Plant, Soil and Environment, 2025 (vol. 71), issue 12

Effects of microplastics on farmland soils and plants: a reviewReview

Minhua Zhang, Weiguan Li, Qingkui Li, Aneela Younas, Muhammad Shaaban, Yuyang Li, Jing Liu, Yanfang Wang, Zhanqiang Ma, Zhaoyong Shi, Hongtao Shen, Ling Liu

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):829-848 | DOI: 10.17221/180/2025-PSE  

Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles smaller than 5 mm in size, which are widely present and have become one of the major pollutants in the natural environment, and are increasingly recognised as emerging pollutants in agricultural ecosystems. Due to their small size and high mobility, MPs can easily migrate into farmland soils and attach to plant surfaces, thereby altering the physical, chemical and microbial properties of the soil. These changes may affect seed germination, plant growth, and physiological and biochemical functions. This review systematically synthesises current research on the impact of MPs on agricultural soil, focusing on...

Occurrence of herbicides and their transformation products in sewage sludge: a reviewReview

Madhusha Mihirani Subasinghe, Filip Mercl, Sreynet Nang, Altyn Taisheva, Pavel Tlustoš

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):849-859 | DOI: 10.17221/485/2025-PSE  

The beneficial reuse of sewage sludge in agricultural soils is limited by the accumulation of micropollutants of emerging concern, which may pose significant environmental and human health risks. This review summarises recent advances in understanding the occurrence, persistence, and fate of herbicides and their transformation products in sewage sludge. Data from various geographic regions are discussed, with a focus on implications for the safe reuse of biosolids in agriculture. Most available studies have been conducted in European Union countries, where land application of biosolids is a common practice. Twelve groups of herbicides and their transformation...

Multi-trait evaluation of oilseed rape varietiesOriginal Paper

Katarzyna Waszak, Konrad Banaś, Jacek Broniarz, Tomasz Lenartowicz, Henryk Bujak, Agnieszka Łacka, Marcin Przystalski

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):860-872 | DOI: 10.17221/337/2025-PSE  

The multifaceted nature of agricultural management and environmental factors complicates the production of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). This study evaluated 25 varieties (21 hybrids and four populations) in three growing seasons (2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23) in Poland. The focus was on yield, fat content, and resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The analyses revealed significant variability among the varieties, with the hybrids performing better consistently in terms of yield and fat content. The level of resistance to Sclerotinia was similar in hybrid and population varieties. Furthermore, DK Excited was found...

Remediation of cadmium-polluted acidic soil with dolomite and calcite to enhance soil health and pak choi growthOriginal Paper

Muhammad Shaaban, Lei Wu, Aneela Younas, Yupeng Wu

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):873-882 | DOI: 10.17221/390/2025-PSE  

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils threatens crop productivity and food safety. This study examined the use of dolomite and calcite amendments in reducing Cd toxicity in pak choi grown in Cd-contaminated soil. Treatments included: control (CK), Calcite 1 (Cal1, 10 g/kg soil), Calcite 2 (Cal2, 20 g/kg soil), Dolomite 1 (Dol1, 10 g/kg soil), and Dolomite 2 (Dol2, 20 g/kg soil). Amendments significantly increased soil pH (P ≤ 0.05), with Cal2 (6.5) and Dol2 (6.2) achieving the highest values at harvest. Cd availability declined (P ≤ 0.05), with Dol2 being the most effective, reducing the toxicity characteristic...

Response of potato tuber yield to NPK fertiliser in China: a meta-analysisOriginal Paper

Shun Li, Lei Zeng, Ling Zhao

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):883-890 | DOI: 10.17221/514/2025-PSE  

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an economically significant food crop in China, and increasing tuber yield is a national priority. We conducted a meta-analysis utilising 180 studies and 1 583 pairs of observations to quantify the effects of fertilisation on potato tuber yield using data on climate, soil nutrients, and planting strategies. Compared with no fertilisation, fertilisation increased tuber yield by 33.64% overall. Applying single N, P, or K fertilisers increased yield by 33.64, 23.37, and 16.18%, respectively; combined NP, NK, and PK applications increased yield by 33.64, 36.34, and 19.12%, respectively. The greatest yield increase...

Exploring the impact of potassium fertiliser rate and split ratio on rice yield and quality in China: a meta-analysisOriginal Paper

Lijuan Deng, Duoji Wu, Weiqi Yuan, Zongqiang Wei, Yanlan Huang, Zhihua Hu, Jianfu Wu

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):891-904 | DOI: 10.17221/315/2025-PSE  

Potassium (K) is crucial for rice yield and quality, but continuous yield increase reduces protein content, challenging the balance between high yield and quality. This study analysed 3 178 case studies (1994–2024) on K management impacts on rice yield, grain protein, and amylose content, evaluating effects of K fertiliser rates, base-topdressing ratios, planting regions, and soil properties. The results showed that K application significantly increased rice yield, protein content and amylose content by 11.6, 2.0 and 1.0%, respectively. Importantly, we identified targeted K fertilisation strategies tailored to different quality goals: optimising...

Genotypic variation in physiological, biochemical, and transcriptional responses to drought stress in spring barley at an early growth stageOriginal Paper

Šarlota Kaňuková, Marcela Gubišová, Martina Hudcovicová, Jozef Gubiš, Katarína Ondreičková

Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(12):905-922 | DOI: 10.17221/406/2025-PSE  

Drought is a major abiotic stress limiting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) productivity. We evaluated 17 spring barley genotypes at the early leaf development stage under controlled laboratory conditions with optimal and drought treatments, integrating physiological, biochemical, and molecular traits. Drought reduced relative water content (–1.3% to –3.2%), plant height (–14.7% to –29.6%), and dry biomass (–2.3% to –24.9%), while inducing strong proline accumulation (+23.6% to +454%) and pigment loss (chlorophyll a –10.1% to –79.5%; carotenoids –6.2% to –70.9%). Principal component and...