{"paper_id":"086460a8-9dda-4ccf-a3f0-a3a72669ab20","body_text":"Integrated Soil Fertility Assessment System for Tobacco Cultivation: A Case Study in Honghe Prefecture | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Integrated Soil Fertility Assessment System for Tobacco Cultivation: A Case Study in Honghe Prefecture Junna Feng, Zitong Jiao, Cheng Chen, Lulu Chen, Runfan Zhao, Jingyi Wang, and 8 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8930386/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 7 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study developed an integrated soil fertility evaluation framework for flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivation by combining multi-method indicator screening, weighting, and quality assessment. Using 6,349 soil samples collected from 2011 to 2021 across seven counties in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Honghe Prefecture), a three-stage analytical procedure was implemented: indicator optimization based on Total Dataset and Minimum Data Set (MDS) methodologies; weight determination using entropy weight (EW) and correlation coefficient approaches; and fertility assessment employing the Soil Basic Niche-Fitness model and the Soil Fertility Index (SFI). Model validation through regression analysis (R 2 = 0.72), Kappa consistency testing (0.458), and correlation analysis (r = 0.85) identified the MDS–EW–SFI system (MESFI) as the most robust framework. The optimized MDS included six indicators with corresponding weights: soil pH (0.071), soil organic matter (0.085), available potassium (0.169), available boron (0.141), water-soluble chlorine (0.292), and exchangeable magnesium (0.242). Soil fertility indices (0.393–0.565) displayed stable spatial patterns, with 54.72% of soils classified as good and 32.43% as medium. The average fertility levels followed the order Gejiu (0.489) > Jianshui (0.467) > Mile (0.463) > Mengzi (0.457) > Kaiyuan (0.457) > Luxi (0.448) > Shiping (0.445). Structural equation modeling revealed that soil properties exerted the strongest direct positive influence on MESFI, with available potassium and boron showing the highest path coefficients (0.608 and 0.558). Geographic factors such as longitude and altitude and environmental drivers enhanced MESFI indirectly by improving soil properties but reduced it indirectly by influencing annual temperature, which negatively affected soil attributes (explaining 37% of the variance). This study highlights the importance of systematically refining indicator selection, weighting schemes, and evaluation models to construct reliable soil quality assessment frameworks for tobacco-growing regions. Furthermore, a comprehensive consideration of natural and anthropogenic influences on the spatial and temporal variability of soil fertility represents an important direction for future research. Biological sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences Tobacco-cultivated soils Spatiotemporal dynamics Soil fertility assessment Minimum data set Driving mechanisms Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 12 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 28 Mar, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 26 Mar, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 26 Mar, 2026 Editor invited by journal 24 Mar, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 17 Mar, 2026 First submitted to journal 17 Mar, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-8930386\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":613824911,\"identity\":\"94146359-8319-4e74-bc34-6d9a7f19620f\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Junna Feng\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Junna\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Feng\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824912,\"identity\":\"336f5580-2296-48cd-934b-7225a9edbbb2\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Zitong Jiao\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Zitong\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Jiao\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824913,\"identity\":\"40f30d79-9261-4bd7-a455-dae9c980f717\",\"order_by\":2,\"name\":\"Cheng Chen\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Tokyo Institute of Technology\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Cheng\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Chen\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824914,\"identity\":\"8f458305-ee6d-413c-9c34-71a536726db3\",\"order_by\":3,\"name\":\"Lulu Chen\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Chinese Academy of Sciences\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Lulu\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Chen\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824915,\"identity\":\"b81da347-ed79-42c0-a912-d2ad03549857\",\"order_by\":4,\"name\":\"Runfan Zhao\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Runfan\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Zhao\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824916,\"identity\":\"7386b927-f0f7-4de5-a6bb-c08dd51b1afb\",\"order_by\":5,\"name\":\"Jingyi