Applied and Environmental Soil Science
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Acceptance rate13%
Submission to final decision150 days
Acceptance to publication14 days
CiteScore4.700
Journal Citation Indicator0.460
Impact Factor2.2

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 Journal profile

Applied and Environmental Soil Science publishes research in the field of soil science. Its focus reflects the multidisciplinary nature of soil science, especially the dynamics and spatial heterogeneity of processes in soil.

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Applied and Environmental Soil Science maintains an Editorial Board of practicing researchers from around the world, to ensure manuscripts are handled by editors who are experts in the field of study.

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Research Article

Quantifying Soil Erosion in Drought-Impacted Central Odisha, India, through Geospatial Mapping with RUSLE

Soil degradation in Odisha poses a significant conservation concern for the local environment. The present research focused on a region in central Odisha State, India, affected by drought conditions. Several models have emerged to assess soil loss, with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) standing out as the most suitable option. The erosion computation process entails utilizing the digital elevation model (DEM), Landsat-9 imagery, and soil data from several sources accessible in different forms and scales. The present analysis took into account various elements, namely, crop management factor (C), practice management factor (P), slope length factor (LS), steepness factor of the slope (S), and rainfall factor (R). Multiplying these factors yielded the average rate of soil erosion. Areas with a high slope length factor, such as those in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nuapada, have a high erosion rate. The study reveals that 57% of the land in the study area experiences very low to moderate soil erosion at a rate of 2–10 tons per hectare per year, while 43% faces moderately to very severe erosion at a rate of 10–25 tons per hectare per year. Erosion hotspots, covering 32,205 square kilometers, are mainly identified in agricultural and forested hilly areas where slopes exceed 10°, such as those in Kandhamal, Kalahandi, and Nuapada, which have a high erosion rate. These districts are especially vulnerable to soil loss and resulting climate action (Sustainable Development Goals-13) because of frequent and severe rainfall, shifting agricultural practices, a thin surface soil covering, natural erosion, and barren hills. The research emphasizes the urgent need for implementing conservation and management measures to protect high-risk areas from further degradation. In conclusion, the study underscores the effectiveness of the RUSLE-GIS model in conducting quantitative and spatial assessments of soil erosion on a river watershed scale. The model is deemed crucial in formulating conservation strategies to address the identified erosion issues in the tropical highlands of the area.

Research Article

Quantifying the Effect of Soil Ameliorants on Soil Crusting by Means of Field Experiments in a Wildlife Protected Area, South Africa

Soil crusting (surface sealing) is widespread and serious in ecotouristic game parks and reserves in southern Africa, and especially South Africa. In this study, mineral soil crusts were found to be the problem in the Dinokeng Game Reserve (DGR), South Africa. Large areas of bare soil crusted areas were found in this reserve. The cause of this crusting was found to be historical agricultural practices such as cultivation with maize on non-arable soils and overgrazing by cattle. Negative impacts of soil crusting include reduction of water infiltration, leading to increased runoff and erosion and induced drought; inhibiting soil aeration; inhibiting germination and seedling emergence; and inhibiting root functioning and development. In this study in the DGR, a bare crusted area, where cultivation was abandoned 50 years before and there has been no recovery to rangeland since then, was selected for a field trial to determine the effectiveness of the application of various soil ameliorants on soil crust alleviation and improvement of water infiltration rate. The following ameliorants were evaluated: polyacrylamide (PAM) at levels of 5 and 20 kg/ha, gypsum at 2.5 t/ha, and molasses meal at 5 t/ha, as well as combinations of PAM and molasses meal, PAM and gypsum and gypsum and molasses meal. Brush packing, without any ameliorant applied, was also included as treatment, as well as a control with no treatments. PAM treatments increased final infiltration rate (FIR) by between 100–206%. The high efficacy of the lowest PAM treatment is at a cost of only USD 15 per hectare economically important. On the studied soil gypsum application reduced FIR by 81%, while molasses meal had minimal effect. These ameliorants can therefore not be recommended on such soil.

Research Article

Age of Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Selected Soil Properties along the Toposequence of Gerado Watershed, Habru District, Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia

The government of Ethiopia through community participation has widely implemented soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, especially in the highlands of Ethiopia. However, the effects of these practices on the physicochemical properties of soils have not been well assessed and documented in the study area. Thus, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of SWC practice on selected soil physicochemical properties. Treatments were nonconserved land, 3- and 9-year-old soil conservation practices under three slope positions, namely, lower slope (0–8%), middle slope (9–15%), and upper slope (>15%) positions, and at two soil depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) with three replications. Accordingly, 54 composite soil samples were collected and analyzed based on standard procedures. The results showed that the age of soil and water conservation practice, topography, and soil depths significantly affected most of the soil properties. Conserving the watershed for nine years improved the subsoil clay content from 37.1 to 46.3%, subsoil soil moisture content from 13.38 to 24.61%, surface total nitrogen content from 18.1 to 81%, available phosphorus content from 13.1 to 33.5 mg kg−1, surface organic carbon from 0.28 to 2.83%, soil carbon stock from 9.26 to 35.59 t ha−1, and surface cation exchange capacity from 21.5 to 57.4 Cmolec kg−1. Therefore, maintaining soil and water conservation practices for long periods can improve soil properties. However, planting different grasses, with the existing physical structures is needed to increase soil nutrient and carbon stock.

