Maria Gonçalves

Soil salinization poses a significant threat to agricultural production in Portugal. Collaborative research spanning three decades with the U.S. Salinity Laboratory in Riverside, California, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of this issue. This study provides a concise overview of the causes of soil salinization in Portugal, focusing on ongoing efforts to comprehensively address this challenge. Key advancements highlighted in this study encompass the meticulous characterization of soil hydraulic and solute transport parameters, the application of cutting‐edge modeling tools for water flow and solute transport in diverse agricultural systems, and the utilization of innovative proximal and remote sensing methods for mapping soil salinity. Noteworthy results and practical implications of these advancements underscore their relevance in real‐world scenarios. While celebrating these achievements, the study emphasizes the current nature of the ongoing research, highlighting the dynamic landscape of soil salinization. The study underscores the imperative need for further advancements to effectively cope with soil salinization, especially in anticipation of the intensification of agricultural practices and the looming impacts of climate change. This comprehensive overview not only encapsulates past achievements but also sets the stage for future research endeavors in mitigating the pervasive effects of soil salinization on agricultural sustainability in Portugal.

Soil plays a central role in most aspects of human societies, and there is a large body of literature about sustainable soil management. Nevertheless, soil is currently facing degradation arising from different threats, which undermines sustainable development globally. In order to design effective research and policy strategies, it is necessary to identify the current knowledge level about sustainable soil management. This study summarises the key findings from a systematic stocktake of available knowledge about agricultural soil management practices in 23 European countries, which included the identification of soil management practices in use, the associated impacts and the soil challenges addressed. The aim of the study was to understand the current state of knowledge about the impacts of soil management practices, investigated and/or implemented across Europe. The results were analysed at the European level and were also grouped into European Regions and Environmental Zones. Key findings from this study were the identification of knowledge gaps that are key to climate mitigation and adaptation. There is a knowledge gap about soil management practices to avoid greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural soils, as the few reported studies evidence the complexity of the processes governing these emissions. Further knowledge is needed on the impact of tillage practices on long‐term carbon storage and distribution along the soil profile, as the reported knowledge was not consensual about carbon storage in deeper soil layers.