Observed differences between paddy and upland croplands in soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) may reflect environmental and data-provenance imbalances rather than land-use effects. We reconstructed independent SOC and SIC profile datasets across China, harmonized depths, and separated full-sample comparisons from a prespecified comparable subset. Among all topsoil SOC profiles retained after applying the inclusion criteria (334 paddy, 347 upland), the median Upland-minus-Paddy contrast was −2.12 g kg−1; within the shared subset (97/95), it attenuated to −0.35 g kg−1 (95% interval, −1.74 to 1.55). For 97 paddy soils, changing only the land-use indicator to upland while holding observed soil and environment states fixed yielded a mean SOC contrast of −0.58 g kg−1 (joint 95% interval, −1.02 to −0.15), with 78.4% negative. A layer-resolved Extra Trees S-learner supported this scenario with out-of-fold R2 = 0.72 and mean R2 = 0.72 across ten spatial partitions. The shared topsoil SIC subset retained only 9 paddy and 7 upland profiles, so adjusted SIC could not be estimated. Aridity index (AI) stratification showed the strongest negative SOC contrast in more humid high-AI croplands (−1.08 g kg−1; −1.62 to −0.56), whereas low- and middle-AI strata crossed zero; the high-minus-middle difference was −1.29 g kg−1 (−2.09 to −0.60). Among comparable croplands, observed topsoil SOC differed little between paddy and upland fields, but model predictions indicated lower SOC under upland land use, particularly in humid regions. These results suggest a modest SOC advantage of paddy croplands, while SIC differences remain unresolved.

Cropland and rural settlements are core components of rural human–environment systems, and their coordinated development is crucial for regional sustainability, particularly in China’s major agricultural production regions. Taking the Huang-Huai-Hai region as the study area, this study systematically investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of cropland and its coupling relationship with rural settlements using land use data from 1990 to 2020. Grid-based analysis and multiple spatial modeling methods were employed. The results show that: (1) From 1990 to 2020, the cropland in the region decreased by a net total of 21,021.94 km2, with annual dynamic degrees ranging from −0.13% to −0.28%. Cropland conversion to other land uses far exceeded conversion from others, with construction land being the primary destination. Among these, rural settlements and urban construction land accounted for 43.75% and 55.58% of the total cropland loss, respectively. (2) The spatial distribution of cropland exhibited a distinct pattern of “hot in the center and south, cold in the periphery and north” (Moran’s I = 0.232, p < 0.001), indicating significant positive spatial autocorrelation. Hot spot areas clustered in the North China Plain and the Huang-Huai Plain, while cold spot areas were distributed in the Yanshan–Taihang mountains and the hilly regions of the Shandong Peninsula, clearly controlled by topography. (3) Cropland change exhibited stage-specific characteristics. The pattern was relatively stable during 1990–2000. During 2000–2010, cropland conversion to other uses intensified, with high-value conversion areas concentrated around urban agglomerations. In the 2010–2020 period, these high-value conversion areas diffused from the core plain areas to urban fringe zones. (4) The spatial coupling between cropland and rural settlements was predominantly characterized by the Moderately Coordinated Type (MCT), accounting for 48.38–58.44% of the area. However, the proportion of Rural Settlement-Dominant Type (RC) increased from 15.51% to 21.58%, indicating a trend toward intensifying human–environment conflicts. Overall, the Huang-Huai-Hai region experienced significant cropland changes. While its spatial pattern remains relatively stable, the coupling relationship between cropland and rural settlements is deteriorating, posing challenges to regional food security and rural sustainable development.

Multi-season cropping patterns (MCPs) expand grain-sown area, improve resource-use efficiency, and diversify food supplies, yet many multi-season cropping regions in China are shifting toward single-season cropping. Based on suitability assessments of four MCPs, we classified conversions from multi-season to single-season cropping as suitability-constrained degradation (SCD) or suitability-mismatched degradation (SMD), and quantified the spatiotemporal dynamics, potential production losses, drivers, threshold responses, and future risks of SMD. From 2015 to 2020, SMD declined from 209,926 to 195,128 km² but remained the dominant degradation type, accounting for 63.45%–69.36% of the total degraded area. The associated mean annual potential losses reached 129.05 million tonnes of grain and 304.72 billion yuan in output value. Conversions of maize–rice rotations and double-season rice to single-season rice were the principal degradation pathways and accounted for most aggregate losses. Across MCPs, SMD was consistently associated with instability in grain yield and output value per unit area, whereas the effects of hydrothermal conditions, topography, agricultural inputs, and vegetation productivity differed markedly among systems. As areas where single-season cropping occurs despite moderate or higher MCP suitability, SMD areas represent substantial potential restoration space, particularly for maize–rice rotations and double-season rice. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the spatial deployment and technological adaptation of MCPs and for supporting sustainable multi-season cropping systems.

