For decades, geomorphologists have been trying to understand how Arctic terraces form spontaneously, as a result of the extremely slow movement of surface ground caused by permafrost thawing. Photo: Hannes Grobe Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic CC BY-SA 2.5 DeedHannes Grobe Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic CC BY-SA 2.5 Deed

A fluid could explain the mystery of permafrost terraces

,
For decades, scientists have struggled to explain how Arctic permafrost terraces form spontaneously. A new model suggests that their origin may lie in the same physical principles that generate waves in complex fluids
Cotton cultivation in the Mississippi Delta region. In this area, water management and soil fertility are key challenges for agricultural sustainability. Photo: Chris Light, Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Chris Light, Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Cover crops and reduced tillage cut water demand in cotton fields

,
A Mississippi State University study shows that cover crops and conservation tillage increase soil water retention, reducing and sometimes even eliminating the need for supplemental irrigation
A forested area in the Sanjiang region of Heilongjiang Province, one of the northern areas involved in China’s decades-long forest protection and expansion program. Photo: Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0.Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0.

China’s planted forests are growing faster than natural forests

,
A study of China's planted forests reveals faster leaf area expansion driven by younger trees and stronger CO₂ responses, but the advantage may not last
The Amazon is a mosaic of diverse environments. According to a new study, these differences also influence the distribution of insect-borne diseases. Photo: lubasi, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY-SA 2.0)Photo: lubasi, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 (CC BY-SA 2.0)

In the Amazon, diseases follow forest transformation

,
A Brazilian study of more than one million cases of malaria, dengue, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis reveals how diseases cluster in distinct “health landscapes” shaped by different land-use: from forest communities to large-scale agricultural systems
Signs of wildfire damage in a tropical forest in Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. While the consequences of large-scale deforestation are well documented, the effects of degradation in forests have remained much less certain until now. Photo: Thyrome, CC BY 4.0.Thyrome, CC BY 4.0.

New database reveals the climate cost of degradation in tropical forests

,
Researchers have synthesized nearly four decades of data, producing one of the most comprehensive assessments ever compiled of forest carbon dynamics following disturbances and during subsequent regeneration
The slender extensions of chloroplasts have been revealed as a sophisticated cellular communication system, essential for plant survival under conditions of extreme heat, soil salinity, or drought. Photo: pxhere, CC0 Public Domain. Free for personal and commercial use. No attribution requiredpxhere, CC0 Public Domain. Free for personal and commercial use. No attribution required

The tiny “fingers” that help plants survive stress

, ,
Una ricerca tedesca chiarisce il ruolo degli stromuli delle piante, i sottili prolungamenti dei cloroplasti che trasmettono segnali di stress al nucleo della cellula e attivano le difese contro caldo, siccità e salinità
Interaction with plant roots impacts soil health. Photo: Philip Halling CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericPhilip Halling CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Why restoring soil health is a win-win for farmers and the environment

,
More than half of Europe’s soils are degraded. Researchers are showing that restoring soil through better farming makes both ecological and financial sense
Some viruses can help enhance the bioremediation of contaminated soil, which is one of the major global environmental challenges. Photo: pxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution requiredpxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

Here are the viruses that help clean up contaminated soil

, ,
Uno studio australiano propone di sfruttare i virus batteriofagi per potenziare i batteri che degradano gli inquinanti, aprendo nuove prospettive per il biorisanamento del suolo
Brazilian Amazon. In the future, the forest's ability to restore normal emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds may become progressively impaired. Photo: Neil Palmer/CIAT. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).Photo: Neil Palmer/CIAT. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

When El Niño-related drought strikes, Amazon forest turns to chemical self-defense

,
A study shows how the rainforest altered its volatile compound emissions during the most severe drought ever recorded in the Amazon, triggering a mechanism with implications for the atmosphere
Experimental Salicornia plots at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture. The global phenomenon of soil salinization has spurred research into natural strategies that can increase plant resilience. Photo: Charbel El Khouri - International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, CC BY-SA 4.0Photo: Charbel El Khouri - International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, CC BY-SA 4.0

Here is how soil bacteria can save crops from salinization

,
An international study has identified soil bacteria that naturally boost plants' resistance to soil salinization stress. The discovery opens up new opportunities for an agriculture that relies less on fertilizers

RECEIVE
OUR NEWSLETTER

It’s beneath our feet but we never think about its value. We tread on it, we mistreat it, but a healthy, fertile soil means life. It’s time to take care of the soil and each one of us can and must make a difference.

To receive updates about Re Soil Foundation activities, sign up to our newsletter.


    • Coldiretti
    • Novamont
    • Politecnico di Torino