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Soil infiltration is critical for water security and related ecosystem services. This infiltration, the ability of soils to absorb water at their surface, is controlled by the soil hydraulic conductivity. Despite recent efforts in assembling measurements of soil hydraulic conductivity, global databases and derived pedotransfer functions lack coverage in the tropics. Here, we present soil infiltration measurements and other indicators of soil and land health collected systematically in 3,573 plots from 83 100 km2 sites across 19 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. We use these data to (a) determine field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) and (b) explore which variables best predict variation in Kfs. Our results show that sand content, soil organic carbon (SOC), and woody cover had a positive relationship with Kfs, whereas grazing intensity and soil pH had a negative relationship. Our findings highlight that, despite soil texture being important, structure also plays a critical role. These results indicate considerable potential to improve soil hydrological functioning through management and restoration practices that target soil structure. Enhancing SOC content, limiting animal stocking, promoting trees, shrubs, and other vegetation cover, and preventing soil erosion can increase Kfs and improve water security. This data set can contribute to improving Earth system and land surface models for applications in Africa. Key Points We present field infiltration measurements and accompanying indicators of soil and land health from 3,573 plots across sub‐Saharan Africa Field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) is associated with soil texture and factors related to soil structure Our results suggest that soil hydrological functioning can be enhanced through management practices that target soil structure

Soil infiltration is critical for water security and related ecosystem services. This infiltration, the ability of soils to absorb water at their surface, is controlled by the soil hydraulic conductivity. Despite recent efforts in assembling measurements of soil hydraulic conductivity, global databases and derived pedotransfer functions lack coverage in the tropics. Here, we present soil infiltration measurements and other indicators of soil and land health collected systematically in 3,573 plots from 83 100 km 2 sites across 19 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. We use these data to (a) determine field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity ( K fs ) and (b) explore which variables best predict variation in K fs . Our results show that sand content, soil organic carbon (SOC), and woody cover had a positive relationship with K fs , whereas grazing intensity and soil pH had a negative relationship. Our findings highlight that, despite soil texture being important, structure also plays a critical role. These results indicate considerable potential to improve soil hydrological functioning through management and restoration practices that target soil structure. Enhancing SOC content, limiting animal stocking, promoting trees, shrubs, and other vegetation cover, and preventing soil erosion can increase K fs and improve water security. This data set can contribute to improving Earth system and land surface models for applications in Africa. We present field infiltration measurements and accompanying indicators of soil and land health from 3,573 plots across sub‐Saharan Africa Field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity ( K fs ) is associated with soil texture and factors related to soil structure Our results suggest that soil hydrological functioning can be enhanced through management practices that target soil structure

The flow of carbon from plant roots through the microbial biomass is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems. Roots release considerable amounts of organic materials which are utilized by microbes as substrate for biosynthesis and energy supply. The fate of photosynthates and other organic material in the soil-root environment under different conditions was studied using ¹⁴C-tracers. Soil structure and texture had a large effect on the turnover of the ¹⁴C-labelled materials through the microbial biomass. Finer, clayey soils tended to be more 'preservative' than coarser, sandy soils, i.e. larger amounts of ¹⁴C were incorporated in microbial biomass and soil organic matter fractions in clayey soils than in sandy soils. The soil nutrient status also appeared to affect organic matter turnover. At limiting plant-nutrient concentrations the utilization of ¹⁴C-labelled photosynthates seem to be hampered. Plant roots influenced the transformation of glucose and crop residues and the effect was attributed to plant-induced changes in mineral nutrient status. The mechanisms of this process and the consequences are discussed. A number of areas for future research are identified, including the potentials for manipulating rhizodeposition.

Background and aims Soil aggregation is a crucial aspect of ecosystem functioning in terrestrial ecosystems. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in soil aggregate formation and stabilization. Here we quantitatively analyzed the importance of experimental settings as well as biotic and abiotic factors for the effectiveness of AMF to stabilize soil macroaggregates. Methods We gathered 35 studies on AMF and soil aggregation and tested 13 predictor variables for their relevance with a boosted regression tree analysis and performed a meta-analysis, fitting individual random effects models for each variable. Results and conclusions The overall mean effect of inoculation with AMF on soil aggregation was positive and predictor variable means were all in the range of beneficial effects. Pot studies and studies with sterilized sandy soil, near neutral soil pH, a pot size smaller than 2.5 kg and a duration between 2.2 and 5 months were more likely to result in stronger effects of AMF on soil aggregation than experiments in the field, with non-sterilized or fine textured soil or an acidic pH. This is the first study to quantitatively show that the effect of AMF inoculation on soil aggregation is positive and context dependent. Our findings can help to improve the use of this important ecosystem process, e.g. for inoculum application in restoration sites.

