Articles for Organic Matter

Farmers in Africa say their soil is dying and chemical fertilizers are in part to blame
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Farmers in Africa say their soil is dying and chemical fertilizers are in part to blame

Associated Press  

NAIROBI, Kenya — When Benson Wanjala started farming in his western Kenya village two and a half decades ago, his 10-acre farm could produce a bountiful harvest of 200 bags of maize. Kenya’s government first introduced a fertilizer subsidy in 2008, making chemical fertilizers more accessible for smaller-scale farmers. “Inorganic fertilizers were never meant to be the foundation of crop …

Health Africa Farmers Zimbabwe Soil Health Kenya Soil
Moving house? How to tackle a new garden
8 months, 1 week ago

Moving house? How to tackle a new garden

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

Plants Soil Our Weekly Guide Bit Wet Organic Matter Garden Need
Hydroelectricity is a hidden source of methane emissions. These people want to solve that
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Hydroelectricity is a hidden source of methane emissions. These people want to solve that

BBC  

Hydroelectricity is a hidden source of methane emissions. "After about 12 years, methane can oxidise and become carbon dioxide, so if you reduce methane emissions today, we could have an impact on global warming within our lifetime," says Louise Parlons Bentata, chief executive and co-founder of Bluemethane. Getty Images Bacteria naturally produce methane in the sediments of many wet areas, …

Energy Water Gas Emissions Brazil Getty Images Carbon
Why fish are dying in Bengaluru’s lakes
1 year, 3 months ago

Why fish are dying in Bengaluru’s lakes

The Hindu  

The sight of thousands of dead fish floating in a lake or flames dancing on the surface of a waterbody may seem like scenes from a dystopian science fiction film. The city’s civic body has served notices to Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board in 2022 to find a permanent solution to fix this lake, to no avail to date,” …

Bengaluru Lakes Water City Fish Water Quality Lake
Soil restoration: Key to increase productivity and farmers’ prosperity
2 years, 1 month ago

Soil restoration: Key to increase productivity and farmers’ prosperity

Firstpost  

Soil helps feed most people on Earth as approximately 95% of food consumed in the world is grown in soil. Educating farmers, a key component of restoring soil health One of the most effective ways private companies can help revitalize soil is by educating farmers about how to use agricultural inputs judiciously. Policy intervention also need of the hour to …

Health Food India Soil Health Soil Improve Matter
How to garden through climate change
2 years, 4 months ago

How to garden through climate change

Salon  

If you're struggling with your garden in these times of uncertain and extreme weather, who better to talk to than botanist and long-time organic gardener Sally Morgan, the British-based author of "The Healthy Vegetable Garden" and "The Climate Change Garden"? At the moment, we've got a heatwave — it's about 32°C — and is protecting my soil. Composting is great …

Climate Change France Change Climate Soil Think Crops
Shrimps and worms were the first animals to recover after the 'Great Dying'
2 years, 6 months ago

Shrimps and worms were the first animals to recover after the 'Great Dying'

Daily Mail  

Worms and shrimps were among the first animals to recover after the 'Great Dying' mass extinction event that almost obliterated life on Earth 252 million years ago, a new study suggests. Shrimps and worms were among the first animals to recover after the 'Great Dying' mass extinction event that almost obliterated life on Earth 252 million years ago, a study …

Animals Recovery Earth Million Great Study Deposit
Gardening: 8 parting tips from longtime AP columnist Reich
3 years ago

Gardening: 8 parting tips from longtime AP columnist Reich

Associated Press  

After almost 30 years of sharing my gardening experience, expertise, and enthusiasm in columns for The Associated Press, I’ve decided to focus my time and energy in other directions. I’d like to close by offering eight suggestions to help make your garden — whether it’s a few flower pots, a large vegetable plot or a general home landscape — prettier, …

Gardening Plants Soil Plant Flower Garden Grow
NASA's Curiosity rover is on the cusp of discovering salts on Mars
3 years, 7 months ago

NASA's Curiosity rover is on the cusp of discovering salts on Mars

Daily Mail  

NASA's Curiosity rover may be close to finding evidence of salt in the Martian soil, which the space agency says could be a sign life once existed on the Red Planet. Scroll down for video NASA's Curiosity rover may be close to finding evidence of salt in the Martian soil, which the space agency says could be a sign life …

Life Earth Curiosity Samples Surface Nasa Lewis
Clay, sand, silt, loam: How different soils affect gardens
3 years, 7 months ago

