ScienceDaily: Soil Research News

Land management options outlined to address cheatgrass invasion

Mon, 13 May 2013 08:33:33 EDT

A new study suggests that overgrazing and other factors increase the severity of cheatgrass invasion in sagebrush steppe, one of North America's most endangered ecosystems. Researchers said one of the most effective restoration approaches would be to minimize the cumulative impact of grazing, by better managing the timing, frequency of grazing and number of animals.

Invasion of the slugs; Halted by worms

Sun, 12 May 2013 20:16:16 EDT

The gardener’s best friend, the earthworm, is great at protecting leaves from being chomped by slugs, suggests new research. Although they lurk in the soil, they seem to protect the plants above ground. Increasing plant diversity also decreases the amount of damage slugs do to individual plants.

'Dark oxidants' form away from sunlight in lake and ocean depths, underground soils

Fri, 03 May 2013 13:29:29 EDT

All forms of life that breathe oxygen -- even ones that can't be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria -- must fight oxidants to live. But neutralizing environmental oxidants such as superoxide was a worry only for organisms that dwell in sunlight -- in habitats that cover a mere 5 percent of the planet. That was the only place where such environmental oxidants were thought to exist. Now researchers have discovered the first light-independent source of superoxide. The key is bacteria common in the depths of the oceans and other dark places.

Soil may harbor answer to reducing arsenic in rice

Wed, 01 May 2013 15:44:44 EDT

Agricultural researchers are studying whether a naturally occurring soil bacterium, referred to as UD1023, can create an iron barrier in rice roots that reduces arsenic uptake.

New plant protein discoveries could ease global food and fuel demands

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:19:19 EDT

New discoveries of the way plants transport important substances across their biological membranes to resist toxic metals and pests, increase salt and drought tolerance, control water loss and store sugar can have profound implications for increasing the supply of food and energy for our rapidly growing global population.

Smoke signals: How burning plants tell seeds to rise from the ashes

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

In the spring following a forest fire, trees that survived the blaze explode in new growth and plants sprout in abundance from the scorched earth. For centuries, it was a mystery how seeds, some long dormant in the soil, knew to push through the ashes to regenerate the burned forest.

Ecological knowledge offers perspectives for sustainable agriculture

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:24:24 EDT

A smart combination of different crops, such as beans and maize, can significantly cut the use of crop protection agents and at the same time reduce the need for fertilizers. Integrating ecological knowledge from nature with knowledge of crops opens up the prospect of a sustainable strategy that will increase yield per hectare at reduced environmental costs.

Fertilizers provide mixed benefits to soil in 50-year study

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:46:46 EDT

In a Kansas study, 50 years of inorganic fertilization increased soil organic carbon stocks but failed to enhance soil aggregate stability —- a key indicator of soil structural quality that helps dictate how water moves through soil and the soil’s resistance to erosion.

New grass hybrid could help reduce the likelihood of flooding

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:33:33 EDT

Scientists have used hybridized forage grass to combine fast root growth and efficient soil water retention. Field experiments show Festulolium cultivar reduces water runoff by up to 51 percent against nationally-recommended cultivar. Potential for the hybrid to capture more water and reduce runoff and likelihood of flood generation.

Deep, permeable soils buffer impacts of crop fertilizer on Amazon streams

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:23:23 EDT

A new study in the fast-changing southern Amazon -- a region marked by widespread replacement of native forest by cattle ranches and croplands -- suggests that some of the damaging impacts of agricultural fertilization on local streams may be buffered by the deep, highly permeable soils that characterize large areas of the expanding cropland.

Strengthening legumes to tackle fertilizer pollution

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:19:19 EDT

Scientists create the first model of legume iron transportation aimed at maximizing nitrogen fixation, even in poor soil.

Precision agriculture improves farming efficiency, has important implications on food security

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Precision agriculture promises to make farming more efficient and should have an important impact on the serious issue of food security, according to a new study. A scientist assesses how there is potential to manage land more effectively to improve the farming economy and crop quality, and to ensure food security.

Residential lawns efflux more carbon dioxide than corn fields, study finds

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

More carbon dioxide is released from residential lawns than corn fields according to a new study. And much of the difference can likely be attributed to soil temperature. The data suggest that urban heat islands may be working at smaller scales than previously thought.

Scientists cage dead zebras in Africa to understand the spread of anthrax

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Scavengers might not play as key a role in spreading anthrax through wildlife populations as previously assumed, according to findings from a small study conducted in Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.

