In vineyards in Spain, tillage and semiarid Mediterranean climatic conditions accelerate organic matter loss from the soil. Cover crops are a conservation management practice that can provoke changes in soil quality which requires evaluation. Stratification ratios of soil properties such as soil organic C and labile C fractions have been proposed for the assessment of soil quality under different soil management systems. Our objective was to study the effect of different cover crop management on various soil parameters and their stratification ratios. We evaluated three different soil managements in a Typic Haploxerept from NE Spain: conventional tillage (CT); 5\uffe2\uff80\uff90y continuous cover crop of resident vegetation (RV); and 4\uffe2\uff80\uff90y continuous cover crop of Festuca longifolia Thuill., followed by 1\uffe2\uff80\uff90y Bromus catharticus L. after resowing (BV). We monitored soil organic C, particulate organic C, water soluble C, potentially mineralizable N, microbial biomass C, \uffce\uffb2\uffe2\uff80\uff90glucosidase and urease enzymatic activities, and water stable aggregates at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff932.5, 2.5\uffe2\uff80\uff935, 5\uffe2\uff80\uff9315, 15\uffe2\uff80\uff9325, and 25\uffe2\uff80\uff9345\uffe2\uff80\uff89cm soil depths. We calculated soil depth stratification ratios of those soil properties. Resident cover crop increased microbiological properties, labile C fractions, and aggregation with respect to conventional tillage at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff932.5 and 2.5\uffe2\uff80\uff935\uffe2\uff80\uff89cm soil depths. However, for Bromus cover crop the same soil properties were lower than for the resident cover crop at 0\uffe2\uff80\uff932.5\uffe2\uff80\uff89cm depth. Stratification ratios of \uffce\uffb2\uffe2\uff80\uff90glucosidase and urease enzymatic activities, and particulate organic C showed a higher sensitivity than other soil properties; therefore, they would be the best indicators for soil quality assessment in semiarid Mediterranean vineyards.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Water stable aggregates", "Cover crops in vineyard", "Enzymatic activities", "13. Climate action", "Labile C fractions", "Microbial biomass C", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil quality"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.201300371"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Plant%20Nutrition%20and%20Soil%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1002/jpln.201300371", "name": "item", "description": "10.1002/jpln.201300371", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1002/jpln.201300371"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2014-05-12T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.08.005", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:15:34Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2013-08-30", "title": "The Earthworm Species Metaphire Posthuma Modulates The Effect Of Organic Amendments (Compost Vs. Vermicompost From Buffalo Manure) On Soil Microbial Properties. A Laboratory Experiment", "description": "The aim of this study was to determine the influence of compost and vermicompost produced from buffalo manure on soil bacterial diversity and activity in the presence and absence of the endogeic earthworm Metaphire posthuma. This experiment was carried out for 15 months with a maize- tomato emaize cycle under greenhouse conditions in Northern Vietnam. It showed a positive influence of compost and vermicompost on soil microbial properties, with higher cultivable bacteria, higher bacterial and catabolic diversity (Shannon diversity 'H' and Richness 'S') indices and higher enzymatic activities than control soils which only received mineral fertilizers. Differences also occurred between compost and vermicompost with lower activity and diversity in the soil amended with vermicompost, probably because of its higher molecular stability. The presence of M. posthuma led to divergent dynamics of bacterial community in soils amended with compost and vermicompost. Earthworms negatively influenced soil microbial properties in composted soil (lower Average Well Color Development 'AWCD'), probably because of competition between bacteria and earthworms for organic resources and/or because of the consumption of microbes by earthworms. Conversely, the presence of earthworms increased bacterial diversity and activity with higher AWCD, and H and S indices for the vermicompost treatment, probably as a result of a stimulation of microorganisms that allow the degradation of stable organic matter and its further consumption by earthworms. In conclusion, this study clearly confirmed the different impacts of compost and vermicompost on bacterial activity and diversity and highlighted the importance considering the interaction of these organic substrates with local endogeic earthworms.