Posts

Mexico City is one of the cities most severely affected by land subsidence. PHOTOS: By Gobierno CDMX - HJ2A4913, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115335826

Land subsidence: a global map reveals where the ground is sinking and why

,
A study published in Nature Cities examines land subsidence in 465 cities across 107 countries. Often driven by excessive groundwater extraction, sinking land threatens buildings and infrastructure and increases vulnerability to flooding. But in some cities, subsidence is slowing down, showing that effective action is possible
A study of high-altitude forests in Switzerland highlights the diminishing advantage of elevation in drought resilience and outlines how to strengthen the landscape’s natural defences. Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0

Higher elevations offer less and less protection against drought in Swiss forests

,
A study highlights the declining benefits of higher elevations for forest resilience. The protective function of forests could be at risk in the long term
By examining the case of Lemnaceae, the study showed how root anatomy and metabolism select microorganisms that, in turn, can modify roots. Photo: Mokkie/Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 3.0Mokkie/Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 3.0

Dialogue with microorganisms reshapes roots and helps plants

, , ,
The University of Nottingham study: microbial colonisation can reshape roots and help plants cope with nutrient scarcity. A discovery that opens up new prospects for agriculture
A field of common millet in the Odessa Oblast, Ukraine. The crop reached Central Europe in the early 16th century BC, making it possible to cultivate land previously considered unsuitable for agriculture. Photo: Yuriy Kvach/Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0Yuriy Kvach/Wikimedia Commons – CC BY-SA 4.0

Resilient agriculture, a lesson from the Bronze Age

,
In the Bronze Age, millet helped agriculture cope with climatic and demographic pressures. A story of diversification that still resonates today
Penn State University tested the use of multispectral imagery and machine learning to estimate pigment, carbon, and nitrogen content in the biocrusts of semi-arid ecosystems. Photo: Penn State. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Deed.Penn State. Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Deed.

AI uses a pigment to reveal the condition of biocrusts

,
For the first time, researchers have remotely measured the concentration of scytonemin, an indicator of the development and resilience of biocrusts in arid ecosystems
The study analyzed the response of forests in the Yangtze River Basin to the exceptional climate event of summer 2022. Photo: Tom Jarrett, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) DeedTom Jarrett, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) Deed

Heat and drought: natural forests resist better, planted forests recover faster

,
A Yangtze Basin study reveals a trade-off between resistance and recovery in forests: biodiversity and structure protect natural forests, while young, fast-growing trees promote recovery in planted forests
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
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
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
According to the research, drought alters the relationship between roots and soil microorganisms, thereby changing plants’ adaptation strategies. Photo: Diego Delso Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 DeedDiego Delso Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Beyond yields: how drought undermines the nutritional quality of crops

A Canadian study shows that canola, rice and tomatoes reduce iron uptake during drought, leading to a decline in crop nutrient content and potentially affecting global food security

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