Earthworms have a prominent role in supporting soil functioning and thus in providing key
services to humanity. Their beneficial role relates to effects on soil structure, carbon and …

Soil biota are essential for many soil processes and functions, yet there are increasing
pressures on soil biodiversity and soil degradation remains a pertinent issue. The …

Pollution caused by plastic debris is an urgent environmental problem. Here, we assessed
the effects of microplastics in the soil surface litter on the formation and characterization of …

Microbial necromass is a central component of soil organic matter (SOM), whose
management may be essential in mitigating atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate …

The positive effect of soil organic matter (SOM) on crop yield has historically been attributed
to the ability of SOM to supply crops with nitrogen and water. Whether management-induced …

Mechanical tillage represents the most common technique of soil management in olive
orchards within the Mediterranean Basin. Such practice may result in soil structure …

The French programme Réseau de Mesures de la Qualité des Sols–Biodiversité was carried
out at a regional scale (Brittany, west part of France) i) to produce a first statement regarding …

Considering the limited number of bioindicators available to assess soil quality, a national
research programme was set up in France to develop such indicators (2006–2012), the …

Earthworms play an important role in soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics and soil structure
formation, including soil porosity and aggregate stability. Earthworms feed on organic inputs …

Essential soil functions such as plant productivity, C storage, nutrient cycling and the storage
and purification of water all depend on soil biological processes. Given this insight, it is …