Furthermore, the proposed process may be easily scaled-up, confirming the feasibility of wheat bran valorisation by biorefinery processes to obtain valuable compounds having several areas of potential industrial exploitation.", "keywords": ["Dietary Fiber", "0106 biological sciences", "0301 basic medicine", "Coumaric Acids", "Bioengineering", "Wheat bran", "01 natural sciences", "Bio-based Industries Innovation action - Demonstration", "Enzymatic extraction", "03 medical and health sciences", "Subtilisins", "European Commission", "Molecular Biology", "Knowmad Institut", "2. Zero hunger", "EC", "Hydrolysis", "H2020", "Polyphenols", "General Medicine", "Ferulic acid", "Biorefinery", "Biorefinery; Enzymatic extraction; Ferulic acid; Polyphenols; Steam explosion; Wheat bran", "Steam explosion", "alpha-Amylases", "Biotechnology"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://cris.unibo.it/bitstream/11585/706995/1/Ferri%20et%20al%202020%20New%20Biotech.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbt.2019.10.010"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/New%20Biotechnology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.nbt.2019.10.010", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.nbt.2019.10.010", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.nbt.2019.10.010"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2020-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1098/rstb.2020.0185", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:18:24Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-08-08", "title": "Soil-derived Nature's Contributions to People and their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals", "description": "This special issue provides an assessment of the contribution of soils to Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). Here, we combine this assessment and previously published relationships between NCP and delivery on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to infer contributions of soils to the SDGs. We show that in addition to contributing positively to the delivery of all NCP, soils also have a role in underpinning all SDGs. While highlighting the great potential of soils to contribute to sustainable development, it is recognized that poorly managed, degraded or polluted soils may contribute negatively to both NCP and SDGs. The positive contribution, however, cannot be taken for granted, and soils must be managed carefully to keep them healthy and capable of playing this vital role. A priority for soil management must include: (i) for healthy soils in natural ecosystems,protectthem from conversion and degradation; (ii) for managed soils,managein a way to protect and enhance soil biodiversity, health and sustainability and to prevent degradation; and (iii) for degraded soils, restore to full soil health. We have enough knowledge now to move forward with the implementation of best management practices to maintain and improve soil health. This analysis shows that this is not just desirable, it is essential if we are to meet the SDG targets by 2030 and achieve sustainable development more broadly in the decades to come.
This article is part of the theme issue \uffe2\uff80\uff98The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People\uffe2\uff80\uff99.Environmental factors relating to soil pH are widely known to be important in structuring soil bacterial communities, yet the relationship between taxonomic community composition and functional diversity remains to be determined. Here, we analyze geographically distributed soils spanning a wide pH gradient and assess the functional gene capacity within those communities using whole genome metagenomics. Low pH soils consistently had fewer taxa (lower alpha and gamma diversity), but only marginal reductions in functional alpha diversity and equivalent functional gamma diversity. However, coherent changes in the relative abundances of annotated genes between pH classes were identified; with functional profiles clustering according to pH independent of geography. Differences in gene abundances were found to reflect survival and nutrient acquisition strategies, with organic-rich acidic soils harboring a greater abundance of cation efflux pumps, C and N direct fixation systems and fermentation pathways indicative of anaerobiosis. Conversely, high pH soils possessed more direct transporter-mediated mechanisms for organic C and N substrate acquisition. These findings show that bacterial functional versatility may not be constrained by taxonomy, and we further identify the range of physiological adaptations required to exist in soils of varying nutrient availability and edaphic conditions. This theme issue provides an assessment of the contribution of soils to Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). The papers in this issue show that soils can contribute positively to the delivery of all NCP. These contributions can be maximized through careful soil management to provide healthy soils, but poorly managed, degraded or polluted soils may contribute negatively to the delivery of NCP. Soils are also shown to contribute positively to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Papers in the theme issue emphasize the need for careful soil management. Priorities for soil management must include: (i) for healthy soils in natural ecosystems, protect them from conversion and degradation, (ii) for managed soils, manage in a way to protect and enhance soil biodiversity, health, productivity and sustainability and to prevent degradation, and (iii) for degraded soils, restore to full soil health. Our knowledge of what constitutes sustainable soil management is mature enough to implement best management practices, in order to maintain and improve soil health. The papers in this issue show the vast potential of soils to contribute to NCP. This is not only desirable, but essential to sustain a healthy planet and if we are to deliver sustainable development in the decades to come.
This article is part of the theme issue \uffe2\uff80\uff98The role of soils in delivering Nature\uffe2\uff80\uff99s Contributions to People\uffe2\uff80\uff99.Biochar amendment is one of the most promising agricultural approaches to tackle climate change by enhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration. Microbial\uffe2\uff80\uff90mediated decomposition processes are fundamental for the fate and persistence of sequestered C in soil, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Here, we synthesise 923 observations regarding the effects of biochar addition (over periods ranging from several weeks to several years) on soil C\uffe2\uff80\uff90degrading enzyme activities from 130 articles across five continents worldwide. Our results showed that biochar addition increased soil ligninase activity targeting complex phenolic macromolecules by 7.1%, but suppressed cellulase activity degrading simpler polysaccharides by 8.3%. These shifts in enzyme activities explained the most variation of changes in soil C sequestration across a wide range of climatic, edaphic and experimental conditions, with biochar\uffe2\uff80\uff90induced shift in ligninase:cellulase ratio correlating negatively with soil C sequestration. Specifically, short\uffe2\uff80\uff90term (<1\uffc2\uffa0year) biochar addition significantly reduced cellulase activity by 4.6% and enhanced soil organic C sequestration by 87.5%, whereas no significant responses were observed for ligninase activity and ligninase:cellulase ratio. However, long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term (\uffe2\uff89\uffa51\uffc2\uffa0year) biochar addition significantly enhanced ligninase activity by 5.2% and ligninase:cellulase ratio by 36.1%, leading to a smaller increase in soil organic C sequestration (25.1%). These results suggest that shifts in enzyme activities increased ligninase:cellulase ratio with time after biochar addition, limiting long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term soil C sequestration with biochar addition. Our work provides novel evidence to explain the diminished soil C sequestration with long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term biochar addition and suggests that earlier studies may have overestimated soil C sequestration with biochar addition by failing to consider the physiological acclimation of soil microorganisms over time.Simulation models represent soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in global carbon (C) cycle scenarios to support climate\uffe2\uff80\uff90change studies. It is imperative to increase confidence in long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term predictions of SOC dynamics by reducing the uncertainty in model estimates. We evaluated SOC simulated from an ensemble of 26 process\uffe2\uff80\uff90based C models by comparing simulations to experimental data from seven long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term bare\uffe2\uff80\uff90fallow (vegetation\uffe2\uff80\uff90free) plots at six sites: Denmark (two sites), France, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The decay of SOC in these plots has been monitored for decades since the last inputs of plant material, providing the opportunity to test decomposition without the continuous input of new organic material. The models were run independently over multi\uffe2\uff80\uff90year simulation periods (from 28 to 80\uffc2\uffa0years) in a blind test with no calibration (Bln) and with the following three calibration scenarios, each providing different levels of information and/or allowing different levels of model fitting: (a) calibrating decomposition parameters separately at each experimental site (Spe); (b) using a generic, knowledge\uffe2\uff80\uff90based, parameterization applicable in the Central European region (Gen); and (c) using a combination of both (a) and (b) strategies (Mix). We addressed uncertainties from different modelling approaches with or without spin\uffe2\uff80\uff90up initialization of SOC. Changes in the multi\uffe2\uff80\uff90model median (MMM) of SOC were used as descriptors of the ensemble performance. On average across sites, Gen proved adequate in describing changes in SOC, with MMM equal to average SOC (and standard deviation) of 39.2 (\uffc2\uffb115.5)\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha compared to the observed mean of 36.0 (\uffc2\uffb119.7)\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha (last observed year), indicating sufficiently reliable SOC estimates. Moving to Mix (37.5\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa016.7\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha) and Spe (36.8\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa019.8\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha) provided only marginal gains in accuracy, but modellers would need to apply more knowledge and a greater calibration effort than in Gen, thereby limiting the wider applicability of models.The importance of soils to society has gained increasing recognition over the past decade, with the potential to contribute to most of the United Nations\uffe2\uff80\uff99 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With unprecedented and growing demands for food, water and energy, there is an urgent need for a global effort to address the challenges of climate change and land degradation, whilst protecting soil as a natural resource. In this paper, we identify the contribution of soil science over the past decade to addressing gaps in our knowledge regarding major environmental challenges: climate change, food security, water security, urban development, and ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Continuing to address knowledge gaps in soil science is essential for the achievement of the SDGs. However, with limited time and budget, it is also pertinent to identify effective methods of working that ensure the research carried out leads to real\uffe2\uff80\uff90world impact. Here, we suggest three strategies for the next decade of soil science, comprising a greater implementation of research into policy, interdisciplinary partnerships to evaluate function trade\uffe2\uff80\uff90offs and synergies between soils and other environmental domains, and integrating monitoring and modelling methods to ensure soil\uffe2\uff80\uff90based policies can withstand the uncertainties of the future.
