Crop differences go beyond appearance and taste. Certain plants are more efficient in how they grow and reproduce. The Feb. 22 Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains how this difference in plant metabolism is important for future food security.
What would be the purpose of a flower that doesn’t bear seeds? Research with crop wild relatives suggests the extra flowers make a small but significant contribution to yield.
Soil is all around us, in cities and rural areas. But some soil becomes contaminated. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Feb. 15 Soils Matter blog summarizes common contaminants and the risks they carry.
Often, energy pipelines pass through previously undisturbed areas. These areas need to be managed carefully to re-establish ecologically functioning systems. A new study shows teams can increase the chance of successful land reclamation by first collecting soil data at short intervals. More collections can also lead to significant cost savings.
Crop breeders continue to improve familiar crops. The February 7th Sustainable, Secure Food blog describes crop breeders’ progress towards the future of barley, wheat, and potato varieties.
Gypsum, a source of calcium and sulfur, can benefit crops and soils. When recovered from power plant smokestacks, it brings the additional benefits of recycling.
Some soils, like some humans, might need a low-salt diet. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Feb. 1 Soils Matter blog explains where salt in soil comes from and what can be done about it.
Modern agriculture’s outputs can be measured both in dollars paid in the market and also in non-market costs, known as externalities. Soil, nutrients, groundwater, pollinators, wildlife diversity, and habitat (among other things) can be lost when crop yields are maximized. Now it appears that prairie strips have an extraordinary power to change this pattern.
A new advanced line of rice, with higher yield, is ready for final field testing prior to release. On average, it has a protein content of 10.6%, a 53% increase from its original protein content. It also needs less heat, time, and usually less water to cook.
Some farm fields this time of year look messier than others. The January 22nd Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains what drives a grower’s decision when it comes to managing their fields in the winter.
Researchers found an efficient approach to managing nitrogen in agriculture and reducing its environmental impact. It's all about being green.
Winter soil freezes, heaves, and moves! The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Jan. 15 Soils Matter blog looks at the freeze-thaw cycle, how it changes soil on a microscopic level, and the reaction of Alaska’s unique permafrost soils.
A new study examines how the switch to conservation tillage has impacted a southwestern Ohio lake over the past decades. From 1994 to 2014, an unusually long timespan, the researchers measured concentrations of suspended sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus in streams draining into Acton Lake.
Researchers are studying peanut varieties to find a ‘water conservation’ trait. It would help the plant maintain a high yield during a drought.
The 2011 Las Conchas mega-fire in New Mexico burned more than 150,000 acres and threatened the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Now, using data from the fire, researchers at Los Alamos have created an experimental model that will help us better understand the interactions of fire and water in the soil.
Chilling sub-zero temperatures. Astounding snowfalls. The weather outside is frightful. Yet under the snow and frost, life in soils carries on! Soils Matter, Soil Science Society of America’s science-based blog, provides insights to soils in winter and the organisms that live there.
Plant breeders need to know there’s good genetics in the crops they are developing. The Dec. 7th Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains how crop scientists improve crops using data gathered from both the field and the lab.
While it’s an important part of our diets, new research shows that rice plants can be used in a different way, too: to clean runoff from farms before it gets into rivers, lakes, and streams.
Did you know soils could be “boutique?” The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Dec. 1 Soils Matter blog explains how this group of soils can challenge your assumptions.
In the Loess Plateau region of northwestern China, potato is the main food crop. However, the area has a dry climate with uneven precipitation. Researchers are finding the best combination of tillage and mulching practices to increase yield.
When trees are removed, it’s not just the view that changes in a former woods. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Nov. 15 Soils Matter blog explains the unintended consequences of tree removal by early colonists in Southeastern states, and how the land is recovering.
New research suggests that, over time, less phosphorus fertilizer may be necessary on agricultural fields.
Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without cranberries. But how much do you know about these tart berries? The Nov. 7 Sustainable, Secure Food blog has loads of cranberry facts, ripe for your feasting table!
In a newly published study, researchers dug into how fertilizing with manure affects soil quality, compared with inorganic fertilizer.
A small beetle can cause big losses to bean crops. But a new study has narrowed down the genetic locations of several weevil resistance genes in the common bean.
