Plant, Soil and Environment, 2023 (vol. 69), issue 6
Chemical composition of earthworm casts as a tool in understanding the earthworm contribution to ecosystem sustainability – a reviewReview
Madalina Iordache
Plant Soil Environ., 2023, 69(6):247-268 | DOI: 10.17221/461/2022-PSE 
Earthworms dominate the soil biota, and different structural and functional features of their biology and ecology have been studied and exploited to evaluate their contributions as ecosystem services. Due to their feeding ecology, burrowing and casting activity, earthworms are involved in the nutrient cycles, and therefore it is opportune to be considered when the biogeochemical cycles of the terrestrial ecosystems are analysed. All structural, microbiological and biogeochemical impacts of earthworms in soil start with their feeding and digestive functions, which end in casting. The casting activity consisting of the excretion of the ingested soil...
Effects of drought stress on carbon metabolism of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.)Original Paper
Yilong Zhang, Yuxuan Bao, Peiying Li, Qikun Yu, Wen Li, Lisi Tang, Xiaofan Sun, Zongjiu Sun, Shuo Li
Plant Soil Environ., 2023, 69(6):269-281 | DOI: 10.17221/426/2022-PSE
The effect of drought stress on carbon metabolism in the leaves and roots of bermudagrass was investigated. Plants established in PVC tubes suffered from three water treatments for 10 days. C138 and Tifway (drought-tolerant) were found to have lower relative electrical conductivity and higher water use efficiency than C32 (drought-sensitive) under moderate drought by increasing carotenoid and soluble sugar content and rapidly decreasing leaf starch content. The sucrose synthase activity of leaves and roots, acid invertase and neutral invertase activity of C32 roots substantially decreased under severe drought, resulting in a slow sucrose decomposition...
Improving the stability of soil aggregates using soil additives and revegetation by grasslandOriginal Paper
Markéta Mayerová, Tomáš Šimon, Martin Stehlík, Mikuláš Madaras
Plant Soil Environ., 2023, 69(6):282-290 | DOI: 10.17221/123/2023-PSE
Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an important factor for soil quality and fertility. There are limited possibilities to influence this soil property, but one investigated method is the application of additives which have the potential to improve SAS. We established a four-year field experiment on a clay-loam Luvisol with poor soil structure to monitor SAS following the application of additives and grassland revegetation. Treatments included: (1) the untreated control; (2) compost; (3) biochar; (4) liming; (5) cattle manure; (6) woodchips; (7) woodchips + fungi inoculation; (8) pellets; (9) pellets + fungi; (10) hydrogel and (11) the change of...
Distribution of soil macroarthropods in differently using land parts of tropical rainforest Padang, IndonesiaOriginal Paper
Fenky Marsandi, Hermansah, Hidayatul Fajri, Wawan Sujarwo
Plant Soil Environ., 2023, 69(6):291-301 | DOI: 10.17221/389/2022-PSE
Soil macroarthropods, as a component of the soil community, directly feel the impact of land use changes. Not only the density but understanding the soil macroarthropods distribution pattern will help in providing an insight into the quality of soil health. The sampling process was carried out using the pitfall trap methods on the forest, logged forest areas, mixed gardens, and monoculture gardens in the tropical rainforest of Bukit Pinang-Pinang Padang, Indonesia. The results showed that the forest as a natural habitat supported the density of soil macroarthropods among other land use types. The density in the forest, logged forest area, mixed garden,...