Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses
Temperate soils are threatened by degradation and soil organic matter (SOM) loss due to a combination of geomorphology, soil types, and anthropic pressure. In 54 sites in Northern Italy, characterized by different land uses, climates, geological substrates, and soils, we assessed (i) the soil qualit...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/9/1815 |
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| author | Livia Vittori Antisari William Trenti Mauro De Feudis Gianluca Bianchini Gloria Falsone |
| author_facet | Livia Vittori Antisari William Trenti Mauro De Feudis Gianluca Bianchini Gloria Falsone |
| author_sort | Livia Vittori Antisari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Temperate soils are threatened by degradation and soil organic matter (SOM) loss due to a combination of geomorphology, soil types, and anthropic pressure. In 54 sites in Northern Italy, characterized by different land uses, climates, geological substrates, and soils, we assessed (i) the soil quality, (ii) the SOM accumulation/degradation patterns, and (iii) whether land use and related soil management practices are sustainable based on changes in soil quality. Soil samples from the 0–15 and 15–30 cm deep layers were collected and analyzed for the soil parameters recommended by the FAO (bulk density, pH, organic and microbial C, total N, and soil respiration rate) and for the chemical SOM pools. Parameters related to the efficient use of soil microbial C were also calculated. The findings showed that agricultural lands where organic material was added had good soil quality and used microbial C efficiently. Reclaimed peaty soils degraded because the conditions were too stressful for the soil microbial biomass as supported by high metabolic quotient and the low values of mineralization quotient, microbial quotient, and soil biofertility index. Conservative management practices carried out in chestnuts were found to have a decreased soil degradation risk. An investigation of the soil parameters recommended by the FAO can be used to evaluate sustainable practices and soil quality on microbial activity and SOM dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:59:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e45804b11e37471aab8d8ed355941cc7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:59:32Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e45804b11e37471aab8d8ed355941cc72023-11-22T11:38:47ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-09-01119181510.3390/agronomy11091815Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land UsesLivia Vittori Antisari0William Trenti1Mauro De Feudis2Gianluca Bianchini3Gloria Falsone4Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, ItalyTemperate soils are threatened by degradation and soil organic matter (SOM) loss due to a combination of geomorphology, soil types, and anthropic pressure. In 54 sites in Northern Italy, characterized by different land uses, climates, geological substrates, and soils, we assessed (i) the soil quality, (ii) the SOM accumulation/degradation patterns, and (iii) whether land use and related soil management practices are sustainable based on changes in soil quality. Soil samples from the 0–15 and 15–30 cm deep layers were collected and analyzed for the soil parameters recommended by the FAO (bulk density, pH, organic and microbial C, total N, and soil respiration rate) and for the chemical SOM pools. Parameters related to the efficient use of soil microbial C were also calculated. The findings showed that agricultural lands where organic material was added had good soil quality and used microbial C efficiently. Reclaimed peaty soils degraded because the conditions were too stressful for the soil microbial biomass as supported by high metabolic quotient and the low values of mineralization quotient, microbial quotient, and soil biofertility index. Conservative management practices carried out in chestnuts were found to have a decreased soil degradation risk. An investigation of the soil parameters recommended by the FAO can be used to evaluate sustainable practices and soil quality on microbial activity and SOM dynamics.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/9/1815soil organic carbonsustainable land useecophysiological datahumic substancessoil quality indicators |
| spellingShingle | Livia Vittori Antisari William Trenti Mauro De Feudis Gianluca Bianchini Gloria Falsone Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses Agronomy soil organic carbon sustainable land use ecophysiological data humic substances soil quality indicators |
| title | Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses |
| title_full | Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses |
| title_fullStr | Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses |
| title_full_unstemmed | Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses |
| title_short | Soil Quality and Organic Matter Pools in a Temperate Climate (Northern Italy) under Different Land Uses |
| title_sort | soil quality and organic matter pools in a temperate climate northern italy under different land uses |
| topic | soil organic carbon sustainable land use ecophysiological data humic substances soil quality indicators |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/9/1815 |
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