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Sustainable soil and water management

Work Package Agricultural systems and land management

Research Deliverable 
Sustainable soil and water management

Introduction

Optimal functioning of soil is crucial to the long-term production and sustainability of agriculture on a global, European and Scotland scale, with well managed soils providing ecosystem services addressing societal grand challenges. Conventional agriculture and future environmental change impose pressures on soil functions and quality. Soil degradation, in a range of forms, is a major threat to crop productivity and yield stability, profitability and sustainability. Consequently, soil and water resources need to be managed to be increasingly sustainable and productive, while also improving soil function and quality. This RD focuses on the application of existing and novel models, soil management interventions, plant genotypes and soil quality indicators to enhance sustainable use and management of soils and water in agricultural systems whilst reducing environmental impact.

Aim of Research

The Sustainable Soil and Water Management Deliverable has three broad aims. First, we will generate new knowledge to help enhance the sustainable use and management of soils and water in agricultural systems whilst reducing environmental impact. Work will be informed by the application of existing and novel models, soil management interventions, plant genotypes and soil quality indicators. Second, we will deliver improved management packages that will optimise productivity with reduced inputs of energy, traffic and agrochemicals, while enhancing soil quality and function, as well as reducing diffuse pollution from agriculture. Third, we will deliver a tool for land managers enabling rapid and effective assessment of soil quality (physical, chemical and biological) in all agricultural and semi-natural systems including grasslands and allow the management of soils across Scotland for productivity and other ecosystems services. The work is split into four main objectives: (1) Soil management impacts on soil function; (2) Plant management impacts on soil function; (3) Developing assessment of soil quality; and (4) Land management mitigating threats to soil, air and water quality.

Progress

2021 / 2022
2021 / 2022

In this year we have completed the development management tools which allow for the sustainable management of soil and water in an agricultural context. We have consolidated and validated information on the use of both alternative soil management and plant genotypes which have positive impacts on soil physical, chemical and biological status and evidence that these have benefits to a number of ecosystem services. We have made further progress on integrating these in models which will allow better management and widened the utility of soil quality indicator tools which will allow better assessment of impacts. This has achieved the original objectives set out in the beginning of the programme.

We have developed understanding of the implementation and validation of a range of soil management tools and plant genotypes that can be integrated in an improved management package to enhance the sustainability of Scottish Agriculture. A toolkit of interventions has been developed and recommendations for management of cropping land has been made and communicated to stakeholders.This has achieved the original objectives set out in the beginning of the programme.

