Understanding how the phosphorus (P) availability changes with meadow degradation is essential for the restoration of the alpine ecosystem. We investigated the phoD-harbouring bacterial community in four alpine meadows along a degradation gradient on the Tibetan Plateau and found alpine meadow degradation decreases soil P availability by regulating phoD-harbouring bacterial community diversity and alkaline phosphates, with soil water supply and plant biomass being the main driving factors. This study revealed the mechanisms of decreased P availability during alpine meadow degradation.

In the Argentine Pampas, continuous no-till farming has led to deterioration in soil structure, affecting crop yields. We investigated production situations with different cropping intensification to improve soil health. While increased cropping intensity resulted in higher carbon inputs, improvements in soil physical properties were absent. It is important to design management strategies that not only allow for increased yields but also improve the physical quality of the soil.

Mango cultivation is a profitable proposition for growers. However, mango yields vary considerably, with years of optimum or heavy fruiting (‘on year’) followed by little or no fruiting (‘off year’). Application of paclobutrazol (PBZ) is often used to address this alternate bearing problem. However, PBZ has a detrimental effect on soil health by impacting the microbial community and related functions. This study examines the impact of PBZ on soil microorganisms using a high-throughput sequencing technique.

Oststein in Spodosols limits the drainage of these sandy soils (normally sand content >95%) and increases nutrient retention in the profile, increasing plant production. We used more reliable undisturbed samples of ortstein horizon and a new chemical extraction protocol, differing from the use of powdered samples in the literature. The destruction of soil structure in disturbed samples results in the loss of mineral and organic phase that could be clogging the sample pores. We believe that our work encourages worldwide orststein horizon studies.