Cardiovascular diseases encompass a group of disorders affecting the heart and vascular system, primarily including coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Cardiovascular diseases have emerged as one of the leading global health burdens. China experiences high prevalence, elevated mortality, and a rapidly increasing trend of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary patterns, recognized as a critical modifiable factor influencing the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases, have garnered widespread attention. Evidence indicates that healthy dietary patterns can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, whereas unhealthy dietary habits may elevate the disease incidence. The Jiangnan dietary pattern, a paradigm of traditional Chinese culinary culture, is characterized by mild flavors, refined preparation, and nutritional balance, emphasizing fresh ingredients, balanced meat-vegetable ratios, and healthy cooking methods. Studies suggest that this dietary pattern may modulate lipid profiles and inflammatory markers, thereby influencing the progression of cardiovascular diseases. This paper introduces the current status of cardiovascular diseases in China, discusses the relationship between such diseases and the Jiangnan dietary pattern, and analyzes the intervention effects and mechanisms of this dietary pattern.

The synergistic optimisation of agricultural productivity enhancement and N2O emission reduction presents a core challenge in global agricultural sustainability. Integrating 792 field trials (6,678 observations) with meta-analysis and machine learning, this study evaluates nine management practices for their impacts on N2O emissions, crop yields, and yield-scaled N2O emission. Compared to standard synthetic fertilization (SY), biochar (BI), organic fertilizer substitution (OF_SY), and enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizer (EENF) exhibit synergistic effects: reducing N2O emissions (15.6-32.2%), increasing yields (4.6-7.6%), and decreasing yield-scaled N2O emission (23.7-35.2%). In contrast, SY, organic fertilizers, or their combination led to a "high yield-high emission" outcome, elevating yield-scaled N2O emissions (15.7-70.5%). Global spatial projections demonstrate that optimal implementation of OF_SY (-27.6%), EENF (-45.7%), straw return (SR,-8.1%), BI (-23.9%), and reduced/no-tillage (RNT,-16.8%) concurrently enhance yields, with coordinated global deployment further reducing yield-scaled N2O emission by 46.7%. Overall, we establish a framework guiding agricultural practices to mitigate climate change.

The Loess Sandy Region, a fragile ecosystem facing severe soil degradation, requires sustainable strategies to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and restore ecological functions. Through a long-term split-plot experiment, we evaluated straw mulching (applied (S) or not (S0)) with nitrogen fertilizer types (none (W), conventional urea (U), slow-release urea (RU)) during critical phenological periods of soybean growth. The results indicated that SU and SRU treatments significantly increased average yields by 209.03% and 356.32%, respectively, compared to S0W. Regarding carbon pools, compared to S0W, S0U and S0RU treatments reduced SOC content by 6.31% and 5.33%, respectively. The SW and SRU treatments significantly increased SOC content by 33.53% and 45.17%, respectively, and also significantly raised mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) content by 35.37% and 26.20%. Furthermore, SW, SU, and SRU treatments reduced the rate of organic carbon mineralization. Enzyme stoichiometric modeling revealed that SU and SRU effectively alleviated microbial nitrogen limitation. The S0U and S0RU treatments significantly reduced bacterial Chao1 and Shannon at the pod stage (R4). By the maturity stage (R8), SU and SRU treatments increased the Shannon index. Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that SRU treatment significantly enhanced bacterial network complexity and exhibited the lowest average variation degree. Although favorable hydrothermal conditions stimulate microbial activity and accelerate the mineralization of native organic matter in the short term, in the long run, the efficient utilization of straw-derived carbon by microorganisms, particularly the significant increase in MAOC, drives the overall increase in SOC. Overall, this study provides important theoretical support for advancing the sustainable restoration of degraded ecosystems in the Loess Region.