Highlights

  • Incorporation of VESS in soil score health cards (link with 2.3.8). New VESS website available (https://www.sruc.ac.uk/media/xbrfn4x3/vess-colour-chart.pdf) and continued awareness of the VESS tool and an extended VESS tool will soon be publicised more widely in a research paper and through the SRUC VESS website. VESS also promoted through new diffuse pollution guidance (https://www.crew.ac.uk/publication/state-knowledge-overview-identified-pathways-diffuse-pollutants-water-environment).
  • Cereal varieties for conservation agriculture: Analysing the yield response of cereal varieties to conventional plough (inversion tillage) and zero or minimum (non-inversion) tillage in trials across 11 years we have identified varieties that are differentially adapted to tillage (Agronomy 10, 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050686  and Agronomy 11, 30; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010030). We observed also reductions of over 80% in rust and mildew diseases in conservation compared with conventional tillage crops, facilitating reduced crop protection inputs. Next, we will determine the traits that make the varieties suitable for the low input agronomy of non-inversion tillage, develop tools for breeding such varieties, and develop IPM strategies suitable for net zero carbon crop production systems.
  • Interactions between soil biology for improved use of organic P. SEFARI scientists have been involved in ground-breaking research with colleagues in China that demonstrates the importance of interactions between biological organisms in promoting the use by plants of organic P forms which accumulate in soils. The importance of these trophic interactions was summarised in a novel meta-analysis study (Mezeli et al 2020). Specifically, the interaction between plants mycorrhizae and microbes recruited by the mycorrhizal fungi was shown to be critical for use of organic P (Zhang et al. 2020; Zhou et al. 2020). It was demonstrated that microbes with the ability to breakdown organic P swim in water films along the fungal hyphae to patches in the soil which have large concentrations of organic P to aid in its uptake (Jiang et al. 2021). This work was highlighted and applauded in a commentary in New Phytologist.
  • Impacts and use of Legacy Phosphorus in soils. SEFARI scientists were involved with colleagues from Brazil and the USA in producing a special issue in Frontiers in Earth Science on the issue of Legacy Phosphorus in soils (Gatiboni et al. 2020). In this special issue they collected contributions from three continents, which highlight the impacts of the use of legacy P (that which is accumulated in soil) on agricultural and environmental sustainability. The papers also highlight some agronomic approaches for using legacy P more effectively and make some predictions on the prospects of being able to reduce legacy P to enhance the environment, while also maintaining sustainable production of crops. This is critical information for land managers who wish to reduce the input of fertilisers to crops and was highlighted in the latest ESPP (European Sustainable Phosphorus Platform) Newsletter which is circulated to over 60,000 stakeholders in Europe.
  • Manmade soils using waste products. Results from a 4 year trial looking at whether mixtures of construction waste and compost could act as an alternative plant growing medium to soil showed positive results with two grass species (reed canary grass and rye grass). A mineralogical analysis of the construction waste revealed it to have a number of minerals in common with soil, and when mixed with municipal green waste compost provided a medium with sufficient capacity to supply the nutritional requirements of the plants for 2 full growing seasons in large pots. Studies with both grasses plus pea and barley plants demonstrated that it is possible to engineer a mixture in which the plants germinate and produce shoots as well as in real soil, without any adverse biotic effects. Leaching of harmful chemicals from the mixtures was low, so we believe that these materials could be used for urban greening close the source of their generation, reducing the need for soil import and the associated CO2 emissions from transport.
  • Use of N-fixing cover crops to improve soil quality - Research investigated the soil quality benefits of growing and incorporating N-fixing cover crops. Key indicators of soil quality were monitored in field experiments and it was found that a mixed cover crop treatment performed best in terms of soil quality and barley yield (following cover crop incorporation). A crimson clover-only treatment performed consistently poorly compared to other cover crop treatments. This work will assist the development of specific, evidence-based agronomic and economic messages applicable to growers and advisors across Scotland on the benefits of N-fixing cover crops to soil quality.
  • Investigating the crop productivity and soil fertility benefits of biochar: SEFARI scientists have shown that spring barley growth was better for fertilised and unfertilised soils receiving biochar, when compared to corresponding fertilised and unfertilised perlite controls receiving no biochar. For unfertilised treatments, root biomass increased with biochar addition. Spring barley stem, grain and root carbon and nitrogen contents were generally similar across treatments showing no difference in crop quality. Potentially beneficial soil liming effects and additional nitrogen/nutrient provision (and possibly retention) were apparent for soils with biochar additions.
2020 / 2021
2020 / 2021

In year 5 we have further developed management tools which will allow the sustainable management of soil and water in an agricultural context. We have consolidated and validated information on the use of both alternative soil management and plant genotypes which have positive impacts on soil physical, chemical and biological status and evidence that these have benefits to a number of ecosystem services. We have made further progress on integrating these in models which will allow better management and widened the utility of soil quality indicator tools which will allow better assessment of impacts.

We have developed understanding of the implementation and validation of a range of soil management tools and plant genotypes that can be integrated in an improved management package to enhance the sustainability of Scottish Agriculture. A toolkit of interventions has been developed and recommendations for management of cropping land has been made and communicated to stakeholders.

The VESS soil quality and Soil Health test scoring systems have continued to be further validated and extended to different land uses including cover crops, grassland, fence edges, reduced tillage systems and additional crop types. The VESS website continues to publicise new developments (e.g. Extended VESS method being finalised and projects applying VESS/soil health tools). Versions of the VESS tool translated into different languages continue to grow and there is a VESS 'without words' published too to increase accessibility. VESS is being used for systematic assessment of soil quality by researchers and land managers in Scotland (e.g. SAC Soil Health Test and AHDB projects) and on a global scale. VESS is included in a suite of soil quality indicators that has been validated and released for use by stakeholders. It has also been incorporated into tools used by other organisations (e.g. SectorMentor) and a Swiss group have produced a VESS App. VESS and soil quality awareness raising continues to be a key part of soil quality (or Soil health) KE events for stakeholders.