Natural organic biomass burning creates black carbon which forms a considerable proportion of the soil's organic carbon. Due to black carbon's aromatic structure it is recalcitrant and has the potential for long-term carbon sequestration in soil. Soils within the Amazon-basin contain numerous sites where the ‘dark earth of the Indians' (Terra preta de Indio, or Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE)) exist and are composed of variable quantities of highly stable organic black carbon waste (‘biochar'). The apparent high agronomic fertility of these sites, relative to tropical soils in general, has attracted interest. Biochars can be produced by ‘baking' organic matter under low oxygen (‘pyrolysis'). The quantities of key mineral elements within these biochars can be directly related to the levels of these components in the feedstock prior to burning. Their incorporation in soils influences soil structure, texture, porosity, particle size distribution and density. The molecular structure of biochars shows a high degree of chemical and microbial stability. A key physical feature of most biochars is their highly porous structure and large surface area. This structure can provide refugia for beneficial soil micro-organisms such as mycorrhizae and bacteria, and influences the binding of important nutritive cations and anions. This binding can enhance the availability of macro-nutrients such as N and P. Other biochar soil changes include alkalisation of soil pH and increases in electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Ammonium leaching has been shown to be reduced, along with N₂O soil emissions. There may also be reductions in soil mechanical impedance. Terra preta soils contain a higher number of ‘operational taxonomic units' and have highly distinctive microbial communities relative to neighbouring soils. The potential importance of biochar soil incorporation on mycorrhizal fungi has also been noted with biochar providing a physical niche devoid of fungal grazers. Improvements in soil field capacity have been recorded upon biochar additions. Evidence shows that bioavailability and plant uptake of key nutrients increases in response to biochar application, particularly when in the presence of added nutrients. Depending on the quantity of biochar added to soil significant improvements in plant productivity have been achieved, but these reports derive predominantly from studies in the tropics. As yet there is limited critical analysis of possible agricultural impacts of biochar application in temperate regions, nor on the likelihood of utilising such soils as long-term sites for carbon sequestration. This review aims to determine the extent to which inferences of experience mostly from tropical regions could be extrapolated to temperate soils and to suggest areas requiring study.

Background and aims In recent decades, an increasing proportion of alpine shrub meadow has become severely degraded owing to the combined effects of global climate warming and rodent infestation, with significant impacts on soil water retention. The present paper investigates the patterns and controlling factors of soil water retention of alpine shrub meadow under different degrees of degradation, to help inform decisions on the management of degraded alpine shrub meadow. Methods Four degradation stages were defined: non-degradation (ND); light degradation (LD); moderate degradation (MD) and higher degradation (HD). Pearson correlation and redundancy analysis were used to examine the relationships between soil physical properties and soil hydraulic properties. Results Sand content increased while clay content decreased with increasing degree of degradation. In HD treatment, the available nitrogen and soil bulk density of surface soil layer was significantly lower than that in the other three stages, whereas the soil organic matter content and soil total porosity of surface soil layer was increased significantly, the soil compaction of 0–10 cm soil depth in HD was reduced significantly. The soil water retention of 0–60 cm soil depth first decreased and then increased with increasing degradation, with the maximum values occurring in HD, and the soil organic matter has an overwhelming effect on soil water retention than soil texture. Conclusions As the degree of degradation increased, the surface soil structure deteriorated, and available nitrogen reduced while soil organic matter increased sharply in higher degradation, which leads to the highest soil water retention in higher degradation. Our results suggested that the soil water retention in degraded alpine grassland was largely determined by soil organic matter, and the soil organic matter parameters should be incorporated in hydrological models of degraded alpine ecosystem.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alter plant water relations and contribute to soil structure. Although soil hydraulic properties depend on soil structure and may limit plant water uptake, little is known about how AMF influence soil water retention (the relation between the soil water content and soil water potential) and hydraulic conductivity in different soils. Instead, these soil hydraulic properties often are considered to be independent of AMF presence in experiments. We asked if this assumption holds true for both sand and loam. We grew maize plants either inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis or with autoclaved inoculum in pots filled with quartz sand or loam soil until extraradical spread of the fungus throughout the pots was achieved. Each pot contained a hyphal compartment made of a soil sampling core (250 cm3) covered with a 20-µm nylon mesh to encourage fungus ingrowth but to exclude root ingrowth. We measured soil water retention and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity in these undisturbed root-free soil volumes. We observed that in loam harboring the mycorrhizal fungus, the soil water retention decreased, while in sand, it increased without detectable changes in the soil bulk density. The effects of the fungus on the soil water potential were strongest at low soil water contents in both soils. As a consequence of the altered water potentials in soils with the mycorrhizal fungus, soil hydraulic conductivity increased in loam but decreased in sand after fungus ingrowth. We conclude that in our study, the mycorrhizal fungus acted as a soil conditioner even distant from roots, which encouraged drainage in loams prone to sogginess but enhanced water storage in sands prone to quick desiccation. We recommend considering soil hydraulic properties as being dynamic in future studies on water relations of mycorrhizal plants.

