Science briefs

Sampling surface residue in a Virginia grassland. Photo by Alan Franzluebbers, USDA-ARS.

Soil fertility is altered by texture and land use in the southeastern United States

August 4, 2025

Farmers’ concerns surrounding the environmental impact of their fertilizers often conflict with their actual application rates. This study in Agricultural & Environmental Letters highlights a need for better communication of phosphorus fertilizer guidelines. Image courtesy of Michigan State University.

Farmer perceptions are important for phosphorus fertilizer management

August 4, 2025

The South Dakota Mesonet Winner 9ESE monitoring station records soil moisture and snowpack data as part of the Upper Missouri River Basin monitoring network. Photo courtesy of Nathan Edwards, South Dakota Mesonet.

Long-term soil moisture, snowpack monitoring is useful for predicting natural disasters

July 9, 2025

Gbenga Daniel Adejumo, University of Saskatchewan Ph.D. candidate and lead author on this study, collecting soil spectral data for predictive modeling. Photo courtesy of the University of Saskatchewan.

Soil organic carbon modeling requires reliable reference methodology

July 9, 2025

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock/Richie Chan.

Reduced irrigation improves rice quality, cuts arsenic without compromising yields

July 9, 2025

Corn response to different levels of nitrogen fertilizer. Photo courtesy of Greg LaBarge.

Ohio corn nitrogen needs unchanged over the years despite 52% yield increase

July 9, 2025

Freshly sampled soils from across the farm. There was significant variability in soil texture and composition across the four management ecosystems, and even within each management system’s 3 spatial zones. Photo courtesy of Woods End Laboratories, LLC.

More consistent sampling and analysis of farm soil organic carbon needed for accurate test results

July 9, 2025

Composting spent coffee grounds that were used in the 70-day incubation. Photo by Amanda Birnbaum.

Spent coffee grounds in sustainable agriculture

June 12, 2025

Wild pig (Sus scrofa) alongside a headwater stream in an Alabama wetland, captured on a game camera. Photo by Elizabeth A. Bradley.

Stream pathogenic bacteria levels rebound after wild pig control ends

June 12, 2025

Top: The Newport River (pictured here) was the tidal freshwater system studied in this research. Bottom: Concentrations of reactive nitrogen were measured upstream and downstream of a wastewater treatment facility. Precipitation and tidal influence affected nitrogen pollution patterns in an estuarine tidal creek. Images by Anne Margaret Smiley.

Water quality patterns and processes differ in two tidal systems

June 12, 2025

Webinar: Developing Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork Settings

Webinar: Early Career Award Opportunities in Agronomy, Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences

Call for Papers: Phenomics of Germplasm Collection

Call for Papers: Advances in Monitoring Soil Water Content

Call for Papers: Advancement of Fate and Transport of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Vadose Zone