soil-science

A new wave of precision agriculture is emerging, and it’s being driven by an unlikely hero: LED sensors. Researchers from Università Roma Tre, led by Federico Fina, have developed a method that turns soil and plant health into data—collected in real

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-02066-2 The build-up of soil organic carbon depends less on the amount of substrate carbon available but more on the energy soil microbes can use to grow and leave behind residues, according to a global analysis of microbial energy demand and the energy contained in substrate carbon.

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 03 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-02095-x Drought disturbances are reducing the recovery capacity of tropical forests, especially in drier conditions, but soil phosphorus can mitigate this impact, according to a satellite-based analysis of ecosystem resilience.

Nature, Published online: 04 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02800-1 Nature staff discuss the winners of the 2026 Ig Nobel prizes — plus, the isolated energy flash that could be the first glimpse of dark matter.

IntroductionUnderstanding how different lavender cultivars regulate soil microecology in semi-arid regions will reveal microbial mechanisms of soil improvement, identify cultivars with high ecological restoration potential, and support coordinated vegetation restoration, soil quality enhancement, and specialty crop cultivation.MethodsThis study selected three major cultivated varieties in the Ili…

In Tay Ninh Province, Vietnam, where dragon fruit farms dot the landscape, a new study is offering a clearer picture of soil health—and it’s not a pretty one. Researchers Nguyen Van Phuong, Tong Hai Minh, and Le Hong Thia found that nearly 60% of the

You’ve probably never sat down and thought about what soil is actually made of, but it’s a lot more than just mud and dirt. It plays a crucial role in supporting life on Earth, anchoring plant roots, delivering vital nutrients, and providing a habitat for billions of microorganisms alongside creatures like earthworms, ants, and beetles.... The post Cake Soil Layer Model appeared first on Science …

Introduction  Soil moisture availability plays an important role in determining water status of crops, the efficiency of irrigation, and agricultural production.1,2 In semi-arid Karnataka, India, where more than 60% of the farmland is rainfed, accurate knowledge about soil moisture content can help decrease the water stress on crops without any extra expenses related to irrigation. […]

Farmers worldwide are facing a growing challenge: their soil is losing fertility faster than it can recover. Overuse, climate shifts, and deforestation have left at least a quarter of the world’s farmland degraded, threatening both harvests and livel

Researchers have uncovered a promising method to revitalize degraded oil palm plantations using Canavalia ensiformis, commonly known as jack bean, a hardy legume that thrives in tough conditions. The study, published in BIO Web of Conferences and led

MAHOMET, Ill. — Farmland values throughout central and southern Illinois held steady from last year, according to the 2026 study of 22 benchmark farms by the Farm Credit Illinois (FCI) appraisal team.  Land values had a dramatic run-up beginning in 2003 until peaking in 2014. The first decline in more than a decade occurred in […] The post Illinois Farmland Values Unchanged According to Farm Cred…

In the hidden world beneath our feet, a microscopic ally is quietly revolutionizing agriculture. A new review published in the Madras Agricultural Journal highlights the untapped potential of *Pseudomonas* species in soil, revealing how these bacteri

Nature Geoscience, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41561-026-02083-1 Vertically compound soil moisture droughts—when all soil layers are depleted—have intensified worldwide, driving sharper ecosystem losses than single-layer droughts, according to global analyses of multilayer soil moisture.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 01 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-69630-z Interactive effects of salinity and nitrogen fertilization on soil ion accumulation and ion uptake in quinoa

Karst desertification causes severe soil erosion, hydrological imbalance, and biodiversity loss, thereby threatening ecosystem resilience and agricultural productivity. Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) cycling underpin ecosystem stability, yet how agricultural management practices regulate multi-element cycling in degraded karst agroecosystems remains poorly understoo…

IntroductionJarava ichu is an abundant grass species in high-Andean ecosystems but remains underutilised because its slow natural decomposition limits its potential as an organic soil amendment. Its accumulation may also contribute to the retention of heavy metals in soils, potentially affecting soil quality and agricultural productivity. This study evaluated the effects of microbial inoculants o…

IntroductionNutrient cycling in agricultural systems has a major role in soil system functioning and primary production. Organic matter decomposition is a crucial process affecting the nutrient quantity and quality in agricultural soils.MethodsHere, we evaluated the effects of soil physical and chemical parameters on litter decomposition rates (k) and stabilization factors (S) on different land u…

In the rolling hills of Guizhou Province, China, two regions—Daozhen and Shuicheng—are quietly becoming hotspots for morel mushroom cultivation, a delicacy prized for its nutritional and medicinal value. But the secret to growing better morels isn’t