Background and purpose Volcanic eruptions of pyroclastic tephra, including the ash-sized fraction (< 2 mm; referred to as volcanic ash), have negative direct impacts on soil quality. The intensity (deposit thickness, particle-size distribution) and frequency (return period) of tephra deposition influence soil formation. Vulnerability and subsequent recovery (resilience) of the plant-soil system depend on land-uses (vegetation and management). Few previous studies covered the whole deposition-recovery cycle. We investigated the volcanic ash deposition effects on soil properties and their recovery across land-uses on a densely populated volcanic slope. Methods We measured the canopy cover and volcanic ash thickness six years after the 2014 Mt. Kelud eruption in four land-use systems: remnant (degraded) forests, complex agroforestry, simple agroforestry, and annual crops. Each system was monitored in three landscape replicates (total 12 plots). For the soil recovery study, we measured litter thickness, soil texture, C org , soil C stocks, aggregate stability, porosity, and soil infiltration in three different observation periods (pre-eruption, three, and six years after eruption). Results Post-eruption volcanic ash thickness varied between land-use systems and was influenced by the plots slope position rather than canopy cover. The average soil texture and porosity did not vary significantly between the periods. Surface volcanic ash and soil layers initially had low aggregate stability and limited soil infiltration, demonstrating hydrophobicity. While C org slowly increased from low levels in the fresh volcanic ash, surface litter layer, aggregate stability, and soil infiltration quickly recovered. Conclusions Different land-use management resulted in different recovery trajectories of soil physical properties and function over the medium to long term after volcanic ash deposition.

PurposeThis investigation assessed the responses of soil fertility, enzyme activity, and microbial community diversity to soil texture and land use type.Materials and methodsThe tested soils included five soil textures (sandy loam, medium loam, heavy loam, light clay, and medium clay soils) with two land use types (uncultivated and paddy soils) in the coastal zone of Zhejiang Province, China.Results and discussionSoil texture had a significant effect on soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), phosphorus (AP) and potassium (AK), catalase and protease activities, total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs), bacterial and actinomycetes PLFAs, and microbial diversity (MD). The clay content was significantly positively correlated to soil EC, OC, TN, AN, AP, AK, catalase activity, total PLFAs, bacterial and actinomycetes PLFAs, and MD but significantly negatively associated with soil pH and protease activity. Land use type also had significantly influenced soil pH, EC, OC, TN, AN, AP, AK, catalase, protease and urease activities, total PLFAs, bacterial, actinomycetes, and fungal PLFAs, and MD. The paddy soil had higher OC, TN, AN, AP, catalase, protease and urease activities, total PLFAs, bacterial and actinomycetes PLFAs, and MD but lower soil pH, EC, and AK than the uncultivated soil. The interaction with soil texture and land use type had significantly affected soil pH, EC, OC, TN, AN, AP, AK, catalase and protease activities, total PLFAs, bacterial and actinomycetes PLFAs, and MD.ConclusionsSoil texture and land use type could be considered important factors in improving soil fertility, enzyme activity, and microbial diversity in coastal saline soils.

AIMS: Small scale root-pore interactions require validation of their impact on effective hydraulic processes at the field scale. Our objective was to develop an interpretative framework linking root effects on macroscopic pore parameters with knowledge at the rhizosphere scale. METHODS: A field experiment with twelve species from different families was conducted. Parameters of Kosugi’s pore size distribution (PSD) model were determined inversely from tension infiltrometer data. Measured root traits were related to pore variables by regression analysis. A pore evolution model was used to analyze if observed pore dynamics followed a diffusion like process. RESULTS: Roots essentially conditioned soil properties at the field scale. Rooting densities higher than 0.5 % of pore space stabilized soil structure against pore loss. Coarse root systems increased macroporosity by 30 %. Species with dense fine root systems induced heterogenization of the pore space and higher micropore volume. We suggested particle re-orientation and aggregate coalescence as main underlying processes. The diffusion type pore evolution model could only partially capture the observed PSD dynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Root systems differing in axes morphology induced distinctive pore dynamics. Scaling between these effective hydraulic impacts and processes at the root-pore interface is essential for plant based management of soil structure.