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "[SDE.IE]Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering", "MICROBIOLOGIE DU SOL", "Enzymatic activities", "SOL CULTIVE", "MATIERE ORGANIQUE", "Metaphire posthuma", "Organic fertilization", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "630", "333", "6. Clean water", "ACTIVITE ENZYMATIQUE", "13. Climate action", "FERTILISATION DU SOL", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Biolog analysis", "[SDE.IE] Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering", "DGGE", "Tropical soil", "LOMBRIC", "COMPOST"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.08.005"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/European%20Journal%20of%20Soil%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.08.005", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.08.005", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2013.08.005"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2013-11-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.ejsobi.2010.04.003", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:15:33Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2010-04-26", "title": "Seasonal Dynamics Of The Physicochemical And Biological Properties Of Soils In Naturally Regenerating, Unmanaged And Clear-Cut Beech Stands In Northern Spain", "description": "The physicochemical and biological properties of soils within an unmanaged beech stand and two stands clear-cut in 2001 or 1996 were studied and compared across the year 2008. The clear-cut stands were left to naturally regenerate and exhibited very different levels of tree density. Soil from the stand clear-cut in 2001 had the lowest contents of organic matter and nitrogen, showed high resistance to penetration and the pH varied throughout the seasons. Basal respiration achieved minimum values in summer in both the unmanaged stand and the stand clear-cut in 1996. However, basal respiration slightly fluctuated from spring to autumn in the stand clear-cut in 2001. The seasonal dynamics of protease and phosphatase activities were similar within the three stands: the maximum protease activity was detected in spring and the highest phophatase activity in winter. \u03b2-Glucosidase activity in autumn and dehydrogenase in winter were greater in the unmanaged than in the clear-cut stands. Moreover, dehydrogenase activity was extremely low in the stand clear-cut in 1996. Microclimatic parameters within the stands were significantly correlated with several biological properties of soils, with microclimate being strongly determined by the density of trees. Results also suggested that ectomycorrhizal fungi would be key components of the soil microflora in the beech forests.", "keywords": ["0106 biological sciences", "Clear-cutting", "Beech forests", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "Ectomycorrhizas", "Soil basal respiration", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Soil enzymatic activities", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "Soil physicochemical properties"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2010.04.003"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/European%20Journal%20of%20Soil%20Biology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.ejsobi.2010.04.003", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.ejsobi.2010.04.003", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2010.04.003"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2010-05-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2006.08.010", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:16:20Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2006-09-23", "title": "Soil Biochemical Response To Long-Term Conservation Tillage Under Semi-Arid Mediterranean Conditions", "description": "Open AccessCICYT Projects (AGL2004-03684/AGR and AGL2005-02423), and Andalusian Autonomous Government (Junta de Andalucia, AGR 151 Group) supported these works.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Soil organic matter", "Enzymatic activities", "Microbial biomass", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "Soil quality", "Carbon", "6. Clean water", "Tillage"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Madej\u00f3n, Engracia, Moreno Lucas, F\u00e9lix, Murillo Carpio, Jos\u00e9 Manuel, Pelegr\u00edn, Francisco,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2006.08.010"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2006.08.010", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2006.08.010", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2006.08.010"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2007-06-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2009.04.001", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"license": "Open Access", "updated": "2026-09-21T16:16:22Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2009-05-10", "title": "Conservation Tillage: Short- And Long-Term Effects On Soil Carbon Fractions And Enzymatic Activities Under Mediterranean Conditions", "description": "Open AccessPeer reviewed", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Enzymatic activities", "Soil active carbon", "Sustainable agriculture", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Microbial biomass carbon", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Tillage", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"], "contacts": [{"organization": "Melero S\u00e1nchez, Sebastiana, L\u00f3pez Garrido, Rosa, Murillo Carpio, Jos\u00e9 Manuel, Moreno Lucas, F\u00e9lix,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2009.04.001"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2009.04.001", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2009.04.001", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2009.04.001"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-07-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2009.05.007", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:16:22Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2009-06-18", "title": "Effect Of Long-Term Conservation Tillage On Soil Biochemical Properties In Mediterranean Spanish Areas", "description": "Open AccessPeer reviewed", "keywords": ["Soil