Articles tagged with Soils
Researchers will test inexpensive techniques to increase asymbiotic nitrogen fixation, aiming to reduce reliance on expensive certified organic fertilizers. The project aims to provide evidence for a cheap, effective, and sustainable form of nitrogen for organically managed crops.
A new Penn State study explores how climate change affects rain in the U.S. Corn Belt, finding that air humidity plays a crucial role. The research suggests that high near-surface humidity is most important for convective precipitation or rain, contrary to previous expectations that soil moisture would be the key factor.
Researchers from the University of Oklahoma are leading a global study to understand the impact of increased nutrients on soil microbial biodiversity and ecosystem functions in grasslands worldwide. The project aims to develop new mathematical models to predict how nutrient changes affect soil microbe diversity and functions.
Researchers found that microbes' growth rate decreased over 15 years of warming, and a loss of soil carbon may be responsible for the slowdown. Rare bacterial taxa were among the fastest growers, highlighting the importance of considering different organisms' responses.
The University of Idaho's Deep Soil Ecotron facility will be a game-changer for understanding soil ecosystems, allowing researchers to conduct experiments at unprecedented depths. By studying deep soils, scientists can better understand how organisms respond to global environmental change and improve carbon sequestration.
Researchers discovered that ice needles growing on frozen ground can push up rocks into regular patterns through a combination of experiments and computer modeling. Over time, stones cluster together, leaving bare patches stone-free, as the size of the stones, soil moisture, and ice needle growth interact.
Salt stress alters legume responses to symbiotic rhizobacteria by modulating gene expression. Several genes with well-characterized functions in nodulation are highly induced under salt stress, making the plant hypersensitive to bacterial signals.
The Deep Soil Ecotron will enable scientists to conduct experiments on columns of soil up to three meters deep, improving understanding of how deep soil organisms react to unprecedented conditions and sequester carbon. The facility will also be used to develop sensors to monitor deep soils in the field.
ORNL is increasing its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the US agricultural sector through science-based changes in practices. The lab has discovered a single gene that can make crops more drought-tolerant and productive, while also pulling CO2 from the atmosphere.
A lidar mapping study of ancient Teotihuacan shows that the city's engineers reshaped the landscape for construction, rerouted rivers to align with astronomical significance, and identified hundreds of previously unknown architectural features. The study confirms how these modifications continue to influence modern activities in the area.
Scientists have developed a method to produce strigolactones, a group of plant hormones that prevent excessive budding and branching. By combining yeast and bacteria, researchers can synthesize these hormones from microbes, providing a promising alternative to traditional methods.
A new University of Illinois study integrates field data and advanced mathematical modeling to understand how cover crops affect soil water, nitrogen, and oxygen dynamics. The research finds that proper management of cover crops can balance their benefits with cash crop yields, while ignoring the impacts without optimization.
Soil ecologists found that biobased plastics like PBSA degrade efficiently in the soil, even under future climate conditions, but excessive amounts can disrupt microbial communities and agriculture. The degradation process is influenced by fungi and a diverse bacterial community.
A new study reveals evidence of beer drinking 9,000 years ago in southern China, with ancient pots found at a burial site containing residues consistent with beer fermentation. The discovery suggests that ritualized drinking played a significant role in forging social relationships and cooperation among ancient communities.
A study found that commercial composts contain more airborne pathogens than backyard composts, while immature compost samples have high levels of antibiotic resistance genes. The researchers hope to improve their detection method to assess the threat to humans.
Researchers used glacial isostatic adjustment modeling to reconstruct the Antarctic Ice Sheet before the Last Glacial Maximum, revealing a thickened ice sheet that depressed the continent and generated high sea levels. The study aims to improve understanding of ice-sheet response to climate changes.
Researchers at Caltech studied ant digging habits and uncovered mechanisms guiding their tunnel construction. Ants use efficient techniques to minimize work, digging straight tunnels along cup edges, and sensing force chains to avoid digging there.
A new study reveals that deforestation and population growth have greatly increased landslide risk in the Kivu Rift, leading to thousands of fatalities each year. The research, conducted over six decades, shows that smallholder agriculture and mining activities also contribute to landslides.
Researchers at Washington State University have created a sensor that can measure the electric current produced by tiny microbes in soil, allowing for real-time assessments of soil health and potential. This breakthrough could provide farmers with valuable insights into soil productivity, enabling data-driven management strategies.
A recent study published in Biosystems Engineering explores the potential of smartphone cameras to assess soil organic matter and evaluate soil fertility. The technique uses advanced image analysis and machine learning to predict SOM values rapidly and with high correlation to traditional soil analysis.
A study analyzing 7,000 tree falls in São Paulo City found that most occurrences occur in the rainy season due to weather conditions. However, a significant number of trees fell during the dry season, attributed to poor management and inadequate conditions for street vegetation.
The EU project TUdi aims to develop and disseminate soil healing strategies in three major agricultural systems across Europe, China, and New Zealand. By adopting healthy and productive agricultural ecosystems, the project hopes to achieve significant improvements in food security and reduce environmental degradation.
A new study from the University of Illinois and The Ohio State University reveals that farmers care more about soil health than scientists and conservation professionals think. Farmers prioritize soil health at a higher level (8.5 out of 10) than academics and NRCS professionals expected (4.9 and 5.7, respectively).
Scientists at Duke University have developed new tests to detect coal ash contamination in soil, finding high levels of arsenic, selenium, and other toxic elements. The tests revealed significant fly ash accumulation near coal-fired power plants, posing health risks to nearby communities.
Research at North Carolina State University reveals that soil microbes significantly impact heterosis, or hybrid vigor, in corn plants. In experiments with sterile bags and field tests, hybrid lines outperformed inbred lines due to microbial effects on root growth and biomass.
