Posts

Can soil fungi counteract climate change?
Fungi appear to accelerate plant growth by promoting CO2 removal. A Texas company wants to explore this potential in the market for emission credits

Soil analysis can help prevent wildfires
Wildfires can be predicted through soil moisture assessment. But data collection in the field is not always easy. A group of US researchers is trying to solve the problem

Global agriculture must reduce its dependence on phosphorus
Half of the available phosphorus in the soil comes from mineral fertilizers. Europe, Asia and North America show the highest concentrations. French researchers, "We need to accelerate the agroecological transition in rich countries by allocating the remaining resources to the global South"

Antifreeze salt impacts groundwater year-round
Used in winter to melt ice from roads, salt seeps deep into groundwater until it reaches surface waters. A University of Delaware study illustrates some of the dynamics that affect the phenomenon

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

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

US potatoes survive pests thanks to lobster shell
Ground shells from lobsters can feed communities of beneficial microbes, creating a line of defense against soil pests. Researchers from University of Maine researchers offer a potential circular solution to safeguard the state's major crop. Which would also avoid tons of waste

Chinese scientists provide first global map of antibiotic resistance in soil
Researchers from Shanghai University described the global distribution of antibiotic-resistant genes in the soil. The phenomenon is especially evident in Europe, America and Asia. And is a threat to animal and human health

A new research technique may unlock the secrets of soil microbes
A study from the US paves the way for more in-depth investigations into the role of soil microbes. By improving the stable isotope survey, researchers highlighted the "food web" of interactions stimulated by soil microorganisms

Here’s the mysterious virus-made protein supporting soil life
Chitosanase is a protein produced by a virus that "could be acting like a garden hoe for the soil preparing it for vegetables, trees, flowers, and all other kinds of life." A U.S. study gives new insights into land ecosystem processes