Science

Down to Earth

Down to Earth: Plant-based proteins

Plant-based proteins: Good for you and the planet

March 2, 2026

Researchers from the University of Minnesota are connecting with African community members to bring better African produce to the North Star State. From left to right: Amaranth, Ethiopian mustard, jute mallow, and spiderwisp. Vegetable photos originally from Figure 2 in Stoll et al. (2025).

Student-led plant breeding initiative brings African communities in Minnesota a taste of home

January 27, 2026

Soil Riddles

AI-generated image courtesy of ChatGPT.

Soil riddles: March 2026

February 27, 2026

Presidents Picks

President’s pick: SSSA research March 2026

President’s pick: SSSA research March 2026

February 26, 2026

President’s pick: SSSA research February 2026

President’s pick: SSSA research February 2026

January 27, 2026

Features

Photo courtesy of iStock/BanksPhotos.

Nitrogen application for optimized corn yield in the USA

February 24, 2026

Science briefs

Researchers at Wageningen University produced a leek reference genome that can be used to improve the effectiveness of breeding efforts and result in more resilient varieties. Photo courtesy of Bejo Zaden B.V.

The leek genome and its pattern of genetic exchange during reproduction

February 19, 2026

Two-dimensional (2D) imaging of soybean root system. Image courtesy of Sujata Bogati, first author on the study.

Modern soybean breeding has indirectly created plants with larger, less plastic roots

February 18, 2026

Field installation of soil sensors used in the study. Monitoring of CO₂, O₂, soil moisture, temperature, and water potential was done at multiple depths in a basalt-amended soybean field. Photo courtesy of Yan Zhu.

Enhanced rock weathering changes cropland soil physical properties and carbon dioxide emissions

February 13, 2026

Soil organic matter can be conceptually separated into (1) pedogenic-controlled baseline and (2) contemporary management-controlled root-zone enrichment components. Photo courtesy of Alan Franzluebbers, USDA-ARS.

Root-zone enrichment targets in the southeastern United States

February 11, 2026

Webinar: The High Cost of Inefficient Nitrogen

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