Nitrogen has key role in estimating carbon dioxide emissions from land use change

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 16:07:07 EDT

A new global-scale modeling study that takes into account nitrogen -- a key nutrient for plants -- estimates that carbon emissions from human activities on land were 40 percent higher in the 1990s than in studies that did not account for nitrogen. Plant regrowth -- and therefore carbon assimilation by plants -- is limited by nitrogen availability, causing other studies to overestimate regrowth and underestimate net emissions from the harvest-regrowth cycle.

Fertility needs in high-yielding corn production

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:22:22 EDT

Although advances in agronomy, breeding, and biotechnology have dramatically increased corn grain yields, soil test values indicate that producers may not be supplying optimal nutrient levels. Moreover, many current nutrient recommendations, developed decades ago using outdated agronomic management practices and lower-yielding, non-transgenic hybrids, may need adjusting.

Measuring microbes makes wetland health monitoring more affordable, says researcher

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:20:20 EDT

Tiny, unseen wetland creatures provided crucial indicators of the ecosystems' health in a new study. Using analysis of the microbiological health of wetlands is cheaper and faster than traditional assessments, and could lead to improvements in harnessing natural processes to filter human's wastewater.

Urban grass might be greener, but that doesn't mean it's 'greener'

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:16:16 EDT

New research explores how efforts to keep urban lawns looking green and healthy might negate the soil's natural ability to store atmospheric toxins.

Der Steppenworm? Two new species differ from the elusive 'Mongolian Death Worm'

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:15:15 EDT

Scientists have discovered the first proper earthworms from the Outer Mongolian steppes. Although the two new species don't have the deadly biology of the legendary olgoi-khorkhoi, 'Mongolian Death Worm', they still intrigue with the abilities of their cousins to regenerate body parts when cut in two and survive within astonishing temperature ranges.

Plant proteins control chronic disease in Toxoplasma infections

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:29:29 EDT

A new discovery about the malaria-related parasite Toxoplasma gondii -- which can threaten babies, AIDS patients, the elderly and others with weakened immune systems -- may help solve the mystery of how this single-celled parasite establishes life-long infections in people. The study places the blame squarely on a family of plant proteins, known as AP2 factors.

Natural soil bacteria pump new life into exhausted oil wells

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:22:22 EDT

Technology that enlists natural soil bacteria as 21st century roughnecks now is commercially available and poised to recover precious oil remaining in thousands of exhausted oil wells. The process has been termed microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR).

Total buzz kill: Metals in flowers may play role in bumblebee decline

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Beekeepers and researchers nationally are reporting growing evidence that a powerful new class of pesticides may be killing off bumblebees. Now, research points toward another potential cause: metal pollution from aluminum and nickel. A new study finds that bumblebees are at risk of ingesting toxic amounts of metals like aluminum and nickel found in flowers growing in soil that has been contaminated by exhaust from vehicles, industrial machinery, and farming equipment.

Soils in newly forested areas store substantial carbon that could help offset climate change

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:07:07 EDT

Surface appearances can be so misleading: In most forests, the amount of carbon held in soils is substantially greater than the amount contained in the trees themselves, according to new research.

Growing plants on Mars

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:57:57 EDT

Concrete plans for a one-way ticket to Mars have been forged. Food will have to be grown on location. Is this a distant future scenario? Not for scientists researching whether or not it is possible to grow plants on the moon.

Caffeine-'addicted' bacteria: Finding may lead to new decontamination methods, new medicines

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:35:35 EDT

Some people may joke about living on caffeine, but scientists now have genetically engineered E. coli bacteria to do that -- literally. Their report describes bacteria being "addicted" to caffeine in a way that promises practical uses ranging from decontamination of wastewater to bioproduction of medications for asthma.

Decreased water flow may be trade-off for more productive forest

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:06:06 EDT

As the need for carbon sequestration, biofuels, and other forest products increases, study suggests that there might be unintended consequences to enhancing ecosystems using fertilization.

Losing wetlands to grow crops

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:18:18 EDT

Getting enough to eat is a basic human need – but at what cost to the environment? New research demonstrates that as their crops on higher ground fail due to unreliable rainfall, people in countries like Uganda are increasingly relocating to wetland areas. Unless the needs of these people are addressed in a more sustainable way, overuse of wetland resources through farming, fishing, and hunting will continue.

Understanding the continuous corn yield penalty

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:32:32 EDT

As escalating corn prices have encouraged many farmers to switch to growing corn continuously, they wonder why they have been seeing unusually high yield reductions over the past several years.

In triplicate, genes make maize tolerant to toxic soil

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Rendering some of the world’s toxic soils far less unfriendly, researchers are learning to grow stress-tolerant crops on formerly non-farmable land.