Highlights
We highlight the contributions of soil science to five major environmental challenges since 2010.
Researchers have contributed to recommendation reports, but work is rarely translated into policy.
Interdisciplinary work should assess trade\uffe2\uff80\uff90offs and synergies between soils and other domains.
Integrating monitoring and modelling is key for robust and sustainable soils\uffe2\uff80\uff90based policymaking.
Meeting end\uffe2\uff80\uff90of\uffe2\uff80\uff90century global warming targets requires aggressive action on multiple fronts. Recent reports note the futility of addressing mitigation goals without fully engaging the agricultural sector, yet no available assessments combine both nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based solutions (reforestation, grassland and wetland protection, and agricultural practice change) and cellulosic bioenergy for a single geographic region. Collectively, these solutions might offer a suite of climate, biodiversity, and other benefits greater than either alone. Nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based solutions are largely constrained by the duration of carbon accrual in soils and forest biomass; each of these carbon pools will eventually saturate. Bioenergy solutions can last indefinitely but carry significant environmental risk if carelessly deployed. We detail a simplified scenario for the United States that illustrates the benefits of combining approaches. We assign a portion of non\uffe2\uff80\uff90forested former cropland to bioenergy sufficient to meet projected mid\uffe2\uff80\uff90century transportation needs, with the remainder assigned to nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based solutions such as reforestation. Bottom\uffe2\uff80\uff90up mitigation potentials for the aggregate contributions of crop, grazing, forest, and bioenergy lands are assessed by including in a Monte Carlo model conservative ranges for cost\uffe2\uff80\uff90effective local mitigation capacities, together with ranges for (a) areal extents that avoid double counting and include realistic adoption rates and (b) the projected duration of different carbon sinks. The projected duration illustrates the net effect of eventually saturating soil carbon pools in the case of most strategies, and additionally saturating biomass carbon pools in the case of forest management. Results show a conservative end\uffe2\uff80\uff90of\uffe2\uff80\uff90century mitigation capacity of 110 (57\uffe2\uff80\uff93178) Gt CO2e for the U.S., ~50% higher than existing estimates that prioritize nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based or bioenergy solutions separately. Further research is needed to shrink uncertainties, but there is sufficient confidence in the general magnitude and direction of a combined approach to plan for deployment now.There is growing international interest in better managing soils to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content to contribute to climate change mitigation, to enhance resilience to climate change and to underpin food security, through initiatives such as international \uffe2\uff80\uff984p1000\uffe2\uff80\uff99 initiative and the FAO's Global assessment of SOC sequestration potential (GSOCseq) programme. Since SOC content of soils cannot be easily measured, a key barrier to implementing programmes to increase SOC at large scale, is the need for credible and reliable measurement/monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) platforms, both for national reporting and for emissions trading. Without such platforms, investments could be considered risky. In this paper, we review methods and challenges of measuring SOC change directly in soils, before examining some recent novel developments that show promise for quantifying SOC. We describe how repeat soil surveys are used to estimate changes in SOC over time, and how long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term experiments and space\uffe2\uff80\uff90for\uffe2\uff80\uff90time substitution sites can serve as sources of knowledge and can be used to test models, and as potential benchmark sites in global frameworks to estimate SOC change. We briefly consider models that can be used to simulate and project change in SOC and examine the MRV platforms for SOC change already in use in various countries/regions. In the final section, we bring together the various components described in this review, to describe a new vision for a global framework for MRV of SOC change, to support national and international initiatives seeking to effect change in the way we manage our soils.", "keywords": ["[SDE] Environmental Sciences", "550", "BULK-DENSITY", "QH301 Biology", "Climate", "[SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio]", "NEW-ZEALAND", "630", "Soil", "NE/M021327/1", "11. Sustainability", "SDG 13 - Climate Action", "AGRICULTURAL SOILS", "SDG 15 - Life on Land", "General Environmental Science", "agriculture", "2. Zero hunger", "Global and Planetary Change", "reporting", "Measurement", "Ecology", "IN-SITU", "Agricultura", "NE/P019455/1", "carbono org\u00e1nico del suelo", "Agriculture", "LAND-USE CHANGE", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "[SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio]", "climate change", "Sustainability", "[SDE]Environmental Sciences", "Carbon Sequestration", "DIFFUSE-REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY", "LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTS", "330", "Monitoring", "STOCK CHANGES", "MRV", "secuestro de carbon", "12. Responsible consumption", "QH301", "Greenhouse Gases", "ORGANIC-CARBON", "soil organic matter", "greenhouse gases", "Invited Research Reviews", "Environmental Chemistry", "774378", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "European Commission", "resilience", "Climate Solutions", "Soil organic matter", "Soil organic carbon", "Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)", "Verification", "food security", "15. Life on land", "carbon sequestration", "Sustainable Agriculture", "Carbon", "EDDY-COVARIANCE", "soil organic carbon", "monitoring", "Reporting", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "measurement", "verification"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.14815"}, {"href": "https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/context/rsfac/article/1079/viewcontent/Lini2019b.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14815"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Global%20Change%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/gcb.14815", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/gcb.14815", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/gcb.14815"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2019-10-06T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/gcb.14878", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:18:38Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-10-22", "title": "Which practices co\u2010deliver food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and combat land degradation and desertification?", "description": "AbstractThere is a clear need for transformative change in the land management and food production sectors to address the global land challenges of climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, combatting land degradation and desertification, and delivering food security (referred to hereafter as \uffe2\uff80\uff9cland challenges\uffe2\uff80\uff9d). We assess the potential for 40 practices to address these land challenges and find that: Nine options deliver medium to large benefits for all four land challenges. A further two options have no global estimates for adaptation, but have medium to large benefits for all other land challenges. Five options have large mitigation potential (>3\uffc2\uffa0Gt CO2eq/year) without adverse impacts on the other land challenges. Five options have moderate mitigation potential, with no adverse impacts on the other land challenges. Sixteen practices have large adaptation potential (>25 million people benefit), without adverse side effects on other land challenges. Most practices can be applied without competing for available land. However, seven options could result in competition for land. A large number of practices do not require dedicated land, including several land management options, all value chain options, and all risk management options. Four options could greatly increase competition for land if applied at a large scale, though the impact is scale and context specific, highlighting the need for safeguards to ensure that expansion of land for mitigation does not impact natural systems and food security. A number of practices, such as increased food productivity, dietary change and reduced food loss and waste, can reduce demand for land conversion, thereby potentially freeing\uffe2\uff80\uff90up land and creating opportunities for