Soil science

Brexit presents challenges and opportunities to tackle nitrate pollution

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Chemistry, Soil science, Nature, Water pollution, Agricultural soil science, Biogeochemical cycle, Biogeography, Fishkeeping, Nitrogen cycle, Nitrate, Fertilizer, Nutrient pollution

Environmental Audit Committee report on UK progress on reducing nitrate pollution published

Key Points: 

High levels of nitrate pollution

    Nitrate ‘time bomb’

    • Their overuse in the past has led to a nitrate time bomb which is still working its way through into many of our ground water sources, from which much of our drinking water is drawn.
    • Nitrates are connected to wider nitrogen pollution because of the nitrogen cycle, including nitrogen oxides and ammonia.

    Dangers of 'a governance gap’

    • While regulation of water and air quality is based on EU legislation and mainly devolved, todays report, UK Progress on Reducing Nitrate Pollution, re-iterates the Committees concerns about the dangers of 'a governance gap, whereby zombie EU legislation would be transposed into UK law but remain divorced from EU institutions that monitor, update, administer and ensure compliance.
    • MPs are particularly concerned about the danger that existing standards, including the target of water bodies reaching a good status by 2027, are weakened.

    Opportunity for a joined-up approach

    • MPs find that leaving the EU offers a potential opportunity for a joined-up approach, which aligns water, air and soil quality regulations and regulators.
    • The Committee calls for this to be reflected in the Environment Bill due to be published before the end this year.

    Chair's comments

    • Only by supporting farmers to invest in infrastructure and processes to reduce artificial fertiliser application will we see better, more sustainable, environmental outcomes.
    • Historic over use of artificial fertiliser has led to nitrate pollution in many of our groundwater sources, with some citing the threat of the so-called nitrate time bomb.

    Key conclusions and recommendations

    Living Soil Film Documents Soil Health Movement

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, November 15, 2018
    Land management, Soil science, Soil, Nature, Natural resource management, Land use

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Soil Health Institute (SHI) today released a 60-minute documentary that captures the history and significance of the soil health movement.

    Key Points: 
    • RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Soil Health Institute (SHI) today released a 60-minute documentary that captures the history and significance of the soil health movement.
    • Living Soil captures the background of the current soil health movement and its momentum, beginning with painful images of the Dust Bowl, and then transitions to personal experiences of innovative women and men who are managing their land to enhance soil health.
    • "This is a film for everyone who cares about our natural resources," says Wayne Honeycutt, President & CEO of the Soil Health Institute.
    • For information on SHI, to become involved in the soil health movement, and to subscribe to SHI communications, visit www.soilhealthinstitute.org .

    Soil Survey Covering 780,000 Acres of Critical Foothill Landscape Released to the Public

    Retrieved on: 
    Wednesday, October 24, 2018
    Pedology, Land management, Physical geography, Nature, Soil survey, Earth, Soil science, Soil, Survey

    "This soil survey provides up-to-date classification and interpretation information for a large, centrally located portion of the Sierra Nevada foothills," says Theresa Kunch, lead soil scientist in the Sonora office.

    Key Points: 
    • "This soil survey provides up-to-date classification and interpretation information for a large, centrally located portion of the Sierra Nevada foothills," says Theresa Kunch, lead soil scientist in the Sonora office.
    • "This is the first soil survey in California to have detailed ecological site information correlated to every soil component.
    • The survey included a detailed analysis of nearly 2,000 soil pits taken from throughout the survey area.
    • She adds that providing soil surveys for the entire nation is a primary mission goal for the soil science division and completing this is welcome progress towards that goal.

    Soil Stabilization Materials Market Poised to Expand at a Robust Pace of 6.6% CAGR Over 2028

    Retrieved on: 
    Wednesday, October 10, 2018
    Soil science, Soil stabilization

    Global Soil Stabilization Materials Market: Overview

    Key Points: 
    • Global Soil Stabilization Materials Market: Overview
      Future Market Insights presents a detailed analysis and delivers key insights on the global soil stabilization materials market in its latest report titled "Soil Stabilization Materials Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013-2017 and Opportunity Assessment 2018-2028".
    • The long-term outlook of the global soil stabilization materials market remains positive with the soil stabilization materials value pegged at over US$ 15.7 Bn in 2018.
    • Among all regions, China is expected to dominate the global soil stabilization market throughout the forecast period with a healthy CAGR of 7.0%.
    • In this report, FMI sheds light on the drivers and restraints expected to impact the global soil stabilization materials market during the forecast period.

