Articles tagged with Soil Science
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.
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.
Researchers found that tilling and compaction disrupt intricate capillary networks within the soil, causing it to pool rainwater and form a muddy crust. The study provides a clear explanation for why tillage changes the structure of soil in ways that affect water retention.
A new study uses fiber-optic sensors to monitor water movement through the soil, revealing that common farming practices can pool water near the surface, reducing its availability to plants. This can lead to crop drought stress and decreased yield.
Researchers found that the particle size of biochar impacts its effectiveness in controlling soil-borne diseases, with fine biochar acting quickly but losing effectiveness over time. Coarse biochar, on the other hand, provides a slower yet more sustained protective effect by releasing nutrients and organic compounds into the soil.
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.
A free webinar, part of the Sustainable Microbiology Policy Spotlight journal webinar series, explores how microbiologists can effectively influence policy in the UK. The webinar, featuring senior policymakers and parliamentary affairs professionals, will take place on April 1, 2026, and will be recorded for retrospective viewing.
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.
Conventional oil and gas infrastructure leaves a deeper mark on freshwater biodiversity than shale gas development in Pennsylvania, according to a new study. The research analyzed over 6,800 benthic macroinvertebrate samples and found conventional development was linked with fewer species and a decline in ecosystem health.
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.
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.
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.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Plant Science found that beneficial nematodes, including predatory nematodes, play a crucial role in regulating pest populations in tropical soils. The research shows that these natural allies can suppress harmful plant-parasitic nematodes, leading to improved crop yields and reduced losses.
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.
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.
The report highlights the need for an agreed definition of healthy soil, scalable biological indicators, and collaborative transitions to sustainable land management practices. It emphasizes the importance of building trust and aligning diverse priorities among all soil stakeholders.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A new collaborative study evaluates potential dust control measures for the Great Salt Lake, considering effectiveness, cost, water demand, maintenance needs, and ecological impacts. The analysis emphasizes the importance of long-term planning, sustained maintenance, and careful consideration of unintended consequences.
A new study found that specific management practices, such as no-till and cover crops, can strengthen plant defenses against pests by enhancing soil microbiome functions. The researchers linked these practices with improved pest-suppressing abilities in pea plants.
A study published in Carbon Research reveals that a unique Ca-modified biochar can act as a powerful catalyst for the composting process, transforming pig manure and rice straw into stable, nutrient-rich humus. The innovation helps improve waste management in tropical regions, reducing nitrogen loss and environmental footprint.
A decade-long study reveals that combined effects of rising atmospheric CO₂ and warming reduce phosphorus availability in rice-upland crop rotation systems. Warming plays a dominant role in redirecting phosphorus into less accessible soil pools.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that flooding low-lying areas in wetlands may not be the most effective way to mitigate climate change. Instead, maintaining a stable water table below ground level can help reduce methane emissions and promote CO2 sequestration, according to researchers led by Professor Bo Elberling.
A recent study by RIKEN researchers analyzed the effects of pesticides and fertilizers on mandarin oranges in real-world farms across Japan. The findings showed that reducing chemical pesticides led to more fruit diseases, while also enhancing soil microbial diversity and improving carbon content. This trade-off highlights the need for...
A Europe-wide study reveals that pesticides have substantial effects on beneficial soil organisms, including mycorrhizal fungi and nematodes. The contamination has a major impact on soil biodiversity, highlighting the need to adapt current pesticide assessments and regulations.
Experiments show that polyester microfibers in soil negatively affect cherry tomato plant growth throughout their lifecycle. The presence of these contaminants may have significant effects on plant development and ecosystem health.
Scientists have developed a new way to track landscape development over millions of years using cosmogenic krypton in zircon minerals. This method reveals how climate, tectonics, and sediment transport are linked, providing insights into the Earth's surface history.
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.
A study published in Environmental and Biogeochemical Processes reveals that soil warming during heatwaves does not lead to an increase in arsenic levels in rice grains. Rice physiology and seasonal factors play a bigger role than previously thought in determining the risks of food safety under climate extremes.
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.
Research in Chile's national parks shows that wildfires significantly alter soil structure and nutrient cycles, affecting ecosystem resilience. Humid temperate forests recover faster than mediterranean woodlands due to fire-adapted trees and higher rainfall.
Research reveals that single-celled organisms are among the first to colonize newly formed lava environments, thriving in scarce water and nutrient conditions. As diversity stabilizes over time, rainwater plays a critical role in shaping microbial communities, suggesting an unexpected link between weather phenomena and life on Earth.
