高寒草地不同退化程度下土壤微生物及土壤酶活性变化特征

为探讨不同退化程度对高寒草地土壤微生物及土壤酶活性的影响,以青藏高原东北缘祁连山3种不同退化程度(轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化)高寒草地为研究对象,测定和分析土壤3大类微生物(细菌、真菌、放线菌)和氮素生理群(氨化细菌、好气性固氮菌、嫌气固氮菌、硝化细菌、反硝化细菌)数量、微生物量(碳、氮)及土壤酶活性(蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶)变化特征。结果表明:(1)相同土层不同退化程度,土壤3大类微生物数量、氮素生理群、微生物量以及土壤酶活性随退化程度的加重总体呈减小的趋势,重度退化程度下各指标含量最小,中等退化程度可增加10—20cm土壤放线菌、氨化细菌及反硝化细菌数量和20—30cm土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌、好气性固氮菌、反硝化细菌数量;(2)不同土层相同退化程度,土壤3大类微生物数量、氮素生理群、微生物量以及土壤酶活性随土层深度的加深均逐渐减小。研究结果对评价草地退化程度提供了新思路,同时为高寒草地的恢复和重建提供了重要的理论依据。     

青藏高原东缘“黑土型”退化草甸人工草地改良的土壤养分响应

以青藏高原东缘的高寒草甸区"黑土型"退化草甸为例,研究了人工草地建设对"黑土型"退化草甸的土壤养分改良效果。结果表明,人工草地建植年限和土壤深度对土壤养分均表现了显著作用;随着人工草地建立年限的增加,土壤有机质在0-10cm呈显著增加,在10-20cm为不显著增加趋势,而在20-30cm则呈现了显著的下降趋势,0-10cm和10-20cm土层的土壤全氮和全磷均呈显著增加趋势,而20-30cm的全氮和全磷则呈现一定的下降趋势;速效氮和速效磷则在3个土层均呈现了显著的下降趋势,且随着土层深度的增加也呈显著的下降趋势。在高寒地区的"黑土型"退化草甸上进行人工草地建设,有利于退化草地土壤养分条件的改善,可以为后期草地群落的良性演替和发展提供一个良好的土壤养分生境。     

退化高寒草地土壤养分、酶活性及生态化学计量特征

为探究不同退化高寒草地土壤特性的变化规律。对祁连山康乐、皇城和天祝试验点退化高寒草地(轻度退化草地、中度退化草地和重度退化草地)土壤养分含量及其生态化学计量学特征进行测定分析。结果表明:(1)各试验点土壤pH、电导率、含水量和有机质含量均随着土层深度的增加而降低,在0—20cm土层中,土壤pH呈现出升高趋势,电导率呈现出先升高后降低趋势;在20—40cm土层中,土壤pH呈现出先升高后降低趋势,电导率呈现出先降低后升高趋势,土壤含水量和有机质含量在0—20,20—40cm土层中均随着退化程度的加剧而逐渐降低。(2)不同草地土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量均随退化程度的加剧和土层深度的增加而逐渐降低,且各样地间差异显著(p0.05)。(3)在不同退化草地土壤不同土层中,C/N变化范围为19.10~40.48、C/P变化范围为87.85~121.97和N/P变化范围为4.10~6.76。(4)随草地退化程度加剧,土壤纤维素酶活性呈先上升后降低趋势,脲酶、中性磷酸酶、脱氢酶、蔗糖酶和氧化还原酶呈降低趋势。(5)通过土壤理化、酶活性及生态化学计量比间相关性和主成分分析表明,土壤理化、酶活性和土壤生态化学计量比指标可以敏感地反映出不同退化草地土壤质量状况。综上,祁连山不同程度退化高寒草地土壤已逐步恶化,应加强对该地区草地合理利用和科学管理。     