Highlights

  • Cereal varieties for conservation agriculture: Analysing the yield response of cereal varieties to conventional plough (inversion tillage) and zero or minimum (non-inversion) tillage in trials across 11 years we have identified varieties that are differentially adapted to tillage (Agronomy 10, 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050686  and Agronomy 11, 30; https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11010030). We observed also reductions of over 80% in rust and mildew diseases in conservation compared with conventional tillage crops, facilitating reduced crop protection inputs. Next, we will determine the traits that make the varieties suitable for the low input agronomy of non-inversion tillage, develop tools for breeding such varieties, and develop IPM strategies suitable for net zero carbon crop production systems.
  • Land management effecting soil biology. SEFARI researchers from WP2.3 have generated datasets that have explored the impact of land management on soil biological communities. For example, liming was shown to have a limited effect on nematode and microbial community structure (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2020.103702);  long-term application of organic fertilizers resulted in nematodes having higher enriched levels of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARGs) than earthworms (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c03893) and that the transfer of ARGs in the soil-nematode-earthworm food chain is a potential mechanism for a wider dissemination of ARGs in the wider soil ecosystem; and land use and season were the main drivers of soil nematode communities in fragile Machair habitats (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140164). Integrated with work from WP1.1 and WP2.1, knowledge generated in WP2.3 was disseminated in two virtual meetings, AHDB Agronomy Week (Dec 2020) and AAB Nematology conference (Dec 2020) with delegates from UK, Europe, Asia and Oceania.  
  • VESS used to inform policy advice. VESS was used as part of a Royal Society Evidence Synthesis on soil structure to help inform the Government’s Agriculture Bill (https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/soil-structures/soil-structure-evidence-synthesis-report.pdf). SEFARI researchers also helped groups in Finland and Switzerland develop their own modified VESS tools. 
2019 / 2020
2019 / 2020

In the last year we have developed management tools which will allow the sustainable management of soil and water in an agricultural context. We have consolidated and validated information on the use of both alternative soil management and plant genotypes which have positive impacts on soil physical, chemical and biological status and evidence that these have benefits to a number of ecosystem services. We have made further progress on integrating these in models which will allow better management and widen the utility of soil quality indicator tools, which will allow better assessment of impacts. These results and tools will be validated in the final year of the programme.

We have developed understanding of the implementation and validation of a range of soil management tools and plant genotypes that can be integrated in an improved management package to enhance the sustainability of Scottish Agriculture. This package of tools will be strengthened and a toolkit of interventions developed in the final year of the programme at the end of which we will be making recommendations for management of cropping land.

The VESS soil quality scoring system has been further validated and extended to different land uses including grassland, reduced tillage systems and additional crop types. It is being used for systematic assessment of soil quality by land managers in Scotland and on a global scale. VESS has been included in a suite of soil quality indicators that has been validated and released for use by stakeholders. The work on soil quality indicators is now complete and has generated a large number of KE events where information has been diseminated to stakeholders. In addition, there is an indirect link between the work performed on VESS and soil erosion and nutrient losses through runoff, nutrient leaching and subsequent water quality.

Highlights

  • Stakeholder engagement on Soil Health and Quality: The Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS) tool continues to support the awareness of soil degradation issues nationally and internationally. VESS was used as part of a Royal Society Evidence Synthesis on soil structure to help inform the Government’s upcoming Agriculture Bill (https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/soil-structures/soil-st...). RD2.3.4. researchers also helped groups in Finland and Switzerland develop their own modified VESS field sheets and online tools (https://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120625/visual_evaluation_of_soil_structure). 
  • Knowledge Exchange for Alternative Approaches to Sustainable Land Management.  We organised the cross RESAS workpackage workshop on ‘Innovative arable and mixed farming systems for a sustainable future’ at SRUC Oatridge Campus on the 28th October 2019 (covering work from RESAS 2.3.4, 2.3.6 and 2.3.8). This was attended by farmers, researchers, industry and students with workshops in the afternoon. In addition, RD2.3.4 researchers presented keynote lectures, seminars and demonstrations at numerous venues and events in the UK including Farmers Weekly Soils in Practice, AHDB Agronomy Roadshows, Royal Highland Show, Arable Scotland, Potatoes in Practice, British Soil Science Society Annual Conference, BASE AGM, Groundswell, and internationally at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Austalia, Green Urbanism Conference in Rome, Italy and Czech University of Life Sciences, Czechia.
  • Training the next generation. COST action Training School on Digital Soil Geochemistry Mineralogy, Isotope & Moisture Characterisation, hosted in Aberdeen (see p4 in this doc https://www.saga-cost.eu/NEWSLETTER/COSTActionSAGA_Newsletter1.pdf)
  • A sustainable future for Scottish barley podcast: A podcast was produced which summarised the agronomic, environmental and economic challenges associated with current and future barley breeding, cropping and processing, and examined potential solutions to those challenges.
2018 / 2019
2018 / 2019

In year 3 we have identified further important soil responses to the management of soils for example we have developed cross cutting research on both beneficial and pathogenic free-living nematodes and their plant-soil interactions has been communicated through numerous workshops for a range of diverse audiences. This has resulted in an increase of almost 20% in soil samples submitted for nematode testing to James Hutton Limited from many of these stakeholders.

