Soil composition, heterogeneity and carbonate content can affect the prediction accuracy of particle size distribution (PSD) using mid-infrared diffuse reflectance and partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Single large global calibrations could be used for PSD predictions of specific soil sets and showed improvement by fine grinding. The PLSR loading weights, associated with grinding, were linked to a reduction of inter- and intra-particulate heterogeneity and access of the infrared into the soil matrix by removal or dilution of surface coatings.

Serpentine soils are naturally metalliferous and hostile to most plants and animals. Exploring soil variables under evergreen-sclerophyllous and phryganic shrubs of a serpentine Mediterranean ecosystem revealed that heavy metals did not inhibit soil enzymes that reflect microbial activity, while potassium availability was crucial for the establishment of vegetation. The climate imposed strong temporal variations on the soil environment. The availability of nutrients and heavy metals in soils under the different plant species was not reflected in their foliar concentrations.

Multifractal analysis was used to determine the spatial variability of soil properties in arid land areas of Iran. The scaling patterns and structural heterogeneity of general and hydraulic soil properties measured across a transect were quantified. Additionally, the distribution of soil hydraulic properties was investigated.

Irrigation of crops on volcanic soils in Tanzania is common, but knowledge of their mineralogy and its effect on soil properties is scarce. This study investigated the mineralogy of such soils on a sugar estate and found that the main clay minerals were halloysite, high-defect kaolinite and allophane. This suite of minerals has a major effect on the reactive surface area and is likely to affect the physical properties of these soils, such as water retention and transmission properties.

Sediments were collected from burned and unburned plots with different vegetation cover conditions after each rainfall event. The main aim of the study was to examine the effects of post-fire vegetation cover, bare soil disaggregation, slope and rainfall intensity on eroded sediment size distribution. Finer soil particles were transported more from burned than unburned plots because of significant differences in vegetation cover.

There are differential dispersive/flocculative effects of K and Mg to Na and Ca, respectively. Hence, there is a requirement to replace the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Exchangeable dispersive percentage (EDP) is derived to replace ESP. The EDP is validated against two datasets, and further mathematical investigation of the contribution of Mg to dispersion is undertaken. Mineralogy affects turbidity results at a given dispersive index, and an improved criterion for assessment of Mg effect on dispersivity is presented.

Soil microbial carbon was significantly higher with MSWC+50% recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF) than control. Soil salinity significantly decreased using 37% with MSWC + 50% RDF relative to the control at 150 days of mustard growth during 2013–14. The maximum concentration of soil organic carbon (SOC) was observed with MSWC+50% RDF. The grain yield increased by 10% and 28% for mustard and pearl millet, respectively, with RSC + 50% RDF relative to 100% RDF during the first year of cropping cycle.

The transport parameters of heavy metal/metalloid compounds and pesticides in soils as well as their relationships with soil physicochemical properties are needed for assessment of pollutant mobility in the soils. Time-domain reflectometry-measured bulk soil electrical conductivity can be used as the basic data for the transport parameters and relationships. The clay content and, in some cases, median grain diameter of the soil controls the relationships between the transport parameters and soils.

Sustainable management practices have been widely adopted in the oil palm sector, especially in the recycling of oil palm solid waste. The decomposition of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) enables recycling of nutrients that are released into the soil when EFB is applied as a mulch for newly transplanted oil palms. Ninety days after application of EFB mulch, the dry weight decreased to half of the original weight, and soil properties significantly improved when compared with the properties of soil that was not conditioned with EFB mulch.

Puddling that deteriorates soil health is a time consuming and labour intensive process. The aims of the study was to evaluate the effect of alternative rice establishment methods on soil physical properties and productivity of the rice-wheat cropping system. Unpuddling can create a more favorable conditions for soil health by improving bulk density, aggregation stability, pore size distribution, penetration resistance which in the longer term can improve crop growth.