Back to basics
An air conditioning system that uses constant subterranean temperatures can become an ecofriendly alternative to conventional systems
Deforestation, agriculture triggered soil erosion 4,000 years ago: Study
Increased sediment deposits and changes in land use showed the degradation of soil during the last four millenia
World Desertification Day 2023: Granting equal land rights to women can reduce world hunger significantly, says UN
Removing legal barriers to women owning land will help with soil health protection, notes United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
How balanced soil nutrient management can save Indian agriculture
The ill-effects of imbalanced application of fertilisers — which leads to soil sickness, decline in soil health and reduces crop …
Sustaining terra firma
Scientists in New Zealand have developed a low-cost technology that can clean contaminated soil
Seeding happy, cleaning air: Farmers adopting non-burn tech give hope
Several Indian states are experimenting with Happy Seeder that cuts and lifts the paddy straw and also improves soil health
To recharge groundwater, give due attention to soil: conservationist Vijay Borade
India, according to him, witnesses 15 tonnes of soil loss for each hectare every year due to erosion
Micro-irrigation: The way ahead for sustainable agriculture
In the age of climate change and water scarcity, micro-irrigation can help increase crop yield and decrease water, fertiliser and labour …
Tractors can change farming in good ways and bad: lessons from four African countries
Insights from 87 villages reveal transformative power of agricultural mechanisation, but there are challenges too — like soil erosion, …
The forgotten environmental crisis: How 20th century settler writers foreshadowed the Anthropocene
Almost a century ago, New Zealand and Australia were at the forefront of an environmental crisis that was also profoundly geological in nature: …
UNCCD CoP 14: Report on Soil Organic Carbon released
Soil Organic Carbon, which is the plant and animal tissues at various states of decomposition in the soil, is a yardstick for sustainable land …
Wetlands in Kashmir shrinking due to urbanisation: Study
An analysis of land cover data from 2016 shows that the catchment of Narkara wetland in near Srinagar is now predominantly an urban setting, with …
Livestock manure not so safe for food production
An FAO report highlights that livestock manure is one of the top sources of soil contamination
Leaves from nitrogen-rich trees can be potential fertilisers
Banaras Hindu University scientists have shown that application of leaves from nitrogen-rich trees in soil can increase the soil fertility and …
When the Sharda flows wild
Villages on its path prepare for the recurrent misery of inundation as an apathetic government looks on
Soil carbon sequestration may help fight climate change
New agriculture modelling study shows atmospheric carbon dioxide can be captured, stored in soil
Fertile rocky land
With help from a non-profit, graziers reinvent a soil conservation practice, turn into thriving farmers
The long shadow of colonial forestry is a threat to savannas and grasslands
Savanna and grassland store up to a third of the world’s carbon in its soils. They keep streams flowing, recharge groundwater, and provide …
Low soil moisture posing threat in most river basins
At least half of 16 river basins have been found to be low in soil moisture across India, says a study
India's city compost policy needs overhauling
Promised financial incentives for sale of city compost did not prove to be a game-changer in promoting its marketing and production
Plant non-grata
Book>> Weeds, in defense of nature’s most unloved plants • by Richard Mabey • Harper Collins • US $25
Losing ground
Across the world, the deserts are advancing, threatening the lives and livelihoods of about one billion people
Saving the earth
Techniques developed by villagers in Himachal Pradesh can be integrated into plans to reclaim rocky wasteland in the hills
The cold rush
What has India got to show after 20 years on the Antarctica research bandwagon? Lack of focus
Now an app to help farmers practice precision agriculture
By determining health of the crops using hyperspectral imaging of crop leaves, the app could help in rational use of fertilisers