We have also made major steps in the application of root phenotyping to selection of improved varieties for better interactions with soil. New phenotyping methodologies were developed to study root growth. An important output of the project was the development of two doubled haploid populations of wheat. The parents were selected using the root phenotype information obtained in the project.  Doubled haploid population can accelerate the breeding process and are frequently used to understand the underlying genetics of traits. Based on the information on the root traits gained some of the wheat and barley varieties have been used in the latest experiments to investigate responses to different farm rotation practices and reduced tillage (e.g at Grieves House Tillage Platform).

Finally, VESS has been extended to integrate soil structure with other soil and crop properties (extended VESS). This has been tested with other physical, biological and chemical measures of soil quality on a field trial of nitrogen-fixing crops. Although only half-way through this trial, we can see that a combination of indicators, at least 5, is needed to give a good picture of soil quality. Legacy effects of the nitrogen-fixing crops on soil quality were evident the year after cultivation, although this did not translate through to increases in yield of the subsequent crop of barley.

Highlights

  • Stakeholder engagement on Soil Health and Quality: A series of 18 KE events were undertaken across Scotland and the UK to inform the use and understanding of soil health. This involved scientists interacting with the public and other stakeholders by demonstrating, hands-on, what to look for in a healthy soil and what the practical consequences are. One of the major events of this series was a Stakeholder workshop organised on ‘Sustainable Agriculture in Scotland: New Research Ideas’ at SRUC Edinburgh, 12th Jan 2018. http://www.hutton.ac.uk/events/sustainable-agriculture-scotland-new-research-ideas. This culminated in in a series of agronomy roadshows organised by the AHDB, Farm Advisory Services and SEFARI researchers. ‘Soil health – what is it, why should you care and how do you measure it?’ was presented to audiences in Carfraemill (8th Jan), Perth (10th Jan), Inverurie (15th Jan) and Inverness (17th Jan).
  • Knowledge Exchange for Alternative Approaches to Sustainable Land Management. A workshop was organised in Edinburgh for stakeholders to update stakeholder on the research and provide an opportunity for discussion between researchers, consultants, farmers and agronomists on Sustainable Agriculture in Scotland: New Research Ideas. The majority of attendees who responded felt they had learned new aspects of approached to sustainable land management.
2017 / 2018
2017 / 2018

In year 2 we identified and quantified important soil responses to the management of soils with cover crops and tillage treatments. Soils with alternative management had improved soils physical conditions, nutrient availabilities and carbon storage. Where physical damage had been seen in the past it was demonstrated that this recovers with appropriate management. Soil with improved physical conditions was less likely to be eroded by overland flow of water. In addition, we have identified important relationships between agricultural management practices, consequences for soil structure and impacts on seedling root development; a significant constraint to crop establishment and agricultural production in Scotland. The relationship between root carbon inputs to soil, soil water content and consequences for dynamics of nutrients (N, P), leaching or gaseous losses of nitrogen was investigated.

The VESS soil quality scoring system was further validated and extended to different land uses including grassland and reduced tillage systems and additional crop types and was used for systematic assessment of soil quality by land managers in Scotland and further afield, including other European countries and Turkey. VESS has been included in a suite of soil quality indicators that has been validated and released for use by stakeholders.

Finally, we identified and studied existing threats (such as heavy metal pollution) and new and emerging threats to soils that we have discovered through our experiments (such as the presence of micro-plastics in soils). Our work has tested several solutions to pollution in soils, and has identified several different materials that can be added to soils to help mitigate pollution. We have also managed to produce functional technical soils from urban by-products, and these are proving to be viable alternatives to existing soils, as well as potential materials to treat existing polluted soils. 

