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Life as an academic researcher
Just realized I have not posted in a while and that I will be away this week as well. Things have not been standing still here and in past few weeks a lot has happened. -
(Still) searching for the best soil in the Netherlands – search expanded to be Europe-wide
I described my ideal soil and launched the search for the best soils in the Netherlands. I’ve got quite some good nominations so far. -
Searching for the best soil in the Netherlands
What is a good soil? What is a healthy soil? People in different fields would answer very differently. -
Here we go!
'My' project called ‘Learning from nature– towards sustainable crop production using soil fungi’ officially starts today and I cannot wait to start the experiments! -
Majority of the world's most abundant creatures live in the far north
The first worldwide analysis of soil nematodes reveals that they are most abundant in arctic areas rather than in the tropics. -
Caterpillars retrieve 'voicemail' by eating soil
Leaf-feeding caterpillars greatly enrich their intestinal flora by eating soil. It's even possible to trace the legacy effects of plants that previously grew in that soil through bacteria and fungi in the caterpillars. -
What makes soil, soil? Researchers find hidden clues in DNA
Ever wonder what makes soil, soil? And could soil from the Amazon rainforest really be the same as soil from your garden? Researchers from the University of Manchester and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) are using DNA sequencing to unlock the secrets of the world’s soils, and analyse ecological patterns and microbial communities on a global scale. -
Spiders and earthworms overtake woodlice in Dutch gardens
Woodlice have for the first time been dethroned as the most spotted soil animals in Dutch gardens. The third edition of the nationwide Soil Animal Days saw arachnoids seize the top spot, with earthworms a close second. A probable explanation for the shift is the extremely wet weather at the onset of autumn. Fortunately, that didn't stop some 600 enthousiasts from counting the soil animals in their gardens. -
'It depends': soil organic matter doesn't automatically increase crop yield
More organic matter in the soil may be beneficial for the climate, but contrary to what's been assumed it doesn't automatically increase crop yield. The amount is not the only factor, concludes research by NIOO's Stijn van Gils: it also depends on the context. -
Restoring nature the fast way
Restoring nature is not for the impatient: it takes a lot of time before the right plant species establish themselves. But experiments show there's a way to speed up the process, from decades to just a few years. A new website from the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW) tells you everything you need to know. Meanwhile, one of the researchers working on this pioneering approach defended his PhD thesis this week.