Quantification and evaluation ofthe spatiotemporal changes in soil quality is importantto understand soil degradation mechanisms and restore the damaged land productivity. However, the effects of coal mining subsidence on the spatial and temporal characteristics of soil quality are not well understood. We investigated the contents of pH, organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NN), ammonia nitrogen (AN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), total potassium (TK), cation exchange capacity (CEC), sucrase activity (SA), urease activity (UA), phosphatase activity (PA), catalase activity (CA) and dehydrogenase activity (DA) in the coal mining subsided area. The results showed that the contents of TN, NN, AN, TP, AK, TK, SA, UA, PA, CA and DA exhibited significant (P < 0.05) differences among the four seasons. Compared with the upper layer (0-20 cm), the lower layer (20-40 cm) contained higher contents of AN, NN, TN, TP and TK but lower contents of SA, UA, PA, CA and DA. The NN, AP, TP, AK and UA were identified as key indicators in the minimum dataset using principal component analysis. The seasonal changes of soil quality index (SQI) were in the following order: winter (0.707), spring (0.681), summer (0.616), and autumn (0.563). The spatial changes of SQI were highest for middle slope position 3 (0.508), followed by lower slope position 4 (0.507), top slope position 1 (0.446), upper slope position 2 (0.442), and bottom slope position 5 (0.437). Based on these spatiotemporal changes in soil quality, it was suggested that the application of multiple land use types may be a useful method for land reclamation and the interest of local farmers in the coal mining subsided area.

This study aims to improve the forecasting performance of slope stability for impacting environmental sustainability and infrastructure safety predictions by using the Binary Particle Swarm Optimization BPSO technique is utilized to select relevant features from the dataset, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of the predictive models. The research includes 108 slope stability examples, with the dataset split between 70% training and 30% validation. The dataset comprises seven input parameters: cohesiveness, slope angle, unit weight, angle of internal friction, slope height, pore water pressure coefficient, and factor of safety. The objective is to classify the slope status, turning the problem into a classification task. To obtain optimal hyper-parameters for the SVM model, Grid Search was exploited. The accuracy of the slope stability predictions given by several models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The results indicate that the BPSO-SVM model outperforms the standalone SVM and BPSO models, serving as a robust computational tool capable of accurately predicting slope stability to enhance the environmental sustainability.

Most improved strategies for phytoextraction do not achieve a synergistic enhancement of chromium (Cr) accumulation capacity and biomass. This study investigated the impacts of co-addition of garbage enzyme (GE) and microelectrolytic iron-carbon filler (MF) on soil physicochemical properties, as well as form and uptake of Cr during aging and phytoextraction process. The response of rhizosphere microbial community to co-addition and its role in enhancing the remediation performance of ryegrass was further analyzed. Co-addition of GE and MF during the 12-day aging process resulted in an increase of nutrients, a shift from an oxidising to a reducing soil environment, a decrease of Cr(VI) content, and an enhancement of soil microbial community diversity and richness, creating a suitable environment for subsequent phytoextraction. During the 40-day phytoextraction process, co-addition played a crucial role in facilitating the establishment of a complex, efficient and interdependent ecological network among soil microorganisms and contributed to the evolution of microbial community composition and functional pathways. An increase in the relative abundance of Trichococcus, Azospirillum and g_norank_f_JG30-KF-CM45 elevated soil nutrient levels, while a decrease in the relative abundance of TM7a and Brucella reduced pathogen harbouring. Meanwhile, co-addition increased the relative abundance of Bacillus, Arthrobacter and Exiguobacterium, attenuated Cr phytotoxicity and improved soil biochemical activity. These markedly diminished oxidative damage and improved ryegrass growth by reducing malondialdehyde accumulation. In addition, regular additions of GE and the increase in relative abundance of norank_fnorank_o_Microtrichales led to rhizosphere acidification, which inhibited short-term Cr immobilization and contributed to a notable increase in phytoextraction efficiency. This study presents a strategy to enhance phytoremediation efficiency and soil quality during phytoextraction of Cr-contaminated soils.