Highlights

2016 / 2017
2016 / 2017

After the first year we made significant steps in developing management tools which will allow the sustainable management of soil and water in an agricultural context. We produced information on the use of both alternative soil management and plant genotypes which have positive impacts on soil physical, chemical and biological status and evidence that these have benefits to a number of ecosystem services. We also took the first steps to integrating these in models which will allow better management and soil quality indicator tools which will allow better assessment of impacts. In addition, we started developing understanding of the assessment of a range of soil management tools and plant genotypes that can be integrated in an improved management package to enhance the sustainability of Scottish Agriculture. Of particular note was the development of the Visual Assessment of Soil Structure (VESS) soil quality scoring system which was validated and extended to different land uses and crop types and was made ready to be used as a standard tool for systematic assessment of soil quality by land managers.

Highlights:

  • We have shown that a range of cover crops can be grown over-winter in Scottish conditions.  We have supplemented the RESAS funding with extra support from industry to demonstrate that this can be done using equipment commonly available to farmers and at a scale to which they relate.  We have demonstrated that the cover crops can have different significant effects on soil function. 
  • We took part in public engagement event “The Crunch: Chew it over” which was sponsored by the Wellcome Trust at the North Edinburgh Arts Centre, Leith, Edinburgh designed to engage the public on the issues of Food Security. The aim of The Crunch was to help members of the public think about how our food, our health and our planet are all interconnected.
  • The VESS soil assessment tool was rolled out to farmers and landusers through an improved website http://www.sruc.ac.uk/info/120625/visual_evaluation_of_soil_structure and was highlighted at a number of stakeholder events across Scotland including ‘Cultivating soil health’ Field workshop organised by the Soil Association at Newmiln, Perthshire; ‘Valuing your soils’ at the SRUC Crichton Royal Farm and at AHDB ‘roadshows’ on soil health, carbon footprint and precision agriculture. Carfraemill, Perth, Inverurie and Inverness.
  • We engaged with the Open Jar Collective on their Soil City project in Glasgow (https://soilcity.org.uk/) Which resulted in a follow-on visit the soil archive at the James Hutton Institute, and engagement with an event called ‘What is soil anyway?’ which was about soils and the technosol work we are doing (https://vimeo.com/172581587).

Future Activities

With respect to soil management, we will further investigate the role of soil management with tillage, cover crops and genotype selection and its impact on soil function and quality in the new RESAS Programme through D3-1 Healthy Soils and B1-5 Abiotic Stress. We will also assess the role of variation in plants to impact the soil physical, chemical and biological status of the soils particularly in the rhizosphere.

Selected Outputs

Antille, DL, Peets, S, Galambošová, J, Botta, GF, Rataj, V, Macak, M, Tullberg, JN, Chamen, WCT, White, DR, Misiewicz, PA, Hargreaves, PR, Bienvenido, JF, Godwin RJ (2019). Review: Soil compaction and controlled traffic farming in arable and grass cropping systems. Agronomy Research, 17, 653-682. RL: https://doi.org/10.15159/AR.19.133

Beesley L, Trakal L, Hough R, Mitchell K. Mobility and crop uptake of Zn in a legacy sludge-enriched agricultural soil amended with biochar or compost: insights from a pot and recirculating column leaching test. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 2022 Jun 29:1-9.

Brooker RW, George TS, Homulle Z, Karley AJ, Newton AC, Pakeman RJ, Schöb C. Facilitation and biodiversity–ecosystem function relationships in crop production systems and their role in sustainable farming. Journal of Ecology. 2021 May;109(5):2054-67.

Brown JL, Stobart R, Hallett PD, Morris NL, George TS, Newton AC, Valentine TA, McKenzie BM. Variable impacts of reduced and zero tillage on soil carbon storage across 4–10 years of UK field experiments. Journal of Soils and Sediments. 2021 Feb;21(2):890-904.

Brown LK, Blanz M, Wishart J, Dieterich B, Schmidt SB, Russell J, Martin P, George TS. Is Bere barley specifically adapted to fertilisation with seaweed as a nutrient source?. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 2020 Nov;118(2):149-63.

Brown, L.K., Kazas, C., Stockan, J., Hawes, C., Stutter, M., Ryan, C.M., Squire, G.R. and George, T.S., (2019) Is green manure from riparian buffer strip species an effective nutrient source for crops?. Journal of Environmental Quality, 48(2), pp.385-393.