Clay, sand, silt, loam: How different soils affect gardens

Associated Press  

By now, you probably know what kind of soil you have out there in your “back 40.” If planting that rose bush brought up wads of gummy goo, you know to call it clay. IT’S ALL ABOUT PORES Tiny clay particles have tiny spaces between them — small enough to draw in water and cling to it by capillary action. …

Water Clay Particles Organic Matter Sandy Soils Clay Particles
North Queensland farmer and soil health advocate remembered as visionary for sustainable farming
3 years, 8 months ago

North Queensland farmer and soil health advocate remembered as visionary for sustainable farming

ABC  

The Herbert River farming region is pausing to remember a "trailblazing" farming veteran who died last week in North Queensland, aged 81. Key points: Farming veteran Matti Kangas campaigned for better soil health practices Tributes have flowed from farmers who shared the canegrower's vision Mr Kangas believed healthy soil was the key to sustainable farming The son of Finnish immigrants, …

Health Soil Health Soil Sugar Farmer Cane His Farm
Soil Prof Hits Pay Dirt: $250K Prize For Helping Farmers, Fighting Climate Change
4 years, 6 months ago

Soil Prof Hits Pay Dirt: $250K Prize For Helping Farmers, Fighting Climate Change

NPR  

Soil Prof Hits Pay Dirt: $250K Prize For Helping Farmers, Fighting Climate Change Enlarge this image toggle caption Ken Chamberlain/Ohio State University Ken Chamberlain/Ohio State University Rattan Lal just won a quarter of a million dollars for his scientific research on dirt. Lal's approach, which he calls "soil-centric," not only boosts organic matter content but can also help prevent deforestation, …

India Climate Change Agriculture Climate Land Farming Carbon
The best soil for a thriving garden is water-absorbing and well-fed
4 years, 10 months ago

The best soil for a thriving garden is water-absorbing and well-fed

LA Times  

What’s the best soil to use? “The old saying is, ‘Feed the soil, not the plant,’” said Yvonne Savio, creator of the Gardening in LA blog and the retired coordinator of the UC Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardener program in Los Angeles. “It’s just giving it a huge piece of cake on Sunday, and then by Thursday it’s nutritionally starving.” When …

Plants Los Angeles Bin Plant Garden Soils Organic
Life on Mars: What we now know (and still don’t know)
5 years, 1 month ago

Life on Mars: What we now know (and still don’t know)

CNN  

CNN — For decades, space was the final frontier. “Mars is a planet that started with all the same raw materials as Earth, but along the way has suffered changes,” said the European Space Agency’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, David Parker. “You could say it’s kind of broken down.” Because it was once Earth’s sister planet, Parker said …

Space Life Mars Earth Red Getty Images Parker
Must Reads: The one gardening mistake you can’t afford to make
5 years, 8 months ago

Must Reads: The one gardening mistake you can’t afford to make

LA Times  

Yvonne Savio, 71, a master gardener, at her garden in Pasadena holding Mathiola species also known as Stock in soil. It’s just giving it a huge piece of cake on Sunday, and then by Thursday it’s nutritionally starving.” When you continually add organic amendments to the soil, the dirt comes alive as the amendments decompose, creating the beneficial bacteria, fungi …

Water Plants Los Angeles Soil Plant Garden Her Garden
California's Latest Weapon Against Climate Change Is Low-Tech Farm Soil
5 years, 8 months ago

California's Latest Weapon Against Climate Change Is Low-Tech Farm Soil

NPR  

California's Latest Weapon Against Climate Change Is Low-Tech Farm Soil Enlarge this image toggle caption Lauren Sommer/KQED Lauren Sommer/KQED Electric cars and solar panels are the most visible signs of California's ambitious climate change policies. "I think there's great potential for agriculture to play a really important role" in reaching the state's climate goals, says Kate Scow, professor of soil …

Climate Change Climate Farmers California State Soil Carbon
‘Brew’ up your own potting mix
5 years, 11 months ago

‘Brew’ up your own potting mix

Associated Press  

My gardening season begins on my garage floor. Here I mix potting soil that will nourish this season’s seedlings and replace worn-out soil around the roots of houseplants. BASIC INGREDIENTS The three basic ingredients in my mix are garden soil, mineral aggregate and organic matter. SOIL IS GOOD, BUT NOT ESSENTIAL Good garden soil is hard to obtain in reliable …

Plants Mix Brew Organic Organic Matter Potting Garden Soil