Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields

To achieve a scientific and objective evaluation of soil acidification, secondary salinization, and nutrient imbalance in old protected vegetable fields (OPVs) with over 30 years of cultivation history, a soil surface breeding vigorous moss was investigated. Here, quantitative laboratory analysis an...

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Main Authors: Nanbiao Zhan, Haotian Yang, Jiayang Li, Xiaodi Shi, Binhao Yang, Yuhang Sun, Gengzi Guo, Xiumin Cui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Horticulturae
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/2/126
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author Nanbiao Zhan
Haotian Yang
Jiayang Li
Xiaodi Shi
Binhao Yang
Yuhang Sun
Gengzi Guo
Xiumin Cui
author_facet Nanbiao Zhan
Haotian Yang
Jiayang Li
Xiaodi Shi
Binhao Yang
Yuhang Sun
Gengzi Guo
Xiumin Cui
author_sort Nanbiao Zhan
collection DOAJ
description To achieve a scientific and objective evaluation of soil acidification, secondary salinization, and nutrient imbalance in old protected vegetable fields (OPVs) with over 30 years of cultivation history, a soil surface breeding vigorous moss was investigated. Here, quantitative laboratory analysis and mathematical statistics were employed to explore the spatial distribution of soil salinity and nutrients, as well as their relationships. The results revealed that OPVs exhibited slightly acidified values. The measured anions and cations in the soil salt composition constituted approximately 77% of the total ions. Among which, Ca<sup>2+</sup> was the dominant cation, while SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> were predominant anions. The total water-soluble salt (TDS) content of the surface soil reached 4.52 g kg<sup>−1</sup>, exceeding the Chinese Saline Soils standard (1.0 g kg<sup>−1</sup>) by 350%. In the OPVs, nitrate nitrogen was significantly higher than ammonium nitrogen, and available phosphorus and available potassium were generally abundant. Despite exhibited various soil health concerns, a field visit survey presented consistently high and stable yields in OPVs. We hypothesize that this seemingly contradictory finding may be attributable to several factors, including the abundance of divalent cations (Ca<sup>2+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup>), the soil fertility and water retention capacity of unsaturated salt-based suitable soil, as well as good soil aggregate structure. These factors had the potential to reduce the stresses on the soil. This study provided a foundational understanding of the nutrient and salinity status of soils in OPVs, offering valuable data and theoretical groundwork for future research endeavors.
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spelling doaj-art-5235ddb59bfc40d689f010bd11db4dbe2025-08-20T02:44:46ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-01-0111212610.3390/horticulturae11020126Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable FieldsNanbiao Zhan0Haotian Yang1Jiayang Li2Xiaodi Shi3Binhao Yang4Yuhang Sun5Gengzi Guo6Xiumin Cui7National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaCollege of Agriculture, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaNational Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, ChinaTo achieve a scientific and objective evaluation of soil acidification, secondary salinization, and nutrient imbalance in old protected vegetable fields (OPVs) with over 30 years of cultivation history, a soil surface breeding vigorous moss was investigated. Here, quantitative laboratory analysis and mathematical statistics were employed to explore the spatial distribution of soil salinity and nutrients, as well as their relationships. The results revealed that OPVs exhibited slightly acidified values. The measured anions and cations in the soil salt composition constituted approximately 77% of the total ions. Among which, Ca<sup>2+</sup> was the dominant cation, while SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup> and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> were predominant anions. The total water-soluble salt (TDS) content of the surface soil reached 4.52 g kg<sup>−1</sup>, exceeding the Chinese Saline Soils standard (1.0 g kg<sup>−1</sup>) by 350%. In the OPVs, nitrate nitrogen was significantly higher than ammonium nitrogen, and available phosphorus and available potassium were generally abundant. Despite exhibited various soil health concerns, a field visit survey presented consistently high and stable yields in OPVs. We hypothesize that this seemingly contradictory finding may be attributable to several factors, including the abundance of divalent cations (Ca<sup>2+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup>), the soil fertility and water retention capacity of unsaturated salt-based suitable soil, as well as good soil aggregate structure. These factors had the potential to reduce the stresses on the soil. This study provided a foundational understanding of the nutrient and salinity status of soils in OPVs, offering valuable data and theoretical groundwork for future research endeavors.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/2/126old protected vegetable fieldswinter-warm heliogreenhousesplastic tunnelssalt-based ionssoil acidificationsecondary salinization
spellingShingle Nanbiao Zhan
Haotian Yang
Jiayang Li
Xiaodi Shi
Binhao Yang
Yuhang Sun
Gengzi Guo
Xiumin Cui
Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields
Horticulturae
old protected vegetable fields
winter-warm heliogreenhouses
plastic tunnels
salt-based ions
soil acidification
secondary salinization
title Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields
title_full Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields
title_fullStr Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields
title_full_unstemmed Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields
title_short Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Relationships of Salt-Based Ions and Nutrients in Old Protected Vegetable Fields
title_sort spatial distribution characteristics and relationships of salt based ions and nutrients in old protected vegetable fields
topic old protected vegetable fields
winter-warm heliogreenhouses
plastic tunnels
salt-based ions
soil acidification
secondary salinization
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/2/126
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