Articles tagged with Soils
Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified key factors affecting phosphorus runoff and developed management strategies to minimize its impact on lakes and streams. The team suggests adopting no-till soil conservation practices, injecting liquid manure and fertilizer into the soil just below the surface.
Researchers have created a novel method to measure soil fertility using Mason jars, which can detect chemical fractions that feed corn plants. The Illinois N Test uses a combination of heating and titration to determine nitrogen content in the soil.
The Global Litter Invertebrate Decomposition Experiment (GLIDE) aims to advance understanding of soil and litter fauna's distribution, diversity, and importance in ecosystem processes. The study will provide unprecedented data on the animals involved in litter decomposition across different biomes and latitudes.
The Mars Odyssey spacecraft has entered into orbit around Mars, providing a key communications link for the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission. The two Rovers will be able to upload data on mineral and element composition of rocks and soils to a state-of-the-art communications package.
Researchers found evidence that materials produced in the sun's atmosphere are ejected directly outward, forming the solar wind. This discovery contradicts a theory suggesting these materials circulate in the sun's interior before being ejected.
A new book documents dramatic recent changes in southeast's ancient soils formed over about 70 million years and how human use transformed them over the last two centuries. Soils were altered when primeval woodlands were turned into cotton fields, eventually regrowing as pine forests.
Research reveals that US nature reserves are unevenly distributed across ecological zones, leaving many plant and animal species unprotected. The study suggests that involving the private sector in conservation strategies can help preserve America's biodiversity.
Scientists use ion-trap secondary ion mass spectrometer (IT-SIMS) to detect chemical warfare agents like HD and VX at part-per-million levels. The technique offers increased specificity, speed, and minimal sample preparation, making it ideal for environmental restoration and national security applications.
A USC neuroscientist re-analyzed data from the Viking landers, finding a distinct biological rhythm in the soil that suggests the presence of life. The signal has a precise circadian rhythm of 24.66 hours, entrained to temperature fluctuations on Mars.
Zoologists at UC Berkeley have discovered a new species of salamander in southeastern Mexico that was mistaken for another species due to identical appearance. DNA analysis revealed the two species evolved from different ancestors despite shared adaptations to burrowing.
Researchers have found a fern that can soak up deadly arsenic from soil with staggering efficiency. The brake fern, Pteris vittata, accumulates high levels of arsenic, making it a promising candidate for cleaning up contaminated soils. This discovery has great potential for remediating toxic waste sites around the world.
Scientists have discovered that ancient underground fractures in Ohio soil can contaminate water supplies quickly, posing a threat to the state's groundwater. Research suggests that these fractures allow contaminated water to bypass purification and travel through the soil, potentially endangering water sources.
Researchers suggest adopting conservation tillage, cover crops, and grazing management to reduce erosion and capture carbon in agricultural lands. By implementing these practices, farmers can create a net-positive carbon balance and help mitigate global warming.
In a two-year study, researchers at Northwestern University are using phytoremediation to reduce lead poisoning in Chicago's West Town community. They have planted different types of grasses and vegetation in 40 homes to test their effectiveness in removing lead from the soil.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have devised a method to combine chemical treatment with bacteria to remove cadmium from contaminated soil, leaving insoluble cadmium sulfide in place. This technique could be less costly than traditional methods and has potential for treating other metals like arsenic and cobalt.
Scientists at Purdue University have developed a simple and quick method to assess environmental cleanup efforts using genetics. The technique detects genes that reveal the presence of an enzyme produced by pollution-busting bacteria, allowing for real-time monitoring of soil cleanup progress.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new method for detecting buried land mines by using sound waves to create tiny soil disturbances and precision radar to measure the resulting movement. This technique can differentiate between mines and other buried objects, reducing false alarms and increasing detection accuracy.
Researchers have found a way to convert oil to methane gas using specialized microorganisms living beneath the earth's surface. This breakthrough could lead to safer oil exploration and more efficient extraction methods.
Adding acetone to composting method dissolves chunks of carcinogenic substance, allowing microbes to break it down. Microbial populations thrive under modified conditions, degrading explosive in just one day.
Researchers investigate plant microbiome interactions to optimize nitrogen uptake, reducing fertilizer needs. Janine Sherrier's presentation at UD explores symbiotic relationships between legumes and soil bacteria.
Researchers at Cornell University developed new tests to measure the true bioavailability of aging toxins like DDT, which may overestimate the risk to living organisms. The new tests meet standards set by common earthworms and provide a more realistic reflection of potential harm.
A recent study by Janice Christian and Scott Wilson found that crested wheatgrass can precipitate a decline in soil quality and increase atmospheric carbon dioxide. The introduction of non-native species like crested wheatgrass may have far-reaching negative repercussions on ecosystems.
Researchers found that increasing humus content can increase quinoline's movement to groundwater, but mineral interactions play a key role. The study suggests that strongly bound pollutants may still be broken down by microorganisms.
Biologists have discovered three new hotspots of high biological diversity in New Zealand, Southeast Australia, and Tasmania. The study found that the terrestrial flatworm, a humble but diverse species with over 822 varieties, can act as a model for understanding the distribution of lower invertebrates.
A study by Ohio State University researchers reveals that humic acid can trap nitrogen-containing proteins in soil, reducing their availability to plants. The process may be responsible for declining rice yields in Southeast Asia despite increased fertilizer use.