Chemical trickery explored to help contain potato pest

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:28:28 EDT

If left unchecked, the pale cyst nematode burrows into potato roots to feed, obstructing nutrients and causing stunted growth, wilted leaves and other symptoms that can eventually kill the plant. Now scientists are evaluating new ways to control the pest using naturally occurring chemicals called egg-hatching factors.

Bat disease: More accurate, sensitive DNA test allows early identification of fungus causing white nose syndrome

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:09:09 EDT

Scientists are identifying additional species of Geomyces and describing development of a highly sensitive DNA-based technique for early identification of Geomyces destructans on bats as well as in soils and on cave walls.

Indirect side-effects of the cultivation of genetically modified plants

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Genetically modified Bt cotton plants contain a poison that protects them from their most significant enemies. As a result, these plants rely less on their own defence system. This benefits other pests, such as aphids.

European invader outcompetes Canadian plants even outside its usual temperature range

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 15:20:20 EDT

Vincetoxicum rossicum, commonly known as dog-strangling vine, is an alien invasive plant from the Ukraine and southwestern Russia that has now established itself in the northeastern United States and southern Ontario, Canada. This species successfully displaces local native plants, demonstrating high tolerance for environmental variables such as light and soil moisture.

Logging debris gives newly planted Douglas-fir forests a leg-up

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:25:25 EDT

The downed limbs and other woody debris that are inevitable byproducts of timber harvest could be among the most important components of post-harvest landscapes, according to a new study.

Fertilizers could help tackle nutritional deficiency in African country

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:25:25 EDT

Enriching crops by adding a naturally-occurring soil mineral to fertilizers could potentially help to reduce disease and premature death in the African country of Malawi, researchers have said.

'True grit' erodes assumptions about evolution of Earth's first grasslands

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:15:15 EST

New work in Argentina where scientists had previously thought Earth's first grasslands emerged 38 million years ago, shows the area at the time covered with tropical forests rich with palms, bamboos and gingers. Grit and volcanic ash in those forests could have caused the evolution of teeth in horse-like animals that scientists mistakenly thought were adaptations in response to emerging grasslands.

Improving climate protection in the agricultural sector

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:41:41 EST

Agriculture is responsible for around 10 to 12 percent of all greenhouse gases attributable to human activities. This raises the question of how these emissions could be reduced. A recent study has investigated -- for the first time -- the full range of factors that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, namely soil and climate conditions, the agricultural model and the farming intensity on both organic and conventional holdings.

Maize in diets of people in coastal Peru dates to 5,000 years ago

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 EST

Scientists have concluded that during the Late Archaic, maize (corn) was a primary component in the diet of people living in the Norte Chico region of Peru, an area of remarkable cultural florescence in 3rd millennium B.C. Up until now, the prevailing theory was that marine resources, not agriculture and corn, provided the economic engine behind the development of civilization in the Andean region of Peru.

Climate change effect on plant communities is buffered by large herbivores, new research suggests

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:16:16 EST

Can existing ecological communities persist intact as temperatures rise? A news study suggests that the answer to this question may have as much to do with the biological interactions that shape communities as with the effects of climate change itself.

Marsh plants actively engineer their landscape

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:25:25 EST

Marsh plants, far from being passive wallflowers, are "secret gardeners" that actively engineer their landscape to increase their species' odds of survival, say scientists.

Wetland trees a significant overlooked source of methane

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 10:07:07 EST

Wetland trees are a significant overlooked source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to a new study. The study may help to resolve an ongoing controversy about the origins of methane in the tropics.

Low-arsenic rice discovered in Bangladesh could have major health benefits

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:05:05 EST

Scientists have identified aromatic rice with very low arsenic content and higher concentrations of essential nutrients, selenium and zinc.

Unchecked antibiotic use in animals may affect global human health

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:22:22 EST

The increasing production and use of antibiotics, about half of which is used in animal production, is mirrored by the growing number of antibiotic resistance genes, or ARGs, effectively reducing antibiotics' ability to fend off diseases -- in animals and humans.

Tree die-off triggered by hotter temperatures

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:50:50 EST

Scientists have determined that the recent widespread die-off of Colorado trembling aspen trees is a direct result of decreased precipitation exacerbated by high summer temperatures. The die-off, triggered by the drought from 2000-2003, is estimated to have affected up to 17 percent of Colorado aspen forests.

Can simple measures of labile soil organic matter predict corn performance?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:23:23 EST

Researchers are characterizing simple, cheap measurements of labile soil organic matter that could predict the performance of corn crops and help farmers optimize their cropping systems.

Thailand: Astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms revealed

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:13:13 EST

An astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms have been discovered in river systems in Thailand, documenting a remarkable level of biodiversity. The animals occur in a wide range of natural freshwater habitats, including rice fields, where they might play an important role in the development of organic farming.

