Soil is a complex mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and microorganisms that together support life on Earth. It forms the upper layer of the Earth’s crust and is crucial for the growth of plants, which in turn sustain animal life and contribute to the global food web. Soil composition varies widely depending on factors such as climate, landscape, and biological activity, which in turn influences its texture, structure, and nutrient content. Apart from its vital role in agriculture and ecology, soil also plays a key role in the carbon cycle and as a regulator of atmospheric gases. Soil conservation is increasingly important as issues such as erosion, contamination, and loss of soil fertility pose challenges to sustainable agriculture and the natural environment.
Fungi and lichens threaten Negev Desert’s petroglyphs, eroding ancient artworks through chemical and mechanical means. Southern Israel’s Negev desert is famous for its ancient rock…
The World Health Organization has identified Aspergillus fumigatus as a critical public health threat due to its potential lethality to immunocompromised individuals. The soil and…
Nearly 40% of households may exceed safety recommendations due to multiple sources of lead exposure. Nationally, applying standard remediation techniques to address this could exceed…
A new study aids in clarifying the role of microbes in the global carbon cycle. When soil microbes eat plant matter, the digested food follows…
Soil carbon typically refers to the organic component, termed soil organic carbon (SOC). However, there is also an inorganic component, referred to as soil inorganic…
Study indicates that changes in rainfall patterns, rather than shifts in temperature, account for trends in soil moisture. Soil moisture levels play a crucial role…
Recent research reveals the mechanism by which soil captures atmospheric carbon derived from plants. When carbon molecules from plants make their way into the soil,…
You’d think the complex flavor in a quality cup of tea would depend mainly on the tea varieties used to make it. However, recent research…
Research indicates that Amazon dark earth (ADE) promotes tree growth by as much as sixfold. The study demonstrated that tree seedlings grown in ADE-enriched soils…
Researchers report that a new method for assessing microbial activity in wetted soil leads to a better understanding of vulnerability. Using a novel method to…
Researchers previously thought that a waxy layer in scorched soil led to water runoff on the ground. However, recent discoveries indicate that burnt terrain can…
Adding Amazonian dark earth to soils boosts plant growth, shows study. Adding Amazonian dark earth (ADE) to soils can significantly boost plant growth, according to…
Located nearly 5 miles above sea level in the Himalayas, the barren, wind-swept depression between Mount Everest and its neighboring summit, Lhotse, remains devoid of…
As drug-resistant and emerging infections become an increasingly serious global health threat, demand for new types of antibiotics is surging. Researchers are racing to reexamine…
The findings do not counter the established science of climate change but highlight how the accounting of the amount of carbon withdrawn by plants and…
A recent study published in Nature Communications finds that piles of sand grains, even when undisturbed, are in constant motion. Using highly-sensitive optical interference data,…
The Earth’s soils contain more than three times the amount of carbon than is found in the atmosphere, but the processes that bind carbon in…
With infectious disease deaths on the rise, a new study gives reason for concern. Researchers found that agricultural soils contained more diverse populations of drug-resistant…