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Science for Environment Policy - DG Environment News Alert Service - European Commission

Archive by Theme: Soil

Period: 2009

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Northern peat soils: potential as a carbon sink	17/12/09
Upland peat soils provide a substantial carbon sink if managed properly, according to new research. A study of a peatland area in the UK indicated that it could potentially store approximately 160,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
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Phosphorus-rich soils support larger invertebrates	3/12/09
In a recent study, researchers have defined the relationship between soil conditions and nutrients with the health of soil ecosystems. The results suggest that organic grassland, rich in phosphorus, is supportive of large populations of bigger invertebrates.
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Mapping human health risk in urban environments	26/11/09
A new study demonstrates how mapping software can be used to analyse data on heavy metal soil pollution in an urban environment. The researchers incorporated land use information to gain realistic estimates of potential risks to human health that could help inform land use planning.
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New research quantifies charcoal carbon pool in northern forests	19/11/09
Forest fires create a small amount of charred black carbon, such as charcoal. An analysis of Scandinavian forest soils has estimated that worldwide northern forest soils store 1 x 1012 kg of carbon in the form of charcoal, but that this is falling relatively quickly.
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Forest soils can recover from air pollutant damage	5/11/09
New research investigates the effect of emission reductions on European forest soils under climate change. It indicates that, under current emission reduction plans, most forest soils will recover from changes in soil chemistry within a few decades.
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Using nature's resources to store carbon	17/9/09
The ability of the Earth's living systems to store carbon could play a vital role in the mitigation of climate change. A new report suggests that, in coming decades, safeguarding and restoring carbon in ecosystems has the potential to prevent well over 50 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon entering the atmosphere.
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Soil CO₂ emissions may continue for longer than previously thought	10/9/09
Current models of soil carbon suggest CO₂ emissions caused by rising temperatures will decrease over time. However, a recent study, which deliberately warmed soil for ten years, found no evidence of such a decline. The results indicate that our understanding of soil carbon dynamics may need revisiting.
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Poland: meeting limits for PAHs	25/6/09
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pollutants that can contaminate soils and are a threat to agricultural ecosystems, crop production and human health through accumulation in the food chain. Researchers have studied the distribution of PAHs in agricultural soils in Poland and found that overall there are low levels of contamination, similar to other European countries.
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Cleaning up oil-contamination with yeast	25/6/09
Oily sludge that has accumulated around petroleum refineries can pollute soil and groundwater. Safe disposal of this contamination can be a problem. A recent study has found a new strain of yeast which can break down the sludge under highly acidic conditions, allowing oil-polluted sites with similar conditions to be bioremediated.
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Alpine soils may release carbon following climate change	12/5/09
Climate change is expected to cause warmer climate zones to extend, not only further north, but also higher up into mountainous regions. High mountain regions may be particularly sensitive to environmental change. A recent study reveals that a warmer climate may cause carbon stored in Alpine soils to be released.
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The effects of future land use change on EU soil carbon stocks	12/5/09
Policy, demographics and globalisation are expected to cause large changes in EU land use in coming decades. A new study models four scenarios of future land use change (LUC) to estimate the effects on carbon stored in soil and vegetation.
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Urban soils: how can we preserve their carbon and nitrogen sink?	12/5/09
Globally, the population and size of urban areas is expected to rapidly increase in the next 30 years. Soils are important carbon sinks, and the effects of rapid urbanisation on this valuable service are unclear. A recent analysis reviews our present understanding of the impacts of urbanisation on soil, with particular emphasis on its role in carbon and nitrogen cycling.
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Soil management: longer crop rotations reduce carbon emissions	12/5/09
Changing the way farmland is used could help increase the amount of organic carbon retained in soils. According to recent research, studies of different crop rotation patterns will help decision makers design policies which help reduce carbon emissions.
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Deep ploughing reduces diversity and number of earthworms	12/5/09
Less invasive soil preparation methods in farming, such as harrowing, have a positive impact on the numbers, biomass, and species richness of earthworms, unlike conventional ploughing, according to new research. The long-term study compared the results of five different methods of soil preparation on agricultural land in Germany over a ten-year period.
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Grassy field margins enhance soil biodiversity	12/5/09
Grass strips at field margins are almost as valuable as hedgerows in encouraging diversity of soil creatures, according to new research. Six metre wide margin strips increase the number and variety of species such as earthworms, woodlice and beetles, and may act as corridors between isolated habitats.
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Soil microorganisms help prevent non-target effects of pesticides	28/4/09
A new study has investigated the properties of different types of soils which can cause pesticides to cling on to soil and prevent them from affecting non-target species. It demonstrates that microorganisms can play an important role in binding pesticides to soil. Microbial levels can therefore help indicate how much pesticide is freely available in soil.
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Poor soil quality may reduce farmland bird population	23/4/09
Researchers have investigated the relationship between soil quality and the decline of yellow wagtail birds on arable farmland in the UK. The results suggest that reduced soil penetrability in particular affects the numbers and distribution of the species.
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Tropical soil carbon sink under threat	19/3/09
There are strong concerns that the conversion of tropical forests into land for agriculture or plantations has negative effects on the carbon budget. A new study conducted in South-East Asia reveals that moderate or heavy disturbance of tropical forests can damage fine root structures, which in turn reduce carbon transfer to the soil.
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Pest control can happen naturally	15/1/09
Pesticides commonly used to control root-feeding nematodes are harmful to the environment and reduce soil biodiversity. By studying natural plant populations, researchers have observed that soil microorganisms and other naturally occurring predators, can effectively control nematode species. These natural forms of control could be adapted as biocides and potentially play a major role in sustainable agriculture.
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