Farming and Agriculture

A new study by researchers from Sichuan Agricultural University and international collaborators provides the most comprehensive evidence to date that biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from organic materials, plays a crucial role in faster, cleaner composting.... Read more

Plants adapt the growth of their roots and shoots differently in response to environmental changes, according to a study involving the Ecological-Botanical Garden (ÖBG) at the University of Bayreuth. The researchers challenge previous assessments of climate change impacts on plants, which often extrapolate from aboveground to belowground plant structures. Their... Read more

Xylem vessel pits are tiny openings on the cell wall of water-conducting cells—with pit geometry influencing crop yield through its effect on plant hydraulics and nitrogen transport.... Read more

Palm oil isn't inherently bad, and olive oil isn't inherently good, say conservation scientists in an opinion paper published in Cell Reports Sustainability.... Read more

In the search for eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic herbicides, researchers from Kyushu University, Japan, have identified a potent, weed-inhibiting compound in the leaves of the Manchurian walnut tree (Juglans mandshurica Maxim.). The discovery of the compound, 2Z-decaprenol, and its unique mode of action on plants could lead to the development... Read more

Are you an early bird or a night owl? The tendency to rise early or sleep late is determined by our circadian clock, which is a biological timekeeper that makes sure our bodies are adjusted to the time of day.... Read more

New research has found cover crops that are viable in Washington's normal "off season" don't hurt the soil and can be sold as a biofuel source.... Read more

"Hidden hunger" in Africa cannot be addressed by expanding domestic farming alone, according to a new study from Cardiff University.... Read more

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing global health challenges, and farms that use livestock manure as fertilizer have emerged as important sources of resistant bacteria and genes in the environment.... Read more

Farming may seem old-fashioned to many, but that hasn't been true for years. Tractors steer themselves, software crunches crop data and agriculture now ranks among the most technologically advanced industries.... Read more

For thousands of years, people in the Andes have chewed the leaves of the coca plant to stave off hunger, treat altitude sickness, and sustain energy. Yet under international law, this ancient crop is treated as harshly as cocaine and fentanyl. Now, scientists say it's time to end that contradiction.... Read more

Allowing dairy cows to graze on fresh grass in open pastures for a significant proportion of the year seems more natural and sustainable. And there are proven advantages for the environment: stable grasslands promote biodiversity, protect the soil, and support carbon storage. However, farms face challenges as they are heavily... Read more

Intensive forest management weakens biodiversity and reduces the amount of forests valuable for biodiversity worldwide, including Finland. Research carried out at the University of Jyväskylä (Finland) investigated the extent of harvest in forests of different biodiversity values in Finland. The study is published in the European Journal of Forest Research.... Read more

University of Maryland researchers discovered the gene that makes a rare form of wheat grow three ovaries per flower instead of one. Since each ovary can potentially develop into a grain of wheat, the gene could help farmers grow much more wheat per acre. Their work is published in the... Read more

Researchers have developed a smartphone-based artificial intelligence system that accurately predicts the ripeness and internal quality of avocados.... Read more