Articles tagged with Soils
A research project in Malawi has led to significant increases in crop yields, with corn production rising by 200% through crop rotation. Meanwhile, children's weight and height have improved, meeting international norms for healthy children. The program's success is attributed to the adoption of bushy legumes and diverse crop rotations.
A team of scientists from Duke University and the University of Padova found that marsh plants actively tune their elevations by producing organic soil and accumulating sediments. This complex interplay with the environment helps species stabilize the soil within favorable states, allowing for greater long-term stability.
Researchers found that simple measures of labile soil organic matter, such as nitrogen mineralization and carbon mineralization, can predict corn performance. These inexpensive tests reflect long-term management and short-term seasonal changes.
Researchers have identified 10 new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms in Thailand, showcasing the country's astonishing biodiversity. These unique creatures play a crucial role in decomposing organic matter and improving soil properties, making them valuable assets for organic rice farming.
Agricultural Research Service study finds that removing corn cob residues from fields does not harm soil quality, supporting the development of new bioenergy sources. Soils retain potassium from cobs, making them a potential raw material for cellulosic ethanol production.
Researchers found that Mound A at Poverty Point was constructed in under 90 days, requiring an estimated 9,000 laborers. The site's unique soil composition and lack of erosion during construction support this rapid build timeline.
Research by USDA scientist Eton Codling shows that treated wastewater solids called biosolids can increase soil phosphorus levels for years. The study found that soluble phosphorus levels in biosolid-amended soils exceeded typical plant requirements after application.
A new study finds that warmer temperatures can cause soils to release more carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change. However, this effect diminishes over the long term as soil microorganisms adapt and become more efficient.
A new study by Brown University finds that farm soils mediate the environmental consequences of modern farming, particularly with phosphorus, a key agricultural nutrient. The research compares soybean production in US, Brazil, and Argentina, revealing how soil type and management impact phosphorus usage and environmental pollution.
Researchers found that 40% of microbial biomass is converted to organic soil components, contradicting the long-held view that plant material is the primary source. The study discovered that bacterial cell wall fragments contribute significantly to soil fertility and carbon storage.
Geologist Gregory Retallack proposes that ancient Ediacaran fossils, dated to 542-635 million years ago, were remnants of land-dwelling lichen or microbial colonies. The fossils are preserved in iron-colored impressions similar to plant fossils and microbes in fossil soils.
University of Illinois researchers have refined a model to describe the relationship between root injury caused by corn rootworm pests and yield loss. The model suggests that yield is reduced by 15% for each node of roots lost, with location and experimental error having statistically significant effects.
This new book examines Richard Oastler's fight to limit working hours and prevent child labour in Yorkshire's industrial towns during the early 19th century. The book features contributions from six historians exploring Oastler's impact on British society.
Researchers have discovered a soil bacterium that degrades the common veterinary antibiotic sulfamethazine and uses it for growth. This finding challenges existing theories on antibiotic resistance and suggests that soil bacteria may be capable of breaking down antibiotics more rapidly, potentially reducing their impacts.
A new study reveals that climate change is altering the Northern hardwood forest ecosystem, affecting maple syrup production, wildlife health and timber resources. The research highlights the need for long-term studies to understand and manage these complex effects.
Researchers found that warmer springs are causing trees to leaf out earlier, threatening tree species like yellow birch and sugar maple. This altered landscape can lead to changes in wildlife populations, including deer replacing moose in the ecosystem.
A team of researchers used advanced soil analysis to uncover evidence of ancient Maya maize production in lowland areas, but also found signs of erosion in steeper soils. This study demonstrates the power of modern soil science in understanding past civilizations' treatment of the land and its impact on food security.
Scientists discover unique space weathering process on asteroid Vesta, distinct from other asteroids like the Moon, where meteorite impacts mix soils mechanically rather than forming nanoparticles.
Agricultural Research Service study found that adding beef manure compost to soil at post-mining sites increased pH, plant-available nutrients, and microbial activity. The compost also lowered lead and zinc availability by 90%, promoting vegetative cover and reducing runoff.
The study of the button mushroom's genome has revealed its ability to adapt to humus-rich environments, suggesting a higher capacity for metabolizing complex mixtures of lignin derivatives. This adaptation could have significant implications for forest carbon management and soil health.
