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.
Pedodiversity is considered the cornerstone of biodiversity. This work aimed to (1) assess pedodiversity according to vegetation, topographic factors, and lithology and to (2) identify the major soil-forming factors on soil organic matter (SOM) stock at a 0–30 cm depth. These goals were reached using data from 147 georeferenced soil profiles distributed along 400–1000 m (≤1000) and 1000–2134 m (>1000) altitudinal gradients in the northern part of the Apennine chain in Italy. Soils showed mainly weak or incipient development (i.e., Entisols and Inceptisols), which could be attributed to sand-based lithology, high slope gradients, and low SOM accumulation rates, which promote soil erosion processes. However, higher pedodiversity was observed at >1000 m than at ≤1000 m, likely due to the higher vegetation cover diversity and climate variability; Spodosols and Mollisols were also found. A greater SOM stock was found at >1000 than ≤1000 m, and vegetation seemed to not affect SOM amounts, suggesting a greater influence of climate on SOM content compared to vegetation. Considering ecosystem conservation, the observed spatial pedodiversity could be considered a critical basis for the protection of soil resources and pedodiversity itself in mountain regions.
<p>Soil health is fundamental in maintaining and promoting overall ecosystem health and is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living system, sustaining biological productivity as well as maintaining or enhancing the quality of air and water.</p> <p>The aim of this study was to assess the health of soils under orchards where the cultivation of Rosa Romana, a local apple cultivar, is taking place. These orchards were located in the Bologna Apennine farms, ranged in age between 5 and 30 years and were implanted on former cropland. They were all grassed and cultivated following the principles of organic farming.</p> <p>In this context, a comparison between the soils which belonged to orchards of at least 5 years in six farms with loamy texture was made. In each orchard, a morphological study of soils was carried out through the core of soil until 120 cm; then three mini pits were dug and sampled at a depth of 0-15 and 15-30 cm for physicochemical and biological analyses.</p> <p>Soil health assessment was carried out via physicochemical and biological analyses and the calculation of two indexes: Dilly&#8217;s index (metabolic quotient to soil organic carbon ratio) that highlights the carbon use efficiency of soil microorganisms and the Index of Biological Fertility (IBF), obtained through the sum of scores assigned to significant parameters such as organic matter, microbial biomass C content and its activity.</p> <p>Soil sampling and analyses were part of the Rural Development 2014-2020 of Emilia Romagna Region Project named &#8220;Rosa Romana apple of the Bolognese Apennines: organization of a quality organic supply chain&#8221;, which addresses to promote the sustainable management of agricultural areas in the Bologna Apennine by bringing together all actors involved in the cultivation, processing, and commercialization of this local apple cultivar.</p> <p>The indicators related to soil health showed a difference between the orchards of less than ten years compared to the older ones, the latter displaying better overall health. Dilly&#8217;s index showed a growing microbial efficiency from the young orchards to the old ones and the same pattern is present in the IBF. This is due to the older orchards having a higher microbial C content and lower metabolic quotient in both soil layers, and higher SOM in the topsoil layer. These differences, which indicate a lower microbial stress and higher efficiency in the old orchards, may be due to the effect of reduced or null disturbance inflicted to the soil after the conversion of cropland into orchard, as they were no longer tilled and have a permanent grass cover. Moreover, in the topsoil the mineralization quotient and the nitrogen isotope ratio are lower in the older orchards, which may indicate respectively a tendency toward carbon accumulation and a higher fresh organic matter input to the soil of orchards of more than ten years.</p> <p>These results may suggest that the promotion of the cultivation of the local Apennine apple variety &#8220;Rosa Romana&#8221; on former cropland in hill and mountain areas could promote the restoration of soil health.</p> <p>&#160;</p>
<p>Forest soils are recognized to be important organic carbon storage, but the role of surface and subsurface soil horizons on such function and its drivers are still field of debate. In this context, we examined the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) for a chestnut forestry system in a temperate area of northern part of Apennine mountain range in Italy. Specifically, we questioned: what are the main i) SOC forms both in mineral surface and subsurface soil horizons? ii) factors affecting SOC stabilization?. Soil samples were collected by horizon and SOC was separated into organic C of the particulate organic matter (POM_C), sand&#8211;size aggregates (sand_C) and the mineral&#8211;associated organic C (MAOM_C). The easily oxidizable C (EOC), water&#8211;soluble organic C (WSOC), the microbial biomass&#8211;C and its respiration, and the total and easily extractable glomalin&#8211;related soil protein (T&#8211;GRSP and E&#8211;GRSP, respectively) were also estimated. Then, the E&#8211;GRSP&#8211;to&#8211;T&#8211;GRSP and E-GRSP&#8211;to&#8211;SOC ratios, the metabolic (qCO<sub>2</sub>) and microbial (qMIC) quotients were calculated. The POM_C, sand_C and MAOM_C showed the highest concentrations in A horizon (26.5, 14.6 and 13.9 g kg<sup>&#8211;1</sup>, respectively) highlighting the importance of the litter floor on the organic matter pools quantity in the topsoil. Further, the A horizon was enriched of the most labile organic C forms (i.e., EOC and WSOC) indicating the key role of A horizon for the development and growth of chestnut forest ecosystems. In fact, the labile organic C forms provide several ecosystem services, such as plant growth and yield. Unlike A horizon, the subsurface horizons preserved SOC mostly in the most stable form (63.8 %, on average). Because of the role of fungal biomass and its exudates to increase SOC capture and stabilization, the great potential of the subsurface horizons to store MAOM_C can be attributed both to the higher release of exogenous GRSP (higher E&#8211;GRSP&#8211;to&#8211;T&#8211;GRSP ratio) by mycorrhizal fungi and fungal mycelium expansion (higher E-GRSP&#8211;to&#8211;SOC ratio) within such horizons (0.504&#160; and 0.061, respectively) compared to the A horizon (0.244 and 0.034, respectively). Therefore, the subsurface soil horizons seemed to have more favourable conditions for microorganisms compared to surface one as shown by the lower qCO<sub>2</sub> and the higher qMIC values found in the former than in the latter. Overall, the present investigation highlighted the importance of subsurface soil horizons of chestnut forests on C stabilization processes compared to the A horizon likely due to the better edaphic conditions for the microbial communities. Thus, our results pointed out the key role that the subsurface soil horizons of chestnut forests could have for mitigating the current climate change.</p>
The identification of mountainous areas suitable for chestnut stands for fruit production (CSFP) is raising increasing interest among researchers. This work aimed to (i) identify the areas suitable for CSFP shown in a land suitability map easy to read by land planners, and (ii) propose a remote-sensing-based methodology able to identify the lands currently under cultivation for CSFP. This study was conducted using the QGIS software for the Municipality of Castel del Rio, Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy. To obtain the land suitability map, topographic, lithological, and pedological data were acquired, and the areas located between 200 and 1000 m of altitude, with north exposition, a slope <20°, sandstone-based lithology, and soils with dystric features were selected. The currently cultivated areas for CSFP were identified through remote-sensing images of the early spring period, which were delineated and georeferenced. The findings showed that only 10% of the whole study site area can be considered suitable for CSFP. Further, most of the currently cultivated CSFP (59%) are in non-suitable areas characterised by high slope gradients. The methodology applied in this study can easily provide detailed information about the suitable areas for CSFP and the areas currently cultivated with chestnut, thus allowing accurate land-use planning and land conservation.
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