enhanced implementation of other practices, making them important components of portfolios of practices to address the combined land challenges.This study evaluates the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) under perennial crops across the globe. It quantifies the effect of change from annual to perennial crops and the subsequent temporal changes in SOC stocks during the perennial crop cycle. It also presents an empirical model to estimate changes in the SOC content under crops as a function of time, land use, and site characteristics. We used a harmonized global dataset containing paired\uffe2\uff80\uff90comparison empirical values of SOC and different types of perennial crops (perennial grasses, palms, and woody plants) with different end uses: bioenergy, food, other bio\uffe2\uff80\uff90products, and short rotation coppice. Salient outcomes include: a 20\uffe2\uff80\uff90year period encompassing a change from annual to perennial crops led to an average 20% increase in SOC at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm (6.0\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa04.6\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha gain) and a total 10% increase over the 0\uffe2\uff80\uff93100\uffc2\uffa0cm soil profile (5.7\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa010.9\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha). A change from natural pasture to perennial crop decreased SOC stocks by 1% over 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm (\uffe2\uff88\uff922.5\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa04.2\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha) and 10% over 0\uffe2\uff80\uff93100\uffc2\uffa0cm (\uffe2\uff88\uff9213.6\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa08.9\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha). The effect of a land use change from forest to perennial crops did not show significant impacts, probably due to the limited number of plots; but the data indicated that while a 2% increase in SOC was observed at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm (16.81\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa055.1\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha), a decrease in 24% was observed at 30\uffe2\uff80\uff93100\uffc2\uffa0cm (\uffe2\uff88\uff9240.1\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa016.8\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha). Perennial crops generally accumulate SOC through time, especially woody crops; and temperature was the main driver explaining differences in SOC dynamics, followed by crop age, soil bulk density, clay content, and depth. We present empirical evidence showing that the FAO perennialization strategy is reasonable, underscoring the role of perennial crops as a useful component of climate change mitigation strategies.The competing demand for food and bioenergy requires new solutions for the agricultural sector as, for instance, the coupling of energy production from gasification technology and the application of the resulting biochar as soil amendment. A prerequisite for the implementation of this strategy is the scale\uffe2\uff80\uff90specific assessment of both the energetic performance and of the impacts in terms of greenhouse gases (GHG) emission and crop responses. This study considered the gasification process developed by Advanced Gasification Technology (AGT, Italy), which is a fixed\uffe2\uff80\uff90bed, down\uffe2\uff80\uff90draft, open core, compact gasifier, having 350\uffc2\uffa0kW of nominal electric capacity (microgeneration); this gasifier uses biomass feedstock deriving from agricultural/forest products and byproducts. In this study, the resulting biochar, derived from conifer wood chips of mountain forestry management in North\uffe2\uff80\uff90western Italy, was applied to a nearby paddy rice field, located in the largest rice agricultural area of Europe. We performed a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) adapting the BEAT2 model specifically focusing on the GHG balance of the supply chain, from the forestry management to the field distribution of the resulting biochar. The results indicated that the gasification stage had the highest impact in the supply chain in terms of emissions, but net emissions allocated to biochar were always negative (ranging between \uffe2\uff88\uff920.54 and \uffe2\uff88\uff922.1\uffc2\uffa0t CO2e\uffc2\uffa0t\uffe2\uff88\uff921 biochar), hypothesizing two scenarios of 32% and 7.3% biochar mineralization rate in soil, over a time period of 100\uffc2\uffa0years. Finally, biochar had a marginal but positive effect on rice yield, thus increasing the sustainability of this energy\uffe2\uff80\uff90biochar chain.
", "keywords": ["330", "gasification", "01 natural sciences", "7. Clean energy", "630", "Paddy rice", "Environment (including Climate Change)", "12. Responsible consumption", "Life cycle assessment", "Rural Digital Europe", "life cycle assessment", "11. Sustainability", "biochar", "Energy-biochar chain", "European Commission", "Rice yield", "Waste Management and Disposal", "Knowmad Institut", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "FP7", "2. Zero hunger", "EC", "Renewable Energy", " Sustainability and the Environment", "SP1-Cooperation", "Forestry", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Energy Research", "rice yield", "Biochar", "13. Climate action", "paddy rice", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "energy-biochar chain", "Agronomy and Crop Science", "Gasification"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12028"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/GCB%20Bioenergy", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/gcbb.12028", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/gcbb.12028", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/gcbb.12028"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-12-21T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1126/science.aal1727", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:19:07Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-05-26", "title": "Satellites reveal contrasting responses of regional climate to the widespread greening of Earth", "description": "Increasing terrestrial biomass has important impacts on the climate that affects it.
", "keywords": ["Population Density", "Satellite Imagery", "Multidisciplinary", "Time Factors", "Climate", "Climate Change", "Temperature", "Biophysical Phenomena; Climate Change; Population Density; Sunlight; Temperature; Time Factors; Climate; Models", " Theoretical; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Satellite Imagery", "Models", " Theoretical", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "Biophysical Phenomena", "13. Climate action", "Sunlight", "European Commission", "Plant Physiological Phenomena", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aal1727"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1126/science.aal1727", "name": "item", "description": "10.1126/science.aal1727", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1126/science.aal1727"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-06-16T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1128/mBio.00799-17", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-05-25T16:19:08Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2017-03-19", "title": "Bacterial Physiological Adaptations to Contrasting Edaphic Conditions Identified Using Landscape Scale Metagenomics", "description": "AbstractEnvironmental factors relating to soil pH are widely known to be important in structuring soil bacterial communities, yet the relationship between taxonomic community composition and functional diversity remains to be determined. Here, we analyze geographically distributed soils spanning a wide pH gradient and assess the functional gene capacity within those communities using whole genome metagenomics. Low pH soils consistently had fewer taxa (lower alpha and gamma diversity), but only marginal reductions in functional alpha diversity and equivalent functional gamma diversity. However, coherent changes in the relative abundances of annotated genes between pH classes were identified; with functional profiles clustering according to pH independent of geography. Differences in gene abundances were found to reflect survival and nutrient acquisition strategies, with organic-rich acidic soils harboring a greater abundance of cation efflux pumps, C and N direct fixation systems and fermentation pathways indicative of anaerobiosis. Conversely, high pH soils possessed more direct transporter-mediated mechanisms for organic C and N substrate acquisition. These findings show that bacterial functional versatility may not be constrained by taxonomy, and we further identify the range of physiological adaptations required to exist in soils of varying nutrient availability and edaphic conditions.