microbial biomass carbon", "2. Zero hunger", "Soil organic carbon", "Semi-arid areas", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Soil enzymatic activities", "15. Life on land", "Soil tillage", "6. Clean water"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2009.05.007"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2009.05.007", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2009.05.007", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2009.05.007"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2009-09-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2011.04.007", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:16:23Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2011-05-21", "title": "Long-Term Effect Of Tillage, Rotation And Nitrogen Fertiliser On Soil Quality In A Mediterranean Vertisol", "description": "Studies of the impacts of the interactions of soil agricultural practices on soil quality could assist with assessment of better management to establish sustainable crop production system. The main objective was to determine the long-term effects of tillage system, crop rotation and N fertilisation on soil total N and organic C (SOC), labile fractions of organic matter (water soluble carbon, WSC, and active carbon, AC), nitrate content, and soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase (DHA), \u03b2-glucosidase (Glu) and alkaline phosphatase (AP)) at four different soil depths (0\u20135, 5\u201310, 10\u201330 and 30\u201350 cm), in a Mediterranean dryland Vertisol in SW Spain. Tillage systems were conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT). Crop rotations were wheat\u2013sunflower (WS), wheat\u2013chickpea (WC), wheat\u2013faba bean (WFb), wheat\u2013fallow (WF) and continuous wheat (WW). Nitrogen fertiliser rates were 0, 50 and 150 kg N ha\u22121. The different crop rotation systems had a great influence in soil C and N fractions and enzymatic activities. In general, the SOC, total N, WSC, and \u03b2-glucosidase contents were higher in the no tillage system than in conventional tillage system in the wheat\u2013wheat and in the wheat\u2013faba bean rotations at upper layer (0\u20135 cm), while the lowest ones were obtained in the wheat\u2013fallow rotation in both tillage systems. Carbon and N fractions, calculated by volumetric soil, showed an increase with depth in both tillage systems and in all crop rotations, which could be related to the increase of soil bulk density and soil mass with depth. The highest N fertiliser rate increased most of soil variables, especially nitrate content at deeper layers, thereby precautions should be taken with long-term N fertilisation to avoid leaching of nitrates below the tillage layer. With the exception of wheat\u2013fallow rotation, slightly greater grain and above-ground biomass yields were obtained for wheat in NT, especially at 150 kg N ha\u22121. Combination of NT with any biannual rotation except fallow could be an adequate sustainable management in order to improve soil quality of Vertisols, under our conditions.", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Soil organic matter", "13. Climate action", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "Soil enzymatic activities", "15. Life on land", "Rainfed agriculture", "Conservation tillage", "6. Clean water", "12. Responsible consumption"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2011.04.007"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2011.04.007", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2011.04.007", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2011.04.007"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2011-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2011.10.013", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:16:23Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2011-11-23", "title": "Tillage Influence On Biophysical Soil Properties: The Example Of A Long-Term Tillage Experiment Under Mediterranean Rainfed Conditions In South Spain", "description": "Open AccessPeer reviewed", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "Enzymatic activities", "13. Climate action", "Soil Carbon", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "Soil aggregates", "Soil quality", "Tillage", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"], "contacts": [{"organization": "L\u00f3pez Garrido, Rosa, Deurer, Markus, Madej\u00f3n, Engracia, Murillo Carpio, Jos\u00e9 Manuel, Moreno Lucas, F\u00e9lix,", "roles": ["creator"]}]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2011.10.013"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2011.10.013", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2011.10.013", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2011.10.013"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2012-01-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1016/j.still.2015.02.008", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:16:25Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2015-03-13", "title": "Evaluation Of Seasonal Variability Of Soil Biogeochemical Properties In Aggregate-Size Fractioned Soil Under Different Tillages", "description": "Open AccessPeer reviewed", "keywords": ["CP MAS NMR", "2. Zero hunger", "Enzymatic activities", "Conservation agriculture", "Total organic carbon", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "01 natural sciences", "3. Good health", "13. Climate action", "Labile carbon