草场管理措施及退化程度对土壤养分含量变化的影响

以不同管理措施和不同退化梯度的高寒草地土壤为研究对象,分析了两个序列的高寒草地不同土壤层次(0～20cm、20～40cm、40～60cm)中各种养分分布特征并探讨了管理措施和草场退化对高寒草地土壤的影响。结果表明:天然放牧草地经过围栏和翻耕措施后,土壤有机质、全N、全P含量明显升高,土壤速效氮、磷含量也得到明显上升。在20～40cm和40～60cm土层土壤存在类似的变化规律,但由于土层加深,受地表植被的影响减弱,变化规律不明显。比较退化序列草地发现,在各层土壤中,有机质含量变化总趋势是:随草地退化程度的加重,有机质含量下降;同时,土壤有机质含量随深度增加而减少;在0～20cm土层,随着草地退化程度的加重,有机质含量依次下降32.6%和52.1%。土壤中全N、全P含量变化趋势与有机质变化基本一致,全K变化趋势不明显。中度、重度退化草地与轻度退化草地对比发现,速效氮含量分别下降15.1%和28.6%,速效磷含量分别下降25.4%和59.4%。利用围栏和翻耕措施可以恢复退化草地的植被,提高土壤养分含量。但翻耕后,土壤孔隙度和通透性增强,土壤的矿化作用和淋溶作用也增强,导致了有机质的矿化损失和NO3-N淋溶损失,减少了土壤中C的积累量。同时,翻耕会破坏高寒草地固有的生草层,使其下面的沙质基底成为草地沙化的主要物质来源。建议在川西北亚高山区的人工草地建设中慎重选择翻耕措施。     

尕海湿地不同退化梯度土壤脲酶与蛋白酶活性时空分布特征

为探讨高寒湿地退化对土壤酶活性的影响，本文以青藏高原东缘尕海湿地未退化、轻度退化、中度退化和重度退化4种不同退化梯度的0～10、10～20和20～40 cm层土壤为研究对象，研究不同退化梯度土壤脲酶与蛋白酶活性时空变化特征。结果表明：随退化梯度加剧，土壤含水量降低，温度升高；土壤脲酶活性在0～40 cm土层中表现为随退化加剧而逐渐降低，而蛋白酶活性趋势恰好相反；除重度退化外，其他退化梯度土壤两种酶活性均随土层加深而降低；0～40 cm土层中脲酶与蛋白酶活性分别在7、8月和6、7月最高；相关性分析表明土壤脲酶活性与蛋白酶活性和温度极显著正相关(P<0.01)；土壤蛋白酶活性与微生物生物量氮极显著正相关(P<0.01)，与含水量和温度显著正相关(P<0.05)，与硝态氮显著负相关(P<0.05)。沼泽化草甸退化显著增加土壤表层脲酶活性而降低蛋白酶活性；温度对土壤脲酶与蛋白酶活性起促进作用，含水量、微生物生物量氮对土壤蛋白酶活性具有促进作用。     

黄河上游玛曲不同退化程度高寒草地土壤物理特性研究

对黄河上游玛曲5种不同退化高寒草地土壤物理特性进行了研究。结果表明,在0—30cm土层范围内,不同退化高寒草地间土壤容重、孔隙度、持水量和贮水量差异显著;土壤容重随草地退化程度和土壤深度的增加而不断增加,其变动范围分别为1.085～1.447g/cm3和1.111～1.248g/cm3;土壤总孔隙度、最大持水量和总贮水量随草地退化程度的加重而不断减少,变动范围分别为46.214%～58.162%,26.765%～52.369%,1386.420～1744.872t/hm2,随土壤深度的增加而不断减少,变动范围分别为52.783%～57.285%,40.504%～50.057%,527.833～572.852t/hm2;土壤入渗性能随草地退化程度的加重先减少后增大,大小依次为中度退化草地轻度退化草地重度退化草地未退化草地极度退化草地;土壤入渗过程表明,未退化草地土壤透水性良好,土壤涵养水源功能较强,而重度退化草地土壤透水性较差,土壤涵养水源功能较弱。     

西藏高寒草原土壤团聚体有机碳变化及其影响因素分析

土壤结构的维持和稳定对高寒草原生态系统的稳定具有重要意义。为了探明高寒草原土壤结构的变化过程,研究了藏北正常、轻度和严重退化高寒草原表层(0～10cm)、亚表层(>10～20cm)不同粒径土壤团聚体有机碳(soil aggregates organic carbon,SAOC)的变化及对土壤结构的影响。结果表明:1)正常草地不同土层相同粒径团聚体有机碳质量分数均无显著差异,退化草地相同粒径SAOC质量分数随土层加深则呈显著提高的趋势;除轻度退化草地表层,不同状态草地各土层微团聚体(<0.25mm)有机碳质量分数显著高于大团聚体(>0.25mm)有机碳。2)退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC质量分数均呈显著下降,降幅随草地退化加剧却有所降低。但与轻度退化草地相比,严重退化草地表层大团聚体、微团聚体有机碳损失量分别增、减2.87、2.90g/kg,亚表层损失量则分别减少1.40、0.34g/kg,由于大团聚体有机碳损失量较大,其土壤抗蚀能力低于轻度退化草地。3)高原寒旱环境中,SAOC质量分数随SOC质量分数、土壤含水率的增加分别呈极显著(p<0.01)提高、显著(p<0.05)下降的趋势,土壤温度、土壤容重对SAOC质量分数的影响则均不显著。该文可为进一步探寻高寒草原生态系统维持与稳定的理论和方法提供参考。     

