A new study by Kevin Bronson and colleagues found that in-season nitrogen monitoring can reduce fertilizer use without affecting crop yields. By adjusting nitrogen application rates based on soil moisture and plant growth, farmers can save money and minimize nitrate contamination of waterways.
The study found that 31 soils are effectively extinct due to agricultural and land use, while six states have more than half of their rare soil series in an endangered state. The researchers argue for preserving rare and unique soils, which support rare plants and animals.
A 17-year study published by Dartmouth College researchers confirms that lead in forests in the Northeast moves very slowly through the soil. The study found that lead applied to a mountain forest in Vermont had only moved down into the soil about seven centimeters, and will likely move even slower due to denser soil.
Researchers have developed a numerical model for simulating the waveform in soil, improving field measurements of water content. The new method uses Time Domain Reflectometry and takes into account various factors such as soil types, bulk density, and probe parameters.
New guidelines published in Agronomy Journal provide a standardized approach to soil surveying and mapping, allowing farmers to make data-driven decisions. The technology is expected to revolutionize the agricultural industry within the next one to two decades.
A new approach suggests using nitrification inhibitors to reduce nitrate leaching to groundwater. Researchers developed management zones based on soil properties and crop yield maps, showing increased yield in wet seasons without affecting grain yield or nitrate leaching in dry seasons.
A simple lab exercise introduces students to exploring catena soils, recognizing horizon changes, and associating auger holes with soil descriptions. The exercise helps students understand the impact of topography on soil properties and apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Research found that composted biosolids can lower lead bioavailability by 20-38% in contaminated garden soil, reducing the danger of poisoning. The study's findings suggest that using composted biosolids as a soil amendment could be a cost-effective alternative to removing and replacing contaminated soils.
Researchers developed a model predicting water redistribution in soils following irrigation or rainfall. Coarse-textured soils exhibit finger formation, leading to deep chemical movement and potential groundwater contamination. Longer, less frequent watering may decrease fingering near the surface.
A model suggests that only coarse-textured soils can form fingers capable of moving deep into the soil, leading to inefficient water use and potential groundwater contamination. Laboratory experiments show that even small amounts of water can create persistent pathways in sandy soils.
A study published in the Journal of Environmental Quality found that compost can reduce lead levels in contaminated soil by 20-38%. This approach has been implemented in pilot programs in Baltimore and East St. Louis, showing promising initial results.
Researchers found that variable rate technology (VRT) with GPS and zone soil sampling reduces lime need by 60% and improves soil pH variability. The study suggests a combination of these technologies provides reasonable and efficient management of soil acidity and lime application.
Researchers developed a numerical model that explains the emergence of various patterns, including stone circles and labyrinths, through the interaction of two mechanisms: lateral sorting and squeezing. The relative strengths of these processes, along with factors like soil compressibility and stone size, determine the resulting pattern.
The new Methods of Soil Analysis Book, Methods 4, expands on previous editions with comprehensive techniques for carrying out soil physical measurements. It features advanced methods such as geostatistics, fractals, and fuzzy sets, providing a standard reference for soil physics technology.
Rain-on-snow events are projected to affect reindeer herds in northern regions, causing food shortages and potentially devastating impacts. Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and duration of these events, with a 40% increase in land area affected by 2080-89.
A three-year study found that changes to soil communities had no effect on the yield of plant life above ground or the amount of carbon stored in the soil. The researchers suggest that positive and negative effects of fauna in the soil cancel each other out, leading to no net ecosystem effects.
Scientists use microgravity to study soil behavior and simulate earthquake effects, aiming to improve foundation design and mitigate soil liquefaction. The experiment will analyze the strength and stiffness of sand under different conditions, shedding light on the physics behind soil movement.
A Cornell University project explores the complex relationship between Kenyan small farmers, their communities, and the land they depend on. The research highlights the devastating effects of soil degradation, leading to reduced crop productivity and increased poverty. Understanding social and cultural factors is crucial in addressing ...
Researchers found that mycorrhizal fungi can increase nitrogen fixation in legumes, improving soil fertility for corn production. Legumes like lablab show promise as a solution to enhance soil fertility without fertilizers.
Researchers have created a novel method to measure soil fertility using Mason jars, which can detect chemical fractions that feed corn plants. The Illinois N Test uses a combination of heating and titration to determine nitrogen content in the soil.