pools", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2015.02.008"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Soil%20and%20Tillage%20Research", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1016/j.still.2015.02.008", "name": "item", "description": "10.1016/j.still.2015.02.008", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1016/j.still.2015.02.008"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2015-08-01T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:19:14Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-06-23", "title": "Microplastics increase soil pH and decrease microbial activities as a function of microplastic shape, polymer type, and exposure time.", "description": "Microplastic pollution is a topic of increasing concern, especially since this issue was first addressed in soils. Results have so far been variable in terms of effects, suggesting that there is substantial context-dependency in microplastic effects in soil. To better define conditions that may affect microplastic-related impacts, we here examined effects as a function of microplastic shape and polymer type, and we tested if effects on soil properties and soil microbial activities change with incubation time. In our laboratory study, we evaluated twelve different secondary microplastics representing four microplastic shapes: fibers, films, foams and fragments; and eight polymer types: polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polyester (PES), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyurethane (PU). We mixed the microplastics with a sandy soil (0.4% w/w) and incubated at 25\uffc2\uffb0C for 31\uffc2\uffa0days. Then, we collected soil samples on the 3rd, 11th, and 31st\uffc2\uffa0day, and measured soil pH, respiration and four enzyme activities (soil enzymatic activities). Our results showed that microplastics could affect soil pH, respiration and enzymatic activities depending on microplastic shape and polymer type, effects that were altered with incubation time. Soil pH increased with foams and fragments and overall decreased in the first days of incubation and then increased. Soil respiration increased with PE foams and was affected by the incubation time, declining over time. Overall, acid phosphatase activity was not affected by shape or polymer type. \uffce\uffb2-D-glucosidase activity decreased with foams, cellobiosidase activity decreased with fibers, films and foams while N-acetyl-\uffce\uffb2-glucosaminidase activities decreased with fibers and fragments. Enzymatic activities fluctuated during the incubation time, except N-acetyl-\uffce\uffb2-glucosaminidase, which showed a declining trend with incubation time. Enzymatic activities were negatively correlated with soil pH and this relationship was less strong when microplastics were added to the soil. Our study adds to the evidence that research should embrace the complexity and diversity of microplastics, highlighting the role of microplastic shape and polymer type in influencing effects; additionally, we show that incubation time is also a parameter to consider, as effects are dynamic even in the short term.
", "keywords": ["580", "2. Zero hunger", "pH", "foams", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "fibers", "15. Life on land", "soil respiration", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "Environmental sciences", "soil enzymatic activities", "500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::580 Pflanzen (Botanik)::580 Pflanzen (Botanik)", "13. Climate action", "fragments", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "GE1-350", "films", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Frontiers%20in%20Environmental%20Science", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803", "name": "item", "description": "10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.3389/fenvs.2021.675803"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-06-23T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.1111/1365-2664.13839", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:17:27Z", "type": "Journal Article", "created": "2021-01-19", "title": "Effects of microplastics and drought on soil ecosystem functions and multifunctionality", "description": "Abstract
Microplastics in soils have become an important threat for terrestrial systems as they may potentially alter the geochemical/biophysical soil environment and can interact with drought. As microplastics may affect soil water content, this could exacerbate the well\uffe2\uff80\uff90known negative effects of drought on ecosystem functionality. Thus, functions including litter decomposition, soil aggregation or those related with nutrient cycling can be altered. Despite this potential interaction, we know relatively little about how microplastics, under different soil water conditions, affect ecosystem functions and multifunctionality.
To address this gap, we performed an experiment using grassland plant communities growing in microcosms. Microplastic fibres (absent, present) and soil water conditions (well\uffe2\uff80\uff90watered, drought) were applied in a fully factorial design. At harvest, we measured soil ecosystem functions related to nutrient cycling (\uffce\uffb2\uffe2\uff80\uff90glucosaminidase, \uffce\uffb2\uffe2\uff80\uff90D\uffe2\uff80\uff90cellobiosidase, phosphatase, \uffce\uffb2\uffe2\uff80\uff90glucosidase enzymes), respiration, nutrient retention, pH, litter decomposition and soil aggregation (water stable aggregates). As terrestrial systems provide these functions simultaneously, we also assessed ecosystem multifunctionality, an index that encompasses the array of ecosystem functions measured here.
