http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/soil_types/ Soil Research. Learn about soil types, soil erosion, how microbes can clean-up contaminated soil; how soil fungus may become more harmful; how soil-bound prions can stay infectious and more. en-us Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:05:01 EDT Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/soil_types/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903134309.htm Permafrost blanketing the northern hemisphere contains more than twice the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, making it a potentially mammoth contributor to global climate change depending on how quickly it thaws Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903134309.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903172410.htm With significant increases in the price of fertilizer and grain, site-specific management -- especially in variable rate nitrogen application -- can have a significant impact on yield and profitability, as reported in the latest issue of Agronomy Journal. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080903172410.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080904215903.htm With more than 3 million acres of wheat in north Texas, 50 percent or more of which is grazed by 1 to 2 million head of cattle, it is important to look at tillage practices and their effect on forage production. Research agronomists have been studying nitrogen response and forage production in relation to tillage practices. Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080904215903.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825200752.htm In experiments, sweet potatoes grown in Maryland and Alabama yielded two to three times as much carbohydrate for fuel ethanol production as field corn grown in those states, scientists report. The same was true of tropical cassava in Alabama. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825200752.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825201731.htm Imagine adding a thermometer to Google Earth. That's the vision of Agricultural Research Service scientists Martha Anderson and Bill Kustas, who see the need for high-resolution thermal infrared imaging tools -- such as those aboard the aging Landsat satellites -- as vital to monitoring earth's health. Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825201731.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825195852.htm A new "green" technology developed cooperatively by scientists with the Agricultural Research Service and North Carolina State University could lead to production of hydrogen from nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825195852.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825175041.htm At the end of the day, drought tolerance in corn has to equate to good yields and good quality, not just good looks, said a Texas AgriLife Research scientist. Corn breeders are working with crosses between temperate and tropically adapted varieties of corn to find a drought-tolerant plant that performs well under reduced irrigation. Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080825175041.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811095458.htm Prions, the pathogens that cause scrapie in sheep, can survive in the ground for several years, as researchers have discovered. Animals can become infected via contaminated pastures. It is not yet known whether the pathogens that cause BSE and CWD are equally resistant. Sat, 16 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811095458.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811092448.htm Scientists in Sweden are cautioning about the need for further research as more countries embrace a popular method for preventing pesticide spills. Researchers point out that pesticide spills are common when farmers transfer highly concentrated liquid preparations into spray tanks where the pesticide is diluted with water. Even if a small, few-inch wide puddle of this concentrate spilled under the tank, the nearby environment could be exposed to up to one hundred thousand times the normal pesticide dose. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811092448.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811200138.htm Inwood Hill Park survived the drastic modifications of Revolutionary War patriots, but preserving this last bastion of large-growth, mature trees in New York City is difficult with the proliferation of invasive species and hard human use, according to biologists. They suggest the situation warrants a plan in collaboration with those studying the park. Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080811200138.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807081632.htm Many wheat farmers in the southern Great Plains states face a significant challenge: High levels of aluminum released in the acidic soils can stunt crop growth. So Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant geneticist Guihua Bai leads a team that is improving the odds for cultivating wheat in these acidic soils. Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807081632.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807080339.htm A new method rapidly detects the "genetic fingerprints" of fungi responsible for millions of dollars in losses in western wheat. Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807080339.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807082954.htm New research in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture shows there is no evidence to support the argument that organic food is better than food grown with the use of pesticides and chemicals. The study looked at the following crops – carrots, kale, mature peas, apples and potatoes – staple ingredients that can be found in most families’ shopping list. Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807082954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806154802.htm Acid rain from atmospheric pollution can reduce methane emissions from rice paddies by up to 24 per cent according to new research. This is potentially a beneficial side effect of the high pollution levels China - the world’s largest producer of rice - is often associated with. Methane is 21 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080806154802.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731173125.htm As microbes in the soil break down fallen plant matter, a diet "balanced" in nutrients appears to help control soil fertility and the normal release of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731173125.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080730155344.htm In the largest field trial of its kind in the United States, researchers have determined that the giant perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus outperforms current biofuels sources -- by a lot. Using Miscanthus as a feedstock for ethanol production in the U.S. could significantly reduce the acreage dedicated to biofuels while meeting government biofuels production goals, the researchers report. Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080730155344.