Posts

Water that does not evaporate first passes through the canopies and carries nutrients to the soil through leaves and branches or along the stems. Photo: Stuart Rankin CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 GenericStuart Rankin CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic

This is how canopies affect the distribution of soil nutrients

,
Chinese research analyzed nutrient precipitation dynamics by identifying and quantifying soil enrichment mechanisms in relation to climate and vegetation
China's southern forests contribute to the accumulation of more than half of the organic carbon stored in the country's forest ecosystem. Photo: 揭英明 CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 UnportedPhoto: 揭英明 CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

How organic carbon accumulates in acidified forest soils

,
A study by the Chinese Academy of Sciences reveals how forest soil acidification promotes both mineral protection and plant-derived carbon accumulation
Mountain meadows are one of the largest sinks of soil organic carbon in Central Europe. Photo: crash71100 CC0 1.0 DEED CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain DedicationPhoto: crash71100 CC0 1.0 DEED CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication

Mountain meadows are threatened by climate change

,
Rising temperatures drives the loss of humus in mountain meadows and, with it, the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. This is reported in a study by the Technical University of Munich
Root decomposition promotes carbon release in the atmosphere. Photo: United States Department of Agriculture PDM 1.0 DEED Public Domain Mark 1.0 UniversalRoot decompoUnited States Department of Agriculture PDM 1.0 DEED Public Domain Mark 1.0 Universal

Roots and A.I. offer carbon storage solutions

,
According to Alliance of Bioversity International deeper roots boost carbon sequestration while artificial intelligence enables more accurate measurements of carbon storage
Microbes may be a viable solution to managing desertification. Photo: Richard Allaway CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericPhoto: Richard Allaway CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Microbes are a key resource for slowing desertification

,
Chinese investigation shows how microbes play a relevant role in countering desertification through their ability to manage essential soil nutrients
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, have a high iron content and can be used to produce biological fertilizers. Photo: Josef Reischig CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 UnportedJosef Reischig CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

Cyanobacteria are amazing biofertilizers for soil

,
According to a U.S. study, cyanobacteria or "blue-green algae" can be used to produce a biofertilizer suitable for iron-poor soils, thus turning into a valuable natural resource for farmers
Peatlands store one-third of the organic carbon in global soils. Photo: Brian Nelson CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 GenericBrian Nelson CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

In peatlands, climate change supports the degradation of organic carbon

,
An experiment shows that in peatlands all organic soil components decompose more rapidly when temperatures are higher
The effects of soil desiccation cracking promoted by drought are an example of the feedback loop between climate change and soil. Photo: Christopher Michel CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 GenericChristopher Michel CC BY 2.0 DEED Attribution 2.0 Generic

Soil releases more GHGs than expected as drought plays a crucial role

,
A U.S. study hypothesizes the existence of an "amplifying cycle" involving drought, soil desiccation and CO2 emissions. A mechanism that climate models do not seem to take into account
EPA researchers are testing biochar on the grounds of the Salt Chuck Mine,a former mine located on Prince of Wales Island in southeast Alaska. Photo: Jsayre64 CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 UnportedJsayre64 CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

Alaska researchers use biochar to decontaminate soil from copper

,
Researchers want to exploit biochar's ability to absorb heavy metals. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is currently at work on the soils of a former mine
Bacteria were detected in soils of the Franz Joseph Land archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Photo: Wofratz CC BY-SA 2.5 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 GenericPhoto: Wofratz CC BY-SA 2.5 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 Generic

Cold-resistant bacteria can degrade oil in the Arctic

,
The Russian study: some bacteria decompose biopolymers and hydrocarbons and convert phosphates into soluble forms. In this way they contribute to the decontamination of permafrost