University of Houston engineers have discovered that melatonin helps plants grow by adjusting biological processes to coincide with daily cycles. The hormone also enhances photosynthesis and improves stress tolerance in crops.
Researchers found that warming temperatures may actually reduce nitrogen gas emissions from forest soils in dry conditions, contradicting earlier predictions. The study's findings suggest that moisture levels, not just heat, play a crucial role in determining the fate of nitrogen in forests.
The Soils for Europe conference in 2026 will bring together experts to discuss soil health and sustainability in Europe. The event aims to bridge the gap between science, policy and societal action, and features a range of sessions and activities focused on the latest research and innovations.
A University of Houston scientist teams with international partners to map Antarctica's glaciers, revealing tidal movements and retreat rates up to 700 meters per year. The dataset provides the most detailed view yet of how glaciers interact with the ocean, enabling better understanding and modeling of sea-level rise.
A new paper outlines a global coalition dedicated to conserving microbial biodiversity, which accounts for 99% of life on Earth. The Microbial Conservation Specialist Group will develop Red List-compatible metrics, pilot restoration projects, and promote public awareness to ensure microbes are recognized as essential to planetary health.
Wiley has expanded its spectral libraries with major updates to IR, Raman, and LC-MS collections, delivering researchers enhanced capabilities for faster and more confident compound identification. The expansion brings over 9.5 million high-quality spectra, including 1 million IR spectra and 161,000 Raman spectra.
Researchers have discovered that sudden shifts in the Southern Westerly Winds 15,000 years ago triggered a massive growth of ancient bogs across the Southern Hemisphere. The study found that the shifting winds created an ideal climate for the swamps to form, and now believe they play a crucial role in regulating carbon stores in peatland.
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.
Scientists have documented extensive natural hydrocarbon seepage along the Northeast Greenland margin, revealing widespread presence of gas hydrates. The study provides new insights into the migration of gases and their impact on the Arctic carbon cycle, with significant implications for global climate and ecosystem understanding.
A decade-long study by Chinese Academy of Sciences researchers found that soil microbial communities reorganize to form more stable networks, reducing carbon emissions. Microbial thermal adjustment and efficient microorganisms mitigate the effects of climate warming.
Scientists have developed computer models to predict the spreading of saltwater in soils, like in southern Australia's Murray–Darling River. This helps manage river water quality while increasing ground salinity.
A novel technique using BONCAT revealed that microbial activity matters more than abundance in determining which microbes colonize plant roots. Active microbes were 10 times higher inside the plant than nearby soil, suggesting proximity to plant roots may help them become active.
Researchers found that combining organic manure with synthetic fertilizer increases soil organic carbon and total nitrogen, leading to better fertility and improved crop performance. The integrated approach also produced lower nitrous oxide emissions by stimulating microbes that can break down N2O.
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.
Researchers found that straw-derived biochar enhances maize biomass by up to 30% and improves nitrogen use efficiency under limited-water conditions. Alternate partial root-zone drying irrigation also stimulates soil microbes to release nutrients, promoting deeper and more efficient root systems.
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.
A team of scientists introduces a nature-based solution to tackle global soil pollution by harnessing microbes and iron minerals. Microbial iron mining removes toxic substances like heavy metals and organic pollutants, transforming them into less hazardous forms.
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.
Prof. Salah Jellali will present his pioneering work on nutrient-enriched biochar, a sustainable solution transforming agricultural residues into powerful eco-fertilizers. His innovation leverages wastewater and mineral waste streams to create high-performance soil enhancers improving crop yields while closing resource loops.
A machine learning model developed by Dr. Lan Mu's team at Tianjin University of Commerce predicts biochar yield and nutrient content with stunning accuracy, unlocking smart soil solutions for healthier soils, cleaner ecosystems, and smarter farming.
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.
A global research effort by Colorado State University reveals that extreme, prolonged droughts in grasslands and shrublands result in more than twice the loss of plant productivity compared to moderate droughts. The study suggests that these ecosystems lose their ability to recover over time under prolonged dry conditions.
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.
The UK food system is under pressure due to climate change, global shocks, and poor diets. A new report calls for radical transformation in three key areas: more resilient farming, smarter land use, and healthier diets.
A new study found that combining reduced nitrogen fertilizer with nitrogen-fortified nanobiochar enhances soil properties and crop performance in nitrogen-deficient soils. The treatment increased soil moisture, infiltration rate, and aggregate stability by up to 42 percent compared to conventional fertilization.
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.