Cerqueira B, Covelo EF, Rúa-Díaz S, Marcet P, Forján R, Gallego JL, Trakal L, Beesley L. Contrasting mobility of arsenic and copper in a mining soil: A comparative column leaching and pot testing approach. Journal of Environmental Management. 2022 Sep 15;318:115530.

Cope JE, Russell J, Norton GJ, George TS, Newton AC, 2020. Assessing the variation in manganese use efficiency traits in Scottish barley landrace Bere (Hordeum vulgare L.) Annals of Botany. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcaa079

Coull M, Butler B, Hough R, Beesley L. A geochemical and agronomic evaluation of Technosols made from construction and demolition fines mixed with green waste compost. Agronomy. 2021 Mar 29;11(4):649.

Cui S., Hough R., Fu Q., Qi X.B., Liu D., Cooper P., Li P., Zhang Z.L. (2019) Concentrations and uptake pathways of polychlorinated biphenyls from soil to grass. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 182, 109428, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.109428

Cui S., Zhang Z.L., Fu Q., Hough R., Yates K., Osprey M., Yakowa G., Coull M. (2020) Long-term spatial and temporal patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Scottish soils over 20 years (1990-2009): a national picture. Geoderma 361,114135 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2019.114135

De Vleeschouwer F., Baron S., Cloy J.M., Enrico M., Ettler V., Fagel N., Kempter H., Kylander M., Li C., Longman J., Martinez-Cortizas A., Marx S., Mattielli N., Mighall T., Nieminen T.M., Piotrowska N., Pontevedra Pombal X., Pratte S., Renson V., Shotyk W., Shuttleworth E., Sikorski J., Stromsoe N., Talbot J., von Scheffer C., Weiss D., Zaccone C. and Le Roux G. 2020, Comment to: A novel approach to peatlands as archives of total cumulative spatial pollution loads from atmospheric deposition of airborne elements complementary to EMEP data: priority pollutants (Pb, Cd, Hg) by Ewa Miszczak, Sebastian Stefaniak, Adam Michzynski, Eiliv Steinnes and Irena Twardowska. Science of the Total Environment, 138699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139153.

Fan, F.; Yu, B.; Wang, B.; George, T.S.; Yin, H.; Xu, D.; Li, D.; Song, A. (2019) Microbial mechanisms of the contrast residue decomposition and priming effect in soils with different organic and chemical fertilization histories. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 135, 213-221.

Filis P., Walker N., Robertson L., Eaton-Turner E., Ramona L., Bellingham M., Amezaga M.R., Zhang Z.L., Mandon-Pepin B., Evans N.P., Sharpe R.M., Cotinot C., Rees W.D., O'Shaughnessy P., Fowler P.A. (2019) Long-term exposure to chemicals in sewage sludge fertilizer alters liver lipid content in females and cancer marker expression in males. Environmental International 124, 98-108.

Gatiboni L, Brunetto G, Pavinato PS, George T, editors. Legacy Phosphorus in Agriculture: Role of Past Management and Perspectives for the Future. Frontiers Media SA; 2021 Jan 7.

George, T.S.; White, P.J. (2020) Advances in understanding crop processing of phosphorus. In: Rengel, Z. (ed.). Achieving Sustainable Crop Nutrition. Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, Part 2, Chapter 4, pp83-114.

Gowda M, Cairns JE, Mwafulirwa L, Daniell TJ, Thierfelder C, Paterson E, Baggs EM. Evidence of a plant genetic basis for maize roots impacting soil organic matter mineralization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2021 Oct 1;161:108402.

Hargreaves P.R., Baker K., Graceson A., Bonnett S., Ball B.C. and Cloy J.M., 2019, Soil compaction effects on grassland silage yields under different levels of compaction over three years, European Journal of Agronomy, 109, 125916.

Hargreaves PR, Baker KL, Graceson A, Bonnett SA, Ball BC, Cloy JM. Use of a nitrification inhibitor reduces nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from compacted grassland with different soil textures and climatic conditions. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2021 Apr 15;310:107307

Homulle Z, George TS, Karley AJ. Root traits with team benefits: understanding belowground interactions in intercropping systems. Plant and Soil. 2021 Dec 2:1-26.

Jiang F, Zhang L, Zhou J, George TS, Feng G. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance mineralisation of organic phosphorus by carrying bacteria along their extraradical hyphae. New Phytologist. 2021 Apr;230(1):304-15.

