A recent study investigated the relationship between switchgrass and soil microbes, revealing that each cultivar harbors a unique community of bacteria and fungi. The research found that root characteristics, such as length and diameter, differ among cultivars and may influence soil microbiomes.
A new method for analyzing soil nematode communities has been developed using DNA barcoding, revealing characteristics of nematode communities in fields, copses, and home gardens. The study found that plant parasitizing nematodes were abundant in copse soils and bacteria feeders were abundant in home garden soils.
Researchers applied compost to apple orchards, finding it increased the number of beneficial bacteria that recycle nutrients. This leads to more nutrients available for apple trees, reducing the need for fertilizers and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
A new study published in Nature Communications finds that sand grains are in constant motion, challenging prevailing theories. Researchers used optical interference data to observe individual sand particles at rest and found they behave like glass, with creeping soil rates controlled by disturbances such as heat or tapping.
A comprehensive study by Artyom Gusarov found that soil erosion and river sediment load decreased significantly in European Russia. Climate change and warming of near-soil air led to reduced frosting and decreased erosion-inducing sediment from tillage in the steppes.
Researchers found that bacteria can break down up to 82% of contaminated soil in five years through the landfarming method, a new approach for Arctic regions. The study demonstrates the potential of naturally occurring bacteria to remediate diesel pollution at abandoned military installations.
Research found reduced microbial stability and increased soil organic carbon loss in degraded alpine permafrost on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. This degradation can lead to a positive carbon-climate feedback, exacerbating global warming.
Researchers at Colorado State University discovered that soil microbes can metabolize polyphenols, a breakthrough that could change how we view carbon cycling. The study showed that polyphenols are not just inaccessible to soil microbes, but are actually food sources for them in oxygen-free conditions.
Researchers found that just three to six bacterial groups are responsible for the majority of carbon cycling in soils. These dominant species were able to efficiently consume and utilize both existing and added soil carbon and nutrients.
Researchers at Boston University create first-of-its-kind model to predict abundance of different species of soil microbes in various environments. The model takes into account environmental factors such as plant species, pH, temperature and climate, and has huge implications for agriculture, climate change and public health.
A Duke University study found that while lead levels have generally decreased since the 1970s, they remain above safety guidelines near residential foundations and in areas with high traffic density. Regular soil testing is essential to mitigate these risks and encourage cities to act on this issue.
Researchers at Iowa State University are developing new models to predict soil erosion and topography changes in Iowa. The models use big-data technology and validate soil measurements from real-world LiDAR data, enabling more accurate predictions of environmental conditions.
Researchers found that earthworm guts have lower numbers and relative abundances of antibiotic-resistance genes compared to surrounding soils. The earthworms' unique gut environment may destroy ARGs or outcompete bacteria hosting them, suggesting a potential role in natural bioremediation.
Research from San Diego State University models show that high microbial fluctuations in soil lead to higher carbon emissions. By reducing fluctuation, land stewards can lower emissions and sustain soil fertility.
Researchers in Spain found rock humidity in dehesas can sustain vegetation during droughts by providing an alternative source of water. Soil moisture levels varied between slopes, with the north-facing slope having higher biomass and NDVI values, indicating improved plant growth due to increased water storage capacity.
Predatory bacteria grow faster and consume more resources than non-predators in the same soil, according to a study. These active predators play an outsized role in how elements are stored in or released from soil, with some species growing 36% faster and taking up carbon 211% faster.
Researchers at UCI found that soil microbes can evolve in response to climate change, changing genetic diversity in 18 months. This rapid evolution has implications for how soil ecosystems respond to future climate conditions.
Tropical forest soils capture carbon dioxide into organic matter interacting with soil minerals, leading to reduced CO2 emissions. Excessive nitrogen deposition stimulates soil carbon storage by 7-21% in tropical forests.
A new study found that bacteria in the soil enhance plant growth by promoting lateral root formation and improving nitrogen absorption. This breakthrough could lead to more sustainable agriculture practices by reducing fertilizer use and environmental pollution.
Researchers have found that pathogenic soil microbes impede seedling emergence and subsequent growth in the centre of spinifex rings. The study suggests that older parts of the plant succumb to a build-up of these microbes, while new seedlings establish at the outside edge of the rings.
