CheTerraPesti - The earth beneath your feet #100

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Prairie strips improve many measures of soil health in nearly a decade

Planting narrow prairie strips through corn–soy fields gave soils a noticeable boost within a decade—more stable crumbs, more microbes, more organic matter, and slightly better water holding—without sacrificing much production.

Prairie strips improve many measures of soil health in nearly a decade

A comprehensive review of the soil health status for enhancing agricultural sustainability

Review argues healthy soils are key for sustainable farming. It spotlights India’s Soil Health Card program: soil tests plus tailored advice that raised yields ~5–6% and cut fertiliser ~8–10%.

A comprehensive review of the soil health status for enhancing agricultural sustainability

Bronze Age DNA from Calabria reveals a distinct mountain community

DNA from a Calabrian cave shows a small Bronze Age mountain community: closely linked to Sicily, with a few far-travelers, family-based burials, and heavy dairy use despite lactose intolerance.

Bronze Age DNA from Calabria reveals a distinct mountain community

DNA from soil could soon reveal who lived in ice age caves

Scientists can pull ancient DNA straight from cave dirt, letting them tell which humans and animals were around during the Ice Age—even when no bones survive.

DNA from soil could soon reveal who lived in ice age caves

Global warming intensifies extreme day-to-day temperature changes in mid–low latitudes

As the planet warms, many places will see bigger “temperature whiplash” from one day to the next. These sudden swings are rising in mid- and low-latitudes and can worsen health risks.

Global warming intensifies extreme day-to-day temperature changes in mid–low latitudes

Growing a mix of plants in fields can save farmers money and help the environment – new research

Planting diverse grassland mixes—grasses, clovers and herbs—can give farmers more forage with less nitrogen fertiliser, saving money and cutting pollution. The benefit grows as climates warm.

Growing a mix of plants in fields can save farmers money and help the environment – new research

Impacts of soil de-sealing practices on urban land-uses, soil functions and ecosystem services in French cities

Survey of 57 French de-sealing projects: most remove asphalt to add green space, handle stormwater and cool cities, often importing new soil; reusing on-site materials cuts costs and waste.

Impacts of soil de-sealing practices on urban land-uses, soil functions and ecosystem services in French cities

Urban natives: Plants evolve to live in cities

In Japan’s Osaka–Kyoto–Kobe megacity, an everyday weed has quickly adapted to city life. Plants in parks, roadsides and paddies grow and flower differently, shaped by heat, shade and soil.

Urban natives: Plants evolve to live in cities

Jobs

Researcher in modelling of Soil-Plant-Atmosphere (SPAC) Water for the Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture Program - IRTA

IRTA (Lleida, Spain) is hiring a researcher to build crop “water-and-carbon” models for orchards and vineyards, linking field experiments with modelling to improve irrigation decisions, tools and sustainable yields.

Researcher in modelling of Soil-Plant-Atmosphere (SPAC) Water for the Efficient Use of Water in Agriculture Program - IRTA

SENIOR SCIENTIST SPATIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION HUB at University of Vienna in Vienna, AUSTRIA

University of Vienna is hiring a Senior Scientist to run a new “Spatial Sustainability and Digital Transformations Hub”: coordinate cross-group research, lead big grant proposals, support teaching integration, and drive outreach/science communication.

SENIOR SCIENTIST SPATIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION HUB at University of Vienna in Vienna, AUSTRIA

SCIENCE-DIALOG MANAGER at University of Tübingen in Tübingen, GERMANY

University of Tübingen seeks a half-time Science-Dialog Manager for the TERRA excellence cluster: build networks, run Earth-system events, contribute to IPCC/IPBES-style syntheses, and support public engagement.

SCIENCE-DIALOG MANAGER at University of Tübingen in Tübingen, GERMANY

Videos

Nature Is Speaking – Edward Norton is The Soil | Conservation International (CI)

Edward Norton voices “the Soil,” reminding us we depend on it for life, food and clean water. Treating it like dirt—eroding, poisoning, paving—hurts us first, not nature.

Nature Is Speaking – Edward Norton is The Soil | Conservation International (CI)

The Science of Soil Health: Going Deeper

Don’t stop at the top 20 cm—there’s water and nutrients deeper down, but a dense plow-pan/compaction layer can block roots; manage soil to open it up.

The Science of Soil Health: Going Deeper

What is Soil Health? | What is Soil Quality? | We Explain the Similarities and Differences

Quick explainer: soil quality is how well soil does a job (like growing crops); soil health is the bigger picture—living, resilient soil that keeps working over time.

What is Soil Health? | What is Soil Quality? | We Explain the Similarities and Differences

Photos(& some news too)

Ti racconto che… la terra è vita

(CURIOSOIL) | ARPAE reports a lively online “World Soil Day” meet-up: 9 schools and 180 students shared stories gathered from grandparents, linking soil to everyday life, traditions and farming—ending with a promise to care for it.

Ti racconto che… la terra è vita

Harnessing the superpowers of the most resilient life form on Earth

Tardigrades can “pause” life to survive heat, cold, radiation and drying. Researchers want to copy their tricks to protect vaccines, organs and crops—and maybe help long space missions.

Harnessing the superpowers of the most resilient life form on Earth

Soil Matters: CURIOSOIL’s newsletter #8

CURIOSOIL’s newsletter launches the 2026 “Women Root for Soil” campaign, marks the end of its 2025 “Decolonising Soil” series, invites to the CoP winter meeting, and calls educators to co-create a Soil Curiosity Kit.

Soil Matters: CURIOSOIL’s newsletter #8

The Art of Soil - Orion Magazine

Soil scientist Karen Vaughan turns dirt into watercolor paint, then makes nature-inspired art that helps people notice soil and think about environmental change and hope.

The Art of Soil - Orion Magazine

Soil (@soil4thesoul) • Instagram photo

Society of Soil Judgers (@soiljudgers) • Instagram photos and videos

oday we call areas like this “Badlands.” “Badlands are a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. They are characterized by steep slopes, minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith, and high drainage density. The term ‘badlands’ is derived from the Lakota phrase ‘mako sica’ or ‘land bad.’”

Society of Soil Judgers (@soiljudgers) • Instagram photos and videos

Number closed in Bologna (Italy) Dec 22, 2025. 8:15 AM (CET)

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