Articles tagged with Soil Science
A new study by MIT researchers suggests that microplastics are less likely to accumulate in sediment infused with biofilms, which can resuspend particles and carry them away. In contrast, areas of bare sand can become hotspots for microplastic accumulation due to the lack of biofilm.
A new article published in Crop Science journal provides comprehensive information on the disease's pathology, progression, and management of large patch, a fungal disease that can compromise turfgrass health. Effective management strategies include proper mowing, fertilizing, and watering practices.
A team of researchers has discovered a novel method for capturing carbon dioxide using clay minerals, expanding the portfolio of absorbent materials for addressing climate change. The study, published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, found that certain types of clay can selectively absorb CO2 from the air at low humidity levels.
The PREPSOIL Toolbox provides structured guidance and practical tools to support soil health initiatives. The toolbox helps refine existing initiatives and identify areas for further improvement, ultimately enhancing results and alignment with EU mission goals.
A new study from Colorado State University reveals that photovoltaic (PV) arrays in grasslands can improve soil moisture levels and increase plant growth, particularly during dry years. The research found a 90% increase in grass production on the east side of panels compared to neighboring open sites.
A study by Göttingen University researchers combined satellite data with manual measurements to better understand forest soil moisture. The findings show that soil moisture is strongly influenced by weather and season, not exact location, and highlight the importance of monitoring soil moisture over time for effective forest management.
MIT researchers have developed a way to produce large amounts of silk microneedles to deliver agrochemicals and nutrients to plants, showing promising results in treating chlorosis and adding vitamin B12 to tomato plants. The technology has the potential to serve as a new kind of plant interface for real-time health monitoring and biof...
Scientists found that anaerobic microbes in wetlands can remove up to 70% of methane in oxygen-deprived soils, but their ability to do so is threatened by rising temperatures. When scientists simulated a hotter future, methane emissions spiked under hotter temperatures alone.
Research suggests that the mycorrhizal mediation hypothesis explains biogeographical patterns in conspecific negative density dependencies, with smaller differences between arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal fungi types. The study reanalyzed a global dataset, showing reduced differences in forests with high abundance of arbuscular mycorrhi...
A recent study reveals extensive pesticide contamination in the Upper Rhine Region, contaminating not only agricultural areas but also remote regions. The research found that pesticide mixtures spread far beyond fields, posing a risk to people's health and environment.
A team of researchers recommends incorporating principles like collective benefit and ethical governance into ecological data practices to align with existing data infrastructures. They suggest establishing collaborative relationships with Indigenous rights holders and exploring how data can be aligned with Indigenous expertise and wor...
Repeated drying and rewetting cycles in soil significantly increase carbon dioxide release, making it a crucial factor in understanding climate change impacts. This research highlights the importance of considering these cycles in predicting future environmental changes.
Researchers analyzed tropical storm-related precipitation to understand its impact on local water resources and provide insights into climate predictions. The study aims to help communities prepare for extreme storms and manage water resources before and after the storms.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found that biochar significantly reduces DDT uptake by earthworms in contaminated soil, halving the toxin's presence. This method could enable farming on land deemed unusable due to environmental risks.
The UN reports that over 77.6% of the world's land experienced drier conditions in recent decades, with drylands expanding by nearly a third larger than India. This trend is driven by human-caused climate change and has dire implications for agriculture, ecosystems, and people living in affected areas.
The World Drought Atlas depicts the systemic nature of drought risks, highlighting their interconnectedness across sectors. It underscores the need for national plans and international cooperation to build resilience against harsher droughts, which are expected to affect 3 in 4 people globally by 2050.
Scientists are urging global leaders and industries to deploy microbial solutions to combat climate change. The initiative aims to expedite the use of microbiome technologies to capture carbon, reduce greenhouse gases, and restore ecosystems.
New research found that bio-based fibres have a range of adverse effects on earthworms, animals critical to environmental health. The study highlights the importance of testing new materials before they are released on the market.
Plant roots use a silent molecular 'language' to direct fungi to attach, providing phosphates. Researchers discovered that strigolactone activates fungal genes associated with phosphate metabolism, leading to new strategies for cultivating hardier crops and combatting disease-causing fungi.
This study analyzed soil VOC levels and their correlation with soil physical properties, ionome, microbiome, metabolome, and rhizosphere chemicals. The results reveal that soil VOC profiles can be reliable indicators for evaluating soil health in agricultural environments.
