Healthy soil, healthy farms
Soils, like people, can be healthy or unhealthy. We've recently learned how important the microbes inside our bodies are to human health. Likewise, soil health depends on a complex group of microbes. These bacteria and fungi recycle nutrients and pre.....»»
Mini-transmitters show infections with parasites affect local flight behavior of swallows
Swallows infected with parasites move less and in smaller ranges than healthy ones—with detrimental effects on their foraging success and their survival. As a result, infected individuals foraged in less productive areas, such as cultivated farmlan.....»»
Study reveals effect of slope position on nonstructural carbohydrates in biological soil crusts
Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) provide energy for metabolic processes in plants and play a key role in plant growth, defense and osmoregulation. However, the regulation of NSC in biological soil crusts across different slope positions remains unc.....»»
Rubber plantations increase leaching of dissolved organic carbon in soil, study finds
Rubber planting brings huge economic benefits, but large-scale rubber plantations have a great impact on the ecological environment, especially in terms of the soil's physical and chemical properties......»»
Ethiopian farmers improve soil and feed with forage mixtures
Yordanos Anju is a dedicated farmer from the Bilate Zuria district in the Northern Sidama region. For generations, his family has relied on farming and livestock production......»»
Mangrove degradation threatens carbon storage in China"s Pearl Bay
Carbon sinks are important in the fight against climate change as they draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by storing organic carbon in the oceans and soil, for example. Within tropical and subtropical intertidal locations, wetland plant comm.....»»
Fungi may not think, but they can communicate
Fungi form distinct networks depending on how food sources are arranged. Fungi can be enigmatic organisms. Mushrooms or other structures may be visible above the soil, but beneath.....»»
Solar milking tech boosts dairy farms in Malawi
When Robert Mbendera started out as a small-scale dairy farmer in rural Malawi 20 years ago, milking the one cow he owned was an arduous, time-consuming process......»»
A new dental scam is to pull healthy teeth to sell you expensive fake ones
It turns out you may not have needed those implants after all. Becky Carroll was missing a few teeth, others were stained or crooked. Ashamed, she smiled with lips pressed closed......»»
Ukrainian troops fighting on Russian soil have an advantage they"ve never had in this war
Ukrainian troops fighting on Russian soil have an advantage they"ve never had in this war.....»»
Findings from veterinary research may help to improve deer health, one test at a time
The cervid livestock business is one of the fastest-growing industries in rural America. In Missouri alone, more than 250 farms are dedicated to raising deer. To improve overall herd health and support the state's economy, researchers at the Universi.....»»
Norman coin hoard becomes England"s most valuable treasure—it could have been worth a lot more
There is clearly giddy excitement in the shaky footage showing hands scrabbling in the soil in the Chew Valley in south-west England. A close-up shot captures someone pulling silver coin after silver coin from the churned earth as a woman laughs "the.....»»
Beehive fences prove effective against elephant raids in Kenya
A groundbreaking, nine-year study has revealed that elephants approaching small-scale farms in Kenya avoid beehive fences housing live honey bees up to 86% of the time during peak crop seasons, helping to reduce human-elephant conflict for local farm.....»»
A smaller Mac mini brings big problems for server farms and accessory makers
The greatly reduced size of the new M4 Mac mini is fantastic, but will be trouble for colocation services, rack mounters, and folks with hubs that will no longer fit neatly under the computer.The smaller size of the M4 Mac mini (right) means certain.....»»
Invasive plants drive homogenization of soil microbial communities across US, new study finds
Invasive plants are doing more than just taking over landscapes—they're also changing the soil beneath them. A new study co-authored by Matthew McCary, assistant professor of biosciences at Rice University, reveals that these species are reshaping.....»»
Experts uncover stunning side effects of solar farms: "Introducing structural complexity into the environment"
Experts uncover stunning side effects of solar farms: "Introducing structural complexity into the environment".....»»
An 80-year-old who walks everywhere shares 3 tips for staying active and healthy
An 80-year-old who walks everywhere shares 3 tips for staying active and healthy.....»»
COVID lessons learned? UN summit mulls plan for healthy planet, and humans
The COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks brought into stark relief the harms that can come to humans if we interfere too much with nature, placing ourselves in contact with animals carrying unknown pathogens......»»
A meteorite strike 3 billion years ago may have helped kickstart life on Earth
Three billion years ago, Earth was a lifeless husk. At least, that’s what some scientists believe. However, that lifeless husk may have found a healthy … The post A meteorite strike 3 billion years ago may have helped kickstart life on Earth.....»»
Broadcasting sounds of healthy coral reefs encourages coral larvae growth, study shows
Coral reefs worldwide are in trouble. These ecosystems support a billion people and more than a quarter of marine species. Still, many have been damaged by unsustainable fishing and tourism, coastal construction, nutrient runoff, and climate change......»»
Compost produced from organic solid waste could replace 21% of industrial fertilizers in urban agriculture
The organic solid waste that citizens deposit in brown recycling bins could currently produce the amount of compost needed to satisfy 8% of the nutrients demanded by urban and peri-urban agriculture, reducing environmental impacts such as soil eutrop.....»»