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731140223.htm While humans obtain iron primarily through the food they eat, bacteria have evolved complex and diverse mechanisms to allow them access to iron. Scientists have discovered that some bacteria are equipped with a gene that enables them to harvest iron from their environment or human host in a unique and energy efficient manner.This discovery could provide researchers with new ways to target such diseases as tuberculosis. Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731140223.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080730155348.htm Biologists have found a gene required for both efficient photosynthesis and for iron metabolism, processes necessary for producing a healthy plant and a nutritious food source. This research is part of a larger effort to learn how plants take up essential nutrients from the environment as they grow. Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080730155348.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728220411.htm A new farming method first developed to conserve precious irrigation water may have the added benefit of producing rice containing much less arsenic than rice grown using traditional rice-farming methods, researchers in the United Kingdom report. Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728220411.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080725094043.htm Researchers, growers and Industry specialists from 22 countries are sharing the latest research into the use of Brassica species, such as mustard, radish, or rapeseed, to manage soil-borne pests and weeds -- a technique known as biofumigation. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080725094043.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080722131710.htm Microbiologists are studying how interactions on a microscopic scale could change how we think of energy production, climate change and even soil contamination. "Microbes play significant roles in the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorous cycle, and we don't fully understand how," one of the researchers said. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080722131710.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728192942.htm Tropical soils often behave differently than temperate soils when being farmed. In tropical regions, soils lose nutrients quickly when cultivated. With food shortages looming and soil quality declining rapidly, new farming techniques are needed to make tropical and sub-tropical farming more productive and sustainable. New research from Agronomy Journal shows that no-till management combined with a winter cover crop is most effective in retaining nutrients in tropical soils. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728192942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080720092205.htm Soils with native grasses such as switchgrass have higher levels of a key soil component called glomalin than soils planted to non-native grasses. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080720092205.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080720092819.htm The right earthworms can make home septic systems work better. The wrong ones could do the opposite. That's the finding in a study of worm populations living in the soil near trenches receiving septic tank flow outside five single family homes. Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080720092819.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080721160250.htm If you are living in the eastern United States, the environment around you is being harmed by air pollution. From Adirondack forests and Shenandoah streams to Appalachian wetlands and the Chesapeake Bay, a new report has found that air pollution is degrading every major ecosystem type in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080721160250.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717134605.htm The Sunshine State has seen rapid growth in population during the last 50 years. Naturally, along with population increases, environmental concerns about pollution of surface waters by treated wastewater have caused many communities to consider alternate ways to use secondary-treated, or reclaimed, wastewater. In a study supported by the city of Orlando and Orange County (Fla.), researchers set out to determine whether long-term irrigation with treated municipal wastewater reduced citrus tree health or created increases in soil contaminants. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717134605.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717140409.htm Determining growth stage, size, and water needs are especially important for horticultural crops because most crops are grown in limited water environments and require irrigation. Researchers have evaluated remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index relative to canopy cover of several major horticultural crops in commercial fields. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080717140409.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715190110.htm In the rush to develop renewable fuels from plants, converting crop residues into cellulosic ethanol would seem to be a slam dunk. However, that might not be such a good idea for farmers growing crops without irrigation in regions receiving less than 25 inches of precipitation annually, says a soil scientist. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715190110.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080712142820.htm Ephemeral gullies are common features on agricultural landscapes. Concentrated water flows can erode cropland soils and carve out these small drainage ditches, which then transport field runoff laden with eroded sediments into nearby streams. In fact, these gullies may lead to soil losses that exceed soil losses from sheet or rill erosion. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080712142820.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080714112956.htm Use of biosolids (treated municipal sewage sludge) on crops is a common practice because biosolids are a rich source of plant nutrients and organic matter. However, these biosolids can contain dangerous dioxins. Scientists investigated the effects of continuous and long-term application of biosolids on the levels of dioxins in soil and corn tissues. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080714112956.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715093724.htm Biologists have uncovered a fascinating new insight into the unseen side of plant biology - the root. Although less visible than shoots, leaves and flowers, plant roots are critical to our lives. They provide the crops we eat with water, nutrients, a firm anchor and a place to store food. Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715093724.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080707100152.htm In future, climate change will bring an increase in salty surfaces on the Earth and in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, this higher carbon dioxide has some positive effects on the physiology of barley plants and increases its tolerance to salinity. Thu, 10 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080707100152.