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#soil

6 posts6 participants0 posts today
Public
John Englart

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.

abc.net.au/news/science/2025-0

ABC News · Earth losing fresh water and may have hit irreversible tipping point due to climate changeBy Peter de Kruijff
Public
Kent Pitman

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.

carbonbrief.org/global-soil-mo

Carbon Brief · Global soil moisture in 'permanent' decline due to climate change - Carbon BriefA new study warns that global declines in soil moisture over the 21st century could mark a “permanent” shift in the world’s water cycle.
#climate#ClimateChange#environment
Public
Broadfork

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 reclaimed 230 litre 50 UK gallon black plastic water tank buried in the ground with the excavated clay fitted back in around the sides. It will have a pathway along one side and I’ll probably use different materials of sand, wood and stone for insect habitat around the edges. I’ll be able to add some pond plants kindly offered by the nature reserve wildlife group and a plot neighbour.
A yellow measure running the depth of a hole dug for a container pond. The top soil layer runs to a depth of about 30 cm 1 foot before reaching an Oxford clay layer. This Oxford clay layer is about 25 cm deep before it hits a darker layer of London clay.
Pallet ends being used as makeshift formers to dry out some of the excess clay into rough bricks. Mason bees will hopefully help themselves to some of the clay for use in their nests before it dries out. The pallet ends and bricks will themselves probably become part of a bug hotel with holes made through the clay.
A recently moved Jostaberry plant with fresh green leaf growth had a mesh shading cloth draped over it. Deer have pruned some of the tips already so it’s covered to offer it some protection.
#Pond#Soil#Allotment
Public
Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmar

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.

A bunch of things the rotavator revealed, including a pipe, a bit of plastic on the left and a big steel C-beam covered in soil. The rear of a blue tractor with rotavator is visible in the freshly tilled field behind.
The tilled garden/field, with neat rows on the right where there was nothing in the way and somewhat less tidy at an angle on the left where there was a fence and a big tree with large roots. The soil looks dark and fertile.
#Homestead#Tractor#Rotavator
Public
Y⃒̸̷̝̜̙ͥͥͥngmar

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.

A blue Iseki RA 1360 rotavator. It's a tractor attachment, here sitting on a plank for maintenance. There's a chain drive on one side, a flap door with large springs and safety guards on either side. It's built very solidly. Under neath, invisible from this angle, is a thick shaft with spinning blades that chew up the soil and aerate it nicely.
A small blue tractor with said rotavator now attached and lowered into the ground for work. It has taken an oval run around the former overgrown and concrete strew garden and where it has been, dark, finely crumbling soil is now leveled out behind it. In the center, for comparison, the overgrown mess with deep grooves from concrete beams remains.
#Rotavator#Tractor#Iseki
Public
gentlegardener

#ag #methane
“…good news.
“Cutting agricultural methane emissions involves a wide range of relatively cheap measures that need good design and management, but could cut food-related emissions substantially over the next decade,” Nisbet says.
Adding a layer of #soil to a landfill provides habitat for methane-munching bacteria. Covering manure storage tanks, banning the burning of crop waste and only flooding rice paddies when necessary could pinch other methane sources

theconversation.com/the-shortc

The ConversationThe shortcut to less warming? It runs through a farm field
More from The Conversation UK
Replied in thread
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gentlegardener

@saltphoenix @BroGle demand and prices for #seed up. #Fertilizer prices through the roof. Limit planting to conservation planting, rotate #cattle through on most marginal #land. Grow #soil health this year and Improve herd #health. Cull marginal cattle with health and genetic issues early this year before #avianflu and economic s**t hits big mid year. Cattle prices high now.
#USDA numbers say corn acres are going up? Data going dark, too.

Grow sunflowers

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