Soil science ⋅ Page 1

Collaboration Complete

Habibullah set to complete his studies as part of Agriculture Innovation Program for Pakistan 

Habibullah, who his friends call Habib, has no trouble recalling the moment he was notified of his selection to the Agricultural Innovation Program for Pakistan. “I was over the moon,” Habibullah said. “This was my dream and I’d been working really hard.” The program that caused so much excitement is a joint effort to catalyze growth in agriculture production and…

Parched Deep

There'll be at least two more years of drought -- six feet down

Even if the Midwest gets normal rain and snow, it will take almost two years for soil moisture deep in the earth to recharge and sustain normal crop growth, said a soil scientist.

Restoring the Earth

Biomass crops can benefit marginal soils

Bioenergy crops can be a good match for areas of fields that have lost productivity. Crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus can help soil, improve water quality and provide alternative revenue.

A Drought Five Feet Under

A short but significant dry spell has left Missouri soil nearly desiccated

Missouri has not escaped the historic drought that has devastated Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona. A short but critically-timed dry spell has left much of the state’s soil bone dry down to five feet. Unless there is long and heavy rain and snowfall this winter, Missouri’s most important crops will suffer.