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The crystal structure of graphene. Thanks to their many properties, nanomaterials can be used in a variety of applications. Photo: AlexanderAlUS Attribution - Share Alike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedAlexanderAlUS Attribution - Share Alike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Nanomaterials offer a solution for groundwater remediation

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A group of Indian researchers used cellulose-coated nano-zerovalent iron particles to successfully clean up chromium-contaminated water
About one third of the desert areas in China where a solar park had been built experienced vegetation recovery. Photo: Planet Labs Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedPlanet Labs Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Are China’s solar parks a viable tool against desertification?

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In China, the expansion of photovoltaic installations is reportedly helping to combat desertification. An interesting hypothesis given the scale of the problem. But the issue is still controversial
In some Asian countries, the frequency of flash drought events has increased from 20% to 80%. Photo: Bioversity International/S.Landersz ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-NODERIVS 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DeedBioversity International/S.Landersz ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-NODERIVS 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed

Flash drought is becoming increasingly frequent in Asia

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In some Asian countries, says research, the frequency of sudden drought events has increased from 20 to 80 per cent in just two decades. But the phenomenon is now global
The soil organic carbon survey was conducted in the forests of the Wanglang Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province, southeast of the Tibetan Plateau. Photo: Philippe Semanaz ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-SA 2.0 DeedPhilippe Semanaz ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed

Mixed forests are more prone to carbon sequestration

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A Chinese study found that mixed forests are able to store a higher amount of carbon due to the greater accumulation of wood debris
Soil respiration, both autotrophic and heterotrophic, is a crucial component of the carbon cycle. Photo: Konstantinos Kourtidis Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)Konstantinos Kourtidis Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)

How global warming affects soil respiration

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A Chinese study makes a new contribution to the issue of soil respiration in the climate change context. Emissions are higher in deciduous forests where the heterotrophic respiration is less prevalent
Worldwide, saline and sodic soils detected at a depth of one metre extend over 833 million hectares. Photo: Rheins ATTRIBUTION 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY 3.0 DeedRheins ATTRIBUTION 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY 3.0 Deed

Saline and alkaline soils can also contribute effectively to agriculture

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Although subject to fertility loss, saline soils represent an important agricultural reserve when treated with appropriate restoration techniques. A recent Chinese study examines them
Grafting mycorrhizal fungi boosts crop yields and is an alternative to chemical fertilisers. Photo: Rajarshi Rit ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY 4.0 DeedRajarshi Rit ATTRIBUTION 4.0 INTERNATIONAL CC BY 4.0 Deed

In acidified soils, fungi are an alternative to chemical fertilisers

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According to Chinese research, the inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi results in a significant growth of the plant biomass of soybeans as well as the development of an optimal microbiome in the soil
In larch and broad-leaf forests, nitrogen deposition has no significant impact on soil chemistry. Photo: olive jion ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY-SA 3.0 Deedolive jion ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Mixed forests are less vulnerable to soil acidification

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The Chinese study: in larch and broad-leaf forests, nitrogen deposition has no significant impact on soil chemistry. Therefore, in the fight against acidification, the creation of mixed forests could be effective
In China, the addition of biochar to agricultural soils has generally increased the organic carbon content of soil aggregates. Photo: Flickr Chris Farmland crops Changan Town China ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-NC 2.0 DeedChris Farmland crops Changan Town China ATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL 2.0 GENERIC CC BY-NC 2.0 Deed

Here is how biochar promotes the sequestration of organic carbon

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Biochar promotes the formation of soil aggregates and, with them, carbon sequestration, a research explains. In some Chinese farmland, the presence of the substance has increased by 60 per cent
According to the United Nations, degradation affects up to 50 percent of the Planet's rangelands. Photo: ILRI/Stevie Mann CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericILRI/Stevie Mann CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

“Half of the Planet’s rangelands are degraded,” UN says

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A snapshot from the latest UNCCD Report: degradation affects up to 50 percent of rangelands, twice as much as previous estimates. Central Asia and North Africa are the hardest hit areas

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