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 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:05:01 EST Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:05:01 EST 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/2012/02/120210133348.htm Researchers have taken a major step in the ongoing effort to find sources of cleaner, renewable energy by mapping the genomes of two originator cells of Miscanthus x giganteus, a large perennial grass with promise as a source of ethanol and bioenergy. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:33:33 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120210133348.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132555.htm Obstacles in an organism's path can help it to move faster, not slower, researchers have found through a series of experiments and computer simulations. Their findings have implications for a better understanding of basic locomotion strategies found in biology, and the survival and propagation of the parasite that causes malaria. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:25:25 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208132555.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207100139.htm If sensors are supposed to communicate with each other to compare the measured data and to secure them, then, in the future, a network of distributed sensor nodes will aid in that: the network ensures problem-free communication between the sensors. For example, they can be used to reliably monitor the watering of plants. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:01:01 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120207100139.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203092006.htm Mars may have been arid for more than 600 million years, making it too hostile for any life to survive on the planet’s surface, according to researchers who have been carrying out the painstaking task of analyzing individual particles of Martian soil. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:20:20 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120203092006.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181218.htm Yellow-cedar, a culturally and economically valuable tree in southeastern Alaska and adjacent parts of British Columbia, has been dying off across large expanses of these areas for the past 100 years. But no one could say why -- until now. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:12:12 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120201181218.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120129151054.htm The earth beneath our feet plays an important role in carbon storage – a key factor in climate change – and new research shows that in times of drought some types of soil perform better than others. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:10:10 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120129151054.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126152127.htm Scientists have shown that insect nutrition and agricultural land management practices may partially explain modern day locust outbreaks. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:21:21 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126152127.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126115125.htm A new study comparing the carbon-holding power of freshwater wetlands has produced measurements suggesting that wetlands in temperate regions are more valuable as carbon sinks than current policies imply. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:51:51 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120126115125.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125101952.htm The widely used farm practice of grafting watermelon and other melon plants onto squash or pumpkin rootstocks results in larger amounts of certain pesticides in the melon fruit, scientists are reporting in a new study. Although only low amounts of pesticides appeared in the fruit in the study, the scientists advise that commercial farmers use "caution" when grafting watermelon plants to squash. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120125101952.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124184152.htm Access to sanitation facilities, such as latrines, reduces by half the risk of becoming infected by parasitic worms that are transmitted via soil, according to a new study. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:41:41 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124184152.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124162353.htm When it comes to conserving the world's orchids, not all forests are equal. Ecologists revealed that an orchid's fate hinges on two factors: A forest's age and its fungi. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:23:23 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120124162353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120116095816.htm Scientists have finished a global empirical study that suggests that preservation of plant biodiversity is crucial to buffer negative effects of climate change and desertification in drylands. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:58:58 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120116095816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120116095533.htm Grain crops that produce less carotene can produce more food, especially in Africa, as they are less affected by parasitic plants. Agricultural researchers studied processes and technologies that could improve the control of the parasitic weed Striga both in the lab and in the field. He discovered that rice plants that produce less carotene than usual are less infected by the Striga parasite. Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:55:55 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120116095533.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112142226.htm Preserving diverse plant life will be crucial to buffer the negative effects of climate change and desertification in in the world's drylands, according to a new landmark study. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:22:22 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120112142226.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110140427.htm To improve the quality of unpaved roads, a graduate student is working with lignin, a sustainable material found in all plants. Lignin's adhesive properties make it good for binding soil particles together and protecting unpaved roads from erosion. Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:04:04 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120110140427.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120107151904.htm Researchers refute claims by Greenpeace Germany that the western bean cutworm is "a new plant pest" that was "caused by genetically engineered corn." The Greenpeace Germany report offers a "surprisingly simplistic conclusion" regarding the spread of western bean cutworm over the last decade, according to researchers. Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:19:19 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120107151904.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111222102915.htm The Belgrade fortress is not only threatened by the effects of coal burning, as was assumed until now, but also by flower beds. The deterioration of the fortress walls could be partially caused by the large quantities of potassium present in fertilizers used by gardeners and could be responsible for the formation of black crusts on the ramparts. Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:29:29 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111222102915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111220172634.htm Due to the difficulty of accessing root tissue in intact live plants, research of these hidden parts has always lagged behind research on the more visible parts of plants. But now: a new technology could revolutionize root research. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111220172634.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111215135933.htm The number of sugar maples in Upper Great Lakes forests is likely to decline in coming decades, according to ecologists, due to a previously unrecognized threat from a familiar enemy: Acid rain. Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:59:59 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111215135933.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214144755.htm Marketable yield, yield components, quality, and phenolic compounds of artichoke heads were investigated in response to three irrigation regimes and four nitrogen rates under subsurface drip irrigation. Results showed that irrigation was more effective than N management for optimizing artichoke yield. Time of harvest had the largest effect on artichoke nutritional quality, followed by deficit irrigation. The study will help introduce artichoke cultural practices into commercial production in water-limited regions of the southern United States. Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:47:47 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214144755.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213114715.htm A new ridge-furrow-ridge rainwater-harvesting system with mulches was tested in a study using purple coneflower. Experiments determined the effect of the system with or without covering with two different polyethylene mulches and with or without supplemental irrigation. In comparison with the control, the mulch-covered RFRRH system significantly increased yield and reduced time needed for weed control. The system also enabled simple supplemental irrigation with minimal ridge erosion. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:47:47 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213114715.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213114711.htm Adding a charred biomass material called biochar to glacial soils can help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, according to scientists. Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:47:47 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111213114711.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212124526.htm Dormant seeds in the soil detect and respond to seasonal changes in soil temperature by changing their sensitivity to plant hormones, new research has found. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:45:45 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212124526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212092647.htm Researchers have released a set of 1x1 km tree species maps showing the distribution of 20 tree species over Europe. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:26:26 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111212092647.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130125412.htm Take a Petri dish containing crude petroleum and it will release a strong odor distinctive of the toxins that make up the fossil fuel. Sprinkle mushroom spores over the Petri dish and let it sit for two weeks in an incubator, and surprise, the petroleum and its smell will disappear. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:54:54 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111130125412.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111122112127.htm New research shows that humans can unwittingly bring alien plant species to Svalbard. Increased travel activity and expected temperature increases over the next decades, may make the establishment of new plant species in the archipelago’s vulnerable ecosystem possible. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:21:21 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111122112127.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111122112123.htm Ecological tourism has no effect on the presence of large mammals in the Amazon, according to a study that for the first time compares the biological diversity of ecotourism zones with that of protected areas. Furthermore, it can help to protect the biodiversity of areas that are not officially protected yet are vital in the ecological framework. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:21:21 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111122112123.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111117140625.htm Researchers tested the effects of planting depth of container-grown liners of pin oak and littleleaf linden. The study investigated tree growth during production in nursery containers and growth and development of root defects for three growing seasons after transplanting the trees to field soil (with and without remediation). The results suggested that implementing practices to minimize deep planting of liners in containers will allow commercial growers to produce healthier trees. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:06:06 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111117140625.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114133644.htm Laser capture microdissection provides an insight into the symbiotic program of root cells. The most prevalent plant symbiosis is that between root cells and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, called AM fungi. AM fungi make sure that plants can grow on nutrient-depleted soil -- unnoticed by most people. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:36:36 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111114133644.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110125735.htm Coneheads collected from all over the territory of Italy were studied by three researchers. 40 species have been identified (belonging to eight genera and four families), six of which are new records for the Italian fauna. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:57:57 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110125735.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111106151314.htm Nitrogen fertilizers from farm fields often end up in aquatic ecosystems, resulting in water quality problems, such as toxic algae and underwater 'dead zones'. There are concerns that fertilizers used on lawns may also contribute to these problems. All of the lawns in the United States cover an area almost as large as Florida, making turfgrass our largest 'crop' and lawn fertilizer use a legitimate issue. In a new study, researchers have utilized recent technological advances to measure gaseous nitrogen emissions in home lawns. Sun, 06 Nov 2011 15:13:13 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111106151314.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103143243.htm Scientists braved ticks and a tiger to discover how human activities have perturbed the nitrogen cycle in tropical forests. Studies at two remote Smithsonian Institution Global Earth Observatory sites in Panama and Thailand show the first evidence of long-term effects of nitrogen pollution in tropical trees. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111103143243.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101125816.htm When investigating a murder, every clue helps. New research sheds light on how -- and whether -- blow flies survive when buried underground during their development. It's an advance that will help forensic investigators understand how long a body may have been left above ground before being buried -- or possibly whether remains were moved from one grave to another. Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:58:58 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111101125816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031220600.htm Climate change, land use and other human-driven factors could pit savannas and forests against each other by altering the elements found by researchers to stabilize the two. Without this harmony, the habitats, or biomes, could increasingly encroach on one other to the detriment of the people and animals that rely on them. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:06:06 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111031220600.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024084236.htm An environmental science researcher in Sweden has examined the geochemical status of the natural environment in the Amazonas Region, and to what extent it has been impacted by deforestation and altered land use. Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111024084236.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024850.htm Scientists have confirmed the identity of a strange grass-like sedge discovered in a Mississippi graveyard, and believes the appearance of the potentially invasive plant is linked to the final resting places of several members of a royal Gypsy family. Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111020024850.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018111932.htm Microscopic animals that live in soils are as diverse in the tropical forests of Costa Rica as they are in the arid grasslands of Kenya, or the tundra and boreal forests of Alaska and Sweden, according to new research. Scientists have generally accepted that a wider range of species can be found above ground at the equator than at Earth's poles. But this study proves for the first time that the same rules don't apply to the nematodes, mites and springtails living underground. Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018111932.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111014122317.htm On a continent battered by weather extremes, famine and record food prices, new research documents an exciting new trend in which hundreds of thousands of poor farmers in Southern Africa are now significantly boosting yields and incomes simply by using fast growing trees and shrubs to naturally fertilize their fields. Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:23:23 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111014122317.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153955.htm North American forests appear to have a greater capacity to soak up heat-trapping carbon dioxide gas than researchers had previously anticipated. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013153955.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013121705.htm A method of monitoring roots rarely used in wetlands will help researchers effectively study the response of a high-carbon ecosystem to elevated temperatures and levels of carbon dioxide. Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111013121705.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005172128.htm Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and living plants. But scientists don't know why some organic compounds persist for centuries or even thousands of years in soils, while others quickly decompose. This longstanding mystery is addressed in a review by an international team of scientists. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:21:21 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005172128.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005110957.htm A team of researchers has discovered a remarkable silky lacewing insect from the Mesozoic of China. Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111005110957.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927183544.htm Central Asia continues to suffer from a post-Soviet economic breakdown that may have contributed to a re-emergence of several neglected tropical diseases in the area, especially among its most economically disadvantaged groups, according to a new article. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 18:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927183544.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927124659.htm Germplasm and staygreen technology utilized by corn breeders in Texas could make growing corn on limited water a greater possibility in the near future, according to new studies. Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110927124659.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110920111816.htm With the extended statewide dry spell, researchers have been focusing their attention on improving varieties of drought-tolerant melons. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110920111816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110920111806.htm Common woodland creatures, including woodlice, millipedes and worms, can help ensure the survival of weaker species of woodland fungi, according to new research. The findings reveal that, by feeding on the most combative fungi, invertebrates ensure that less competitive species are not entirely destroyed or digested. Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110920111806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915102909.htm Restoring and preserving dryland forests and planting more trees to provide food, fodder and fertilizer on small farms are critical steps toward preventing the recurrence of the famine now threatening millions of people in the Horn of Africa, according to forestry experts. Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110915102909.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110913171719.htm There has been much debate about the net benefit of growing energy crops to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While it is accepted that energy crops can displace fossil fuel imports, the emissions from the cultivation of energy crops were until now uncertain. Agricultural researchers have now carried out a number of research projects to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with these crops. Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:17:17 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110913171719.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110913140236.htm A soil scientist in Colorado is helping farmers grow crops with less nitrogen-based fertilizer. The fertilizers are a major reason why agriculture is a significant source of both greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in estuaries like the Gulf of Mexico and the Chesapeake Bay. If growers apply too little fertilizer, it reduces crop yields. But if they apply too much, the excess can be released into the atmosphere as nitrous oxide or leach into waterways as nitrate. Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110913140236.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912153220.htm Using barley as the raw material for ethanol production results in an additional product -- dried grains for animal feed. But the presence of a fungal pathogen sometimes found in barley can result in a lethal toxin, called mycotoxin, in the animal feed. Now, researchers have shown that newly developed transgenic yeast used during fermentation will help modify the mycotoxin in the animal feed product to a less toxic form. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110912153220.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110909111637.htm Rice is the world’s most commonly used cereal food, feeding half of humanity. However, rice production will have to double within 20 years from now to meet the needs of a growing population. Two species are used for cultivation, one Asian and the other African. The Asian species gives much stronger agronomic performances, but the African one is more rustic, more resistant to pathogens, more tolerant to drought and soil salinity. With the aim of transferring these properties to Asian rice, scientists are seeking to overcome the sterility between the two species. Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110909111637.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110908080956.htm Maize plants that have been inoculated with bacteria naturally present in the soil show improved resistance against a pathogenic fungus and a considerable reduction in the number of attacks by a herbivorous moth. It is the first time that such a double effect has been shown in maize. Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:09:09 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110908080956.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110906085420.htm A new study reports that total emissions of the greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide, were not significantly affected by tillage practices when expressed on an area basis. When they were calculated per unit yield of grain, however, emissions were significantly greater under no-tillage compared with conventional tillage. Tue, 06 Sep 2011 08:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110906085420.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901163915.htm With citizens' groups seeking government regulation of foul-smelling ammonia emissions from large dairy farms, scientists report that adding natural plant extracts to cow feed can reduce levels of the gas by one-third while reducing the need to fortify cow feed with expensive protein supplements. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901163915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901105514.htm Agricultural researchers have confirmed that in some production systems, planting potatoes in flat beds can increase irrigation water use efficiency. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901105514.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901104930.htm It is widely acknowledged that human beings are largely responsible for the widespread alteration of ecosystems on the planet. A recent study traces the ways in which humans are the principal agents of dispersal of exotic earthworms in the forests of Northern America. Their findings suggest that humans spread earthworms both inadvertently via horticulture and land disturbance, in the tires and underbodies of vehicles, but also knowingly through composting and careless disposal of fish bait. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110901104930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831155347.htm For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that forest trees have the ability to tap into nitrogen found in rocks, boosting the trees' growth and their ability to pull more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If trees can access more nitrogen than previously thought, that could lead to more storage of carbon on land and less carbon remaining in the atmosphere. Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831155347.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831155334.htm New research findings show antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon that predates the modern clinical antibiotic use. The breakthrough will have important impact on the understanding of antibiotic resistance. Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:53:53 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831155334.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831081602.htm A new article examines the carbon sequestration potential of Miscanthus plantations on commercial farms. Researchers evaluated Miscanthus plantations in Ireland, where planting has been subsidized by the government. Carbon sequestration is expected to vary among different farming practices and soil characteristics. Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110831081602.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830144510.htm Scientists indicate that organic farmers who need to periodically amend their soils with compost after planting can still control weeds -- and hold down costs -- by using fabric ground covers. This will be welcome news to organic farmers who till composted manure into their crop fields after planting. Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110830144510.htm