Lin H., Chapman S.J., Freitag T.E., Kyle C, Ma J.W., Yang Y.Y., Zhang Z.L. (2019) Fate of tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes in a grassland soil amended with different organic fertilizers. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 170, 39-46.

McCloskey CS, Otten W, Paterson E, Ingram B, Kirk GJ. A field system for measuring plant and soil carbon fluxes using stable isotope methods. European Journal of Soil Science. 2021 Nov;72(6):2330-42.

Mendes GD, Bahri-Esfahani J, Csetenyi L, Hillier S, George TS, Gadd GM. Chemical and physical mechanisms of fungal bioweathering of rock phosphate. Geomicrobiology Journal. 2021 May 3;38(5):384-94.

Menezes-Blackburn, D.; Sun, J.; Lehto, N.; Zhang, H.; Stutter, M.I.; Giles, C.D.; Darch, T.; George, T.S.; Shand, C.A.; Lumsdon, D.; Blackwell, M.; Wearing, C.; Cooper, P.; Wendler, R.; Lawrie, B. (2019) Simultaneous quantification of soil phosphorus labile pool and desorption kinetics using DGTs and 3D-DIFS. Environmental Science and Technology, 53, 6718-6728.

Mezeli MM, Page S, George TS, Neilson R, Mead A, Blackwell MS, Haygarth PM. Using a meta-analysis approach to understand complexity in soil biodiversity and phosphorus acquisition in plants (vol 142, 107695, 2020). SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY. 2021 Jun 1;157.

Mezeli, M.M.; Page, S.; George, T.S.; Neilson, R.; Mead, R.; Blackwell, M.S.A.; Haygarth, P.M. (2020) What do we know about soil biological interactions and phosphorus acquisition in plants? Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 142, Article No 107695.

Miller G.A., Rees R.M., Griffiths B.S. and Cloy J.M., 2020, Isolating the effect of soil properties on agricultural soil greenhouse gas emissions under controlled conditions, Soil Use & Management, 36, 285-298.

Mitchell K, Beesley L, Šípek V, Trakal L. Biochar and its potential to increase water, trace element, and nutrient retention in soils. InBiochar in Agriculture for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2022 Jan 1 (pp. 25-33). Academic Press.

Mitchell K, Moreno-Jimenez E, Jones R, Zheng L, Trakal L, Hough R, Beesley L. Mobility of arsenic, chromium and copper arising from soil application of stabilised aggregates made from contaminated wood ash. Journal of hazardous materials. 2020 Jul 5;393:122479.

Mwafulirwa L, Paterson E, Cairns JE, Daniell TJ, Thierfelder C, Baggs EM. Genotypic variation in maize (Zea mays) influences rates of soil organic matter mineralization and gross nitrification. New Phytologist. 2021 Sep;231(5):2015-28.

Neilson R, Aitkenhead M, Lilly A, Loades K. Monitoring soil health in Scotland by land use category–a scoping study. The James Hutton Institute; 2021.

Newton AC, Guy DC, 2020. Assessing effects of crop history and soil amendments on yields of subsequent crops. Agricultural Science 11, 514-527. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2020.115032 - Actually published in May 2020.

Newton AC., Valentine TA, McKenzie BM, George TS, Guy DC, Hackett CA, 2020. Identifying spring barley cultivars with differential response to tillage. Agronomy 10, 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050686 - Actually published in May 2020.

Richardson AE, George TS, Hens M, Delhaize E, Ryan PR, Simpson RJ, Hocking PJ. Organic anions facilitate the mobilization of soil organic phosphorus and its subsequent lability to phosphatases. Plant and Soil. 2022 Apr 18:1-20.

Ruiz S, Koebernick N, Duncan S, Fletcher DM, Scotson C, Boghi A, Marin M, Bengough AG, George TS, Brown LK, Hallett PD. Significance of root hairs at the field scale–modelling root water and phosphorus uptake under different field conditions. Plant and soil. 2020 Feb;447(1):281-304.

Seyedsadr S, Šípek V, Jačka L, Sněhota M, Beesley L, Pohořelý M, Kovář M, Trakal L. Biochar considerably increases the easily available water and nutrient content in low-organic soils amended with compost and manure. Chemosphere. 2022 Apr 1;293:133586.