Benefits of Bt corn go beyond rootworm resistance

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:09:09 EST

Researchers find that Bt corn has higher yields and uses nitrogen more efficiently than non-Bt corn.

X-rays reveal uptake of nanoparticles by soybean crops

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 09:47:47 EST

Scientists have for the first time traced engineered nanoparticles, taken up from soil by crop plants, and analyzed the chemical states of their metallic elements. Zinc dissolves and accumulates throughout the plants; cerium does not dissolve, but CeO2 nanoparticles were detected in plant tissue. This contributes to the controversial debate on plant toxicity of nanoparticles and entry of engineered nanoparticles into the food chain.

How plants sense gravity: New look at the roles of genetics and the cytoskeleton

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:40:40 EST

The general response to gravity in plants is well known: roots respond positively, growing down, into the soil, and stems respond negatively, growing upward, to reach the sunlight. But how do plants sense gravity and direct or signal their cells to grow in response to it? Although botanists understand a great deal, a recent article reveals substantial gaps in our knowledge of the molecular details and highlights new ideas for potential regulating mechanisms.

Mix-and-match cover cropping can optimize organic production, USDA scientists say

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:42:42 EST

Farmers can fine-tune their use of cover crops to help manage costs and maximize benefits in commercial organic production systems, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists.

Planting trees may not reverse climate change, but it will help locally

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:06:06 EST

Afforestation, planting trees in an area where there have previously been no trees, can reduce the effect of climate change by cooling temperate regions, a new study finds.

Corn cobs eyed for bioenergy production

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:10:10 EST

Corn crop residues are often left on harvested fields to protect soil quality, but they could become an important raw material in cellulosic ethanol production. USDA research indicates that soil quality would not decline if post-harvest corn cob residues were removed from fields.

Hailstones reveal life in a storm cloud

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:52:52 EST

It isn't life on Mars, but researchers have found a rich diversity of microbial life and chemicals in the ephemeral habitat of a storm cloud, according to a new study.

Breakthrough: How salt stops plant growth

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:37:37 EST

Until now it has not been clear how salt, a scourge to agriculture, halts the growth of the plant-root system. Researcher found that not all types of roots are equally inhibited. They discovered that an inner layer of tissue in the branching roots is sensitive to salt and activates a stress hormone, which stops root growth. The study is a boon for understanding the stress response and for developing salt-resistant crops.

Biosolids can boost soil phosphorus levels for years

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:53:53 EST

Treated wastewater solids called biosolids are sometimes used by farmers to boost soil nutrient levels. Now research provides new information about how long those plant nutrients remain after biosolids have been applied to the soil.

Warmer soils release additional CO2 into atmosphere; Effect stabilizes over longer term

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST

Warmer temperatures due to climate change could cause soils to release additional carbon into the atmosphere, thereby enhancing climate change – but that effect diminishes over the long term, finds a new study. The study sheds new light on how soil microorganisms respond to temperature and could improve predictions of how climate warming will affect the carbon dioxide flux from soils.

Lower nitrogen losses with perennial biofuel crops

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:10:10 EST

Perennial biofuel crops such as miscanthus, whose high yields have led them to be considered an eventual alternative to corn in producing ethanol, are now shown to have another beneficial characteristic -- the ability to reduce the escape of nitrogen in the environment. In a 4-year study that compared miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species to typical corn-corn-soybean rotations, each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen losses, with miscanthus having the greatest yield.

Cheating slime mold gets the upper hand

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:15:15 EST

A ‘cheater’ mutation (chtB) in Dictyostelium discoideum, a free living slime mould able to co-operate as social organism when food is scarce, allows the cheater strain to exploit its social partner, finds a new study. The mutation ensures that when mixed with ‘normal’ Dictyostelium more than the fair share of cheaters become spores, dispersing to a new environment, and avoiding dying as stalk cells.

Jurassic ecosystems were similar to modern: Animals flourish among lush plants

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:20:20 EST

In modern ecosystems, animals flourish amid lush vegetation. That was true 150 million years ago too, says a new study by paleontologists. They applied ecological principles to geochemical data from fossil soils and found scientists can infer animal diversity from it: "This illustrates that climate and biota have been ecologically connected for millions of years, indicating human change to global climate will have profound impacts on plants and animals."

Biologists unlock 'black box' to underground world: How tiny microbes make life easier for humans

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:20:20 EST

Biologists have unlocked the "black box" to the underground world home to billions of microscopic creatures. That first peek inside may well explain how the number of species in an ecosystem changes the way it functions.