Introduction Enhancing soil health and nutrient levels through fertilizers boosts agricultural productivity and global food security. However, careful fertilizer use is essential to prevent environmental damage and improve crop yields. The soil test crop response (STCR) is a scientific approach to fertilizer recommendation that ensures efficient use, supporting higher crop production while protecting the environment and preserving resources.Methodology A long-term field experiment on the STCR approach was initiated in 2017 at the Zonal Agriculture Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India. The experiment aimed to study the impact of STCR-based nutrient prescription along with farmyard manure (FYM) for a targeted yield of soybean (Glycine max), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), dry chili (Capsicum annuum), aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), and kodo millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) on yield and changes in soil health in comparison with other approaches of fertilizer recommendation.Results The results showed a significant and positive impact of the integrated use of fertilizer with FYM based on the STCR approach on the productivity of all the crops and soil fertility. Significantly higher yields of soybean (23.91 q ha-1), sunflower (27.13 q ha-1), dry chili (16.67 q ha-1), aerobic rice (65.46 q ha-1), foxtail millet (14.07 q ha-1), okra (26.82 t ha-1), and kodo millet (17.10 q ha-1) were observed in the STCR NPK + FYM approach at yield level 1 compared to the general recommended dose and soil fertility rating approach. This approach outperformed the standard recommendations, enhancing nutrient uptake and efficiency across various crops. Utilizing the principal component analysis, the soil quality index effectively reflected the impact of nutrient management on soil properties, with the STCR NPK + FYM treatment at yield level 1 showing the highest correlation with improved soil physical and chemical parameters.Discussion The STCR approach led to improved yield, nutrient uptake, utilization efficiency, and soil health, thanks to a balanced fertilization strategy. This strategy was informed by soil tests and included factors like crop-induced nutrient depletion, baseline soil fertility, the efficiency of inherent and added nutrients through fertilizers and farmyard manure, and the success of yield-targeting techniques in meeting the nutritional needs of crops.

Drylands impacted by energy development often require costly reclamation activities to reconstruct damaged soils and vegetation, yet little is known about the effectiveness of reclamation practices in promoting recovery of soil quality due to a lack of long-term and cross -site studies. Here, we examined paired on -pad and adjacent undisturbed off -pad soil properties over a 22 -year chronosequence of 91 reclaimed oil or gas well pads across soil and climate gradients of the Colorado Plateau in the southwestern United States. Our goals were to estimate the time required for soil properties to reach undisturbed conditions, examine the multivariate nature of soil quality following reclamation, and identify environmental factors that affect reclamation outcomes. Soil samples, collected in 2020 and 2021, were analyzed for biogeochemical pools (total nitrogen, and total organic and inorganic carbon), chemical characteristics (salinity, sodicity, pH), and texture. Predicted time to recovery across all sites was 29 years for biogeochemical soil properties, 31 years for soil chemical properties, and 6 years for soil texture. Ordination of soil properties revealed differences between on- and off -pad soils, while site aridity explained variability in on -pad recovery. The predicted time to total soil recovery (distance between on- and offpad in ordination space) was 96 years, which was longer than any individual soil property. No site reached total recovery, indicating that individual soil properties alone may not fully indicate recovery in soil quality as soil recovery does not equal the sum of its parts. Site aridity was the largest predictor of reclamation outcomes, but the effects differed depending on soil type. Taken together, results suggest the recovery of soil quality - which reflects soil fertility, carbon sequestration potential, and other ecosystem functions - was influenced primarily by site setting, with soil type and aridity major mediators of on -pad carbon, salinity, and total soil recovery following reclamation.

Karst regions represent fragile landscapes that are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. The study aims to assess the soil quality in the karst basin of Ioannina, which is located in the north-western region of Greece. Factor analysis was employed to evaluate the concentrations of trace elements in the soil. Additionally, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) was utilized to visualize the spatial distribution of these trace elements and their potential sources in relation to the local geology and land use. The study findings underscored that most of the karst landscape in the research area is comprised of Quaternary deposits and it is predominantly occupied by agricultural land. The soil displays substantial levels of clay and silt, with noticeably elevated concentration of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), vanadium (V), and phosphorous (P) compared to the median concentrations observed in European topsoil. The factor analysis is applied to the dataset of elements content in soil to identify the factors controlling their distribution. Factor 1 involves the geological contribution and the adsorption of Fe-Ni-Cr-Pb-V and lithium (Li) into clay minerals. Factor 1 may be termed as lithogenic factor. The cultivated land and road network showed a significant correlation with the higher positive loadings of Fe, Mn, Pb and Cu for Factor 2 which may be termed agricultural-road network factor. Agricultural activities and cultivated land presented a significant correlation with the higher positive loadings of nitrate (NO3-), nitrite (NO2-), organic matter (OM), ammonium (NH4+) and P for Factor 3 which may be termed as agricultural factor. The higher positive loadings of Factor 4 suggest a variation in the mechanical properties of the Quaternary deposits and may be termed as soil texture factor. Quaternary deposits and agricultural land exhibit a strong spatial relationship with factor scores of each factor. Combining factor analysis and GIS proved to be an effective method for identifying and confirming the sources of elements content in soil.