Scientists discovered ancient stromatoporoids survived the Late Devonian extinction and continued to thrive as major reef-builders during the Carboniferous Period. The findings shed light on the resilience and adaptability of marine ecosystems.
A new USDA-funded research grant supports the development of sustainable, biodegradable mulch films that can provide nutrients to crops while reducing plastic pollution. The project aims to create durable and effective films that can be used for years without harming the environment.
Researchers propose a simple indicator of crop's impact on soil erosion, calculating its 'soil footprint' for Spain's main crops. The study reveals that olive trees have the largest 'soil footprint', while onions and potatoes have the smallest, emphasizing the need to adopt protective strategies to reduce soil erosion.
Researchers harvested climate-smart soybeans in a $5 million USDA project aiming to reduce GHG emissions while increasing crop production. The crop was grown using five climate-smart practices, including earlier planting and soil conservation.
An international study found that as environmental stressors increase, terrestrial ecosystems' ability to resist global change decreases significantly. This is especially true when stress is sustained over time, highlighting the need to reduce global drivers of change.
A $750,000 NIFA grant will support research on growing blackberries in soilless substrates to increase yields and improve fruit quality. The project aims to develop an integrated system for enhanced profitability and sustainability.
Researchers at FAU will investigate how microbes respond to climate conditions and develop strategies to enhance soil health in drylands. The project aims to improve understanding of microbial resistance to climate change and discover solutions to reduce soil degradation.
A research team finds that local community members are indispensable partners in enhancing community engagement in repairing damaged ecosystems. Local values and attitudes play a crucial role in promoting sustainable ecosystem management practices.
A new study by German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig found that climate change impacts ecosystems' multifunctionality, affecting soil health and biodiversity. Sustainable land management practices can enhance ecological and economic benefits under current and future climate conditions.
Climate change is driving sudden onset of drying in South America and southern Africa, while Central Asia sees increased moisture due to warming temperatures
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have found that storing soil samples under refrigerated or air-dried conditions can retain microbial community composition and structure for many years. This discovery can help future researchers save time and energy when studying microorganisms in soils.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen discovered that a biological mechanism called autophagy plays a key role in plant root growth. By understanding how plants control their root growth, scientists can develop climate-resilient crops to thrive in harsh conditions.
A review study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment highlights the need for better monitoring of changes in soil and surrounding ecosystems after wildfires. This enhanced monitoring could inform decisions on treating drinking water sourced from burned areas, reforestation, and protecting workers against toxins.
A new study predicts key soil health indicators such as organic matter content and soil texture using standard tests. This can guide fertilization, irrigation, and herbicide decisions, reducing turnaround time by at least half. The models are accurate for fine and medium soils but less so for sandy soils.
A new study by the University of Plymouth found that saturated soils in upland regions could negatively impact the survival rates of young oak saplings and acorns. The research highlights the importance of considering soil conditions when creating temperate rainforests to combat climate change.
Research found that soil warming increased respiration rates, but reduced temperature sensitivity and altered microbial carbon use efficiency. Organic matter input enhanced aggregate accumulation and changed respiration patterns among aggregates of different sizes.
This study reveals the role of substrate carbon quality and nitrogen limitation in regulating temperature sensitivity (Q10) under various oxygen conditions. Q10 did not show consistent patterns under different oxygen levels, suggesting other factors may override oxygen's effect.
A recent study found that afforestation significantly increases soil microbial diversity and enhances nitrogen mineralization rates. The researchers discovered a strong correlation between soil microbial communities and N-cycling gene abundance, highlighting the importance of functional genes in driving this process.
Low-density polyethylene microplastics partially alleviated the ecotoxicological effects caused by cadmium exposure on earthworms. They reduced histopathological damage and DNA damage in coelomocytes, as well as inhibited Cd's growth-inhibiting effects.
A new model integrating soil microbes and large perennial grasses into the DayCent framework improves its representation of ecosystem dynamics. The updated model includes a live microbial biomass pool and dead microbial biomass pool to simulate carbon storage in soils, enhancing the evaluation of bioenergy crop sustainability.
Scientists have found that climate change is altering the timing of plant and soil processes in the Alps, leading to disruptions in nutrient cycling and potentially threatening biodiversity. The high mountains are warming at a faster rate than surrounding areas, resulting in reduced snow cover and changes in vegetation patterns.