A new study finds that restoring Louisiana's coastal marshes can store significant amounts of carbon in the soil, potentially altering the global carbon budget. The study examined 24 sites across four marsh habitats and found that protecting these areas is vital to preserving carbon stored in the soils.
A team of researchers has discovered a group of bacteria that may help fungi and plants acquire soil nutrients. The bacteria form unique communities on the hyphae surfaces of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which could enhance phosphate acquisition and improve crop yields.
New research found that elevated CO2 levels drive increased plant growth, but take a toll on soil's ability to absorb carbon. Soils only accumulated more carbon in experiments where plant growth remained steady.
Researchers at UMD have developed a new camera allowing for the imaging of wetland soil activity in real time, enabling the calculation of iron reduction rates. This technology opens up new research avenues in soil science, providing a better understanding of wetland soil behavior and its potential applications.
Donald Sparks has won the 2021 Philippe Duchaufour Medal for his pioneering work on soil chemistry and carbon dynamics. He is recognized as a global leader in environmental soil chemistry, having carried out visionary science throughout his career.
Researchers developed a cost-effective method to monitor soil moisture using a standard digital camera and machine learning technology. The system accurately determines soil moisture levels under various conditions, enabling precise irrigation and supporting sustainable agriculture.
A study published by Lindsey Slaughter found that adding manure to pastures increases soil organic carbon and microbial activity. The results took almost a year and a half to manifest, highlighting the challenges of implementing this method in dry climates.
Researchers identified pesticide residues at 100 Swiss farms, including all organic fields, with beneficial microbes' abundance negatively impacted by their occurrence. Organic farming strategies avoid synthetic substances, yet pesticides can persist in the soil.
A comprehensive database of Estonian soils and a map application have been completed to make soil information easily accessible. Key findings include the ability to derive large-scale actionable insights from the data, with potential applications in digital agriculture support, forest management, and environmental assessments.
The US Department of Agriculture has underestimated the true magnitude of farmland erosion in the Corn Belt, which has lost nearly 30 million acres of its carbon-rich topsoil. Researchers used remote sensing to quantify the previously underestimated erosion, highlighting the need for tillage erosion inclusion in soil loss models.
A team of scientists from RUDN University developed a new approach to automatic soil mapping using machine learning technologies. The method, which uses traditional rules for manual mapping, provides highly accurate results and easy-to-interpret maps, outperforming existing statistical models.
Researchers at Princeton University developed a platform to visualize hydrogels' hidden workings in soils, revealing that the amount of water stored is controlled by a balance between swelling force and soil pressure. This study provides guidelines for designing hydrogels that can optimally absorb water depending on soil conditions.
A study by scientists from Incheon National University reveals that microplastics in agricultural soil can affect soil quality, plant physiology, and even the environment. The researchers found that different shapes of MPs dominate various agricultural practices, highlighting the need for efficient management strategies to reduce the t...
Researchers investigated how high salt and nitrogen concentrations impact soil microbiome development in high tunnel systems. They found that these properties delayed the re-establishment of a diverse microbial community, with certain 'universal colonizers' surviving despite the stress.
Researchers studying soil conditions at US military installations along coasts aim to understand the effects of sea level rise and flooding. They will collect data through intensive monitoring and laboratory experiments to develop geospatial modeling tools.
Agricultural expert Angelia Seyfferth investigates how contaminants in soil affect rice plants, finding that adding rice husk residue can lower arsenic and cadmium levels. This discovery has potential to mitigate food contamination and protect global staple food populations.
Increased snow depth in northeastern China led to a continued warming trend in soil temperatures, contradicting observed surface air temperature cooling trends. This finding suggests the importance of snow cover in regulating soil temperatures and its implications for agriculture during periods of reduced global warming.
Researchers discovered that certain soil bacteria can break down large carbon-based molecules using enzymes, potentially leading to rapid release of CO2 from soil. This finding challenges current models of carbon storage in soil and highlights a key role for biology in climate change.
The Microbiology Society's report emphasizes the need for increased research into soil health and collaboration with farmers to design sustainable management practices. Soil degradation is a significant issue, with the UK facing a potential 30-40 year decline in soil fertility if current rates of degradation are not reversed.
