Soil Chemistry
Articles tagged with Soil Chemistry
Study reveals soil, not fertilizer, is primary source of nitrogen gas loss in rice paddies
A new study led by Prof. YAN Xiaoyuan finds that most nitrogen gas emissions from rice paddies originate from soil organic nitrogen, rather than applied fertilizers. The researchers propose a novel mechanism to explain this phenomenon, suggesting that fertilizer activates soil nitrogen pools, indirectly driving larger nitrogen losses.
Liquid biochar fertilizers boost crop yields while improving soil sustainability, study finds
Researchers developed liquid biochar mineral complex fertilizers that significantly increase crop yields and improve nutrient efficiency. The nitrogen-enriched formulation delivered the strongest results, achieving positive nitrogen and phosphorus balances while reducing labor and cost.
Thiol-modified biochar stabilizes toxic mercury in soils under extreme climate conditions
Researchers found that thiol-modified biochar reduces mercury mobility by up to 80% in soils exposed to dry-wet cycles. The material promotes natural weathering processes, traps mercury in stable forms, and alters the soil microbial community, creating a resilient ecosystem.
Fungi hold the key to boosting urban soil health with biochar and compost
A new study reveals that combining biochar and compost can restore urban soil health, but only under the right conditions. Fungi play a crucial role in determining success, and their diversity is linked to improvements in soil health.
Tailored biochar strategies boost alfalfa growth and resilience in saline soils
A new study reveals that carefully designed biochar amendments can improve plant growth and soil health in saline-alkali soils by reshaping plant metabolism and microbial communities. Alkaline biochar was found to stimulate key metabolic pathways, while acid-modified biochar enhanced root development and activated plant defense systems.
Biochar reshapes climate-driven soil emissions, but effects depend on soil type
Researchers found that biochar can either dampen or amplify temperature sensitivity of nitrous oxide emissions in soils. Biochar's effects depend on soil properties and environmental conditions.
Biochar boosts soil carbon storage through microbial pathways, but effects vary with soil depth
A new field study reveals that biochar significantly increases microbial necromass carbon in topsoil by up to 39%, linked to improved nutrient availability and microbial efficiency. However, in subsoil layers, biochar reduces microbial necromass carbon by as much as 30% due to nutrient limitations.
Salty soils slow biochar aging but limit beneficial microbes, study finds
Researchers found that increasing soil salinity slows biochar aging and limits microbial colonization. Biochar retains more carbon and shows greater structural stability in saline environments compared to low-salinity conditions.
Researchers warn of risks posed by ‘contaminants of emerging concern’ found in crops, agricultural soil
A new study reveals that even low concentrations of pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and other chemicals can subtly alter plant physiology and disrupt soil health, posing wider environmental and human health risks. The review emphasizes the need for stronger regulation and redesign of chemicals to make them safer.
Biochar offers climate-smart pathway to healthier soils and safer tea production
A new scientific review highlights how biochar can transform tea farming by restoring soil health, reducing pollution risks, and improving both yield and quality. Biochar can increase tea yields by 10 to 40 percent while enhancing quality traits such as amino acids and polyphenols that influence flavor.
Hydrochar boosts soil carbon storage and structure more effectively than biochar, study finds
A new study finds that hydrochar significantly enhances soil organic carbon and aggregation, offering a promising strategy for sustainable soil management. Hydrochar can simultaneously improve soil structure and increase carbon sequestration, making it a versatile solution for improving soil health in agriculture.
Biochar from peanut shells boosts soil health and crop quality over the long term
A six-year field study reveals that biochar made from peanut shells improves soil fertility and enhances crop quality by reshaping soil microbial communities. The study shows that biochar acts as both a habitat and a nutrient source for beneficial microbes, promoting plant growth and increasing soluble sugar content in tobacco leaves.
Not all biochar is created equal: study calls for clearer standards in carbon markets and agriculture
A new study highlights the critical misunderstanding of biochar's role in fighting climate change and improving soils, warning that oversimplified claims could undermine scientific progress and carbon markets. Biochar is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and its effectiveness depends on where it is used.
Urban construction soils identified as hidden carbon source, with biochar offering a scalable climate solution
A new study reveals excavated urban soils as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide and methane. Biochar application and soil capping can dramatically reduce emissions by up to 96%, offering a practical climate solution for urban development.