", "keywords": ["Q Science", "0301 basic medicine", "330", "Supplementary Data", "ecophysiology", "Ecophysiology", "NE/E006353/1", "Bacterial Physiological Phenomena", "Microbiology", "Soil", "03 medical and health sciences", "Virology", "European Commission", "Ecosystem", "Phylogeny", "Soil Microbiology", "2. Zero hunger", "655240", "metagenomics", "0303 health sciences", "Bacteria", "Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)", "Q", "NE/M017125/1", "Biodiversity", "Hydrogen-Ion Concentration", "15. Life on land", "Adaptation", " Physiological", "soil microbiology", "QR1-502", "United Kingdom", "3. Good health", "Soil microbiology", "Metagenomics", "Genome", " Bacterial", "Research Article"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/117887v1.full.pdf"}, {"href": "https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/mBio.00799-17"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00799-17"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/mBio", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1128/mBio.00799-17", "name": "item", "description": "10.1128/mBio.00799-17", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1128/mBio.00799-17"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2017-03-18T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.2166/wst.2018.398", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:20:24Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-10-04", "title": "Sensitivity analysis for an elemental sulfur-based two-step denitrification model", "description": "AbstractA local sensitivity analysis was performed for a chemically synthesized elemental sulfur (S0)-based two-step denitrification model, accounting for nitrite (NO2\uffe2\uff88\uff92) accumulation, biomass growth and S0 hydrolysis. The sensitivity analysis was aimed at verifying the model stability, understanding the model structure and individuating the model parameters to be further optimized. The mass specific area of the sulfur particles (a*) and hydrolysis kinetic constant (k1) were identified as the dominant parameters on the model outputs, i.e. nitrate (NO3\uffe2\uff88\uff92), NO2\uffe2\uff88\uff92 and sulfate (SO42\uffe2\uff88\uff92) concentrations, confirming that the microbially catalyzed S0 hydrolysis is the rate-limiting step during S0-driven denitrification. Additionally, the maximum growth rates of the denitrifying biomass on NO3\uffe2\uff88\uff92 and NO2\uffe2\uff88\uff92 were detected as the most sensitive kinetic parameters.
", "keywords": ["Elemental sulfur", "Environmental Engineering", "0207 environmental engineering", "Biological surface-based hydrolysis; Elemental sulfur; Mathematical modeling; Sensitivity analysis; Two-step autotrophic denitrification; Environmental Engineering; Water Science and Technology", "02 engineering and technology", "01 natural sciences", "Two-step autotrophic denitrification", "Bioreactors", "European Joint Doctorates", "European Commission", "Knowmad Institut", "Biological surface-based hydrolysis", "Nitrites", "Netherlands", "Water Science and Technology", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "Aurora Universities Network", "EC", "Nitrates", "H2020", "Energy Research", "13. Climate action", "Denitrification", "Mathematical modeling", "Sensitivity analysis", "Sulfur"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://www.iris.unina.it/bitstream/11588/724909/2/2018%20-%20Kostrytsia%20et%20al.%20-%20Water%20Science%20%26%20Technology%20-%20Sensitivity%20analysis%20for%20S0-based%20denitrification%20model.pdf"}, {"href": "http://iwaponline.com/wst/article-pdf/78/6/1296/504647/wst078061296.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2018.398"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Water%20Science%20and%20Technology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.2166/wst.2018.398", "name": "item", "description": "10.2166/wst.2018.398", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.2166/wst.2018.398"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-09-20T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3389/fmicb.2016.01247", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:20:41Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-08-08", "title": "Soil Fungal:Bacterial Ratios Are Linked to Altered Carbon Cycling", "description": "Despite several lines of observational evidence, there is a lack of consensus on whether higher fungal:bacterial (F:B) ratios directly cause higher soil carbon (C) storage. We employed RNA sequencing, protein profiling and isotope tracer techniques to evaluate whether differing F:B ratios are associated with differences in C storage. A mesocosm (13)C labeled foliar litter decomposition experiment was performed in two soils that were similar in their physico-chemical properties but differed in microbial community structure, specifically their F:B ratio (determined by PLFA analyses, RNA sequencing and protein profiling; all three corroborating each other). Following litter addition, we observed a consistent increase in abundance of fungal phyla; and greater increases in the fungal dominated soil; implicating the role of fungi in litter decomposition. Litter derived (13)C in respired CO2 was consistently lower, and residual (13)C in bulk SOM was higher in high F:B soil demonstrating greater C storage potential in the F:B dominated soil. We conclude that in this soil system, the increased abundance of fungi in both soils and the altered C cycling patterns in the F:B dominated soils highlight the significant role of fungi in litter decomposition and indicate that F:B ratios are linked to higher C storage potential.", "keywords": ["Microbiology (medical)", "Proteomics", "0301 basic medicine", "environment/Bioclimatology", "Supplementary Data", "[SDE.MCG]Environmental Sciences/Global Changes", "stable isotopes", "litter decomposition", "Microbiology", "03 medical and health sciences", "proteomics", "[SDU.STU.GC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geochemistry", "[SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology", "[SDU.STU.GC] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Geochemistry", "soil carbon", "European Commission", "bacteria", "Stable isotopes", "2. Zero hunger", "655240", "0303 health sciences", "Bacteria", "Litter decomposition", "Fungi", "RNA sequencing", "QR Microbiology", "15. Life on land", "Soil carbon", "[SDU.ENVI] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces", " environment", "QR1-502", "6. Clean water", "QR", "[SDE.BE] Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology", "[SDE.MCG] Environmental Sciences/Global Changes", "[SDV.EE] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology", " environment", "[SDV.EE.BIO] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology", " environment/Bioclimatology", "[SDV.EE.BIO]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology", "fungi", "[SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology", "[SDU.ENVI]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Continental interfaces", "environment"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01247"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Frontiers%20in%20Microbiology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3389/fmicb.2016.01247", "name": "item", "description": "10.3389/fmicb.2016.01247", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3389/fmicb.2016.01247"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2016-08-09T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3389/fpls.2018.01158", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:20:43Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-08-08", "title": "Simulation of Soil Organic Carbon Effects on Long-Term Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Production Under Varying Fertilizer Inputs", "description": "Soil organic carbon (SOC) has a vital role to enhance agricultural productivity and for mitigation of climate change. To quantify SOC effects on productivity, process models serve as a robust tool to keep track of multiple plant and soil factors and their interactions affecting SOC dynamics. We used soil-plant-atmospheric model viz. DAISY, to assess effects of SOC on nitrogen (N) supply and plant available water (PAW) under varying N fertilizer rates in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Denmark. The study objective was assessment of SOC effects on winter wheat grain and aboveground biomass accumulation at three SOC levels (low: 