soil-science

Nature Communications, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73958-5 The extent of fungicide resistance within the agricultural sector, specially across soil and river sediments, remains unclear. Here, the authors present a large-scale sampling effort, combined with transcriptomics, that identifies agricultural landscapes as reservoirs for multidrug-resistant fungal species.

Vegetation restoration in semi-arid sandy ecosystems can alter soil sulfur cycling not only through changes in sulfur stocks, but also through shifts in the partitioning between organic sulfur and sulfate and their microbial regulation. Here, we investigated soil sulfur pool allocation and sulfur-cycling functional potential along a five-stage vegetation restoration gradient in the Mu Us Sandy La…

Scientific Data, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41597-026-07410-0 A global dataset and map of soil phosphorus retention / sorption for assessing phosphorus use efficiency and loss to water

An exploratory study in Scientific Reports suggests an intriguing correlation between a nation's soil fertility and its average IQ. This preliminary research suggests the nutritional quality of local earth might indirectly influence global cognitive development.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-55875-1 Effects of herbaceous root development on soil water infiltration and hydraulic properties in loess

New Formal Model in the open-access Agricultural and Environmental Modelling journal contributes to a more realistic soil ecology modelling at the landscape level. The post Modelling Life Beneath Our Feet: A New Step Towards Realistic Soil Ecology At The Landscape Scale first appeared on Blog .

IntroductionThe ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to severe disruptions in agricultural production, raising concerns about soil fertility, land-use changes, and global food security. This study aims to conduct a high-resolution and reproducible spatial analysis of how the conflict in Ukraine has affected human–soil interactions within agricultural areas.MethodsThis study utilizes open-access da…

IntroductionPhosphorus (P) is a critical nutrient influencing soil fertility, yet its role in shaping bacterial community structure remains underexplored, particularly in native grasslands versus agricultural systems. This study aimed to evaluate how bioavailable P and other edaphic factors influence soil bacterial communities across contrasting land-use types.MethodsSoil bacterial communities we…

Intense rainfall events can wash away nitrogen, a nutrient crucial for plant growth, before it can be used, while the subsequent dry period can quicken water loss by evaporation

Biochar is emerging as a promising tool for sustainable agriculture and environmental protection. Our review explores how biochar improves soil fertility, enhances nutrient retention, supports carbon sequestration, and helps mitigate environmental pollution.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 30 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-53609-x On-site experiment on the rainfall erosion process of soil slopes and its hydraulic mechanism

BackgroundIn the severely eroded red soil regions of southern China, characterized by significant ecological degradation, there is an urgent need for effective vegetation restoration techniques.MethodA space-for-time substitution approach was employed, wherein three 20 m × 20 m quadrats were established at each of the Paspalum wettsteinii restoration sites (1-, 6-, and 12-year-old) and a control …

On Friday, May 8, 2026, the final day of the EGU26, I attended a Special Programme Group session of the Soil System Sciences (SSS) division on Facing the last policy challenges in the EU: How soil scientists can contribute to the demands for scientific evidence to support EU policies. The session brought together scientists, policymakers, and representatives from European institutions, including …

UF researchers are testing volcanic rock dust to improve soil health across the state's sandy and organic farmlands. The post Can spreading basaltic volcanic rock dust improve crops and the health of Florida’s soils? appeared first on College of Liberal Arts and Sciences .

BackgroundContinuous cropping obstacles in cut chrysanthemum, which are characterized by soil nutrient imbalance, reduced enzyme activities, and disrupted rhizosphere microbial communities, restrict the development of its industry. This study investigated the regulatory effects of crop rotation on soil properties and microbial communities, and compared the mitigation efficiency of different rotat…

Tobacco black shank (TBS), caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae, is a destructive soilborne disease that seriously threatens tobacco production worldwide. This review summarizes recent progress in the infection biology of P. nicotianae, the disturbance of rhizosphere microbial communities under disease pressure, and integrated strategies for disease management. Current evidence…