Research Article

Examining the Effect of Combined Biochar and Lime Rates on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties of Acid Soils in Gimbi District, Western Ethiopia

The physicochemical properties of Western Ethiopian soils were negatively threatened with continuous cultivation crop lands. Soil amendments with biochar and lime facilitate and improve soil physicochemical properties directly and indirectly and enhance crop productivity. A field experiment was conducted in Gimbi District, Western Ethiopia, to examine the effects of combined coffee husk biochar (CHB) and soil test value-based lime (STV) rate application on physicochemical properties of acid soils. The trial included eight treatments, including control, 100% STV, 10 ton of CHB, and CHB + STV rates at 10 ton + 75%, 10 ton + 50%, 7.5 ton + 75%, 7.5 ton + 50%, and 5 ton + 75% ha−1on two farm fields. The fields were laid out in RCBD with three replications. The treatments had substantial effects on ) on the soil’s physicochemical characteristics. The application of biochar and lime in Farms-1 and 2 reduced soil BD from 1.21 and 1.41 g·cm−3 to 1.15 and 1.12 to 0.90 and 0.97 g·cm−3, respectively. The soil pH level was increased from 5.10 to a range of 5.58 to 6.11 in Farm-1, and in Farm-2, from 4.64 to a range of 4.64 to 6.22 levels. The application of 10 ton of CHB + 75% of STV in Farms-1 and 2 resulted in the highest SOC of 7.44% and 7.68%, respectively. The application of 10 ton of CHB + 75% of STV in Farms-1 and 2 resulted in 4.86 mg·kg−1 and 6.96 mg·kg−1 available P, respectively. Available P was positively correlated with pH (0.62), SOC (0.63), and CEC (0.66). Exchangeable acidity was decreased from 4.64 cmol(+)kg−1 to a range from 3.19 to 0.98 cmol(+)kg−1 in Farm-1 and from 5.00 cmol(+)kg−1 to a range from 3.38 to 1.10 cmol(+)kg−1 in Farm-2. Therefore, amending the strongly acidic to very strongly acidic soil with a combined CHB (7.5 to 10 ton ha−1) and STV (50 to 75% ha−1) rates had improved the soil physicochemical properties of agricultural lands. To make a firm conclusion, research on soil analysis after crop harvest and economic benefit is required.

Research Article

Olericulture No-Till System at Mountain Region: Physical and Biological Attributes of the Soil

The production of vegetables and grains by the family farming in the mountains of the Atlantic Forest is characterized by intensive soil management with ploughing and harrowing practices. These practices are promoting hydric erosion and losses of soil quality in the region. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate soil physical and biological characteristics at two seasons of the year in agroecosystems producing vegetables and grains in the no-tillage system (NTS) for 3, 5, and 9 years compared to the conventional management system (CT) in the Atlantic Forest Biome, Brazil. Physical and organic matter attributes and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stock were evaluated. NTS showed, in general, greater total porosity than CT systems. The main differences between the systems were found in the organic attributes and C and N stocks. The content of microbial biomass C in NTS with 3, 5, and 9 years was 767.5, 326.5, and 210.0 mg·kg−1, while the areas with CT had 93.75, 78.25, and 45.75 mg·kg−1, respectively. The stock of C in winter at the 9NTS area was 33.0 and 41.5 Mg·ha−1, and the respective area in CT presented only 21.75 and 25.00 Mg·ha−1 in the depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm, respectively. The metabolic quotient of the NTS areas did not differ from the reference ecosystems and is promoting lower C-CO2 emissions than the CT system. The adoption of NTS in vegetable production improves soil quality in family farm areas of mountains relief at the Atlantic Forest Biome.

Research Article

Reuse of Sewage Sludge as Organic Agricultural Products: An Efficient Technology-Based Initiative

Rapid urbanisation has led to a dramatic increase in sewage sludge production. There are limited methods of managing sewage sludge along with high energy and monetary investment. A cost-effective, environment-friendly, and sustainable solution needs to be developed for the management of sewage sludge. In the current study, sludge from the Jagjeetpur sewage treatment plant (STP) had been collected, composted, and characterized during January and February 2022. A comparison of STP sludge compost and compost made from farmyard manure showed the presence of essential agricultural nutrients in them, due to which they find application for plant growth. Two products, Jaivik Poshak and Jaivik Prom, containing farmyard compost, were compared with the amended version of the same, containing compost from STP sludge instead of normal compost. The results showed that the modified Jaivik Poshak was the best for maintaining pH and increasing electrical conductivity. The available nitrogen in the soil upon its application increased by 1.6 times () with respect to control, and it brought about 100% tomato seed germination within sixteen days. The above finding has been validated by goodness of fit value, factor analysis, and hierarchical analysis. The product, modified Jaivik Prom increased organic carbon content and brought about 5.81 and 8 times the enhancement in available phosphorous () and potassium () content in soil, respectively, with respect to the control set. The heavy metal content in the soil as a result of all types of treatment was within the permissible limit. This study thus proves that sludge from STP may be used for agricultural uses after proper fortification and testing to convert waste to wealth along with environmental sustenance.

Applied and Environmental Soil Science
 Journal metrics
See full report
Acceptance rate13%
Submission to final decision150 days
Acceptance to publication14 days
CiteScore4.700
Journal Citation Indicator0.460
Impact Factor2.2
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