不同放牧强度对肃北高寒草原土壤肥力的影响

对肃北高寒草原不同放牧强度下不同土层的土壤肥力变化等进行了研究.结果表明:(1)高寒草原土壤物理性质的变化对土壤化学性质具有重要的调控作用.土壤化学性质对土壤肥力的演变则具有关键影响.(2)随着放牧强度的提高,0-10 cm,10-20 cm土层土壤容重均呈不同程度的增加,土壤孔隙度、土壤含水量则分别呈显著的递减趋势.(3)轻度放牧草地土壤有机质、土壤全氮含量高于中度放牧和重度放牧草地,20-30 cm土层有机质随放牧强度的增大呈明显下降趋势,即随放牧强度的增大草地深层土壤肥力呈退化趋势;肃北高寒草原的速效养分以多氮少磷富钾为特点,土壤速效氮、磷、钾含量在总体上随放牧强度的增加呈下降趋势.(4)在剖面上不同土层0-10 cm.10-20 cm.20-30 cm.随着土层深度的增加土壤有机质、pH值、土壤全氮、土壤速效氮、速效磷含量呈增加趋势.相反速效钾呈下降趋势.     

青藏高原三江源区不同恢复期高寒草甸土壤线虫群落演变

青藏高原三江源地区的高寒草甸面临着严峻的退化问题，人工建植是三江源地区退化草地的重要修复方式。为探究地下生物对草地人工恢复措施的响应，本研究比较了三江源地区高寒草甸不同恢复期人工草地(建植1、5和10 a)的土壤线虫群落变化。结果显示：与原生植被样地相比，所有恢复期样地的植物地下生物量降低，土壤容重、pH、全磷、全钾和硝态氮含量升高，表明人工草地系统的初级生产力和土壤特性尚未恢复到原生草地状态。不同恢复期样地中土壤线虫的均匀度和多样性指数均显著高于原生植被样地。此外，不同恢复期样地的线虫多度、代谢足迹以及成熟度指数均随恢复年限的增加而增加。相关性分析结果表明，土壤线虫多度与植物地下生物量、土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、矿质氮和速效氮含量显著正相关(P<0.05)，与土壤pH、全钾和容重显著负相关(P<0.05)。尽管三江源区退化草地的人工恢复措施尚未完全恢复牧草生产力至原生植被状态，但土壤生物结构及功能具有改善的趋势，显示该地区退化草地生态系统具有较强的恢复潜力。     

沙化对高寒草地土壤碳、氮、酶活性及细菌多样性的影响

高寒草地沙化是青藏高原生态安全的严峻威胁,研究沙化过程中土壤碳氮和微生物变化有助于揭示驱动高寒草地沙化演替的生物学机制。以川西北沙化高寒草地为研究对象,分析了未沙化、轻度沙化、中度沙化和重度沙化程度下土壤碳氮、酶活性以及细菌多样性的变化。结果表明:中度和重度沙化显著降低了土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮、可溶解性总氮、可溶解性有机氮、微生物量氮、硝态氮和铵态氮含量(P0.05),但轻度沙化下的土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、硝态氮和铵态氮含量没有显著变化;土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶、蔗糖酶、几丁质酶、脲酶和过氧化物酶活性通常随沙化的加剧而降低,下降速率最大的阶段出现在轻度沙化向中度沙化过渡的阶段;土壤细菌多样性随着沙化的加剧先增加后降低,最高细菌多样性出现在轻度沙化阶段,但不同沙化程度下土壤细菌群落结构并无显著差异。冗余分析表明,土壤碳、氮、酶活性与细菌多样性呈正相关关系;主成分分析表明,土壤有机碳、微生物量氮、过氧化物酶和几丁质酶对土壤优势菌的影响最大。因此,在轻度沙化阶段及时采取治理措施更能有效阻止土壤性质的恶化,在沙化土壤恢复过程中还需要关注少数菌群的重建作用。     