Stockdale E, Hargreaves P, Bhogal A. Developing soil health indicators for improved soil management on farm. InAdvances in measuring soil health 2021 Jun 21 (pp. 289-328). Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

Stockdale, E, Griffiths, B, Hargreaves, PR, Elphinstone J, and Bhogal, A (2019). Developing a practical and relevant soil health toolkit for UK agriculture. Proceedings – International Fertiliser Society, No 824. ISBN:978-0-85310-461-2

Stockdale, EA, Griffiths, BS, Hargreaves, PR, Bhogal, A, Crotty, FV and Watson, CA (2019). Conceptual framework underpinning management of soil health—supporting site-specific delivery of sustainable agro-ecosystems. Food and Energy Security, 158, https://doi.org/10.1002/fes3.158

Teodoro, M., Trakal, L., Gallagher, B.N., Simek, P., Soudek, P., Pohorely, M., Beesley., L., Jacka, L., Kovar, M., Seyedsadr, S., Mohan, D. 2020. Application of co-composted biochar significantly improved plant-growth related physical/chemical properties of a metal contaminated soil. Chemosphere, 242, 125255 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125255

Thierfelder C, Paterson E, Mwafulirwa L, Daniell TJ, Cairns JE, Mhlanga B, Baggs EM. Toward greater sustainability: how investing in soil health may enhance maize productivity in Southern Africa. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 2022 Apr;37(2):166-77.

Timothy S. George  , Cathy Hawes , Tracy A. Valentine , Alison J. Karley , Pietro P. M. Iannetta , Robin W. Brooker. 2022. Harnessing ecological principles and physiologic mechanisms in diversifying agricultural systems for sustainability: experience from studies deploying nature-based solutions in Scotland. Fronteirs in Agricultural Science and Engineering (in press DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2021437)

Trakal, L., Vitkova, M., Hudcova, B., Beesley, L., Komarek, M. Chapter 7-Biochar and its composites for metal(loid) removal from aqueous solutions in: Bolan, N., Yong, Sik, OK. (Eds) 2019, Biochar from Biomass and Waste. Elsevier, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811729-3.00007-8

Veenstra JL, Cloy JM, Menon M. Physical and Hydrological Processes in Soils Under Conservation Tillage in Europe. InConservation Agriculture: A Sustainable Approach for Soil Health and Food Security 2021 (pp. 391-406). Springer, Singapore.

Wang G, George TS, Pan Q, Feng G, Zhang L. Two isolates of Rhizophagus irregularis select different strategies for improving plants phosphorus uptake at moderate soil P availability. Geoderma. 2022 Sep 1;421:115910.

Wang G, Jin Z, Wang X, George TS, Feng G, Zhang L. Simulated root exudates stimulate the abundance of Saccharimonadales to improve the alkaline phosphatase activity in maize rhizosphere. Applied Soil Ecology. 2022 Feb 1;170:104274.

Xu Z, Qu M, Liu S, Duan Y, Wang X, Brown LK, George TS, Zhang L, Feng G. Carbon addition reduces labile soil phosphorus by increasing microbial biomass phosphorus in intensive agricultural systems. Soil Use and Management. 2020 Jul;36(3):536-46.

Zhang L, Zhou J, George TS, Limpens E, Feng G. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi conducting the hyphosphere bacterial orchestra. Trends in Plant Science. 2021 Nov 13.

Zhang Z, Osprey O, Cooper P, Kerr C, Lin H, Blanchard T, Le Guales N, Riach R. (2019 Oral) Occurrence, Fate and Effect of Emerging Contaminants in the Organic Fertilisers Amended Soils. 35th International Conference on Geochemistry and Health, 1-5 July, Manchester, UKDairy Farmer – Grass & Silage Toolkit (March 2020) - Limiting compaction at silage-making (https://issuu.com/farmersguardian/docs/grassland___silage_toolkit_march_2020

Zhou J, Chai X, Zhang L, George TS, Wang F, Feng G. Different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Cocolonizing on a Single Plant Root System Recruit Distinct Microbiomes. Msystems. 2020 Dec 15;5(6):e00929-20.

Zhou J, Zhang L, Feng G, George TS. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi have a greater role than root hairs of maize for priming the rhizosphere microbial community and enhancing rhizosphere organic P mineralization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 2022 May 16:108713.

Forager (Issue 19 – Spring 2019) - Controlled Traffic Farming boosts grass yields (http://www.foragermagazine.co.uk/pdf/Forager-Issue-19-Spring-2019-web.pdf)

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Professor Tim George

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