Assessment of innovative soil conditioners in reforestation application in a nursery pilot trial
This study investigates the impact of a biodegradable xanthan gum-based soil conditioner on soil properties and water availability in a reforestation pilot trial in Catalonia, Spain. Two application rates of xanthan gum (75 g per tree, low; 150 g per tree, high) were compared with two commercial soil conditioners, TerraCottem and BeGraw Tap. A control treatment without any soil conditioner was included for comparison. The primary objective was to enhance soil water retention and moisture availability to support tree growth under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Post-incubation analyses assessed changes in soil properties, microbial community structure, and nifH gene abundance. The dataset includes sequencing data from soil samples collected after six months of incubation across all treatments.