Exposure to excessive selenium (Se) is hazardous to human health, while Se is also an essential trace element. Therefore, exploring the appropriate exposure dose of Se has received widespread attention. Currently, the impact of Se exposure on blood lipids remains uncertain, and the potential mechanism is still unclear. Evidence from our earlier study pointed to PLCH2 as a potentially pivotal element in the association between Se exposure and total cholesterol (TC). This study aims to explore the appropriate exposure dose of Se on blood lipids, and effects of PLCH2 gene on the relationship between Se exposure and blood lipids through a longitudinal epidemiological study. Repeated measurements of urinary Se (Se-U) for 6260 participants with 9347 observations from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort were performed, and a U-shaped relationship between Se-U and TC was observed, the turning point of Se-U was 2.229 μg/mmol Cr. When lower than the turning point, Se-U was negatively associated with TC, while higher than the turning point, Se-U was positively associated with TC. Then, 2985 participants (6026 observations) were genotyped, and all 109 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within PLCH2 gene were included. Significant interaction (Pint<0.05) was observed between a haplotype of the PLCH2 and Se-U on TC: the U-shaped relationship was still observed in the PLCH2-ATCTCA haplotype carriers but not in the haplotype non-carriers. The results suggested PLCH2 gene can modify the U-shaped relationship between Se exposure and TC, which showed a new gene-environment interaction and will provide a new perspective on the relationship between Se exposure and TC.

Despite extensive studies on the release behavior of microplastics-derived dissolved organic matter (MP-DOM) under continuous leaching, limited attention has been paid to the sequential leaching dynamics that better simulate realistic environmental conditions. Here, four types of microplastics-polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and commercial PS (CPS)-were subjected to four sequential extractions under dark and UV irradiation conditions to investigate the evolving characteristics of MP-DOM across different leaching phases. Two important aspects of MP-DOM reactivity were examined: trihalomethane formation potential (THMFP) and microbial growth potential . Bio-based PLA exhibited the highest dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release and the fastest leaching rate, while petroleum-based MPs (PE, PS, CPS) showed progressively increasing DOC release under prolonged UV exposure. Phenol/protein-like substances dominated the MP-DOM across all MPs, but their evolution varied by polymer type and leaching condition. Under UV irradiation, PSDOM exhibited a gradual decline in protein-like components and an increase in aromaticity and humification, whereas PLA-, PE-, and CPS-DOM showed opposite trends. THM precursor leaching was more pronounced than DOC leaching under UV irradiation, with simple aromatic phenol/protein-like substances serving as the major precursors. Principal component analysis further revealed that PLA-DOM was characterized by higher lability and lower THMFP, while petroleum-based MP-DOMs exhibited higher THMFP and reduced microbial activity over time. Overall, this study highlights the dynamic compositional changes of MP-DOM during sequential leaching and their implications for disinfection by-product formation and microbial ecosystem function. These findings provide new insights into the environmental behavior of MP-DOM, emphasizing the need for timeresolved assessments of MP-water interactions.

Purpose:Ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) is a new subtype of diabetes distinct from traditional type 2 diabetes, and the role of muscle mass in KPD remains unclear. Serum creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (CCR) has been identified as a marker of muscle mass. The present study aims to investigate the value of CCR in newly diagnosed KPD. Methods:Two hundred and ninety patients with newly diagnosed T2D were included in the study and were divided into T2D (n = 195) and KPD (n = 95) groups according to the occurrence of ketosis. The cutoff value of CCR in identifying KPD was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between CCR and KPD and the independent influences on KPD. Results:The serum CCR level of the KPD group was significantly higher than that of the T2D group. After adjustment for all confounders, the risk of KPD was significantly increased with elevated CCR levels. The optimal cutoff value for CCR was 69.775 for male and 63.365 for female, with areas under the ROC curve of 0.639 for male and 0.648 for female. Postprandial blood glucose and CCR were independent risk factors, whereas age and postprandial C-peptide were independent protective factors for the KPD. Conclusion:High levels of CCR are significantly associated with the odds of KPD, suggesting that higher muscle mass (estimated by CCR) may be linked to higher KPD incidence. Our study suggests that CCR may be a useful marker for the incidence of KPD, providing new insights into the mechanisms of KPD.