A recent study reveals Ottawa's unique geology amplifies seismic waves, exceeding expected National Building Code of Canada values. The area has experienced moderate shaking from earthquakes, but some areas have higher ground motion than others during larger events.
Researchers found that alfalfa growth stops when soil copper sulfate levels exceed 500 ppm and beneficial bacterial activity declines above 50 ppm. Crops irrigated with cattle footbath wastewater can accumulate plant-available copper levels up to 63 ppm, posing potential harm to grazing livestock.
Researchers propose a new way to restore Africa's depleted soils through 'perenniation,' which combines food crops with trees and perennial plants, reducing the need for artificial inputs and improving soil health.
A new independent analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed the presence of magnetic particles at sites challenged by a group led by Todd A Surovell. The study's findings support the climate-altering cosmic impact theory, but the researchers did not declare it as proof.
Research finds that dry soils increase the likelihood of afternoon storms globally, contradicting current climate models. The study's findings have significant implications for predicting regional weather patterns and understanding global climate change.
The American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) have presented 2012 scholarships and fellowships to support undergraduate students in agriculture, including the Hank Beachell Future Leader Scholarship and the J. Fielding Reed Scholarship.
The Soil Science Society of America announced its 2012 award recipients, honoring their research and service in the field. The awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to soil science, including Susan Brantley, Daniel Hillel, Pedro Sanchez, and Johannes Lehmann.
Researchers discovered that two nanomaterials, cerium oxide and zinc oxide, can profoundly alter soil-based food crop quality and yield. The study found that zinc oxide nanoparticles increased the level of zinc in plant tissues, while cerium oxide reduced nitrogen fixation, compromising soil fertility.
Soybeans grown in soil contaminated with zinc oxide or cerium oxide nanoparticles show reduced crop yield and quality. The nanoparticles can accumulate in the plants, affecting food quality and potentially requiring increased use of synthetic fertilizers.
A recent study found that soil microbes play a crucial role in helping plants survive the effects of global changes, such as increased CO2 concentrations and altered precipitation patterns. By interacting with microbes, plants can adapt to drought stress more quickly, allowing them to thrive in new environments.
A Purdue University study found that soil microbes can affect how glyphosate affects plants, potentially making resistant weeds more resistant to disease pressure. This discovery challenges existing understanding of glyphosate resistance and highlights the importance of considering soil microbes in weed management.
A new CU-Boulder-led study reveals that rising nitrogen deposition is altering sensitive ecosystems in Rocky Mountain National Park. Plant communities are already showing changes under ambient conditions, with potential impacts on biodiversity and aquatic life.
A study found that when grasshoppers change their diet to high-energy carbohydrates under stress from spiders, it affects the decomposition of organic matter in soil. This leads to a slower breakdown of uneaten plants, resulting in lower quality fertilizer and reduced microbial activity.
A new study by researchers at BYU, Duke, and USDA finds that soil interaction with plants controls how ecosystems respond to rising CO2 levels. The study highlights the importance of soils in predicting the future of the Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers found that predators can alter how microbes break down organic matter, leading to changes in soil carbon dioxide release and decomposition rates. This highlights the importance of considering animal influence on ecosystem functioning, especially in an era of biodiversity loss.
Researchers found that stressed grasshoppers consume more carbohydrate-rich plants, leading to changes in their excretions and affecting the microbes in the ground. This results in slower degradation of complex organic materials, impacting plant growth and field crop productivity.
A new study reveals that insects store voicemails via their effects on soil fungi, passing signals to future plants and their enemies.
A CU-Boulder-led team has found a handful of bacteria, fungi and archaea in rocky soils on South American volcanoes, exhibiting unique energy conversion methods. The discovery sheds light on the limits of life on Earth, suggesting that certain organisms can survive without photosynthesis.
Deep cracks in soil can remain open underground even after they have visibly sealed on the surface, a new study has found. This persistence of cracks affects the flow of water and nutrients through the soil, leading to reduced crop productivity.
Researchers investigate bacterial eating habits as part of a $1 million study on the environmental impact of insensitive munitions compounds. They aim to identify microorganisms that can break down these new explosives and predict their environmental fate.
