Shampoo ingredient could wash diesel out of soil
A plant more commonly used for herbal shampoos could be used to clean oil-contaminated soil, according to a new report......»»
Q&A: Pork, pathogens and progress—a close look at PRRSV research
The pork industry provides people across different cultures a considerable source of protein, essential nutrients and a versatile ingredient for diverse culinary traditions. So, when the problem of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.....»»
Car fumes, weeds pose double whammy for fire-loving native plants
Springtime brings native wildflowers to bloom in the Santa Monica Mountains, northwest of Los Angeles. These beauties provide food for insects, maintain healthy soil and filter water seeping into the ground—in addition to offering breathtaking disp.....»»
Root microbes may be the secret to a better tasting cup of tea
You'd think the complex flavor in a quality cup of tea would depend mainly on the tea varieties used to make it. But a study appearing in the journal Current Biology shows that the making of a delicious cup of tea depends on another key ingredient: t.....»»
Controlling root growth direction could help save crops and mitigate climate change
Above ground, plants stretch toward the sun. Below ground, plants tunnel through the earth. As roots soak up water and nutrients from surrounding soil, they grow and stretch to develop distinct root system architectures. The root system architecture.....»»
Ex-VW CEO Winterkorn testifies over role in diesel scandal
The ex-VW head is testifying as part of a $9.7-billion investor suit over the automaker's diesel scandal, in which the company utilized deceptive software to undermine diesel emissions testing......»»
Microplastics in soils: First consistent risk assessment
Microplastics in soil are extremely diverse and complex. This makes it difficult to determine the risks of plastic pollution to soil life, which is an increasing concern among policymakers and scientists. Researchers from the Spanish Institute IMDEA.....»»
Researchers directly detect interactions between viruses and their bacterial hosts in soil
Bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—are common in soil ecosystems. However, many of these phages have not been identified, and the bacteria they target are also a mystery......»»
Researchers uncover a key link in legume plant-bacteria symbiosis
Legume plants have the unique ability to interact with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil, known as rhizobia. Legumes and rhizobia engage in symbiotic relations upon nitrogen starvation, allowing the plant to thrive without the need for externally.....»»
Secrets of soil-enriching pulses could transform future of sustainable agriculture
From lentils to chickpeas, and even the humble baked bean, pulses are perhaps best known as an alternative, plant-based source of protein. These plants are environmental heroes: they work together with soil microbes to "fix" nitrogen from the air, en.....»»
Bioenergy sorghum wax, a potentially valuable coproduct, enhances crop"s resilience
Already valued for its resilience, biomass production and ability to improve soil fertility, bioenergy sorghum has another attribute that researchers have recently characterized: high wax production......»»
An eight-phase methodology for analyzing microplastics in soil ecosystem
In today's world, plastics are used extensively due to their favorable properties and affordable costs. The widespread use of these non-biodegradable materials, however, makes them a waste management nuisance and global environmental concern. It is e.....»»
Innovative hybrid models enhance soil moisture forecasting
Soil moisture intricately influences climate and hydrological systems by modulating water and energy exchange processes. Accurate predictions of soil moisture are not only instrumental in drought monitoring but are crucial for effective water resourc.....»»
Temperatures are rising, but soil is getting wetter—why?
Soil moisture can determine how quickly a wildfire spreads, how fast a hill turns into a mudslide, and perhaps most importantly, how productive our food systems are. As temperatures rise due to human-caused climate change, some researchers are concer.....»»
Trees can make farms more sustainable—here"s how to help farmers plant more
Imagine making one change to a farm field so that as well as producing food, it also generated building materials, fuel and fodder. At the same time, this change would nourish the health of the soil, regulate the micro-climate and support pest-contro.....»»
Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil nematode community of soybean farmland
As a predator of soil microorganisms, nematodes respond rapidly to changes in soil environment, which can reflect climate conditions, ecosystem succession status, nutrient cycling and soil ecosystem health. In agroecosystems, nitrogen and phosphate f.....»»
Contaminated soil landslide threatens Danish village
A small hamlet in the west of Denmark is facing an unusual existential threat: a landslide of contaminated waste that is bearing down on the community and a nearby river......»»
New findings explain how soil traps plant-based carbon
When carbon molecules from plants enter the soil, they hit a definitive fork in the road. Either the carbon gets trapped in the soil for days or even years, where it is effectively sequestered from immediately entering the atmosphere. Or it feeds mic.....»»
Researchers uncover biological circuit that offers a new avenue for creating drought-resistant crops
Climate change is already harming agricultural yields and may one day pose a significant threat to the world's food supply. Engineering more resilient crops, including those able to thrive in the face of drought or high soil salinity levels, is an in.....»»
Single degenerated primer significantly improves COX1 barcoding performance in soil nematode profiling
Microscopic nematodes play important roles in the soil ecosystem and often serve as bioindicators of soil health. The identification of soil nematodes is often difficult due to their limited diagnostic characters and high phenotypic plasticity. The D.....»»
Research reveals minerals in soil shield microbial remains to aid carbon storage
A new study by Chinese researchers has revealed that soil minerals play a critical role in protecting the remains of dead microbes, thereby promoting carbon and nitrogen storage in the soil......»»