Hundreds of species of plants, together with the fungi and bacteria that infuse the rhizosphere, the ecosystem around roots, represent the botanical equivalent of detox centers, seeking and often breaking down molecules that can harm most other life, soil scientists and botanists say.
This is a promising method of predicting which soil textures are most likely to form fractures, and can be a useful field tool for engineering geologists, soil scientists, and other environmental professionals.
The evolution of soils rarely gets a high profile (pun intended: apologies to any soil scientists who might be reading).
Investment is clearly needed in training soil scientists to meet these future challenges".
Kathryn Alton, soil scientist and executive officer of the British Society of Soil Science, said: "The numbers of professional soil scientists in the UK has declined over time in conjunction with the loss of soil science departments.
I'm able to talk to soil scientists and philosophers.
This requires more cooperation between soil scientists, hydrologists and ecologists.
Imaging soil structure using different 2/3D techniques is a routine methodology used by soil scientists.
Soil scientists are tracking down rare and endangered soils in a quest to document and preserve pedodiversity".