We found that the interaction between microplastic fibres and drought affected ecosystem functions and multifunctionality. Drought had negatively affected nutrient cycling by decreasing enzymatic activities by up to ~39%, while microplastics increased soil aggregation by ~18%, soil pH by ~4% and nutrient retention by up to ~70% by diminishing nutrient leaching. Microplastic fibres also impacted soil enzymes, respiration and ecosystem multifunctionality, but importantly, the direction of these effects depended on soil water status. That is, under well\uffe2\uff80\uff90watered conditions, these functions decreased with microplastic fibres by up to ~34% while under drought they had similar values irrespective of the microplastic presence, or tended to increase with microplastics. Litter decomposition had a contrary pattern increasing with microplastics by ~6% under well\uffe2\uff80\uff90watered conditions while decreasing to a similar percentage under drought.
Synthesis and applications. Single ecosystem functions can be positively or negatively affected by microplastics fibres depending on soil water status. However, our results suggest that microplastic fibres may cause negative effects on ecosystem soil multifunctionality of a similar magnitude as drought. Thus, strategies to counteract this new global change factor are necessary.
", "keywords": ["2. Zero hunger", "570", "ddc:630", "nutrient cycling", "litter decomposition", "500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie::570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie", "04 agricultural and veterinary sciences", "15. Life on land", "soil respiration", "01 natural sciences", "6. Clean water", "soil aggregation", "soil pH", "grasslands ecosystem", "13. Climate action", "nutrient leaching", "0401 agriculture", " forestry", " and fisheries", "ddc:570", "Institut f\u00fcr Biochemie und Biologie", "enzymatic activities", "0105 earth and related environmental sciences"]}, "links": [{"href": "https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1365-2664.13839"}, {"href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13839"}, {"rel": "related", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/Journal%20of%20Applied%20Ecology", "name": "related record", "description": "related record", "type": "application/json"}, {"rel": "self", "type": "application/geo+json", "title": "10.1111/1365-2664.13839", "name": "item", "description": "10.1111/1365-2664.13839", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main/items/10.1111/1365-2664.13839"}, {"rel": "collection", "type": "application/json", "title": "Collection", "name": "collection", "description": "Collection", "href": "https://repository.soilwise-he.eu/cat/collections/metadata:main"}], "time": {"date": "2021-02-10T00:00:00Z"}}, {"id": "10.5061/dryad.wpzgmsbtq", "type": "Feature", "geometry": null, "properties": {"updated": "2026-09-21T16:19:53Z", "type": "Dataset", "created": "2023-10-05", "title": "Data from: Integrating variation in bacterial-fungal co-occurrence network with soil carbon dynamics", "description": "unspecifiedThe experimental site is located in the state-owned Daguishan Forest Farm in Hezhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (111\u00b020\u20195\u2019\u2019E, 23\u00b058\u201933\u2019\u2019N). The mean annual temperature in this area is 19.3\u2103, with mean annual precipitation and evaporation of 2,056 mm and 1,200 mm, respectively. The soil type is classified as red soil (i.e., ferralsols). A total of 12 plots (20 m wide \u00d7 30 m long) were established to collect soil samples in\u00a0triplicate representing four generations of Eucalyptus plantation. In each treatment, the Eucalyptus trees were at the same stage of development (i.e., 4 years after planting). The treatments included the first generation (PrG) of Eucalyptus reforestation, the second generation (SeG) regenerating after the PrG was cut, the third generation (ThG) regenerating after the SeG, and the fourth generation (FoG) regenerating after the ThG. An evergreen broadleaf forest with three adjacent plots was selected as the control (CK), which was a\u00a0precursor to the Eucalyptus plantation. All the plots were located within a 5 km2 area. The Eucalyptus species planted in these plots was a hybrid of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake \u00d7 Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden (Eucalyptus urograndis).", "keywords": ["total bacterial diversity", "soil enzymatic activities", "bacterial-fungal associations", "13. Climate action", "carbon mineralization", "SparCC network", "FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences", "15. 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