Tufts scientists highlight the overlooked feedback loop between drought, soil desiccation cracking, and carbon dioxide emissions, which could accelerate climate change. The study suggests that soil's 80% carbon storage capacity is releasing increasing amounts of greenhouse gases as droughts trigger cracks in soils.
Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology develop new methodology to accurately simulate soil behavior in rigid state, leveraging MSP method and Bingham fluid biviscosity model. The study highlights the impact of parameters on simulation accuracy and computational costs.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that global deforestation is a previously overlooked driver of human-made mercury emissions, with the Amazon rainforest playing a crucial role in mitigating this issue. The study estimates that curbing Amazon deforestation could reduce mercury pollution by 30%, highlighting the need for worldwide ...
Researchers found that phosphorus addition had a more significant effect on soil nematodes than nitrogen addition, increasing their abundance. The study also revealed an interactive effect between nitrogen and phosphorus additions, with added nitrogen alleviating soil acidification when combined with phosphorus.
The study found that bacteria communities are the most sensitive to soil amendment-induced changes, while protistan phototrophs and consumers increase with amendments. Protist taxa Cercozoa play a crucial role in regulating microbial interactions under Cd-contaminated conditions.
A newly designed degenerated primer significantly improves COX1 barcoding performance in soil nematode community profiling. The primer pair outperforms conventional 18S metabarcoding methods with broader taxon recovery and higher amplicon production.
This study found that high nitrogen fertilizer input shaped more complex microbial networks in paddy soils, with positive links predominating across all networks. The proportion of negative links was increased in the high-N network, suggesting potential competition among microbes.
Researchers developed synthetic microbial communities to control weeds while promoting crop growth, reducing herbicide consumption and enhancing wheat yields. The study found that combining these microbial communities with low-dose herbicides can rescue up to 22% of lost grain yield under weed-infested conditions.
A Dartmouth-led research team created an experimental green roof to test the effect of native prairie microbes on soil microbial community development. Their findings demonstrate that active management accelerates soil development faster than passive reestablishment, fostering a more diverse and sustainable soil community.
This study found that fluvo-aquic soil treated with CTC-manure had a higher shift in operational taxonomic units and community composition of antibiotic-resistant bacteria compared to black and red soils. The application of manure led to increased microbial resistance, particularly in fluvo-aquic soil.
Ten Bacillus strains exhibit distinct growth rates and antioxidative systems in response to acidic environments. The study reveals strain-specific differences in the regulation of enzymes and antioxidant reactants, highlighting the heterogeneity of microbial physiological responses to acidification. These findings contribute to our und...
Researchers at UH are expanding research knowledge and building a new curriculum for students to address climate change impacts on food crops. They aim to improve plant growth and build resistance against extreme weather events, such as droughts and heat waves.
The ILSI 2024 Annual Meeting will feature scientific presentations, professional development, and networking opportunities focused on innovations for safe, nutritious, and sustainable food manufacturing systems. Press registration is now available for media outlets covering the event.
Researchers have long debated the cause of the Late Devonian mass extinction event, with some attributing it to large-scale volcanic eruptions and others to a mass deoxygenation event caused by land plants. A new study now posits that both factors played a role, highlighting the environmental tipping points the planet faces today.
Archaeologists recommend using state-of-the-art techniques, such as micromorphology, to analyze evidence and increase confidence in claims about human evolution. This approach aims to rewrite our understanding of human ancestors by uncovering hidden clues in ancient sediments.
A research team developed a multi-model projection system using the self-calibrating Effective Drought Index to predict drought and recommend cumulative precipitation for recovery. The required rainfall for drought recovery was estimated at 170 mm, 310 mm, and 440 mm for March, April, and May respectively.
A new study led by University of Maryland Professor Sujay Kaushal reveals that human activities are making the planet's air, soil, and freshwater increasingly salty. This acceleration of the natural salt cycle poses an 'existential threat' to ecosystems and human health if current trends continue.
Researchers at the University of Houston have discovered that microalgae can be used to sequester carbon dioxide and convert it into mass-produced proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. This process has the potential to transform food production, treat wastewater, and produce sustainable biofuels.
A new study finds that fertilized lawns are hotspots of nitrogen export into our water and atmosphere, posing a growing environmental health problem. Changing just 5-10% of suburban lawns to alternative landscaping might have a major effect on watershed-wide nitrogen export.