Biochar offers climate-smart path to restore dryland soils and fight desertification
A new review highlights biochar's potential to reverse land degradation, improve soil health, and support sustainable agriculture in arid regions. Biochar can increase crop yields, reduce erosion risks, and enhance soil resilience, while also contributing to global carbon sequestration efforts.
Biochar helps forests fight acid rain by restoring vital soil nitrogen
A new field study reveals that biochar can significantly restore soil health and nitrogen availability in forests affected by acid rain. Biochar triggers major biological changes in the soil, enhancing microbial biomass and increasing nitrogen use efficiency.
Nano-enabled biochar fertilizers help rice grow safer in contaminated soils
A new study reveals that nano-biochar fertilizers can actively regulate soil processes and help protect rice from harmful metal accumulation. The findings show improved rice growth, enhanced soil biological activity, and reduced cadmium and arsenic uptake in contaminated soils.
Freezing soils may hold the key to locking away toxic arsenic, new study finds
A new study reveals that freeze-thaw cycles can dramatically improve biochar's ability to trap toxic arsenic in contaminated soils. The research found that freezing and thawing fundamentally reshapes how biochar interacts with soil at microscopic scales, creating stronger connections between biochar particles and soil minerals.
Pork bones to the rescue: Healing arsenic-poisoned rice paddies with engineered char
Researchers discover that adding micro- and nano-scale bone char triggers a biological revival in arsenic-contaminated rice paddies, increasing urease and catalase activity and organic carbon levels. The biochar fundamentally alters soil microbiome behavior, reinforcing natural detoxification capacity by shifting microbial gene abundance.
Biochar and beneficial fungi team up to detoxify toxic red mud and restore soil health
Researchers developed a system combining biochar with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to target specific pollutants in red mud. The results showed that each fungal species played a distinct role in detoxifying arsenic and lead, as well as improving soil health.
Unlocking the phosphorus puzzle: How microplastics and hydrochar change the way rice paddies feed
A new study reveals that microplastics and hydrochar can mobilize trapped phosphorus in rice paddies, triggering distinct microbial strategies. Hydrochar increased available phosphorus by 21.1%, while microplastics pushed it up by 14.2%.
Long-term field study shows biochar delivers dual benefits for soil health and climate mitigation
A 14-year field study shows that biochar can simultaneously reduce heavy metal risks in agricultural soils while enhancing carbon storage. Biochar improved soil carbon storage, reducing toxicity by up to 91 percent and increasing organic carbon content.
The forest for the trees: Why mass planting doesn't always lock away soil carbon
A 50-year study in Kerala, India found that expanding tree plantations can result in zero net carbon gains underground. The research highlights the importance of considering the type of plantation and historical soil profile when designing climate mitigation strategies.
Engineered biochar with minerals could unlock new solutions for soil health and water cleanup
Researchers combine biochar with naturally occurring minerals to create more durable and effective materials for improving soil fertility, capturing contaminants, and delivering nutrients. Engineered composites show promising potential for agricultural and pollution control applications.
Turning crop waste into climate solutions: Biochar reduces greenhouse gas emissions in bamboo forests
A new study reveals that biochar can significantly reduce nitrous oxide emissions from forest soils, shifting them from a source to a potential climate solution. Biochar was found to suppress key microbial genes responsible for producing N2O while increasing the abundance of microbes that convert it into harmless nitrogen gas.
Biochar-based nanotechnology cleans toxic herbicide from soil while protecting crops
Researchers developed a nitrogen-doped biochar-modified zero-valent iron nanocomposite that rapidly removes harmful herbicides from soil and protects crops. The material also triggers the formation of an iron plaque on plant roots, capturing contaminants and improving crop health.
Baking the earth to cool the sky: How tailored biochar can dial down agricultural emissions
A comprehensive meta-analysis reveals that biochar functions as a highly active biological regulator, restructuring the earth to boost porosity and moisture retention. Biochar disrupts the soil's nitrogen cycle by suppressing specific enzyme activities, slowing down processes like nitrification and denitrification.
Turning waste into a solution: micro-nano bone biochar boosts rice yield and cuts toxic cadmium
A novel soil amendment made from animal bone waste increases rice production and reduces cadmium accumulation in edible grains. Micro-nano bone char alters soil chemistry and microbial community, creating a more favorable environment for plant growth and improving grain nutritional quality.
New insights into biochar reveal how to better capture phosphorus and protect water systems
Researchers have developed a calcium-modified biochar that more effectively captures organic phosphorus, offering a solution to reduce nutrient pollution in water systems. The study reveals how molecular structure influences phosphorus adsorption, providing a clearer roadmap for designing more effective materials.