Properties,degradation risks and rehabilitation possibilities of heavy soils in Bulgaria

The objective of this study was to determine soil properties, limiting site deficiencies for agricultural production and degradation risks of some major soil groups of Bulgaria. Vertisols, Planosols, Chernozems and Luvisols were characterised based on soil analyses. Temporal waterlogging in combination with water erosion, soil compaction and chemical degradation limit the fertility of Vertisols and Planosols. Chernozems and Luvisols are partly compacted. To ensure soil productivity for coining generations and to protect soil and water resources, the evident soil degradation must be halted. Long‐term field studies of soil rehabilitation variants were conducted. Soil parameters and crop yield were the main indicators used to estimate soil quality. Pipe drainage in combination with subsoiling and the application of gypsum and limestone, respectively, are effective measures for site rehabilitation of degraded Vertisols and Planosols. Degraded Luvisols and Chernozems characterised by distinct and persistent subsoil compaction can be regenerated by subsoil loosening and following site‐adapted soil management practices.     

Soil fertility affected by land use history,relief position,and parent material under a tropical climate in NW-Vietnam

In Vietnam as much as half of the total land area is already degraded by soil erosion and nutrient depletion. In particular, degradation due to deforestation is increasingly affecting mountainous areas in north-western Vietnam. The necessity to safeguard the farmers' livelihoods requires sustainable resource management, which firstly requires a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of resources. The objectives of the present study were to (1) identify the dominant soil types and their vulnerability using elicitation of local soil knowledge, (2) characterise the physical and chemical properties of the soils and (3) link them to the relief position and land use in order to (4) initiate sustainable soil use based on recommendations deduced from objectives (1) to (3). These objectives were achieved also by the elicitation of local knowledge. The final aim of the study was to initiate sustainable soil use based on recommendations for sustainable land use scenarios. The Chieng Khoi commune in Son La province of northern Vietnam was chosen as representative for other erosion-prone Southeast Asian sloping areas. In a participatory approach, combining local and scientific knowledge, sixteen sites were selected, representative for distinct relief positions, parent material (sand stone and silt stone), land use history, and erosion hazard. Chemical (e.g. content of organic matter, nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and plant available phosphorous) and physical properties (e.g. air capacity, plant available water) were used to estimate soil fertility. The predominant reference soil groups in the study area are Alisols and Luvisols, with a high diversity in respect to soil fertility. These soils are locally named ‘red soil’ and ‘black soil’, respectively. Although the main physical processes are erosion and selective sedimentation, farmers tend to underestimate their impact and causes, whereas soil quality was well-evaluated. Soils with high fertility were found on less eroded upper parts of hills and at sites, where agricultural use started only recently. Once degraded by cultivation practices, soils derived from sandstone did not recover even after more than 50 years of fallow. As a result of unsustainable land use, soils on middle and lower slopes are often affected by severe soil erosion, whereas foot slope soils suffer from accumulation of eroded infertile subsoil material as well as stagnic conditions. This study showed that unsustainable land use at upslope landscape positions has a severe impact on downslope areas. The elicitation of local knowledge facilitated the identification of such hot spots, allowing the implementation of spatially targeted conservation measures.     

退化演替对高山草地植被和土壤理化特性影响

[目的]分析3种不同草地退化阶段(轻度退化,中度退化和重度退化)草地植被和土壤理化特性的变化规律,为类似区域退化草地植被恢复提供有效途径。[方法]野外植被调查、土壤取样和室内分析。[结果]草地退化不同阶段草地植物群落组成和物种多样性均有差异,退化对草地土壤理化特性有明显影响。重度退化草地土壤容重显著高于轻度退化草地(p0.05)。轻度和中度退化样地0—10cm土壤空隙度显著高于重度退化草地。重度退化草地的土壤有机质、全碳、全钾、全磷和有效钾均明显小于轻度退化草地(p0.05),但土壤pH值和有效氮含量没有显著变化。[结论]高山草地退化演替对该区土壤物理特性具有显著影响。     

