Figure 9: Examples of Mollisols (grassland soils) formed from loess. Both soils have mean annual precipitation of 450 mm. The Ustoll (a) has an ustic soil moisture regime and the Xeroll (b) has a ...

Topsoil is one of the haziest terms used by gardeners, and by those who sell the stuff. After all, it’s nothing more than the top layer of soil. But real topsoil also is the most fertile portion of ...

Our soils are in trouble. Over the past century, we’ve abused them with plowing, tilling and too much fertilizer. What many think of as “just dirt” is actually an incredibly complex mixture of ...

Soils that formed on Earth’s surface thousands of years ago and that are now deeply buried features of vanished landscapes have been found to be rich in carbon, adding a new dimension to our planet’s ...

Soil color could replace expensive chemical tests, helping farmers monitor fertility and carbon faster and more safely.

In certain trees, soils can form along branches and can support varied plant and animal life. However, what conditions these ‘canopy soils’ form in, and what kind of biodiversity they support, has ...

From the lava plains of the Alvord Desert to the fertile alluvium of the Willamette Valley, Oregon’s secret wealth is lying all around us. It’s an ingredient forged from stars, fire and ice and, ...

The dirt beneath our feet often goes unnoticed but it’s key to sustaining all life on Earth. A third of the world’s soil is moderately to highly degraded, threatening global food supplies, increasing ...

Our soils are in trouble. Over the past century, we’ve abused them with ploughing, tilling and too much fertiliser. What many think of as “just dirt” is actually an incredibly complex mixture of ...