The ultimate dirt filter: 'Oxychar' offers a cheaper, smarter way to scrub toxic cadmium from farmland
Researchers develop oxychar, a highly efficient, budget-friendly alternative to traditional charred organic materials for toxic cadmium removal. The new material soaks up both agricultural ammonia and cadmium, promising a practical win for sustainable farming.
Aged silicon-rich biochar reduces cadmium accumulation in leafy vegetables
Aging silicon-rich biochar reduces cadmium uptake in leafy vegetables, improving plant resistance to heavy metal stress. The material reshapes soil microbial communities, contributing to reduced cadmium availability.
Turning herbal waste into a powerful tool for cleaning heavy metal pollution
Researchers developed a phosphorus-modified biochar that can simultaneously immobilize harmful metals and enhance soil fertility. The material showed remarkable adsorption capacity for lead and cadmium, with potential applications in soil remediation and sustainable agriculture.
Typhoons: the hidden lifeline in a drying world
Researchers found that removing typhoon-induced precipitation leads to sharply declining soil moisture and more severe drought conditions worldwide. The effect of typhoons varies by region, acting as a condition that exacerbates drought in some areas, while mitigating it in others.
Biochar type shapes how water moves through phosphorus rich vegetable soils
Two types of biochar, rice husk and palm silk, influence water infiltration and leakage in phosphorus-enriched vegetable soils. Biochar slows water movement, reducing phosphorus leaching and improving water retention for crops.
Online forum to explore how organic carbon amendments can improve soil health while storing carbon
The 22nd Carbon Research International Forum will examine the benefits of organic carbon amendments for improving soil health and sequestrating carbon in agricultural systems. Researchers will discuss recent approaches to managing organic carbon inputs in soils to support both productivity and climate outcomes.
Modified biochar helps compost retain nitrogen and build richer soil organic matter
Researchers designed modified biochars with phosphorus and magnesium to improve compost quality by retaining nitrogen and accelerating humification. The study found that these materials reduced ammonia emissions and promoted microbial activity, resulting in higher nitrogen retention and improved soil fertility.
Pairing biochar with other soil amendments could unlock stronger gains in soil health
A review of field studies found that combining biochar with other amendments like compost, manure, or fertilizers enhances soil health by increasing water retention, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity. The co-application approach also improves soil physical properties and biological responses.
Engineered biochar could unlock more effective and scalable solutions for soil and water pollution
A new review highlights how engineering biochar with magnetic and mineral modifications can expand its environmental applications while overcoming practical limitations. Engineered biochars combine adsorption with reactive processes to trap pollutants, transform or degrade them, reducing the risk of secondary contamination.
Can your soil’s color predict its health?
A groundbreaking study finds that analyzing soil color indices is a scientifically sound way to predict Soil Organic Matter and offers a path toward sustainable, widespread soil monitoring. Digital color analysis reduces costs by 96% while eliminating the need for toxic reagents.
Organic soil amendments work together to help sandy soils hold water longer, study finds
A long-term field experiment shows that combining biochar with compost and sludge can improve how sandy soils retain water, reducing cumulative drainage by over 40%. The triple combination of biochar, sludge, and compost formed a more stable soil structure that retained water more effectively than any single amendment alone.
Iron, carbon, and the art of toxic cleanup
Researchers at Tongji University identified ferrihydrite as the mineral that effectively traps chromium while storing organic carbon. The study's findings provide a new blueprint for environmental remediation using nature-based solutions to clean up contaminated mine soils and fight climate change.
Protecting turfgrass from fungal foes
University of Delaware researchers have discovered a novel strain of Bacillus subtilis that helps plants resist soil-borne diseases and retain moisture. The microbe, UD1022, is effective in controlling dollar spot fungus but only when applied directly to leaves, not through soil treatment.
Climate benefits of tree planting could be reduced by soil carbon loss, Stirling professor warns
A University of Stirling professor has warned that tree-planting may not be as effective at reducing climate change as previously assumed due to potential soil carbon losses. The study found that deep soils in forests may lose more carbon over time than expected, which could reduce the net climate benefits of tree planting.
Forest soils increasingly extract methane from atmosphere
Researchers at the University of Göttingen found that forest soils in south-western Germany absorb more methane as climate conditions become drier and warmer. This contradicts current international meta-analyses, highlighting the importance of long-term monitoring for assessing the effects of climate change.