The Global Litter Invertebrate Decomposition Experiment (GLIDE) aims to advance understanding of soil and litter fauna's distribution, diversity, and importance in ecosystem processes. The study will provide unprecedented data on the animals involved in litter decomposition across different biomes and latitudes.
INEEL researchers successfully cleaned over 69% of plutonium and americium from spiked, local soil using supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide. The method is nondestructive, environmentally friendly, and suitable for cleaning up plutonium-contaminated soil at DOE sites.
Researchers at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory have successfully developed a compound that aids in the extraction of certain underground contaminants, including lead. The new chemical compound targets specific reactive fractions of the soil and can be used in pump-and-treat extraction methods to enhance removal efficiency.
Researchers found ancient soil in South Africa with organic carbon dating back 2.6-2.7 billion years, indicating microbial mats developed on land during rainy seasons. The findings suggest the development of terrestrial biomass more than 1.4 billion years earlier than previously reported.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have devised a method to combine chemical treatment with bacteria to remove cadmium from contaminated soil, leaving insoluble cadmium sulfide in place. This technique could be less costly than traditional methods and has potential for treating other metals like arsenic and cobalt.
Scientists at Purdue University have developed a simple and quick method to assess environmental cleanup efforts using genetics. The technique detects genes that reveal the presence of an enzyme produced by pollution-busting bacteria, allowing for real-time monitoring of soil cleanup progress.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new method for detecting buried land mines by using sound waves to create tiny soil disturbances and precision radar to measure the resulting movement. This technique can differentiate between mines and other buried objects, reducing false alarms and increasing detection accuracy.
Adding acetone to composting method dissolves chunks of carcinogenic substance, allowing microbes to break it down. Microbial populations thrive under modified conditions, degrading explosive in just one day.
Researchers found that genetically modified Bt corn releases the insecticidal toxin into the soil through its roots, posing a risk to beneficial insects. The toxin was shown to retain its insecticidal activity for 234 days and can affect soil communities in unknown ways.
Researchers found that increasing humus content can increase quinoline's movement to groundwater, but mineral interactions play a key role. The study suggests that strongly bound pollutants may still be broken down by microorganisms.
Researchers found that soil erosion has been steadily decreasing since the 1930s, with erosion now at a mere 6% of its peak during the Dust Bowl era. The study's findings suggest that conservation efforts are working and watersheds are more intricate than previously thought.
Researchers from Idaho National Laboratory are developing tools to monitor water flow and contaminants in the vadose zone beneath the Savannah River Site. They planted soil monitoring equipment to measure water content, tritium concentration, and soil tension, providing valuable information about the vadose zone.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory report a natural process that removes nearly all toxic metals and uranium from polluted soil, successfully cleaning incinerator ash. The patented process uses citric acid and sunlight to separate metal contaminants from radioactive elements, producing a concentrated and stable form.
A Colorado State University project, funded by a $1.8 million grant, aims to catalogue and analyze below-ground organisms and their interactions with surface ecosystems. The study seeks to understand how human activities above ground influence biodiversity below ground and its consequences.
A NASA experiment has yielded new insights into the internal fabric of soil and powders under very low confining pressures. The Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) experiment showed unusual density patterns and unique shear band formations, which could lead to improved engineering standards and disaster preparedness.
Historic farm plots show that over-fertilizing can actually decrease crop yields and make production unstable. Long rotations and sustainable farming practices are more effective in increasing organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
Two electrically based technologies, Six-Phase Soil Heating and In Situ Corona, are being commercialized for rapid and effective cleanup of contaminated soils. These methods utilize electrical current to heat the soil, removing contaminants through steam stripping or destruction by ionizing plasma.
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a process to make topsoil from coal ash, yard waste and industrial byproducts. The resulting soil is nutrient-rich and outperforms local topsoil in terms of yield.
Microbes in soil have been found to degrade certain toxic chemicals, including pentachlorophenol and benzoate. Researchers are developing procedures for using these hungry bugs in environmental cleanup efforts, which could be more effective and cost-efficient than traditional methods.
Researchers have identified a mechanism to trap key industrial metals such as nickel, copper and zinc in soils, reducing their mobility. This discovery could lead to more effective cleanup techniques using traditional methods.