Vapour Pressure Deficit and warming temperatures causing Earth to likely hit a point of irreversible moisture loss in its #soil as a result of #climatecrisis, according to a new study.
More than 2,614 gigatonnes of moisture was lost from 2000 to 2016.
This is an interesting article, worth a full read, on an aspect of Climate not always talked about in much detail.
«… The drying out of soil “increases the severity and frequency” of major droughts …, explains Dr Benjamin Cook, an … Earth system scientist … “Droughts are one of the most impactful, expensive natural hazards out there, because they are typically persistent and long lasting. Everything needs water – ecosystems need water, agriculture needs water. People need water. If you don’t have enough water – you’re in trouble.” … The study points to two factors driving gradual depletion of soil moisture over the last quarter century: fluctuations to rainfall patterns and increasing “evaporative demand”. … the atmosphere’s “thirst” for water …»
When I read about these things, I think of the danger to the food system and human society. It saddens me beyond measure that we've got a society run by capitalists who, like locusts, just want to efficiently consume every last resource the planet has to offer with no apparent regard for the future.
The article also mentions it will be expensive, though. Does that matter to any of you capitalists? I know risk of societal collapse is not a worthy concern to you, just something to monetize. But it could affect prices along the way. Is THAT perhaps a concern, at least? Sigh.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/global-soil-moisture-in-permanent-decline-due-to-climate-change/
Earth has lost more than '4000 Sydney Harbours' of freshwater
By Peter de Kruijff
Soil moisture has declined more than 2,600 gigatonnes since 2000, making a greater contribution to sea level rise than Greenland's melting ice sheets.
How does #climate change affect #soil water storage? Researchers studied two climatically different locations in Germany with identical soil conditions over eight years. 
Read more: https://www.zalf.de/en/aktuelles/Pages/FPD/Wasserspeicherung-von-Boeden.aspx
Greetings from Okinawa. Here I take you along a walk in a bit of subtropical forest to chat about soil forming factors.
Ever wonder why soils are so different at different locations?
Plants for Soil Regeneration: An Illustrated Guide by Sally Pinhey & Margaret Tebbs, 2022
This book is a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated colour guide to the plants which farmers, growers and gardeners can use to improve soil structure and restore fertility without the use and expense of agrichemicals.
The container pond is now in place. I now know there’s about 30 cm/1’ of top soil before the clay layer. The soil texture is being assessed.
A pallet end put to use in making bricks from the excess excavated clay or providing mason bees with some handy nesting material before it dries.
Deer have been munching on the jostaberry so for now it’s covered in insect mesh until I can fashion something more permanent.
A key part of my soil improvement plan at the community garden is to always have a bag handy to put the pieces of plastic, glass, and metal that turn up when I'm digging. Zip-ties and small shreds of plastic mulch are the most common, courtesy past gardeners who just couldn't be bothered to clean up after themselves. #trash #garden #gardening #allotment #GrowYourOwn #plastic #soil
Rest of the day was mostly feeding branches to #HerrSchröder. The woodchips completed a little garden path but the larger share went into the mud pit in front of the garden, which is a right mess now after the concrete removal.
Some ancient hay from the barn floor on top of that and blended it all in with the rotavator. The idea is that this will improve the gloopy soil there and allow it to drain better. Tomorrow I want to compact it.
Garden tilled. The rotavator dug up a brick, a few more concrete chunks, some plastic, a pipe and a massive fucking steel beam. Luckily it seems I didn't break any of the tines. The guard door on the right was bent slightly, but it was easy to unbolt and bang straight again, didn't even chip the paint. Japanese steel won over Soviet steel 
Figured out what the feedback lever does, too!
Some tricky driving to get in the corners.
Still regret not buying this. #soil #plants #gardening #roots
Short work day because morning shenanigans in town, but then I retrieved the rotavator from the tractor barn. Fixed a few small problems and greased all the things, as it was nicely painted but not a drop of grease anywhere.
Some studying of Japanese manuals (translated) and wrestling the thing on and off the 3PH twice and then... magic!
Turning the concrete field into fluffy garden soil. At sunset, sadly, so just a quick test run.
Ultra-Low Power Soil Moisture Sensor - Electricity can be a pretty handy tool when it stays within the bounds of its wiri... - https://hackaday.com/2025/03/18/ultra-low-power-soil-moisture-sensor/ #capacitance #greenhacks #capacitive #houseplant #moisture #sensor #plant #stm32 #water #soil
Peter Kleinman (USDA) led seminar to our #Soil & #Crop students: "From phosphorus to sawflies: Navigating collaborative #science to generate innovation and impact." He shared his experiences on #agroecosystem research and the integration of crop & livestock systems through manuresheds. #agsky 
‘All the birds returned’: How China led the way in water and soil conservation https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/14/how-china-led-way-water-soil-conservation #Treesandforests #Climatecrisis #Conservation #Biodiversity #Environment #Agriculture #AsiaPacific #Pollution #WorldBank #Worldnews #Wildlife #Farming #Animals #Science #Rivers #China #Water #Birds #Soil
Tonnes of microplastics infiltrate Australia’s agricultural soils each year
How microplastics affects soil and food health
"We found every kilogram of compost contains between 1,500 and 16,000 microplastic particles. In weight, this equates to between 7 and 760 milligrams of microplastics per kilogram of compost. "
"In Australia, about 26% of compost produced at organic waste processing facilities is used in agriculture. So, we estimate that between 2.7 and 206 tonnes of microplastics is being transported to Australian agricultural land from compost each year."
"The absence of clear guidelines leaves composting facilities, waste processors, and end users vulnerable to unintended plastic pollution."
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https://theconversation.com/tonnes-of-microplastics-infiltrate-australias-agricultural-soils-each-year-study-shows-250624
#plastic #pollution #microplastics #waste #agriculture #soil #food #compost #landfill #regulation
Hey Mastodon, we need some expertise on #soil #remediation for a story. Have you ever done any hand-on #fieldwork inoculating dirt with a new #microbiome? Do you know anyone who has?