A team of researchers at the University of Kansas discovered that soil microbes facilitate heterosis, also known as hybrid vigor, in hybrid corn. In most cases, heterosis is restored by inoculation with a simple community of seven bacterial strains under sterile conditions.
A University of Georgia study finds that rat snakes can effectively monitor residual radioactivity in the Fukushima Exclusion Zone. The snakes' limited movement and close contact with contaminated soil allow them to accumulate high levels of radionuclides, making them a useful bioindicator.
Researchers categorized available biostimulant products into eight classes based on their modes of action. Half are live microorganisms, while the other half are chemistries or chemical byproducts from
A global study found that urban greenspaces, including parks and gardens, harbor important microbial communities critical for sustaining productive ecosystem services. These microbes also promote effective immunoregulation functions and reduce allergies in humans. However, green spaces can also host fungal parasites and plant pathogens.
Acidobacteria use low-affinity terminal oxidases to 'breathe' oxygen at nanomolar concentrations, challenging traditional assumptions. These microbes also scavenge atmospheric hydrogen to survive nutrient-poor periods, playing a central role in soil microbial communities and ecological balance.
A 15-year study on Guam's native cycad tree found that transplanted individuals have a high mortality rate when introduced to foreign soil, with less than 10% surviving long-term. The results highlight the importance of considering local adaptation for conservation efforts.
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.
Scientists have developed a new method to identify the movements of criminals by analyzing soil and dust found on equipment, clothing, and cars. This technique uses geochemical analysis to match soil remnants to regional samples, allowing police to pinpoint crime scenes. The method has been tested in a trial with promising results.
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 develop roadmap combining smart and nano-enabled agriculture with AI and machine learning capabilities to reduce hunger by 2030. The study outlines steps needed to safely harness the power of nanomaterials in agricultural environments.
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.
Researchers at UT Austin developed a machine learning model that predicts the amount of lateral movement in soil during earthquakes, achieving 80% accuracy. The model uses over 7,000 data points from Christchurch, New Zealand, and was trained on the Frontera supercomputer.
Researchers found that up to 40% of lead in airborne particles comes from legacy leaded petrol, highlighting the persistence of contaminants introduced by human activities. Long-term low-level exposure to lead can have detrimental health effects, and measures should be taken to reduce further lead emissions.
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.
A study analyzing charcoal and phytolith records in northeastern Peru suggests that indigenous societies helped maintain forest integrity over the last 5,000 years. Material remains of ancient cultures, such as ceramics and stone tools, were absent from soil samples, supporting the findings.
A new study in PNAS reveals that a rainforest in the Putumayo region of Peru has been home to relatively unaltered forest for 5,000 years. Researchers found microscopic silica and charcoal in the soil, which indicate that humans coexisted with nature without altering the environment.
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 5-million-year-old sedimentary record at Charyn Canyon provides a rare insight into long-term land-climate feedback mechanisms. The analysis revealed increasing aridity over the past five million years, with short-term fluctuations influenced by westerly winds and the Siberian high-pressure system.
A Curtin University study finds that up to three-quarters of Western Australia's iconic Banded Iron Formations (BIF) biodiversity could be lost forever after mining. The research highlights the challenges of rehabilitating these unique ecosystems, which are home to nearly every plant species in the region.
Researchers found a significant reduction in galling on plant roots after incorporating beer bagasse and rapeseed cake into the soil with fresh cow manure. The treatment also boosted populations of beneficial microorganisms and increased crop yields by around 15% compared to control plots.
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.
A recent study published in Microbiome Journal found that soil protists respond to plant signals, shifting community compositions and altering nutrient cycling. This groundbreaking research highlights the importance of including protists in terrestrial ecological studies.
A global team has discovered that the nutritional quality of cereal grains varies substantially with location, posing a 'postcode lottery' to micronutrient deficiencies. The study found that some areas have much lower levels of essential nutrients like calcium and iron.
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 at North Carolina State University found that standing dead trees in coastal wetland forests, known as ghost forests, emit significant greenhouse gases. The study, published in Biogeochemistry, reveals that snags increase overall ecosystem GHG emissions by about 25%.
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.
A study analyzing 340 European soil samples reveals high levels of pesticide residues in conventional agriculture, while organic farming practices show lower contamination. The research emphasizes the need for regulations and reference points to protect soil biodiversity and quality.
The Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University has helped communities resurrect once lifeless properties since 2006. The Center's expertise and guidance have enabled neighborhoods in the Mid-Atlantic region to transform brownfields into community assets, generating economic opportunity and jobs.
New research suggests that capping US Superfund sites with soil to lock in asbestos may increase human exposure to the cancer-causing mineral. Lab experiments found that soil's organic material enables asbestos to move through the ground and potentially into nearby water supplies.
Research found that antibiotics like streptomycin did not significantly impact the apple leaf microbiome, contrary to previous concerns. The study's findings suggest that geographical location plays a larger role in shaping bacterial composition than management strategy.
Researchers from the University of Córdoba found that foliar application is an efficient strategy to increase zinc content in plants by up to 50%. This method was more effective than soil application and can be beneficial for growers in developing countries where diets are limited to vegetable products grown in low-nutrient soils.
Researchers in the European Diverfarming Project introduced herbaceous species and aromatic plants to Mosel vineyards, reducing soil erosion and increasing biodiversity. The results show improved wine quality without negative effects on yield, suggesting a positive relationship between soil mineral acidity and wine quality.
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.
Researchers have discovered a fungus that can improve nutrient uptake and yield in ketchup tomatoes, reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. The fungus, Ceriporia lacerata, enhances enzyme activity in soil and increases sugar-acid ratio, vitamin C content, and flavor in tomatoes.