退化红壤马尾松恢复林地土壤微生物生物量变化及其控制因素研究

退化土壤植被恢复后土壤质量在凋落物参与下提高,但恢复土壤理化性质与土壤微生物生物量间的相互作用尚不清楚。本研究目标是调查退化红壤马尾松恢复林地凋落物清除对土壤理化性质和微生物生物量的影响,分析影响土壤微生物生物量的控制因素。研究结果表明,与侵蚀裸地相比,无论凋落物清除与否,马尾松恢复林地的土壤孔隙度、水稳性团聚体比例、土壤有机碳、全氮、土壤微生物生物量均有较大提高;其提高幅度受土层深度和坡位影响,主要表现为表层土壤大于亚表层土壤,坡顶和坡底土壤大于坡中土壤。与凋落物保留林地相比,凋落物清除林地土壤各项指标提高幅度降低。通径分析的结果表明,影响微生物生物量最重要的因素是土壤有机碳含量,其次为土壤孔隙度;凋落物则是通过孔隙度和有机碳来间接影响土壤微生物生物量。本研究说明土壤物理结构恢复对土壤生物学性质的恢复有重要意义。     

退化草地土壤农化性状与微生物区系研究

通过对三种退化程度不同的草地土壤农化性状与微生物区系进行研究，结果表明，草地退化后，其土壤肥力水平、土壤微生物数量和微生物种类有随退化程度增高而下降的趋势；退化草地存在不同的程度的营养元素比例失调，表现为少氮、缺磷、富钾和高有机质含量，且退化程度接近的草地间，在土壤微生物区系和农化性状有部分类似的特征。     

Soil properties characterization for land-use planning and soil management in watersheds under family farming

Environmental monitoring of small, rural watersheds was one of the components of the Natural Resources Management and Rural Poverty Alleviation Program (RS-Rural) in southern Brazil. The purpose of the monitoring was to assess the impact of promoting soil conservation and environment management practices adopted by farmers and funded by the Program. In four small monitored watersheds, in a total of 95 plots representing distinct land use and soil management, surface soil was collected to characterize ground-zero of the Program by determining several soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows soil physical, chemical and biological properties were decisive in defining the agricultural soils in the rural watersheds with family farming. The sensitivity to chemical properties provides an opportunity to improve soil quality if soil management focuses on altering those properties. Soil management practiced by tobacco farmers leads to rapid, intense degradation of some natural soil properties, especially those related to the dynamics of soil organic matter, compared with more conservationist uses (forest, regrowth, and grassland). Thus, soil management must be reoriented to avoid the progress of degradation and recover soil physical and biological quality. Cover crops and by land-abandonment to allow natural vegetation are important management strategies for the degraded soils used for tobacco production, increasing soil organic matter, nutrients and microbial activity and thus allowing further crop production. In conclusion, watersheds with tobacco cropping have soils with lower quality than when under no-tillage grain production, requiring changes in land use and soil management.     

Influences of alpine ecosystem responses to climatic change on soil properties on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China

Alpine ecosystems are quite sensitive to global climatic changes. Drawing from two sets of remote sensing data (1986 and 2000) and field investigations, the ecological index method was used to document ecosystem changes in the Yangtze and Yellow River source regions of central Qinghai–Tibet. Although crucial to understanding alpine ecosystem responses to global climatic changes, and in assessing the potential for their rehabilitation, the impact of such changes on alpine soil characteristics, including structure, composition, water retention, as well as chemical and nutrient contents, is poorly understood. Over a 15-year period (1986–2000), climatic changes led to considerable degradation of alpine meadows and steppes. In the meadows, the surface layers of the soil became coarser, bulk density, porosity and saturated hydraulic conductivity rose, while water-holding capacity decreased. In comparison, steppe soils showed little changes in soil physical properties. Degradation of alpine ecosystems led to large losses in soil available Fe, Mn and Zn. Important losses in soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) occurred in badly degraded ecosystems. Climate warming in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, caused by the impact of greenhouse gas, has resulted in changes of cold alpine ecosystem such as the significant alteration of the soil C and N cycles.     

Soil fauna modifies the recalcitrance-persistence relationship of soil carbon pools

