European Journal of Soil Science · 2025
Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Aggregates and Its Implications for Sustainable Agriculture
Mo, S., Lv, Z., Wang, Y., He, Y., Ren, X., Xu, P., Jian, J.
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Impacts of Conservation Agriculture on Soil Aggregates and I…
Abstract
Long‐term conventional cultivation leads to soil structural degradation, greatly limiting the sustainable development of agriculture. Conservation agriculture (CA) has been demonstrated to be a promising sustainable agriculture approach that improves soil structure by regulating the formation and turnover of soil aggregates, consequently mediating key soil processes and multifunctionality. Although research on the impacts of CA on soil aggregates is extensive, there is an urgent need to synthesize and systematize the current body of knowledge. Accordingly, we reviewed CA's impacts on soil aggregates to explore the development trends, major advancements, and future perspectives in this field. We clarified formation, turnover, and stability of soil aggregates under CA. Moreover, we revealed the intricate relationships among soil aggregates, organic carbon, and microorganisms under CA, and explored the current state of the hotspot of soil aggregates and multifunctionality. In addition, we proposed a CA framework and four critical considerations for future research directions, emphasizing the integration of cross‐disciplinary approaches and the convergence of multiple technologies. These directions include: (1) strengthening of long‐term monitoring of soil aggregate dynamics, (2) elucidating fundamental microbial mechanisms, (3) establishing an integrated evaluation platform, and (4) enhancing climate resilience within agricultural systems. These recommendations provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between CA and soil aggregate dynamics, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of soil health and sustainable agriculture.
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Long‐term conventional cultivation leads to soil structural degradation, greatly limiting the sustainable development of agriculture. Conservation agriculture (CA) has been demonstrated to be a promising sustainable agriculture approach that improves soil structure by regulating the formation and turnover of soil aggregates, consequently mediating key soil processes and multifunctionality. Although research on the impacts of CA on soil aggregates is extensive, there is an urgent need to synthesize and systematize the current body of knowledge. Accordingly, we reviewed CA's impacts on soil aggregates to explore the development trends, major advancements, and future perspectives in this field. We clarified formation, turnover, and stability of soil aggregates under CA. Moreover, we revealed the intricate relationships among soil aggregates, organic carbon, and microorganisms under CA, and explored the current state of the hotspot of soil aggregates and multifunctionality. In addition, we proposed a CA framework and four critical considerations for future research directions, emphasizing the integration of cross‐disciplinary approaches and the convergence of multiple technologies. These directions include: (1) strengthening of long‐term monitoring of soil aggregate dynamics, (2) elucidating fundamental microbial mechanisms, (3) establishing an integrated evaluation platform, and (4) enhancing climate resilience within agricultural systems. These recommendations provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between CA and soil aggregate dynamics, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of soil health and sustainable agriculture.
Long‐term conventional cultivation leads to soil structural degradation, greatly limiting the sustainable development of agriculture. Conservation agriculture (CA) has been demonstrated to be a promising sustainable agriculture approach that improves soil structure by regulating the formation and turnover of soil aggregates, consequently mediating key soil processes and multifunctionality. Although research on the impacts of CA on soil aggregates is extensive, there is an urgent need to synthesize and systematize the current body of knowledge. Accordingly, we reviewed CA's impacts on soil aggregates to explore the development trends, major advancements, and future perspectives in this field. We clarified formation, turnover, and stability of soil aggregates under CA. Moreover, we revealed the intricate relationships among soil aggregates, organic carbon, and microorganisms under CA, and explored the current state of the hotspot of soil aggregates and multifunctionality. In addition, we proposed a CA framework and four critical considerations for future research directions, emphasizing the integration of cross‐disciplinary approaches and the convergence of multiple technologies. These directions include: (1) strengthening of long‐term monitoring of soil aggregate dynamics, (2) elucidating fundamental microbial mechanisms, (3) establishing an integrated evaluation platform, and (4) enhancing climate resilience within agricultural systems. These recommendations provide valuable insights into the complex interactions between CA and soil aggregate dynamics, thereby contributing significantly to the advancement of soil health and sustainable agriculture.