Wang\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Jingyi\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Wang\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824917,\"identity\":\"2ef6fad9-fd79-4622-9314-2647b343c39d\",\"order_by\":6,\"name\":\"Zhen Ling\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Zhen\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Ling\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824918,\"identity\":\"4164bc8a-b49d-485d-ac40-00b256073449\",\"order_by\":7,\"name\":\"Shuo Yuan\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Shuo\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Yuan\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824919,\"identity\":\"a44f75a8-35f0-445b-9173-e4b94fa0626b\",\"order_by\":8,\"name\":\"Xiaodong Shao\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Honghe Branch of Yunnan Tobacco Company\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Xiaodong\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Shao\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824920,\"identity\":\"6db1616d-1dab-45f9-998a-9e7471945760\",\"order_by\":9,\"name\":\"Yingying Qian\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Raw Material Center of China Tobacco Yunnan Industrial Co.,Ltd\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Yingying\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Qian\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824921,\"identity\":\"7cedfca8-c446-43bf-899f-67800be3f335\",\"order_by\":10,\"name\":\"Yanhong Wang\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Yanhong\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Wang\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824922,\"identity\":\"e129a8ff-f3d6-4d21-8b17-dc8ba7355e24\",\"order_by\":11,\"name\":\"Chi Wang\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Chi\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Wang\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824923,\"identity\":\"77a0150c-7d2f-417e-a6f9-eaaa6ac843b8\",\"order_by\":12,\"name\":\"Zuoxin Tang\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA3klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBADHjb25oMPEipsiFAKpWX4eY4lGzw4k0a8FhvJGTlmkg/bDhHWYs9+9vDLn202PAYHcswqEtgOMPC3dyfgt4UnL81Csi0NqOVY2Y0EnjsMEmfObiDgsBwzA8O2wzwGB5u33UiQeMZgIJFLQAv/GzODRJCWwwxmBQlAkrAWiRzjBweBWiTbWMwYEhKI0XLjjRljw7k0Hn4etmSJhANpPAT9wt6fY/zxR5mNPZv844Mff/6zkeNv78WvBQjYJFCsJaQcBJg/EKNqFIyCUTAKRjAAAKQySG1pWNbEAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Zuoxin\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Tang\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":613824924,\"identity\":\"e660499a-7b2f-4ed3-8922-ce7c46994194\",\"order_by\":13,\"name\":\"Tiyuan Xia\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Kunming University\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Tiyuan\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Xia\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2026-02-21 04:09:01\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8930386/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8930386/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":105704441,\"identity\":\"c0fdefe1-7ae3-4948-8fe4-c96fe871d758\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2026-03-30 06:43:16\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":1273634,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"RevisedmanuscriptV2.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8930386/v1_covered_3fb4d889-1c84-42f4-924d-a06833749a5f.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Integrated Soil Fertility Assessment System for Tobacco Cultivation: A Case Study in Honghe Prefecture\",\"fulltext\":[],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":false,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":false,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":false,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":true,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":true,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"scientific-reports\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"scirep\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"\",\"title\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"Tobacco-cultivated soils, Spatiotemporal dynamics, Soil fertility assessment, Minimum data set, Driving mechanisms\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8930386/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8930386/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eThis study developed an integrated soil fertility evaluation framework for flue-cured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultivation by combining multi-method indicator screening, weighting, and quality assessment. Using 6,349 soil samples collected from 2011 to 2021 across seven counties in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Honghe Prefecture), a three-stage analytical procedure was implemented: indicator optimization based on Total Dataset and Minimum Data Set (MDS) methodologies; weight determination using entropy weight (EW) and correlation coefficient approaches; and fertility assessment employing the Soil Basic Niche-Fitness model and the Soil Fertility Index (SFI). Model validation through regression analysis (R\\u003csup\\u003e2\\u003c/sup\\u003e\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.72), Kappa consistency testing (0.458), and correlation analysis (r\\u0026thinsp;=\\u0026thinsp;0.85) identified the MDS\\u0026ndash;EW\\u0026ndash;SFI system (MESFI) as the most robust framework. The optimized MDS included six indicators with corresponding weights: soil pH (0.071), soil organic matter (0.085), available potassium (0.169), available boron (0.141), water-soluble chlorine (0.292), and exchangeable magnesium (0.242). Soil fertility indices (0.393\\u0026ndash;0.565) displayed stable spatial patterns, with 54.72% of soils classified as good and 32.43% as medium. The average fertility levels followed the order Gejiu (0.489) \\u0026gt; Jianshui (0.467) \\u0026gt; Mile (0.463) \\u0026gt; Mengzi (0.457) \\u0026gt; Kaiyuan (0.457) \\u0026gt; Luxi (0.448) \\u0026gt; Shiping (0.445). Structural equation modeling revealed that soil properties exerted the strongest direct positive influence on MESFI, with available potassium and boron showing the highest path coefficients (0.608 and 0.558). Geographic factors such as longitude and altitude and environmental drivers enhanced MESFI indirectly by improving soil properties but reduced it indirectly by influencing annual temperature, which negatively affected soil attributes (explaining 37% of the variance). This study highlights the importance of systematically refining indicator selection, weighting schemes, and evaluation models to construct reliable soil quality assessment frameworks for tobacco-growing regions. Furthermore, a comprehensive consideration of natural and anthropogenic influences on the spatial and temporal variability of soil fertility represents an important direction for future research.\\u003c/p\\u003e\",\"manuscriptTitle\":\"Integrated Soil Fertility Assessment System for Tobacco Cultivation: A Case Study in Honghe Prefecture\",\"msid\":\"\",\"msnumber\":\"\",\"nonDraftVersions\":[{\"code\":1,\"date\":\"2026-03-30 06:42:55\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8930386/v1\",\"editorialEvents\":[{\"type\":\"communityComments\",\"content\":0},{\"type\":\"editorInvitedReview\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-04-12T21:38:00+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewerAgreed\",\"content\":\"99453472467234895446022987912141253280\",\"date\":\"2026-03-28T15:55:52+00:00\",\"index\":\"hide\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"reviewersInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-26T15:54:23+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorAssigned\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-26T15:52:43+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"editorInvited\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-24T05:27:41+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"checksComplete\",\"content\":\"\",\"date\":\"2026-03-17T11:20:02+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"submitted\",\"content\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"date\":\"2026-03-17T10:14:12+00:00\",\"index\":\"\",\"fulltext\":\"\"}],\"status\":\"published\",\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"scientific-reports\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"scirep\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Scientific Reports](http://www.nature.com/srep/)\",\"snPcode\":\"\",\"submissionUrl\":\"\",\"title\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Scientific Reports\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true}}],\"origin\":\"\",\"ownerIdentity\":\"73fcc897-1457-4ba6-8c89-71efb9fd9afa\",\"owner\":[],\"postedDate\":\"March 30th, 2026\",\"published\":true,\"recentEditorialEvents\":[],\"rejectedJournal\":[],\"revision\":\"\",\"amendment\":\"\",\"status\":\"under-review\",\"subjectAreas\":[{\"id\":65318399,\"name\":\"Biological sciences/Ecology\"},{\"id\":65318400,\"name\":\"Earth and environmental sciences/Ecology\"},{\"id\":65318401,\"name\":\"Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental sciences\"}],\"tags\":[],\"updatedAt\":\"2026-03-30T06:42:55+00:00\",\"versionOfRecord\":[],\"versionCreatedAt\":\"2026-03-30 06:42:55\",\"video\":\"\",\"vorDoi\":\"\",\"vorDoiUrl\":\"\",\"workflowStages\":[]},\"version\":\"v1\",\"identity\":\"rs-8930386\",\"journalConfig\":\"researchsquare\"},\"__N_SSP\":true},\"page\":\"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]\",\"query\":{\"redirect\":\"/article/rs-8930386\",\"identity\":\"rs-8930386\",\"version\":[\"v1\"]},\"buildId\":\"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd\",\"isFallback\":false,\"isExperimentalCompile\":false,\"dynamicIds\":[84888],\"gssp\":true,\"scriptLoader\":[]}","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}