    Dr. Shefali Mehta Tapped as New Leader of Soil Health Partnership

    Retrieved on: 
    Thursday, August 16, 2018
    Soil, Agricultural soil science, Land management, Agriculture, Soil science, Nature, Nutrient management, Tillage, Topsoil, Soil compaction, Soil management

    Mehta has been tapped as the new executive director of the Soil Health Partnership , a long-term data project that measures and quantifies the impact of farm management practices known to promote healthy soils.

    Key Points: 
    • Mehta has been tapped as the new executive director of the Soil Health Partnership , a long-term data project that measures and quantifies the impact of farm management practices known to promote healthy soils.
    • Soil health is taking on elevated importance in agriculture as a means to protect topsoil, helping farmers manage extreme weather, increase profitability, protect water quality and sequester carbon.
    • Practices that improve soil health include growing cover crops, reducing tillage and taking a science-based approach to nutrient management.
    • The Soil Health Partnership is a farmer-led initiative that fosters transformation in agriculture through improved soil health, benefiting both farmer profitability and the environment.

    Global $27.8 Bn Soil Stabilization Market by Method, Application, Additive and Region - Forecast to 2022

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, July 20, 2018
    Land management, Soil science, Urban planning, Human migration, Land use, Urban sprawl, Urbanization, Soil, Nature, Natural environment

    The global soil stabilization market is estimated at USD 22.09 billion in 2017, and is projected to reach USD 27.8 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period.

    Key Points: 
    • The global soil stabilization market is estimated at USD 22.09 billion in 2017, and is projected to reach USD 27.8 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.7% during the forecast period.
    • Rapid urbanization, particularly in the developing regions, is driving the growth of the construction industry, thereby fueling the soil stabilization market growth.
    • With rapid urbanization, the use of soil stabilization has increased; this can be attributed to the growth in awareness about soil management practices through soil stabilization.
    • The South American region is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022, for the soil stabilization market.

    Soil Health Institute Announces Methods for Evaluating Soil Health Indicators at a Continental Scale

    Retrieved on: 
    Friday, May 11, 2018
    Land management, Soil, Nature, Soil science, Natural environment, Universe

    RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The Soil Health Institute (SHI), which is charged with safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement, has released the initial methods cooperating scientists will use to assess soil health indicators as they move toward standardization of soil health measurements.

    Key Points: 
    • RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., May 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --The Soil Health Institute (SHI), which is charged with safeguarding and enhancing the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and advancement, has released the initial methods cooperating scientists will use to assess soil health indicators as they move toward standardization of soil health measurements.
    • According to Dr. Steven Shafer, Chief Scientific Officer of SHI, the lack of widely-applicable measurements and methods for assessing soil health are significant barriers to adopting soil health practices and systems.
    • In soil health, knowing HOW to measure is as important as WHAT to measure.
    • To address the need for accurate, reliable and standardized soil health measurements, the Soil Health Institute (SHI), in collaboration with the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), received a $9.4 million grant from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) to match a similar amount provided by other donors to advance soil health science and implement soil health management practices.

    This Earth Day, we celebrate major impacts through soil health

    Retrieved on: 
    Sunday, April 22, 2018
    Land management, Soil science, Soil, Nature, Natural resource management, Land use

    However, it is clear that we simply cannot afford to be complacent, thinking that we have all the answers to soil health and environmental stewardship, because we do not.

    Key Points: 
    • However, it is clear that we simply cannot afford to be complacent, thinking that we have all the answers to soil health and environmental stewardship, because we do not.
    • So today, I challenge us to imagine a time when we fully understand the chemical signaling that dialogue between plants and soil microbes.
    • Imagine what we can celebrate, in just a few short years, on Earth Day 2025.
    • About the author: C. Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Soil Health Institute.