Center-pivot irrigation, invented in 1949, improves water distribution and reduces evaporation, resulting in more efficient farming. The technique is used worldwide, covering 20% of cultivated fields, which produce 40% of global food supply.
A team of scientists, led by WSU astrobiologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch, is calling for a Mars mission with a strong life detection component. The BOLD mission would feature six probes that could detect signs of life in Martian soil through various experiments.
Researchers found genetically modified Bt corn has lower colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal roots compared to non-Bt corn, but no impact on root biomass or shoot growth. This study contributes to understanding the effects of GM crops on non-target soil organisms and highlights the need for further research.
Fertilizer placement in strip-tilled fields causes non-uniform distribution of potassium and phosphorus, affecting whole-field fertility. To address this issue, researchers recommend taking multiple samples outside the fertilizer band for more accurate assessments.
New research reveals Artemisia tridentata seeds can form a persistent seed bank, enabling the species to regenerate post-fire. The study found that burying sagebrush seeds 3 cm below the soil surface increased their viability for up to 24 months.
Triclosan effectively preserves gasoline and fire starters in charred remains, enabling crime scene investigators to determine arson intent. This preservation method could help law enforcement officials catch criminals and reveal the true extent of arson problems.
Researchers found that molybdenum, not phosphorus, is the limiting nutrient for nitrogen-fixing bacteria in tropical forests. The discovery could have widespread implications for understanding how tropical forests respond to climate change and regulate the Earth's climate system.
Soil arsenic levels and cancer rates have been linked by researchers, highlighting the need for recorded monitoring of environmental sources. Ongoing exposure to arsenic in soil is thought to contribute to childhood cancers in the Goldfields region of Victoria.
Biologists at Bielefeld University have developed a new method to quantify the impact of non-native species on ecosystem functioning. The study found that invasive species like the Sydney Golden Wattle can fertilize surrounding soil with nitrogen, extending beyond their occupied area and affecting native plants.
Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered a specialized transport protein required for plant-fungus symbiosis, enabling more efficient nutrient uptake and harvesting. This discovery could lead to improved crop yields and reduced parasite damage in low-nutrient soils.
A recent study reveals a direct link between the presence of invasive European earthworms and reduced numbers of ovenbirds in mixed sugar maple and basswood forests. The worm's consumption of leaf litter leads to a decline in nesting sites, increased predation, and a shift in plant species composition.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a revolutionary technique using X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) to analyze plant roots with unprecedented accuracy. This breakthrough enables the identification of root architecture in three dimensions, paving the way for improved crop breeding and food security.
The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.3 million grant to support research aimed at reducing fertilizer usage in maize production. The project, led by Ivan Baxter, will focus on identifying genes controlling the elemental composition of maize and their interaction with soil conditions.
Ray Arvidson's proposal aims to study crusted soils using the Curiosity rover, which can break through crusts and become mired in softer soils. The project has operational and scientific purposes, helping the rover navigate challenging terrain and investigate potentially habitable environments.
Research at Kansas State University is exploring the use of lignin, a plant-based material, to stabilize and strengthen unpaved roads. The study found that adding lignin to soil can improve road cohesion and reduce erosion, potentially reducing maintenance costs and environmental impact.
University of Oregon scientist Gregory J. Retallack finds evidence that transitional fossils between fish and amphibians lived in wooded floodplains, not deserts. The new theory suggests limbs and necks evolved to adapt to this habitat, allowing for feeding and navigating obstacles.
Researchers develop a new method to reduce erosion in areas ravaged by forest fires using an organic polymer. The treatment, tested on burnt soils in Israel, shows promise in reducing erosion by up to 50%.
Adding biochar to glacial soils reduces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions. Ethylene production is also stimulated by biochar, potentially influencing plant growth.
Research by University of Warwick finds that changes in soil temperature trigger sensitivity to plant hormones in seeds, altering dormancy depth. This regulation can help predict the impact of climate change on native flora and crop competition.
Researchers analyzed soils in Cedar Rapids for industrial pollutants like PCBs and chlordanes, finding levels similar to other urban/industrial sites globally. The study highlights the need for caution regarding contaminated soil as a source of exposure to persistent organic pollutants.