0.7% SOC; reference: 1.3% SOC; and high: 2% SOC) with five nitrogen rates (0-200 kg N ha-1) and PAW at low, reference, and high SOC levels. The three SOC levels had significant effects on grain yields and aboveground biomass accumulation at only 0-100 kg N ha-1 and the SOC effects decreased with increasing N rates until no effects at 150-200 kg N ha-1. PAW had significant positive correlation with SOC content, with high SOC retaining higher PAW compared to low and reference SOC. The mean PAW and SOC correlation was given by PAW% = 1.0073 \u00d7 SOC% + 15.641. For the 0.7-2% SOC range, the PAW increase was small with no significant effects on grain yields and aboveground biomass accumulation. The higher winter wheat grain and aboveground biomass was attributed to higher N supply in N deficient wheat production system. Our study suggested that building SOC enhances agronomic productivity at only 0-100 kg N ha-1. Maintenance of SOC stock will require regular replenishment of SOC, to compensate for the mineralization process degrading SOC over time. Hence, management can maximize realization of SOC benefits by building up SOC and maintaining N rates in the range 0-100 kg N ha-1, to reduce the off-farm N losses depending on the environmental zones, land use and the production system.", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "Crop productivity; DAISY model; Grain yield; Long-term experiment; Nitrogen; Pedotransfer functions; Plant available water;", "Nitrogen", "QH301 Biology", "DAISY model", "pedotransfer functions", "Plant Science", "nitrogen", "SB1-1110", "QH301", "03 medical and health sciences", "Long-term experiment", "SDG 13 - Climate Action", "Grain yield", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "European Commission", "289694", "crop productivity", "SDG 15 - Life on Land", "2. Zero hunger", "020", "Pedotransfer functions", "0303 health sciences", "grain yield", "Plant culture", "15. Life on land", "plant available water", "13. Climate action", "Crop productivity", "Plant available water", "SMARTSOIL", "long-term experiment"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://flore.unifi.it/bitstream/2158/1138671/1/Ghaley%20et%20al%202018_Frontiers%20in%20Plant%20Science.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2018.01158"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Frontiers%20in%20Plant%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3389/fpls.2018.01158", "name": "item", "description": "10.3389/fpls.2018.01158", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3389/fpls.2018.01158"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-08-08T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.4081/ija.2015.772", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-05-25T16:21:15Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2016-03-16", "title": "Effectiveness of the cross-compliance Standard 5.2 'buffer strips' on protecting freshwater against diffuse nitrogen pollution", "description": "Sette Fasce Tampone, realizzate secondo le indicazioni tecniche contenute nello Standard di condizionalit\u00e0 5.2, in diversi ambiti e contesti climatici, sono state monitorate per un periodo biennale, al fine di quantificare la loro efficienza nella rimozione di azoto inorganico disciolto. Tale azoto \u00e8 costituito per lo pi\u00f9 da molecole di azoto nitrico che vengono veicolate principalmente tramite deflussi sub-superficiali da zone soggette a diverse pratiche colturali verso i corpi idrici superficiali adiacenti. Ad eccezione di due casi: i siti di Lodi e Metaponto, in tutti i sistemi monitorati \u00e8 stata confermata la presenza di deflussi trasversali ai sistemi tampone, permanenti o temporanei, in grado di veicolare inquinanti e con portate variabili fra 919 e 8.590 m3/anno per 100 m lineari di FT. Le differenze di portata sono imputabili principalmente alla diversa superficie dei bacini agricoli afferenti ai sistemi tampone, che nei casi analizzati occupano superfici variabili fra il 3,6 ed il 33,3% del bacino agricolo. Sulla base dei bilanci di massa \u00e8 emerso che dai campi coltivati giungono ai sistemi tampone percentuali variabili fra l\u20191,6 ed il 29,4% dell\u2019azoto inorganico applicato. Ad eccezione dei sistemi in cui i maggiori deflussi non hanno alcuna interazione con la rizosfera (deflussi profondi) oppure non attraversano la Fascia Tampone, in tutti gli altri siti si registra un effetto di riduzione dell\u2019azoto fra entrata ed uscita, con percentuali variabili fra il 33 ed il 62 %. Percentuali di abbattimento non elevate sono giustificate dallo scarso grado di maturazione dei siti monitorati, in molti casi recentemente convertiti a Fascia Tampone. Ancora una volta si conferma l\u2019estrema eterogeneit\u00e0 delle risposte di questi sistemi ed il ruolo prioritario delle forzanti idrologiche nel determinarne l\u2019efficacia. Seven buffer strips (BS) adjacent to fresh water bodies, realized according to the technical data contained in the Standard 5.2 of Cross-compliance, located in different areas and climate contexts, were monitored for a period of two years. It was done in order to quantify their effectiveness in removing dissolved inorganic nitrogen conveyed through sub- surface flow from field crops with different cultural practices. Except for two case studies (sites: Lodi and Metaponto) in all monitored systems has been confirmed an outflow, permanent or temporary, through the buffer systems, with flow rates ranging from 919 to 8590 m3y-1 every 100 meters of buffer stip. The differences in flow rate were mainly due to different sizes of agricultural basins related to buffer systems, which in the case studies ranging from 3.6 to 33.3%. Based on the mass balance, was found percentages of applied inorganic nitrogen, flowing from cultivated fields to the buffer systems, varied between 1.6 and 29.4%. In most of the sites was estimated nitrogen reduction between inlet and outlet of BS, with percentages ranging from 33 to 61.9%. The exceptions were the systems with groundwater that: or have no interaction with the rhizosphere (deep flow) or not crossing the buffer zone. Low percentages of removal shall be justified by the young stage of the monitored sites, being in many cases recently converted to buffer strip. This study confirms the extreme variability of these systems efficiency and the key role of hydrology drives its effectiveness.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "EC", "S", "H2020", "Plant culture", "Agriculture", "buffer strips", "6. Clean water", "SB1-1110", "Research and Innovation action", "13. Climate action", "standard 5.2", "Key words", "European Commission", "Cross-compliance", "rural development", "competitiveness."], "contacts": [{"organization": "Bruna Gumiero, Bruno Boz, Alessandra Lagomarsino, Paolo Bazzoffi, Rosario Napoli, Francesco Montemurro, Lamberto Borrelli, Rosa Francaviglia, Silvia Carnevale, Andrea Rocchini, Alessandro Elio Agnelli, Angelo Fiore, Giovanni Cabassi, Bruno Pennelli, Giorgio Moretti, Andrea Gasparini, Giuseppina Pipitone, Luigi Sansone, Bruna Gumiero, Bruno Boz, Paolo Bazzoffi, Alessandra Lagomarsino, Silvia Carnevale, Alessandro Elio Agnelli, Andrea Rocchini, Rosa Francaviglia, Rosario Napoli, Bruno Pennelli, Lamberto Borrelli, Giovanni Cabassi, Giorgio Moretti, Francesco Montemurro, Angelo Fiore,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.4081/ija.2015.772"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Italian%20Journal%20of%20Agronomy", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.4081/ija.2015.772", "name": "item", "description": "10.4081/ija.2015.772", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.4081/ija.2015.772"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "2164/10968", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:25:26Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2018-08-08", "title": "Simulation of Soil Organic Carbon Effects on Long-Term Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Production Under Varying Fertilizer Inputs", "description": "Soil organic carbon (SOC) has a vital role to enhance agricultural productivity and for mitigation of climate change. To quantify SOC effects on productivity, process models serve as a robust tool to keep track of multiple plant and soil factors and their interactions affecting SOC dynamics. We used soil-plant-atmospheric model viz. DAISY, to assess effects of SOC on nitrogen (N) supply and plant available water (PAW) under varying N fertilizer