Does baseball have you seeing stripes, diamonds, and circles? The Oct. 22nd Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains the turf maintenance and mowing practices that make baseball infields and outfields a visual feast.
Ground penetrating radar measures the amount of moisture in soil quickly and easily. Researchers' calculations from the data informs agricultural water use and climate models.
Have you noticed wavy bands of soil along roads or paths? The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Oct. 15 Soils Matter blog explains these horizontal soil waves and the unusual way they form.
Factors like how seeds are spaced when planting or soil moisture can affect the yield and nutritional value of crops. Scientists at the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society annual meeting will discuss these factors and more.
Scientists develop edge-of-field practices so growers can keep the early planting offered by the tile drains while protecting nearby streams–and the Gulf of Mexico–from nitrate contamination.
Sustainable intensification is an approach that aims to increase crop yields on existing agricultural land while minimizing the negative environmental pressures and impacts of agricultural systems. Scientists at the American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society annual meeting will present a special symposium, “Sustainable Intensification for Improved Food Production and Environmental Quality.”
When is an autumn hay ride not a hay ride? The October 7th Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains the difference between hay and straw--and what you're really sitting on during those farm adventures.
Satellites and other remote technology are able to gather information as varied as soil moisture, crop yields, and growing conditions. How will this improve food security world-wide? The Special Session Symposium, “Advances in the Use of Earth Observations for Crop Modeling and Monitoring for Food Security,” will address the topic.
Crop breeders are developing a biofortified wheat that could make proper nutrition easier.
Farmers and agronomists must continue to focus on yield when creating their management plans, as the world’s population keeps growing. However, environmental quality–especially water and soil quality–deserve as much focus as yield. Scientists present their findings with this environmental focus in agriculture.
Parking lots, sidewalks, streets, and rooftops: cities are full of water-shedding surfaces. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) Oct. 1 Soils Matter blog explains why these surfaces are problematic, and how soil can be part of the answer.
“Regional Differences in Cover Crops” symposium will present latest research on cover crops' uses and potential impact.
An important part of plant genetic resources is crop wild relatives. These are closely related to crop species but have not been domesticated by humans. These plant genetic materials and those who care for them are vital for human survival.
The American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society will hold their annual meeting Nov. 4-7, 2018, in Baltimore, MD. The theme of the meeting is “Enhancing Productivity in a Changing Climate.” The Canadian Society of Agronomy is also collaborating.
There’s some wild plants afoot! A series of blog posts in Sustainable, Secure Food highlights the important role crop wild relatives, the wild and weedy cousins of domesticated crops, play in future food security.
Coffee harvesting is often done with heavy machinery that can compact the soil. Additionally, up to 20% of coffee berries fall to the ground. Researchers brewed up a solution to restore soil and decrease the loss.
The Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) is celebrating Crop Wild Relative Week September 22-29, 2018. The week features information on the benefits these wild cousins bring to today’s familiar crops.
Swamps and other wetlands get a bad rap. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) September 15 Soils Matter blog explains why these natural features are important--and worth saving.
After supporting a season of growth, your garden soil deserves a rest! Soils Matter, Soil Science Society of America’s science-based blog, has tips for putting your garden to bed this fall.
The area where streams meet land is important for maintaining water quality. The September 7th Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains how use of buffer strips can protect water quality and ecosystems.
Grocery shopping is fraught with decisions. Is ‘soil-friendly eating’ part of yours? The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) September 1st Soils Matter blog explains simple steps to consider in the grocery aisles.
Each year, soybean aphids cause billions of dollars in crop losses. In a recent study, researchers have taken a big step toward identifying new soybean genes associated with aphid resistance.
Life planted in soil may seem idyllic, but did you know plants get stressed? The August 22nd Sustainable, Secure Food blog explains environmental stressors for plants and research towards relief.
Soil organic carbon stocks are the amount of organic carbon found in soil. There are several common ways of measuring these stocks. Until now they were all believed to give pretty much the same results. New research shows not all tools give the same results.
Using best practices, in the long-term, can reduce greenhouse gases and help the environment! The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) August 15 Soils Matter blog explains how gardens and lawns can be used to store more carbon in soil.
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