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702101346.htm Commercial flower and plant growers know all too well that invasive, ubiquitous weeds cause trouble by lowering the value and deterring healthy growth of potted ornamental plants. To control weeds, many commercial nursery owners apply herbicides or pay workers to hand-weed containers. A new study investigated using "dried distillers grains with solubles" or DDGS as a weed deterrent on potted ornamentals. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080702101346.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701113124.htm Crop yield is highly dependent on soil plant-available water, the portion of soil water that can be taken up by plant roots. New research has shown that measured plant-available water capacity correlated with corn yield better in dry years than in normal or wet years. Agreement between measured plant-available water and estimates was weaker in the claypan soils than well-drained soils. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080701113124.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629075404.htm Glomalin, the substance coating this microscopic fungus growing on a corn root, can keep carbon in the soil from decomposing for up to 100 years. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629075404.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629081210.htm Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) mushrooms are good for you--and shiitake byproducts can be good for other crops. These mushrooms contain high-molecular-weight polysaccharides (HMWP), which some studies suggest may improve human immune function. Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629081210.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080618133726.htm Nitrogen is essential to all life on Earth, and the processes by which it cycles through the environment may determine how ecosystems respond to global warming. But certain aspects of the nitrogen cycle in forests have puzzled scientists, defying, in a sense, the laws of supply and demand. Now scientists have explained the paradox by recognizing the role of two other factors: temperature and the abundance of another key element, phosphorous. Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080618133726.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080613164153.htm Researchers have found several plants, including blue flag iris, that can reduce the amount of common pesticides used on gold courses in soils. Using these plants as a "living filter" on the edge of golf greens will help protect waterways from the impact of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080613164153.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602214125.htm The humble earthworm provides a new sensitive and detailed picture of what is going on in our contaminated soil ecosystems. New research shows that copper contamination has a detrimental effect by interfering with the energy metabolism of the exposed invertebrates and that different pollutants have unique molecular effects, with implications for both monitoring and remediation of toxins. Sun, 08 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602214125.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085922.htm Global climate change will not only impact plants and animals but will also affect bacteria, fungi and other microbial populations that perform a myriad of functions important to life on earth. It is not entirely certain what those effects will be, but they could be significant and will probably not be good. Sun, 08 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085922.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080530132127.htm Researchers investigated different components of variation in soil at diverse scales ranging from the nanoscale to entire biomes in order to improve predictions of soil processes. Scientists used a variety of mathematical approaches to explore patterns of soil properties including water content, water movement, corn yields, and remote sensing data. Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080530132127.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080529105241.htm A research program recently conducted by an IRD team and its partners found new clues for understanding the influence of exotic species on the biodiversity of communities of mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial soil bacteria. Exotic tree plantations appear to generate, under certain climatic conditions, an abrupt decrease in soil microbial diversity which lead to significant degradation of its fertility. Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080529105241.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527130056.htm Biofuels based on renewable sources are increasingly popular as a way to reduce fossil fuel dependence and limit greenhouse gas emissions, but new research shows that some of the most popular current biofuel stocks might have exactly the opposite impacts than intended. Thu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080527130056.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519102012.htm Rice grown in the United States may be safer than varieties from Asia and Europe, according to a new global study of the grain that feeds over half of humanity. The study evaluated levels of arsenic, which can be toxic at high levels, in rice worldwide. Wed, 21 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519102012.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520211441.htm The use of harvest residues for energy production decreases soil carbon stocks. These changes in soil carbon stocks are remarkable compared to the other greenhouse gas emissions caused by the use of forest residues for energy. On a national scale, soil carbon stocks play an important role in forest carbon balances. Wed, 21 May 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080520211441.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519134750.htm A new study should provide vineyard managers new techniques for producing healthy and long-lasting grape crops. After extensive trials, data indicated that soil sampling within a 20- to 40-centimeter radius of the drip line emitter best reflected the amount of water available to the plants. Mon, 19 May 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519134750.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101652.htm One possible approach to carbon dioxide reduction would be to deliberately plant forests, bind the carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and then removed the trees from the global cycle by burial. Thu, 15 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080513101652.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508173558.htm Eco-friendly plant and animal life have been thriving in intensively managed cereal farms alongside increasing crop yields, according to the first study of its kind. The analysis of 230 farms shows that Government and EU policies which subsidize farmers to protect the environment are - at least to some degree - working. Sun, 11 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080508173558.htm