rates in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Denmark. The study objective was assessment of SOC effects on winter wheat grain and aboveground biomass accumulation at three SOC levels (low: 0.7% SOC; reference: 1.3% SOC; and high: 2% SOC) with five nitrogen rates (0-200 kg N ha-1) and PAW at low, reference, and high SOC levels. The three SOC levels had significant effects on grain yields and aboveground biomass accumulation at only 0-100 kg N ha-1 and the SOC effects decreased with increasing N rates until no effects at 150-200 kg N ha-1. PAW had significant positive correlation with SOC content, with high SOC retaining higher PAW compared to low and reference SOC. The mean PAW and SOC correlation was given by PAW% = 1.0073 \u00d7 SOC% + 15.641. For the 0.7-2% SOC range, the PAW increase was small with no significant effects on grain yields and aboveground biomass accumulation. The higher winter wheat grain and aboveground biomass was attributed to higher N supply in N deficient wheat production system. Our study suggested that building SOC enhances agronomic productivity at only 0-100 kg N ha-1. Maintenance of SOC stock will require regular replenishment of SOC, to compensate for the mineralization process degrading SOC over time. Hence, management can maximize realization of SOC benefits by building up SOC and maintaining N rates in the range 0-100 kg N ha-1, to reduce the off-farm N losses depending on the environmental zones, land use and the production system.", "keywords": ["0301 basic medicine", "Crop productivity; DAISY model; Grain yield; Long-term experiment; Nitrogen; Pedotransfer functions; Plant available water;", "Nitrogen", "QH301 Biology", "DAISY model", "pedotransfer functions", "Plant Science", "nitrogen", "SB1-1110", "QH301", "03 medical and health sciences", "Long-term experiment", "SDG 13 - Climate Action", "Grain yield", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "European Commission", "289694", "crop productivity", "SDG 15 - Life on Land", "2. Zero hunger", "020", "Pedotransfer functions", "0303 health sciences", "grain yield", "Plant culture", "15. Life on land", "plant available water", "13. Climate action", "Crop productivity", "Plant available water", "SMARTSOIL", "long-term experiment"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://flore.unifi.it/bitstream/2158/1138671/1/Ghaley%20et%20al%202018_Frontiers%20in%20Plant%20Science.pdf"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/2164/10968"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Frontiers%20in%20Plant%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "2164/10968", "name": "item", "description": "2164/10968", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/2164/10968"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2018-08-08T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "1983/ab17d5ff-3657-42df-84a6-4ab038c16f20", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:25:08Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2019-10-22", "title": "Which practices co\u2010deliver food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and combat land degradation and desertification?", "description": "AbstractThere is a clear need for transformative change in the land management and food production sectors to address the global land challenges of climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, combatting land degradation and desertification, and delivering food security (referred to hereafter as \uffe2\uff80\uff9cland challenges\uffe2\uff80\uff9d). We assess the potential for 40 practices to address these land challenges and find that: Nine options deliver medium to large benefits for all four land challenges. A further two options have no global estimates for adaptation, but have medium to large benefits for all other land challenges. Five options have large mitigation potential (>3\uffc2\uffa0Gt CO2eq/year) without adverse impacts on the other land challenges. Five options have moderate mitigation potential, with no adverse impacts on the other land challenges. Sixteen practices have large adaptation potential (>25 million people benefit), without adverse side effects on other land challenges. Most practices can be applied without competing for available land. However, seven options could result in competition for land. A large number of practices do not require dedicated land, including several land management options, all value chain options, and all risk management options. Four options could greatly increase competition for land if applied at a large scale, though the impact is scale and context specific, highlighting the need for safeguards to ensure that expansion of land for mitigation does not impact natural systems and food security. A number of practices, such as increased food productivity, dietary change and reduced food loss and waste, can reduce demand for land conversion, thereby potentially freeing\uffe2\uff80\uff90up land and creating opportunities for enhanced implementation of other practices, making them important components of portfolios of practices to address the combined land challenges.There is growing international interest in better managing soils to increase soil organic carbon (SOC) content to contribute to climate change mitigation, to enhance resilience to climate change and to underpin food security, through initiatives such as international \uffe2\uff80\uff984p1000\uffe2\uff80\uff99 initiative and the FAO's Global assessment of SOC sequestration potential (GSOCseq) programme. Since SOC content of soils cannot be easily measured, a key barrier to implementing programmes to increase SOC at large scale, is the need for credible and reliable measurement/monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) platforms, both for national reporting and for emissions trading. Without such platforms, investments could be considered risky. In this paper, we review methods and challenges of measuring SOC change directly in soils, before examining some recent novel developments that show promise for quantifying SOC. We describe how repeat soil surveys are used to estimate changes in SOC over time, and how long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term experiments and space\uffe2\uff80\uff90for\uffe2\uff80\uff90time substitution sites can serve as sources of knowledge and can be used to test models, and as potential benchmark sites in global frameworks to estimate SOC change. We briefly consider models that can be used to simulate and project change in SOC and examine the MRV platforms for SOC change already in use in various countries/regions. In the final section, we bring together the various components described in this review, to describe a new vision for a global framework for MRV of SOC change, to support national and international initiatives seeking to effect change in the way we manage our soils.This study evaluates the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) under perennial crops across the globe. It quantifies the effect of change from annual to perennial crops and the subsequent temporal changes in SOC stocks during the perennial crop cycle. It also presents an empirical model to estimate changes in the SOC content under crops as a function of time, land use, and site characteristics. We used a harmonized global dataset containing paired\uffe2\uff80\uff90comparison empirical values of SOC and different types of perennial crops (perennial grasses, palms, and woody plants) with different end uses: bioenergy, food, other bio\uffe2\uff80\uff90products, and short rotation coppice. Salient outcomes include: a 20\uffe2\uff80\uff90year period encompassing a change from annual to perennial crops led to an average 20% increase in SOC at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm (6.0\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa04.6\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha gain) and a total 10% increase over the 0\uffe2\uff80\uff93100\uffc2\uffa0cm soil profile (5.7\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa010.9\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha). A change from natural pasture to perennial crop decreased SOC stocks by 1% over 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm (\uffe2\uff88\uff922.5\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa04.2\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha) and 10% over 0\uffe2\uff80\uff93100\uffc2\uffa0cm (\uffe2\uff88\uff9213.6\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa08.9\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha). The effect of a land use change from forest to perennial crops did not show significant impacts, probably due to the limited number of plots; but the data indicated that while a 2% increase in SOC was observed at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff9330\uffc2\uffa0cm (16.81\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa055.1\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha), a decrease in 24% was observed at 30\uffe2\uff80\uff93100\uffc2\uffa0cm (\uffe2\uff88\uff9240.1\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa016.8\uffc2\uffa0Mg/ha). Perennial crops generally accumulate SOC through time, especially woody crops; and temperature was the main driver explaining differences in SOC dynamics, followed by crop age, soil bulk density, clay content, and depth. We present empirical evidence showing that the FAO perennialization strategy is reasonable, underscoring the role of perennial crops as a useful component of climate change mitigation strategies.Environmental factors relating to soil pH are widely known to be important in structuring soil bacterial communities, yet the relationship between taxonomic community composition and functional diversity remains to be determined. Here, we analyze geographically distributed soils spanning a wide pH gradient and assess the functional gene capacity within those communities using whole genome metagenomics. Low pH soils consistently had fewer taxa (lower alpha and gamma diversity), but only marginal reductions in functional alpha diversity and equivalent functional gamma diversity. However, coherent changes in the relative abundances of annotated genes between pH classes were identified; with functional profiles clustering according to pH independent of geography. Differences in gene abundances were found to reflect survival and nutrient acquisition strategies, with organic-rich acidic soils harboring a greater abundance of cation efflux pumps, C and N direct fixation systems and fermentation pathways indicative of anaerobiosis. Conversely, high pH soils possessed more direct transporter-mediated mechanisms for organic C and N substrate acquisition. These findings show that bacterial functional versatility may not be constrained by taxonomy, and we further identify the range of physiological adaptations required to exist in soils of varying nutrient availability and edaphic conditions.Measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture are essential for understanding the complex soil\uffe2\uff80\uff93crop\uffe2\uff80\uff93climate processes, but there are practical and economic limits to the spatial and temporal extent over which measurements can be made. Therefore, N2O models have an important role to play. As models are comparatively cheap to run, they can be used to extrapolate field measurements to regional or national scales, to simulate emissions over long time periods, or to run scenarios to compare mitigation practices. Process\uffe2\uff80\uff90based models can also be used as an aid to understanding the underlying processes, as they can simulate feedbacks and interactions that can be difficult to distinguish in the field. However, when applying models, it is important to understand the conceptual process differences in models, how conceptual understanding changed over time in various models, and the model requirements and limitations to ensure that the model is well suited to the purpose of the investigation and the type of system being simulated. The aim of this paper is to give the reader a high\uffe2\uff80\uff90level overview of some of the important issues that should be considered when modeling. This includes conceptual understanding of widely used models, common modeling techniques such as calibration and validation, assessing model fit, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty assessment. We also review examples of N2O modeling for different purposes and describe three commonly used process\uffe2\uff80\uff90based N2O models (APSIM, DayCent, and DNDC).Simulation models represent soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in global carbon (C) cycle scenarios to support climate\uffe2\uff80\uff90change studies. It is imperative to increase confidence in long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term predictions of SOC dynamics by reducing the uncertainty in model estimates. We evaluated SOC simulated from an ensemble of 26 process\uffe2\uff80\uff90based C models by comparing simulations to experimental data from seven long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term bare\uffe2\uff80\uff90fallow (vegetation\uffe2\uff80\uff90free) plots at six sites: Denmark (two sites), France, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The decay of SOC in these plots has been monitored for decades since the last inputs of plant material, providing the opportunity to test decomposition without the continuous input of new organic material. The models were run independently over multi\uffe2\uff80\uff90year simulation periods (from 28 to 80\uffc2\uffa0years) in a blind test with no calibration (Bln) and with the following three calibration scenarios, each providing different levels of information and/or allowing different levels of model fitting: (a) calibrating decomposition parameters separately at each experimental site (Spe); (b) using a generic, knowledge\uffe2\uff80\uff90based, parameterization applicable in the Central European region (Gen); and (c) using a combination of both (a) and (b) strategies (Mix). We addressed uncertainties from different modelling approaches with or without spin\uffe2\uff80\uff90up initialization of SOC. Changes in the multi\uffe2\uff80\uff90model median (MMM) of SOC were used as descriptors of the ensemble performance. On average across sites, Gen proved adequate in describing changes in SOC, with MMM equal to average SOC (and standard deviation) of 39.2 (\uffc2\uffb115.5)\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha compared to the observed mean of 36.0 (\uffc2\uffb119.7)\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha (last observed year), indicating sufficiently reliable SOC estimates. Moving to Mix (37.5\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa016.7\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha) and Spe (36.8\uffc2\uffa0\uffc2\uffb1\uffc2\uffa019.8\uffc2\uffa0Mg\uffc2\uffa0C/ha) provided only marginal gains in accuracy, but modellers would need to apply more knowledge and a greater calibration effort than in Gen, thereby limiting the wider applicability of models.The importance of soils to society has gained increasing recognition over the past decade, with the potential to contribute to most of the United Nations\uffe2\uff80\uff99 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With unprecedented and growing demands for food, water and energy, there is an urgent need for a global effort to address the challenges of climate change and land degradation, whilst protecting soil as a natural resource. In this paper, we identify the contribution of soil science over the past decade to addressing gaps in our knowledge regarding major environmental challenges: climate change, food security, water security, urban development, and ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. Continuing to address knowledge gaps in soil science is essential for the achievement of the SDGs. However, with limited time and budget, it is also pertinent to identify effective methods of working that ensure the research carried out leads to real\uffe2\uff80\uff90world impact. Here, we suggest three strategies for the next decade of soil science, comprising a greater implementation of research into policy, interdisciplinary partnerships to evaluate function trade\uffe2\uff80\uff90offs and synergies between soils and other environmental domains, and integrating monitoring and modelling methods to ensure soil\uffe2\uff80\uff90based policies can withstand the uncertainties of the future.
Highlights
We highlight the contributions of soil science to five major environmental challenges since 2010.
Researchers have contributed to recommendation reports, but work is rarely translated into policy.
Interdisciplinary work should assess trade\uffe2\uff80\uff90offs and synergies between soils and other domains.
Integrating monitoring and modelling is key for robust and sustainable soils\uffe2\uff80\uff90based policymaking.