Soil carbon sequestration plays a dual role in mitigating climate change and enhancing ecological resilience. Microbial necromass carbon (MNC) constitutes a critical component of soil organic carbon (SOC), yet its vertical distribution under straw mulching with fertilization remain poorly characterized. We conducted a 3 year field experiment on China's Loess Plateau, integrating straw (mulching (S) vs. removal (S0)) with nitrogen fertilizer (no fertilizer (W), conventional urea (U), slow-release urea (RU)). The results indicate that SRU treatment drove surface enrichment of labile carbon fractions, triggering microbial diversity and microbial community assembly processes. Additionally, compared to S0W, the SRU treatment significantly increased topsoil bacterial necromass carbon (BNC) by 22.2%, fungal necromass carbon (FNC) by 33.4%, and MNC by 28.9%. Conversely, the SRU treatment significantly decreased subsoil FNC content by 9.2%. In the 0-10 cm layer, compared to S0W, both straw mulching combined with chemical fertilizer treatments (SU and SRU) significantly reduced the ratios of BNC/SOC, FNC/SOC, and MNC/SOC. Regarding carbon-degrading enzyme activities, at the 0-10 cm depth, the sole fertilization treatments (S0U, S0RU) significantly increased peroxidase (POD) activity, whereas straw mulching combined with fertilization (SU, SRU) had no significant effect in this layer. Meanwhile, compared to S0W, both SU and SRU treatments significantly enhanced β-glucosidase (BG) activity, with increases of 200.5% and 122.2%, respectively. Additionally, relative to S0W, the SRU treatment also significantly increased BG activity in the 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm layers, by 106.4% and 110.5%, respectively. Using partial least squares path modeling and optimal multivariate regression model, this study revealed that FNC exhibited a significantly positive correlation with SOC accumulation in the topsoil. In the subsoil layer, the 9.2% decrease in FNC accumulation may be associated with reduced nitrogen availability and the consequent decline in fungal activity. These findings suggest that straw-fertilizer drives vertical gradient interactions between edaphic biotic and abiotic factors, thereby regulating the spatial heterogeneity of carbon sequestration.

Exogenous organic carbon (EOC) input is a key management measure for enhancing soil carbon sink function, yet the global patterns and regulatory mechanisms by which it promotes carbon sequestration through microbial necromass accumulation remain unclear. To address this, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 380 observations from 74 peer-reviewed studies worldwide, systematically examining the effects of EOC input on soil microbial necromass carbon (MNC) accumulation and its driving factors. EOC-amended soils had on average 29.4% higher soil organic carbon (SOC) and 38.7% higher MNC contents; the proportion of MNC in SOC was also 5.2% higher in these soils. The universal regulatory pathway underlying this positive effect is that EOC input provides additional carbon substrates that directly stimulate microbial growth and biomass turnover, and the subsequent MNC accumulation contributes to the SOC pool. However, the efficiency of this process is critically modulated by both the quality (C/N) and quantity (carbon input rate) of applied organic materials. Low-C/N materials improve soil carbon and nitrogen synergy, promoting carbon flow toward biomass synthesis and necromass formation, while carbon input rate directly stimulates microbial biomass accumulation, but with a threshold beyond which the contribution of MNC to SOC declines. This study demonstrates that improving the stoichiometric balance and application rates of exogenous organic materials is an effective strategy for enhancing the function of the microbial carbon pump and increasing soil carbon sink potential.

Nitrogen is essential for sugar beet growth, but excessive nitrate (NO3−) induces stress and inhibits early development. This study investigated the responses of hydroponic sugar beet seedlings to nitrate gradients (5, 10, 15, and 20 mmol·L−1; N5-N20). Growth increased from N5 (sub-optimal) to N15 (optimal), but was severely inhibited at N20 (excessive), reducing height of the plant, root length, root surface area, stem diameter, and fresh/dry weight by 40.13

Extreme weather increasingly threatens smallholder agriculture, but the effectiveness of meteorological early warning systems depends not only on forecast quality or communication coverage, but also on whether farmers can receive, understand, evaluate, and act on warnings. Drawing on warning-response and protective-action decision perspectives, this study examines how farmers' digital literacy is associated with their reception and comprehension of official meteorological warnings, their trust in official and platform-based information sources, and their self-reported emergency response efficiency during recent extreme weather events. Using face-to-face survey data from 500 farming households in the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi Province, China, we construct multi-item scales for digital literacy, official warning reception and comprehension, official information trust, platform/social media trust, and emergency response efficiency, and estimate the relationships among these constructs using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that higher digital literacy is positively associated with timely reception and correct interpretation of official warnings and with stronger trust in official meteorological and government information. These two official-information channels are, in turn, positively associated with emergency response efficiency. By contrast, trust in platform/social media information is positively associated with digital literacy but has no statistically significant direct association with emergency response efficiency after official channels are considered. The findings suggest that the rural digital divide should be understood not simply as unequal device or network access, but as unequal capacity to process, verify, and translate authoritative warnings into appropriate field-level action. Policy efforts should therefore combine investments in meteorological infrastructure with farmer-oriented digital capability building, clearer warning design for low-literacy groups, and careful integration of verified official content into commonly used digital platforms.