Scientists have discovered a signal that causes roots to stop growing in hard soils, but after disabling it, roots can push through compacted soil. This discovery could help plants grow in damaged soils, reducing crop yields by up to 50%.
Plant roots can sense compacted soils through ethylene hormone signals, hindering growth. Mutant roots insensitive to ethylene penetrate compacted soils more effectively.
Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a modeling framework to estimate soil erosion in the Drummer Creek watershed. The study found that even partial changes in tilling practices can have significant results, with vulnerable areas seeing a near-70% reduction in soil loss and sediment yield.
New research suggests that phosphorous and calcium levels in Amazonian dark earth are orders of magnitude higher than in surrounding soil, correlating with 16 trace elements that indicate pre-settlement river flooding delivered nutrients. This finding challenges the long-held theory that controlled burning created these fertile sites.
A new study finds that soil moisture exerts a negative feedback on surface water availability in drylands, offsetting some of the expected decline. This means that as soil moisture decreases, it can reduce evapotranspiration and enhance surface warming, leading to more frequent droughts and floods.
A study by RUDN University scientists found that global warming increases methane and CO2 emissions in rice paddies through the priming effect. Temperature fluctuations amplify this process, with increased sensitivity at temperatures between 5-15°C.
A new study reveals the physical and chemical interactions that sequester carbon in soil, showing layers of carbon around organic interfaces and a crucial role for nitrogen. This breakthrough technique may help develop strategies for sequestering more carbon in soil, mitigating climate change.
Researchers developed a method to identify soil color and structure using ground-penetrating radar, allowing for classification of soils for construction, agriculture, or mining. The technique was tested in Kamennaya Steppe, where it matched actual soil colors 80% of the time.
A study analyzing 40 years of topsoil data finds that approximately 11.73 million square kilometers of land were affected by salt accumulation between 1980 and 2018. The likelihood of reoccurring salt-affected soils decreased globally, but certain regions like Brazil and Peru experienced increased soil salinity.
A new model refines an existing computer model to understand water movement and storage in dry desert soils. The study improves knowledge of solar farm impacts on desert hydrology, useful for soil restoration and flood risk mitigation.
A University of Oklahoma-led study found that lower nitrogen levels in soil stimulate the release of carbon dioxide from soils under high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, contributing to climate change. Soil microorganisms play a crucial role in this process.
Researchers analyzed soil samples from burned and unburned areas in California parks, finding that the oak woodland fungal community was less affected by wildfires than those in evergreen forests. This aligns with the fact that oak woodlands depend on regular fire to thrive.
Recent consecutive years of record high temperatures and droughts are unprecedented in over 250 years, according to researchers. The combination of heatwaves and soil moisture loss accelerates more heatwaves, threatening the region's ecosystem.
A Cornell University project aims to develop worm-like, soil-swimming robots to sense and record soil properties, water, and root growth. The goal is to improve breeding efforts and soil management to increase food productivity and security.
A RUDN University study found that deforestation leads to massive transformations in soil bacterial communities, with some plantations showing higher diversity than forests. The key factors are soil acidity and resource availability.
Researchers at Uppsala University have discovered two previously unknown fungus species using a novel method based on DNA analysis of soil samples. These fungi are thought to play a key role in the ecosystem, but their exact function remains unclear.
Scientists have developed transparent soil substitutes that allow researchers to observe the complex interactions of soil microbes. Using these substitutes, researchers found that soil bacteria rely on fungi to survive dry periods, highlighting the crucial role of fungi in maintaining soil health.
New research suggests that a 2°C warming would release 230 billion tonnes of carbon from the world's soil, more than four times China's total emissions over 100 years. This 'positive feedback' effect contributes to further climate change.
A new type of soil created by engineers at the University of Texas at Austin can pull water from the air and distribute it to plants, potentially increasing crop yields in previously inhospitable areas. The hydrogel soil retained up to 40% of its initial water quantity, outperforming sandy soils in dry areas.
Engineers at the University of Bath have demonstrated the potential of soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) to purify water in field tests in North-East Brazil. SMFCs can generate energy from microorganisms naturally present in soil, which are able to transfer electrons outside their cells.
A RUDN University scientist discovered that adding organic fertilizers can help retain carbon in rice paddies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that soils with different types of fertilizers retained an average of 69% more carbon after fertilization, suggesting a potential solution to mitigate climate change.