A program entitled ‘Carbon and nitrogen cycling and trace gas exchange in agricultural ecosystems’ highlighted the crucial role of agricultural ecosystems in global carbon and nitrogen cycles and their impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Discussions emphasized the need for sustainable management to enhance carbon sequestration and mitigate nitrogen losses. The session covered a range of experimental and modelling studies on gas fluxes and nutrient cycling in grasslands and croplands.
Our poster contribution aligned with these themes, exploring the integration of soil organic carbon (SOC) changes in agricultural carbon footprint assessments. This connection underscores the importance of accurately accounting for soil carbon dynamics when evaluating the environmental impact of agricultural practices.
Methodological Advancements and Interdisciplinary Approaches in Soil Science
The "Material and Methods in Soil Sciences" program highlighted the evolving toolkit available to soil scientists. Subprograms like "From historical images to modern high-resolution topography: methods and applications in geosciences," co-organized with other disciplines, showcased the increasing use of advanced techniques such as Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), LiDAR systems, Structure-from-Motion (SfM) methods and deep learning approaches for detailed landscape and soil surface analysis.
Furthermore, the subprogram "Stable isotopes to study water and nutrient dynamics in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum," another interdisciplinary effort, emphasized the power of isotopic tracers in unraveling complex ecohydrological processes and nutrient flows within soil systems. These programs underscored the growing importance of high-resolution data acquisition, innovative analytical methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing our understanding of soil processes and their interactions with the broader Earth system.
The "Soil, Environment and Ecosystem Interactions" program underscored the critical role of soil organic carbon (SOC) in maintaining soil health and supporting vital ecosystem services. Presentations addressed the challenges facing agroecosystems and emphasized the need for sustainable agricultural transformations. Discussions focused on the complex interplay of factors governing long-term soil sustainability, including nutrient dynamics and soil-plant-microbe interactions.
Within the "Soil, Forestry and Agriculture" program, an emphasis was placed on innovative tools and strategies for soil conservation, remediation, and fertilization. Researchers presented advancements in smart agricultural technologies, such as variable rate application of fertilizers and remote sensing techniques, alongside novel soil amendments like hydroxyapatite nanoparticles for enhanced phosphorus mobility. Methodological developments for assessing soil quality and erosion processes using portable rainfall simulators and spatial analysis were also showcased. A key emphasis across presentations was the necessity of engaging technicians, farmers, and policymakers to ensure the practical applicability and uptake of research findings in agricultural practice.