Molecular Soil Biology 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 199-213 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/msb 2 01 soil physical indicators, such as available water capacity (AWC) and water stable aggregates (Agstab), are often used for soil health assessment (Es and Karlen, 2019; Bagnall et al., 2023). 3.2 Chemical properties (pH, organic matter, nutrient content, cation exchange capacity) The pH value affects the availability of nutrients and microbial activity in soil, and an appropriate pH range is beneficial for crop growth and nutrient absorption. Soil organic matter (SOM) and organic carbon (SOC) provide energy and nutrients for microorganisms and plants, promote aggregate formation, enhance water holding capacity and buffering capacity (Es and Karlen, 2019; Bhaduri et al., 2022; Liptzin et al., 2022; Bagnall et al., 2023). The accumulation of organic matter is closely related to soil management measures, such as reducing tillage, increasing organic inputs, and crop rotation, all of which can enhance SOC levels (Liptzin et al., 2022; Bagnall et al., 2023; Liptzin et al., 2023). The nutrient content (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc.) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) reflect the fertility and buffering capacity of soil. The higher the CEC, the stronger the soil's ability to retain and supply nutrients (Sanderman et al., 2020; Bagnall et al., 2023). New chemical indicators such as soil protein, activated carbon, and mineralizable nitrogen can reflect soil nutrient cycling and organic matter dynamics (Bagnall et al., 2023; Liptzin et al., 2023; Naasko et al., 2023). 3.3 Biological properties (microbial biomass, diversity, enzyme activity, earthworm population) Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), basal respiration rate, and decomposition rate are the most reliable and interpretable biological indicators that can quickly respond to management measures and environmental changes (Doran and Zeiss, 2000; Bhaduri et al., 2022; Liptzin et al., 2022; Semenov et al., 2025). Microbial diversity and community structure reveal the stability and stress resistance of soil ecosystems, although their interpretability and standardization still face challenges (Hermans et al., 2016; Schloter et al., 2017; Semenov et al., 2025). Enzyme activity (such as β - glucosidase, urease, etc.) reflects the ability of soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling (Bhaduri et al., 2022; Liptzin et al., 2022; Semenov et al., 2025). Large soil animals such as earthworms play an important role as "ecological engineers" in improving soil structure, decomposing organic matter, and redistributing nutrients. Their quantity and diversity are used as intuitive biological indicators of soil health (Doran and Zeiss, 2000; Lu et al., 2020). 3.4 Indicators related to long-term sustainability of soil SOC and organic matter content are core indicators for measuring soil long-term carbon pool and ecosystem stability, directly affecting soil erosion resistance and greenhouse gas emissions (Bagnall et al., 2023; Bhaduri et al., 2022; Liptzin et al., 2022). The physical and chemical indicators such as aggregate stability, water holding capacity, and CEC reflect the buffering capacity and resilience of soil to external disturbances (such as extreme climate and tillage disturbances) (Es and Karlen, 2019; Bagnall et al., 2023). Microbial diversity, enzyme activity, and stability of soil animal communities are key to the long-term health and functional maintenance of soil ecosystems (Doran and Zeiss, 2000; Bhaduri et al., 2022; Semenov et al., 2025). 4 Impact of Maize Cultivation on Soil Physical Properties 4.1 Changes in soil structure caused by cultivation intensity Traditional deep tillage and frequent plowing can help improve soil looseness and aeration in the short term, but long-term high-intensity tillage often leads to soil aggregate destruction, loose structure, and susceptibility to surface erosion. In special soil types such as soda saline alkali land, the use of deep tillage combined with rotary tillage and no tillage (SRT) can significantly improve the penetration resistance and bulk density of the 0~40 cm soil layer, promote soil structure optimization, and facilitate the development of maize roots and yield increase (Jiang et al., 2025) (Figure 1). Compared with single no tillage or rotary tillage, compound tillage can better balance the stability of soil structure and crop growth needs. Conservation tillage (such as no tillage and straw mulching) has been widely used in corn producing areas in recent years. Long term no tillage and straw returning not only increase the content and stability of soil aggregates,
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