Traditional models of soil organic matter decomposition predict that soil carbon pools with high chemical stability and large physical structure are more resistant against degradation than chemically labile and fine-grained material. We investigated whether soil fauna, by its direct and indirect effects on carbon turnover, would reinforce or counteract this general trend.The effects of four major faunal groups on carbon pools of differing recalcitrance were studied in an extensive microcosm experiment. Ninty-six microcosms were inoculated with nematodes, enchytraeids, collembola, and lumbricids in three densities, including combinations of groups. Bare agricultural soil and soil covered with maize litter were used as substrates. The microcosms were kept under constant conditions at 12 °C and 50% water holding capacity for 60 days. At the end of the experiment, soil particles were separated into size classes (<63 μm, 63-250 μm, >250 μm) and carbon pools were separated into solubility fractions (K₂SO₄-soluble, pyrophosphate-soluble, insoluble), by means of ultrasonic dispersion and subsequent stepwise solubilisation.Both in bare soil and in soil with litter, the carbon pools with the highest chemical stability (insoluble) and the larger particle sizes (>63 μm) were degraded more intensively than all other pools in the presence of lumbricids. The pools of intermediate chemical stability (pyrophosphate-soluble) underwent simultaneous degradation and neoformation brought about by different animal groups. The chemically most labile pool (K₂SO₄-soluble) remained largely unaffected by the fauna. Fixation of carbon in microbial biomass was increased by nematodes in bare soil and by enchytraeids in soil with litter. The results illustrate in detail how, under the influence of soil fauna, soil carbon pools are decomposed in a cascade-like process where carbon is transferred from the stable to the more labile pools, while simultaneously a proportion is fixed in microbial biomass and another part is lost as CO₂. Thereby, the relationship between a substrate's persistence and its chemical stability and physical size is substantially modified. We summarize the mechanisms that most likely are responsible for the different effects of the investigated faunal groups.     

Development of a soil degradation assessment tool for organic olive groves in southern Spain

Forty-six organic olive orchards under different soil management systems were evaluated in the province of Córdoba (southern Spain) to assess the state of their soil properties and the degree of degradation of their topsoil, and the possibilities for monitoring any soil degradation risk. Our study indicated that 55% of the olive farms sampled (OF) presented a low soil degradation, in which most of their deficiencies were a low content in some soil nutrients such as P, which may be partly due to the moderate fertility of some soils in the area. This result could be explained by the low or moderate intensity of the farming systems used in a large part of the study area. Seven percent of the sampled OFs had a large number of physical, chemical and biological soil properties, that could be considered as being degraded, and these olive orchards were classified as seriously degraded. The remaining OFs were in an intermediate state. The degree of soil degradation was not correlated with any specific soil management method or with predicted soil erosion rates, suggesting that it was the result of specific and varied on-farm conditions difficult to detect without a field evaluation. Three soil degradation indexes were obtained through a principal component analysis of the soil properties analyzed. These indexes were able to distinguish between OFs with low soil degradation and those in a serious state of degradation. Two of the indexes are basically integrative ones that can be used in relatively large surveys considering a large number of soil properties. The third index developed used only three soil properties, organic C, water stable macroaggregates, and extractable P, and has the potential to be used as a relatively easy and inexpensive screening test of soil degradation for organic olive farms in the area.     

Remote sensing of soil degradation: Progress and perspective

Soils constitute one of the most critical natural resources and maintaining their health is vital for agricultural development and ecological sustainability, providing many essential ecosystem services. Driven by climatic variations and anthropogenic activities, soil degradation has become a global issue that seriously threatens the ecological environment and food security. Remote sensing (RS) technologies have been widely used to investigate soil degradation as it is highly efficient, time-saving, and broad-scope. This review encompasses recent advances and the state-of-the-art of ground, proximal, and novel RS techniques in soil degradation-related studies. We reviewed the RS-related indicators that could be used for monitoring soil degradation-related properties. The direct indicators (mineral composition, organic matter, surface roughness, and moisture content of soil) and indirect proxies (vegetation condition and land use/land cover change) for evaluating soil degradation were comprehensively summarized. The results suggest that these above indicators are effective for monitoring soil degradation, however, no indicators system has been established for soil degradation monitoring to date. We also discussed the RS's mechanisms, data, and methods for identifying specific soil degradation-related phenomena (e.g., soil erosion, salinization, desertification, and contamination). We investigated the potential relations between soil degradation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and also discussed the challenges and prospective use of RS for assessing soil degradation. To further advance and optimize technology, analysis and retrieval methods, we identify critical future research needs and directions: (1) multi-scale analysis of soil degradation; (2) availability of RS data; (3) soil degradation process modelling and prediction; (4) shared soil degradation dataset; (5) decision support systems; and (6) rehabilitation of degraded soil resource and the contribution of RS technology. Because it is difficult to monitor or measure all soil properties in the large scale, remotely sensed characterization of soil properties related to soil degradation is particularly important. Although it is not a silver bullet, RS provides unique benefits for soil degradation-related studies from regional to global scales.