#soil-health

#soil-health

From a young age, Yushu Xia was keenly aware of the importance of environmental health-a passion sparked by her grandfather, a geology professor and author of popular science books who inspired her love for science and education. Today, Xia combines these interests as an assistant research professor at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is part of the Columbia Climate School. Xia's niche: the intersection of soil and agricultural science with modeling and data science, all of which are essential in "truly understand[ing] how soils function," she says.

I'm six months pregnant and horribly overwhelmed, so I've enlisted the help of a local gardener to tackle the more pernicious intruders (such as green alkanet, which leaves my ankles feeling bitten whenever I hang out the washing, and some of the many robinia saplings that have appeared from the neighbour's great big, beautiful tree) while leaving the good stuff behind. Then, in the patches that open up, I'll be sowing green manure.

Barclays has launched a new market-leading lending facility designed to support UK farmers adopting regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices. The Farm Transition Finance (FTF) proposition offers eligible farmers a 0.3 per cent interest rate reduction on standard term loans, with flexible repayment structures designed to reflect the needs of individual businesses. The facility aims to make investment in nature-friendly changes more accessible by allowing farmers to use existing farm certifications, supply chain programmes and government grants as evidence of transition plans.

No matter the type of farm, there's an advantage to planting soil-feeding cover crops ahead of fall and winter. The assistance provided depends on the crops you plant. But there is definitely one out there to help you accomplish your desired soil conditions. Whether it's soil tilth, an increase in nitrogen, or phosphorus availability, a cover crop's purpose is to improve and enrich the foundation of your farm.

After scarifying, it's essential to clear debris to allow light and air to reach the soil for optimal lawn recovery.

The most effective way to remove mushrooms from your lawn is by manual removal using tools like a stiff brush or by hand with gloves.

Mushrooms contribute significantly to soil health by breaking down organic matter, improving soil structure, and supporting beneficial microbial communities.