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India is the world's sixth largest producer of bauxite. Photo: Yercaud-elango Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Yercaud-elango Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

From India to Australia: the bauxite paradox

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In India, the mining of bauxite, a rock needed for aluminum production, takes land away from agriculture, producing permanent soil damage. But this same resource, paradoxically, may carry with it a solution
Climate change causes soil to lose moisture faster on average. Photo: Suhayb the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)Suhayb the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Soil moisture is a key factor in predicting droughts and floods

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According to a study from U.S., variation in soil moisture is the crucial factor in understanding extreme phenomena such as droughts and floods and Overcoming uncertainty related to climate change
Mosses cover 9.4 million km2 of land on the Planet, an area comparable to the territory of Canada or China. Photo: Krishna satya CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain DedicationPhoto: Krishna satya CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Mosses are an amazing ally for soil health

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The University of New South Wales study: mosses promote nutrient accumulation in the soil and carbon sequestration. In degraded areas, moreover, these plants accelerate the regeneration process
NRM analyzes of thousands of soil samples taken from UK farmland have shown deficiencies in magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. PHOTO: Steven Weeks on Unsplash

UK, two thirds of soils show nutrient deficit

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An analysis by the independent laboratory NRM: as a result of the degradation, wheat crops show 10% less nitrogen and 25% less phosphorus. Thousands of soil samples extracted from UK farmland
Trucks at work in the Kayapó and Munduruku indigenous territories in southeastern Pará. According to Greenpeace, Hyundai's vehicles are widely used by gold diggers responsible for deforestation in the Amazon. Photo: © Marizilda Cruppe / Greenpeace. For editorial use only, not for marketing or advertising campaigns. Credit-line compulsoryPhoto: © Marizilda Cruppe / Greenpeace. For editorial use only, not for marketing or advertising campaigns. Credit-line compulsory

Greenpeace targets Hyundai: “75 of its excavators are at the service of deforestation in the Amazon”

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The accusation by the environmental organization: in the Amazon, gold miners use the Korean manufacturer's vehicles to destroy indigenous community lands. "Now Hyundai should cooperate with the Brazilian government."
A causa dell'agricoltura moderna i tassi di erosione nelle praterie in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska e Kansas sono cresciuti di mille volte. FOTO: Austin Goode su Unsplash

USA, erosion runs 1000 times faster than normal

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The discovery is contained in a thesis of master at Umass Amherst University. To calculate the rate of erosion, a team of researchers quantified the presence of a rare element - Beryllium 10 - in cultivated prairies in 5 US states, comparing them with virgin soils
A corn field devastated by drought. Land degradation is estimated to cost the United States $67 billion a year. Photo: Bob Nichols, USDA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)Bob Nichols, USDA Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Researchers in the U.S. launch five-year soil health survey

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Four U.S. universities are launching a massive soil analysis project. The initiative aims to counter land degradation which is estimated to cost $67 bn a year in America
Data from the Joint Research Centre snapshot the health of the continental soil showing numbers in line with past predictions. Photo: François Molle/IRD Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)François Molle/IRD Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

61% of European soil is unhealthy, JRC confirms

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Joint Research Centre data snapshot the health of continental soils, showing numbers in line with past predictions. Organic carbon reduction, biodiversity loss and peatland deterioration are the most widespread problems
Mud on the roads in Montecito, California, January 2018. Prolonged drought makes soil less permeable promoting landslides during wet periods. Photo: California National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)California National Guard Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Climate and drought are the perfect recipe for disruption (not just) in California

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During extended drought periods, soil loses its ability to absorb water, writes The New York Times. When rain occurs, landslide risk increases. A combination of phenomena that climate change makes increasingly frequent
Microbes can help stabilize soil by reducing the risk of collapse during earthquakes. 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

Soil microbes are a valuable resource. Including in case of earthquake

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Nitrogen gas emitted by microbes helps stabilize soil by preventing building collapse during seismic events, US research shows. Encouraging this process means avoiding concrete injections while reducing damage to the environment

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