Researchers from Idaho National Laboratory are developing tools to monitor water flow and contaminants in the vadose zone beneath the Savannah River Site. They planted soil monitoring equipment to measure water content, tritium concentration, and soil tension, providing valuable information about the vadose zone.
Researchers isolated a gene that enables plants to absorb iron from the soil. The finding has significant implications for addressing global malnutrition and food security. By understanding how plants process iron, scientists can develop more efficient ways to fortify crops with this essential nutrient.
Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory report a natural process that removes nearly all toxic metals and uranium from polluted soil, successfully cleaning incinerator ash. The patented process uses citric acid and sunlight to separate metal contaminants from radioactive elements, producing a concentrated and stable form.
Eucalyptus trees grown in soil amended with gypsum can thrive in the sticky black soils of the Tulare Lake basin, demonstrating a potential sustainable farming method for the San Joaquin Valley's west side. The sequential reuse system reduces evaporation pond land use by 70% and increases tree plus pond area by 1.9 times.
A Colorado State University project, funded by a $1.8 million grant, aims to catalogue and analyze below-ground organisms and their interactions with surface ecosystems. The study seeks to understand how human activities above ground influence biodiversity below ground and its consequences.
Researchers found that Loblolly pine trees in North Carolina experienced a 12% growth rate increase when exposed to future carbon dioxide levels. However, the growth rate is likely unsustainable as trees adapt to higher CO2 concentrations and soil nutrient limitations.
Scientists have discovered teeming microbe colonies beneath Antarctic ice that use sunlight to sustain life when the South Pole tilts towards the sun. The researchers found diverse microorganisms, including blue-green algae and bacteria, supported by photosynthesis and atmospheric nitrogen fixation.
A study by University of Idaho researchers reveals that trace elements in produce can determine its geographic origin through chemical analysis. The accuracy of this classification has been excellent with a model based on nearly l,000 potatoes, helping to combat mislabeling practices that harm consumers and growers.
A NASA experiment has yielded new insights into the internal fabric of soil and powders under very low confining pressures. The Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) experiment showed unusual density patterns and unique shear band formations, which could lead to improved engineering standards and disaster preparedness.
A European Union policy overhaul aims to reduce pollution and maintain biodiversity, but scientists struggle to design management strategies for a successful transition. Researchers are exploring the use of diverse plant and soil mixtures to facilitate re-colonization and re-establish natural communities.
Researchers employ phytoremediation approach using poplar trees to remediate contaminated sites, drawing polluted groundwater to their roots where contaminants are rendered harmless. The method's effectiveness and limitations remain areas of study, with ongoing research aiming to improve its applications for environmental cleanup.
A laboratory study by Berkeley Lab's researchers reveals that green rust can chemically react with toxic selenium, converting it to a safer elemental form. This finding offers a possible new approach to addressing selenium contamination in soils and sediments.
Sandia Labs is working on chemical sensing technology to quickly detect and classify explosive molecules, which can identify land mines. The project aims to provide a more accurate and efficient method for demining, reducing the risk of casualties and environmental damage.
The Mechanics of Granular Materials (MGM) experiment aims to expand investigations into soil mechanics started on STS-79 in 1996. The new flight will run twice as many tests under various experimental conditions, providing insights into the behavior of soils under low-confining pressures.
A new study published in Nature has provided the first evidence of reduced sediment amplification in Southern California during large earthquakes, shifting the debate towards the engineering view. The research suggests that seismic hazard posed by local sediments may be underestimated in current engineering practices.
The APXS instrument provides new insights into Martian soil and rocks, revealing a more Earth-like composition than previously assumed. The study suggests that Mars has complex geological provinces with varied compositions, indicating a more evolved planet.
Historic farm plots show that over-fertilizing can actually decrease crop yields and make production unstable. Long rotations and sustainable farming practices are more effective in increasing organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
Researchers from USGS, UC Berkeley, LLNL, and PG&E are studying the northern segment of the Hayward fault by excavating 10-foot-deep trenches. They will analyze soil layers, pollen, and carbon-14 to establish past earthquake dates and recurrence intervals. The project aims to inform the updated Bay Area Earthquake Probability Report.
Researchers found immense microbial diversity in Amazonian forests and soils, with new bacteria discovered. Deforestation alters soil properties, leading to differences in microbial populations.
Microbes in soil have been found to degrade certain toxic chemicals, including pentachlorophenol and benzoate. Researchers are developing procedures for using these hungry bugs in environmental cleanup efforts, which could be more effective and cost-efficient than traditional methods.
Research by Penn State scientists has shown that humus can bind up to 40-50% of applied chemicals, including pesticides and other pollutants, rendering them unavailable to plants or groundwater. This natural process is beneficial as bound chemicals are stable and do not leach into the environment.
Researchers at Purdue University have been working on phytoremediation, a process that uses plants to collect heavy metals and radioactive waste from polluted sites. By understanding how plants take up and store toxic metals, they aim to develop metal-mining plants that can clean up contaminated soil and water.
Researchers found that seed corn growers in Illinois using irrigated sandy soils can increase profits by cutting back on nitrogen fertilizer use. Excessive nitrogen application leads to organic nitrogen accumulation in soil microorganisms, hindering crop growth.
Researchers at Penn State found that laboratory experiments on soil mineral weathering do not match natural processes, with molecules dissolving in groundwater forming coatings or wearing away. The team is monitoring conditions in the field to better understand the mechanisms underway in the soil and develop more accurate models.