Bidirectional signaling mediated by heterophilic binding between the giant Drosophila protocadherins Fat and Dachsous (Ds) limits growth through the Hippo pathway and, via patterned binding and cell-by-cell polarization, influences planar cell polarity (PCP) and fate choices along major tissue axes. Prior work showed that the signal transduction initiated by the intracellular domains (ICDs) of Fat and Ds changes the localization and levels of three unusual binding partners: the type XX atypical myosin Dachs, the SH3 domain containing adaptor Dlish, and the DHHC palmitoyltransferase Approximated (App). However, the complex interactions between the three proteins and Fat and Ds are less well understood. Our evidence shows that these proteins play overlapping but distinct roles regulating each other and mediating signaling. Dlish localization and activity requires App binding and palmitoylation. Palmitoylated Dlish helps tether Dachs to the cortex but is also needed to couple Dachs to stabilization by the Ds ICD and destabilization by the Fat ICD. In contrast, Dachs does not localize Dlish but protects it from degradation. Our results also indicate that Fat does not act by changing App levels or localization. We discuss an alternative model based on Dlish's proposed role as an adaptor for E3 ubiquitin ligases.

No-tillage (NT) is often promoted to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, yet SOC gains can decelerate and approach an apparent plateau. Here, we investigated whether CAZyme-resolved microbial functions are associated with the limited conversion of high surface straw inputs into additional SOC gains under NT. We compared a 7-year rice paddy experiment under conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and NT (surface residue retention), using shotgun metagenomics to profile carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) genes and extracellular enzyme assays targeting plant- vs. microbial-residue degradation. NT generally suppressed lignocellulose-depolymerizing potentials relative to CT and RT. In October 2023, FDR-supported declines under NT were detected for GH3 (-38%), GH10 (-55%), GH30 (-71%), GH51 (-56%), and the lignin-associated family AA6 (-21%) (q < 0.05), while GH115 showed a large numerical decrease (-62%). In contrast, NT increased several microbial-residue-targeting potentials, including FDR-supported increases in fungal glucan-degrading families GH17 (+53%) and GH81 (similar to 11-fold higher in July 2023) and the bacterial peptidoglycan-degrading family GH104 (+249%). Enzyme assays further supported this functional shift: NT reduced (P < 0.05) beta-glucosidase activity by similar to 45% compared with CT, while leucine aminopeptidase remained unchanged (148.2 vs. 149.1 nmol g-1 h-1) and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase was slightly higher under NT. Together, these results are consistent with a reallocation of microbial functional potential from plant-residue depolymerization toward microbial-residue turnover, a pattern consistent with microbial functional constraints that may contribute to an apparent SOC plateau under continuous surface residue retention. From a management perspective, once an NT plateau is approached, increasing surface straw inputs alone may deliver diminishing SOC returns; integrated residue strategies that enhance residue-mineral contact and stabilization may improve the likelihood of further SOC stabilization in paddy soils.

There is limited research into the impact of takeaway food on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aimed to evaluate the association between takeaway food consumption and MASLD in Chinese TCLSIH cohort (n = 3186) and UK Biobank (n = 99 781), plus 334 Chinese adults with biopsy-proven MASLD in the PERSONS cohort. Takeaway food consumption was assessed via questionnaires. MASLD was identified through liver ultrasonography and cardiometabolic factors (TCLSIH) and hospital records/death registries (UK Biobank). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). In the TCLSIH cohort, 724 participants developed MASLD within 12 941 person-years; the fully adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for MASLD across takeaway food consumption frequency were 1.00 (reference) for < 1 time/week, 0.92 (0.67, 1.27) for 1-3 times/week, 1.30 (1.07, 1.61) for ≥ 4 times/week in males. In the UK Biobank, 724 participants developed MASLD during 1 033 546 person-years; males eating takeaway food had a fully adjusted HR (95% CI) of 1.66 (1.08, 2.55) compared with non-consumers. In the PERSONS cohort, takeaway food consumption showed positive association with MASLD severity in males. These findings indicated that takeaway food consumption was positively associated with risk and severity of MASLD in adults, particularly among males.

Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), a key glycoprotein metabolite of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), plays a central role in soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration and aggregate stability. However, a systematic understanding of its response patterns and driving mechanisms under diverse global change factors (GCFs) remains limited. This study conducted a global meta-analysis to assess the effects of 14 GCFs (including land-use conversion, fertilization, and climate change) on the two GRSP fractions: easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP) and total GRSP (T-GRSP). The results demonstrated that T-GRSP exhibited more pronounced responses to GCFs than EE-GRSP, making it a superior indicator for characterizing long-term changes. Specifically, fertilization (nitrogen +28%; phosphorus +12%; nitrogen and phosphorus +44%; nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium +33%) and elevated CO2 (eCO2 +7%) significantly promoted T-GRSP accumulation (all relative to control, p < 0.05). In contrast, land-use conversions such as forest to bare land (-91%), farmland (-33%), shrubland (-36%), and grassland to farmland (-43%) significantly reduced T-GRSP. Warming, fire, and forest-to-grassland conversion showed no significant effects. Soil pH change was identified as the pivotal hub regulating GRSP responses to GCFs, governing GRSP accumulation dynamics by influencing its mineral adsorption and microbial decomposition. Furthermore, changes in T-GRSP were tightly coupled with soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), directly contributing to the stable C and N pool and indirectly enhancing physical protection through promoting aggregate formation. Notably, under climate change, the relationship between SOC, TN and T-GRSP showed "decoupling". Concurrently, a significant negative correlation emerged between the proportion of T-GRSP in SOC, TN and their actual contents, revealing an adaptive strategy in which T-GRSP serves as a stable component for "core protection". This study systematically elucidates the response patterns and mechanisms of GRSP to global change, highlighting its dual role in maintaining the stability of soil carbon and nitrogen pools.

Afforestation alters soil organic carbon (SOC) turnover, yet its effects on the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of functionally distinct SOC pools across soil depths remain unclear. We conducted 200-day laboratory incubations along an afforestation chronosequence on the Chinese Loess Plateau and applied a three-pool SOC model to quantify the Q10 of active, slow, and passive C pools in topsoil and subsoil. Afforestation generally dampened SOC temperature sensitivity, with the strongest age-related decline occurring in the passive C pool. The depth pattern of Q10 reversed between temperature ranges: topsoil Q10 exceeded subsoil Q10 at 10–20 °C, whereas subsoil Q10 was higher at 20–30 °C, demonstrating that depth-dependent temperature sensitivity shifts with warming. The active C pool exhibited consistently low temperature sensitivity (mean Q10 = 1.33), whereas the slow pool showed no consistent age-related trend in topsoil. Substrate properties and bacterial community attributes were associated with Q10 in a depth-dependent manner. In topsoil, Q10 was positively associated with rare bacterial community composition but negatively associated with alkaline phosphatase activity. In subsoil, rare bacterial taxa were negatively associated with Q10. These contrasting relationships suggest that afforestation reshapes depth-dependent SOC temperature sensitivity through changes in C-pool composition, substrate properties, and bacterial communities. Our findings highlight the importance of afforestation-induced SOC stabilization in modulating SOC decomposition Q10, thereby potentially constraining soil C losses under warming.

Mulching is an important agronomic strategy for improving soil quality and crop productivity in arid and semi-arid agroecosystem. However, its integrated effects on soil health, microbial nutrient limitation, enzyme-mediated processes, and yield stability remain inadequately characterized. A field experiment established in 2008 was evaluated in 2019-2020 to compare straw mulching (SM), plastic-film mulching (PM), ridged plastic-film mulching (RM), and no mulching (CK), on soil quality index (SQI), microbial functionality, and soybean yield. All mulching treatments significantly enhanced soil nutrient availability and microbial biomass compared with CK. Soybean yield increased by 22.50%, 34%, and 49.50% under SM, PM, and RM, respectively, with RM showing the highest yield, stability and sustainability. SQI was elevated by 93.02%, 87.06% and 145.93% under SM, PM, and RM, respectively. Enzyme profiling indicated SM and RM promoted soil biological functioning through increased β-glucosidase activity. Eco-enzymatic vector analysis confirmed the angles below 45°, indicating microbial nitrogen limitation across treatments, while mulching differentially modified nutrient-acquisition strategies. Mantel analysis revealed strong associations among soil nutrients, microbial biomass, vector parameters, SQI, and soybean yield. Partial least square path modelling indicated that soil chemical properties exerted the strong positive effect on yield, followed by SQI. Random forest analysis identified SQI as key predicator of yield response. Overall, RM most effectively enhanced soybean productivity and microbial functionality, while SM maintained yield resilience during 2019-2020, underscoring mulching as a sustainable strategy for improving soil health, and agroecosystem stability in dryland soybean production.