Science briefs

A diagram showing thermo-time domain reflectometry (TDR) sensors placed for critical zone soil measurements. Image by Yili Lu, China Agricultural University.

Probing dynamic soil properties with thermo-time domain reflectometry sensors

May 15, 2025

Ph.D. researcher Katie Allen alongside a lettuce that was grown in human poop compost. Photo by Katie Allen.

‘Humanure’ is effective compost for lettuce growth

May 15, 2025

Two undergraduate technicians from the University of Florida collect groundwater leachate samples below a residential lawn in Gainesville, FL. The photo shows one student measuring the volume of leachate collected and preparing to filter a sub-sample for dissolved nutrients, while the other student maintains the pump and records data. Photo by Alexander J. Reisinger.

How lawn care affects groundwater pollution

May 15, 2025

This study found that cotton planted under high density responded faster to fluctuating light conditions. Photo courtesy of Zhangying Lei.

Optimizing stomatal traits to enhance biomass under fluctuating light

May 15, 2025

Wheat grown in indoor controlled environment chambers at 16˚ C (optimum) and 32˚ C (high) average temperatures. Image by Kirsten Paff and Julie Wolf.

Crop simulation is an important tool for predicting and mitigating agricultural risks

May 15, 2025

Soybean field plots at the Davis Purdue Ag Center in Farmland, IN, where gypsum and cover crops were implemented. Photo by Brenda Hofmann, USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory.

Gypsum is a reliable source of sulfur for soybean production

May 15, 2025

Map of saturated hydraulic conductivity at a 5-cm depth for the contiguous United States. This map shows large-scale variation with high conductivities on coarse materials (orange-red, such as Florida, mountains, glacial sediments) and low conductivities on the fine sediments in the U.S. interior (blue). Actual map holds 49,810 × 31,390 pixels (West–East × North–South) at 100-m resolution. Image by Marcel G. Schapp, Yonggen Zhang, and Craig Rasmussen.

Soil hydraulic property mapping with AI and high-performance computing

April 16, 2025

Soybean growth, development, and subsequent yield can be impacted by soil quality. This photo highlights the fragile period after germination to help illustrate this relationship. Photo by Lindsay Chamberlain Malone.

Soybean yield is positively linked to organic matter, but planting date remains more influential

April 16, 2025

Panicles from field-grown rice germplasm CS272, one of the three lines developed in this study, in Arkansas. Photo by Heather Box.

Three new and improved long-grain rice germplasm lines

April 16, 2025

A drainage ditch leading from an industrial hog farm in southeastern North Carolina. Photo by Adam Chaffin.

Industrial animal agriculture causes widespread nutrient pollution in North Carolina

April 15, 2025

Notice: 2026 Annual Elections

Call for Papers: Phenomics of Germplasm Collection

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