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At least one fifth of the 8,500 animal species linked to the soil, including fungi and invertebrates, would today be at risk of extinction. CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use. Image: pxhere No attribution requiredpxhere CC0 Public Domain Free for personal and commercial use No attribution required

One in five soil-dependent species is at risk of extinction

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A new study by Conservation International and IUCN reveals that over 20% of soil-related species could disappear. And the current lack of data suggests an even more problematic picture for biodiversity
A temporary soybean crop on a rye field in Dallas County, Texas. In the U.S., the area planted with cover crops has exceeded 7 million hectares in recent years, representing a 17% increase in just five years. Photo: NRCS/SWCS, Lynn Betts Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 LicenseNRCS/SWCS, Lynn Betts Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 License

For better soil health, cover crops come out on top

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A U.S. study has examined 50 years of best practices: cover crops ensure more consistent effects, while tillage, rotations and drainage show less uniform impacts across different contexts
Brazil's wetlands cover an area of 167,000 km² and have a carbon density per hectare six times higher than forests. Photo: Thpelin Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedThpelin Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Beyond the Amazon: a forgotten carbon reserve in Brazil’s wetlands

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In the Brazilian savanna, wetlands store enormous amounts of carbon, but they are threatened by climate change and agricultural expansion. Moreover, conservation policies, which focus almost exclusively on forests, tend to ignore them
Il riscaldamento globale non cambia solo il paesaggio visibile ma altera profondamente le relazioni invisibili tra piante e funghi nel suolo. Foto: Pexels Free to use

Climate change is disrupting the symbiotic relationship between plants and soil fungi

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A thirty-year experiment in the US shows how rising temperatures are transforming ecosystems internally: the abundance of fungi that are useful to plants is declining, while decomposers are increasing. As a result, soil ecological stability is being disrupted
Mangrove swamp in Bahia. These plants cover 1.4 million hectares in Brazil, making it the second-largest mangrove area in the world after Indonesia. Photo: Jonathan Wilkins Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedJonathan Wilkins Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

A new index measures soil health in mangrove forests

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Brazilian researchers have developed an indicator to measure the ability of mangroves to provide ecosystem services, ranging from biodiversity conservation to carbon sequestration. The greater the soil degradation, the lower the score
Peatlands used for paludiculture are home to about three times as many birds as drained grasslands, reaching levels similar to those of natural wetlands. Photo: Melissa McMasters Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 DeedMelissa McMasters Attribution 2.0 Generic CC BY 2.0 Deed

Adapted farming in peatlands is also good for biodiversity

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Peatlands converted to paludiculture support three times as many birds as drained grasslands, with levels similar to those found in natural wetlands, according to a British study
Insect frass is a natural soil amendment that improves soil fertility and is attracting increasing interest in agriculture. Photo: Angal insect Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedAngal insect Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Insect frass improves soil health and protect crops

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An American study shows how insect frass can increase nutrient efficiency and reduce pest damage in crops, contributing to a more sustainable, circular agriculture
Grasslands currently store about one-third of the planet's terrestrial carbon. However, they are subject to different dynamics and the impact of livestock. 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

Ending grazing reduces stable carbon levels in grasslands

According to British research, undisturbed grasslands accumulate more fast-cycle carbon in the soil than those with grazing livestock. However, they also have lower levels of stable carbon
In Kerala, in southern India, natural forests store an average of 16.61 grams of carbon per kilogram of soil, compared to 11.82 grams in teak plantations. Photo: Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedPhoto: Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Natural forests beat artificial regeneration in carbon sequestration

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In intact forests, soil carbon levels are significantly higher than in areas being restored by tree planting, where higher soil acidity reduces sequestration capacity
According to researchers, trees, forest soils, and dead wood in Germany store a total of 2.2 billion tons of carbon. Photo: © Thünen Institute/Marius Möller press releaseThünen Institute/Marius Möller press release

Forest soil in Germany has offset carbon losses from trees during drought

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The discovery comes from the Thünen Institute: between 2018 and 2020, German forest soil stored more carbon than expected, almost entirely offsetting the losses associated with plant mortality

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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.

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