", "keywords": ["330", "550", "QH301 Biology", "Sustainable Development Goals", "NE/R016429/1", "Urban development", "[SDV.SA.SDS]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Soil study", "01 natural sciences", "333", "Ecosystems", "12. Responsible consumption", "QH301", "11. Sustainability", "SDG 13 - Climate Action", "774378", "Climate change", "SDG 2 - Zero Hunger", "European Commission", "[SDV.SA.SDS] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Agricultural sciences/Soil study", "869625", "SDG 15 - Life on Land", "biodiversity", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences", "2. Zero hunger", "Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)", "NE/P019455/1", "biodiversity; climate change; ecosystems; food security; sustainable development goals; urban development; water security", "Food security", "Biodiversity", "food security", "15. Life on land", "sustainable development goals", "water security", "urban development", "[SHS.SCIPO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Political science", "6. Clean water", "climate change", "13. Climate action", "Water security", "ecosystems", "[SHS.SCIPO] Humanities and Social Sciences/Political science"]}, "links": [{"href": "http://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3157809/1/2021%20Evans%20et%20al%20-%20European%20Journal%20of%20Soil%20Science.pdf"}, {"href": "https://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/157184/1/Evans_etal_2021_Decade.pdf"}, {"href": "https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ejss.13145"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/2164/18196"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/European%20Journal%20of%20Soil%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "2164/18196", "name": "item", "description": "2164/18196", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/2164/18196"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-07-26T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "2164/16986", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-05-25T16:25:26Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-08-08", "title": "Soil-derived Nature's Contributions to People and their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals", "description": "This special issue provides an assessment of the contribution of soils to Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). Here, we combine this assessment and previously published relationships between NCP and delivery on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to infer contributions of soils to the SDGs. We show that in addition to contributing positively to the delivery of all NCP, soils also have a role in underpinning all SDGs. While highlighting the great potential of soils to contribute to sustainable development, it is recognized that poorly managed, degraded or polluted soils may contribute negatively to both NCP and SDGs. The positive contribution, however, cannot be taken for granted, and soils must be managed carefully to keep them healthy and capable of playing this vital role. A priority for soil management must include: (i) for healthy soils in natural ecosystems,protectthem from conversion and degradation; (ii) for managed soils,managein a way to protect and enhance soil biodiversity, health and sustainability and to prevent degradation; and (iii) for degraded soils, restore to full soil health. We have enough knowledge now to move forward with the implementation of best management practices to maintain and improve soil health. This analysis shows that this is not just desirable, it is essential if we are to meet the SDG targets by 2030 and achieve sustainable development more broadly in the decades to come.
This article is part of the theme issue \uffe2\uff80\uff98The role of soils in delivering Nature's Contributions to People\uffe2\uff80\uff99. This theme issue provides an assessment of the contribution of soils to Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). The papers in this issue show that soils can contribute positively to the delivery of all NCP. These contributions can be maximized through careful soil management to provide healthy soils, but poorly managed, degraded or polluted soils may contribute negatively to the delivery of NCP. Soils are also shown to contribute positively to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Papers in the theme issue emphasize the need for careful soil management. Priorities for soil management must include: (i) for healthy soils in natural ecosystems, protect them from conversion and degradation, (ii) for managed soils, manage in a way to protect and enhance soil biodiversity, health, productivity and sustainability and to prevent degradation, and (iii) for degraded soils, restore to full soil health. Our knowledge of what constitutes sustainable soil management is mature enough to implement best management practices, in order to maintain and improve soil health. The papers in this issue show the vast potential of soils to contribute to NCP. This is not only desirable, but essential to sustain a healthy planet and if we are to deliver sustainable development in the decades to come.
This article is part of the theme issue \uffe2\uff80\uff98The role of soils in delivering Nature\uffe2\uff80\uff99s Contributions to People\uffe2\uff80\uff99.Meeting end\uffe2\uff80\uff90of\uffe2\uff80\uff90century global warming targets requires aggressive action on multiple fronts. Recent reports note the futility of addressing mitigation goals without fully engaging the agricultural sector, yet no available assessments combine both nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based solutions (reforestation, grassland and wetland protection, and agricultural practice change) and cellulosic bioenergy for a single geographic region. Collectively, these solutions might offer a suite of climate, biodiversity, and other benefits greater than either alone. Nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based solutions are largely constrained by the duration of carbon accrual in soils and forest biomass; each of these carbon pools will eventually saturate. Bioenergy solutions can last indefinitely but carry significant environmental risk if carelessly deployed. We detail a simplified scenario for the United States that illustrates the benefits of combining approaches. We assign a portion of non\uffe2\uff80\uff90forested former cropland to bioenergy sufficient to meet projected mid\uffe2\uff80\uff90century transportation needs, with the remainder assigned to nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based solutions such as reforestation. Bottom\uffe2\uff80\uff90up mitigation potentials for the aggregate contributions of crop, grazing, forest, and bioenergy lands are assessed by including in a Monte Carlo model conservative ranges for cost\uffe2\uff80\uff90effective local mitigation capacities, together with ranges for (a) areal extents that avoid double counting and include realistic adoption rates and (b) the projected duration of different carbon sinks. The projected duration illustrates the net effect of eventually saturating soil carbon pools in the case of most strategies, and additionally saturating biomass carbon pools in the case of forest management. Results show a conservative end\uffe2\uff80\uff90of\uffe2\uff80\uff90century mitigation capacity of 110 (57\uffe2\uff80\uff93178) Gt CO2e for the U.S., ~50% higher than existing estimates that prioritize nature\uffe2\uff80\uff90based or bioenergy solutions separately. Further research is needed to shrink uncertainties, but there is sufficient confidence in the general magnitude and direction of a combined approach to plan for deployment now.Biochar amendment is one of the most promising agricultural approaches to tackle climate change by enhancing soil carbon (C) sequestration. Microbial\uffe2\uff80\uff90mediated decomposition processes are fundamental for the fate and persistence of sequestered C in soil, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. Here, we synthesise 923 observations regarding the effects of biochar addition (over periods ranging from several weeks to several years) on soil C\uffe2\uff80\uff90degrading enzyme activities from 130 articles across five continents worldwide. Our results showed that biochar addition increased soil ligninase activity targeting complex phenolic macromolecules by 7.1%, but suppressed cellulase activity degrading simpler polysaccharides by 8.3%. These shifts in enzyme activities explained the most variation of changes in soil C sequestration across a wide range of climatic, edaphic and experimental conditions, with biochar\uffe2\uff80\uff90induced shift in ligninase:cellulase ratio correlating negatively with soil C sequestration. Specifically, short\uffe2\uff80\uff90term (<1\uffc2\uffa0year) biochar addition significantly reduced cellulase activity by 4.6% and enhanced soil organic C sequestration by 87.5%, whereas no significant responses were observed for ligninase activity and ligninase:cellulase ratio. However, long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term (\uffe2\uff89\uffa51\uffc2\uffa0year) biochar addition significantly enhanced ligninase activity by 5.2% and ligninase:cellulase ratio by 36.1%, leading to a smaller increase in soil organic C sequestration (25.1%). These results suggest that shifts in enzyme activities increased ligninase:cellulase ratio with time after biochar addition, limiting long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term soil C sequestration with biochar addition. Our work provides novel evidence to explain the diminished soil C sequestration with long\uffe2\uff80\uff90term biochar addition and suggests that earlier studies may have overestimated soil C sequestration with biochar addition by failing to consider the physiological acclimation of soil microorganisms over time.