Manganese helps reduce agricultural nitrogen pollution in air, water
A recent study found that adding manganese to soil can lower plant-available nitrogen, reducing nitrous oxide emissions and nitrate leaching into waterways. Manganese also reduced the expression of genes involved in nitrogen cycling.
Increased soil salinity alters global inorganic carbon storage
A new study finds that soil salinization influences inorganic carbon storage, particularly in regions with elevated salinity. The research reveals a conditional relationship between salinity and inorganic carbon, highlighting the need to incorporate soil chemical processes into global carbon assessments.
Biochar helps farmland soils withstand extreme rain and drought by steadying carbon loss
Researchers found that biochar can soften the impacts of swings between wet and dry conditions on soil organic carbon breakdown. The study showed that stronger moisture variability speeds up decomposition and boosts microbial activity, but biochar addition helped stabilize the soil system under variable moisture conditions.
Long term biochar boosts sugarcane growth, soil health, and carbon savings in five year field trial
A five year field study shows biochar can boost sugarcane growth while reshaping soil life around the roots and reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the field for years without additional fertilization. The treatment improved soil fertility, nutrient use efficiency and beneficial bacterial groups in the rhizosphere.
Iron minerals’ hidden chemistry explains how soils trap carbon
Researchers have discovered that iron oxide minerals like ferrihydrite employ different chemical strategies to grab and hold onto various types of organic molecules, making them powerful carbon traps. This study provides new insight into how these minerals in soils trap carbon for decades or centuries.
Soil carbon decomposition varies vastly, holding implications for climate models
A new study found that the rate of organic carbon decomposition in soil samples collected across the US differed by up to tenfold, with factors like fungi and iron levels strongly associated with variation. This could improve the accuracy of soil carbon feedback estimates in climate models, leading to more refined projections.
Innovative biochar composite offers solution to nitrate pollution in agriculture
Researchers developed a biochar-based material that dramatically improves nitrate removal from agricultural soils and water, maximizing both nitrate adsorption and ammonium retention. The optimized composite achieved nitrate reduction rates as high as 71 percent and increased ammonium retention by 53 percent compared to biochar alone.
New study explores ‘legacy effects’ of soil microbes on plants across Kansas
A new study analyzing soils across Kansas found that the legacy effects of soil microbes can have significant impacts on plant growth, particularly for native species. Researchers discovered that plants grown with microbes adapted to specific local conditions performed better under drought conditions, suggesting a potential source of g...
Biochar’s hidden helper: Dissolved organic matter boosts lead removal from polluted water
A new study reveals that dissolved organic matter in biochar enhances the metal-binding power of biochar, offering insights for safer cleanup strategies. The research found that chemical complexation is the dominant mechanism of immobilization, with carboxyl groups serving as key binding sites.
Biochar and hydrochar show contrasting climate effects in boreal grasslands
A new study found that different types of char can raise or lower greenhouse gas emissions from northern soils. Biochar tends to increase nitrous oxide emissions, while hydrochar suppresses it and even turns the soil into a small sink.
From sewage to super soil: Dual breakthrough in phosphorus recycling unveiled by Chinese research teams
Researchers developed a dual-breakthrough method to recycle phosphorus from sewage sludge into smart fertilizers, enhancing soil health or rapid crop growth. The innovative approach utilizes modified hydrochar with calcium or magnesium salts, controlling phosphorus release and improving its bioavailability.
Nano-biochar helps rice roots turn silver ions into less toxic nanoparticles
Researchers discovered that nano-biochar acts as an electron shuttle, transforming silver ions into metallic nanoparticles in rice roots. The process reduces the toxicity of silver ions while promoting their formation and accumulation inside plant cells.
Biochar and iron additives show promise for reviving degraded peatlands and locking away carbon
A recent study suggests that combining rewetting with biochar and iron sulphate additions can significantly slow down carbon loss from drained agricultural peat soils. This combination enhances carbon storage by suppressing soil enzymes and promoting the formation of iron-bound carbon compounds.
Biochar shows big promise for climate-friendly soil management
Researchers found that biochar improves soil health by increasing microbial diversity, capturing carbon, and enhancing nutrient cycling. Biochar acts as a long-lasting carbon sink, storing carbon for hundreds to thousands of years.
Biochar helps Mediterranean vineyards hold water and fight erosion
Researchers found that biochar can dramatically reduce erosion by 45% and improve soil's ability to store water, even under intense rainstorms. Biochar also improved soil structure and increased infiltration, making vineyard soils more resilient to extreme weather.