The soil quality index (SQI) is a comprehensive indicator that reflects the agricultural productivity of soil, as well as playing important roles in understanding microbial nutrient metabolism and carbon use efficiency (CUE). However, it is unclear how drip irrigation treatments in apple orchards affect the SQI, eco-enzyme stoichiometry, and soil microbial CUE. Thus, in the present study, we tested three different treatments in orchard plots: T1 (50-60 % field water capacity (theta f)), T2 (65-75 % theta f), and T3 (80-90 % theta f), as well as control with no drip irrigation (CK). The study focused on the effects of these treatments during two key stages: bud breaking and fruit maturity. During the bud breaking stage, we observed that water availability had a more pronounced influence on the SQI when soil moisture was limited. Specifically, in the 0-20 cm soil layer, the T2 treatment showed a significantly lower SQI value compared to T3, with a decrease of 31.89 %. On the other hand, there were no significant differences among all the irrigated treatments during the maturity stage. Both vector length and angle were significantly affected by water availability during the bud breaking stage, while only the vector angle was impacted during the maturity stage. The vector length and angle were both influenced by SQI (Mantel's test: p < 0.01). During the bud breaking stage, the CUE values in 0-20 cm layer under T1, T2, and T3 were 30.27 %, 21.79 %, and 85.47 % lower, respectively, compared with CK. By contrast, in the fruit maturity stage, CUE was 27.39 % higher under T1 compared with CK. SQI and CUE had a negative correlation in the bud breaking stage (p < 0.001, R-2 = 0.26), but a positive correlation in the fruit maturity stage (p < 0.001, R-2 = 0.51). Our findings suggest that the T3 treatment consistently yields the highest Soil Quality Index (SQI) across most soil layers during the bud breaking and maturity stages. Moreover, the T3 treatment effectively alleviates early spring drought in the Weibei region and encourages deep-root development, enabling fruit trees to absorb nutrients from deeper soil levels. Overall, these findings enhance our understanding of how the SQI and enzyme stoichiometry under drip irrigation affect phosphorus and carbon metabolism in soils, and they suggest that SQI should be considered a key factor that limits microbial metabolic restrictions and microbial CUE.

PurposeStripping topsoil and transplanting seedlings damage the plough layer, reduce soil quality, and hinder food production. It is therefore urgent to rapidly improve the fertility of such plough layer damaged soils; however, there is a lack of available materials, quality evaluation methods, and application techniques.Materials and methodsUsing moss peat (M), rice husk biochar (R), sawdust biochar (S), vegetable corn husk (C), and microbial inoculants as raw materials, a novel carbon-rich soil improvement materials (CRSIM) were created.Results and discussionThe results showed that when M and R are mixed at mass ratios of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1, M and S are mixed at a mass ratio of 3:1, mixing with C at a mass ratio of 10:1, and adding microbial inoculant Bacillus subtilis, the high-quality CRSIM can be formed ((M + R)10C1, (2 M + R)10C1, (3 M + R)10C1, and (3 M + S)10C1)), which showed loose texture, high organic matter, and stability. Adding the above four CRSIM to plough layer damaged soil at the ratio of 1 to 8% can significantly reduce the soil bulk density, increase SOC and MBC content and carbon cycling enzyme activity, and change SOC chemical composition. Among them, the most beneficial material was (3 M + R)10C1, which increased wheat yield 5.6 times compared to CK when applied to the soil. In addition, CRSIM significantly influenced bacterial community composition and diversity more than fungi. They had greater strength in microbial carbon sequestration strategies while reducing soil microbial respiration intensity and qCO2, suggesting that these CRSIM favor the development of microbiota that contributes to soil C storage.ConclusionsIn summary, mixing peat and biochar can create a novel CRSIM for plough layer damaged soil, which can improve soil quality and increase soil carbon sequestration.

There is an urgent requirement for the improvement of the white leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei; health-related indices; and immunity due to emerging diseases. Recently, probiotics have been playing an important role in L. vannamei health management. Therefore, the current pond trial was to evaluate the probiotic proficiency of commercial probiotic products of THIONIL (THIO) on the enhancement of the water, soil, growth, digestibility, survival, immune-related indices, and susceptibility of L. vannamei to infection. The study was carried out in the major shrimp culturing regions of Kavali, Nellore (Andhra Pradesh), and Ponneri (Tamil Nadu), India. Six groups (lacks/ha) of the experimental L. vannamei were allocated, including a control group (THIO 0%-untreated) and groups containing 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% of THIO that were encapsulated with commercial feed (CP Aqua). Bioassays were performed on PLs/ shrimp at various days interval of 0, 5, 25, 50, 100, and 123th to assess productivity, anti-vibrio activity, and digestive enzyme for digestibility, histological and immunological indices, and cytotoxicity in Artemia nauplii. Significant differences were observed in the increased growth (35.71 +/- 3.24 g/shrimp) and digestive parameters in 10% THIO-fed shrimp. Although in contrast to the control group, the other THIO-fed prawn groups also displayed appreciable development. The findings showed that, in comparison to the control, the gill, hepatopancreas, and stomach had reduced tissue damage with 10% THIO. Furthermore, Vibrio parahaemolyticus (0.008 x 10(4) cfu/g) and Vibrio harveyi (0.051 x 10(5) cfu/g) (vibriosis) were potentially resistant to the 10% THIO-fed group. In addition, THIO-fed prawns (10%) showed significant improvements in immune-related expresses (proPO, SOD, and SOA) in comparison to the control. In conclusion, the findings showed that the THIO treatment prawns significantly improved the quality of their water (pH, ammonia, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and DO) and soil (Pb, Cr, Hg, Mg, Cu, Fe, and Ni), increased and demonstrated protection against vibrio infections.