Estimating standard-exceeding probabilities of toxic metals in soil is crucial for environmental evaluation. Because soil pH and land use types have strong effects on the bioavailability of trace metals in soil, they were taken into account by some environmental protection agencies in making composite soil environmental quality standards (SEQSs) that contain multiple metal thresholds under diff...

In this study, we investigated the impact of different land use intensities (LUI) on the root-associated microbiome of Dactylis glomerata (orchardgrass). For this purpose, eight sampling sites with different land use intensity levels but comparable soil properties were selected in the southwest of Germany. Experimental plots covered land use levels from natural grassland up to intensively manag...

Our current information society, populated by increasingly well-informed and critical stakeholders, presents a challenge to both the policy and science arenas. The introduction of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offers a unique and welcome opportunity to direct joint activities towards these goals. Soil science, even though it is not mentioned as such, plays an important role in rea...

A new saperdine species belonging to a new genus, Blamada rubripronota gen. et sp. nov., is described from Laos, Vietnam and China. The genus differs from other genera of the tribe Saperdini in having the antennal scape bearing an expanded and ridged ring at apex, and second antennomere relatively longer (more than 1/4 of scape in length) than that of other saperdine taxa.

Maintenance of garlic (Allium sativum L.) genetic resources has had a long tradition in the Czech Republic. The collection was founded in 1951 and its current holder is the Crop Research Institute, Department of Vegetables and Special Crops in Olomouc. The collection consists of 613 genotypes. The oldest genotype was acquired in 1954. The collection has been evaluated according to the Descripto...

This paper reviews current problems in intact stability criteria, including the development of new generation intact stability criteria at the IMO (International Maritime Organization), the activities of the ITTC(International Towing Tank Conference) ‘s Specialist Committee on Stability in Waves (SiW) and relevant international researches as the backgrounds of the SCAPE Committee (Strategic Res...

We report a new 3D microscopy technique that allows volumetric imaging of living samples at ultra-high speeds: Swept, confocally-aligned planar excitation (SCAPE) microscopy. While confocal and two-photon microscopy have revolutionized biomedical research, current implementations are costly, complex and limited in their ability to image 3D volumes at high speeds. Light-sheet microscopy techniqu...

Soil moisture is a critical process in the water cycle and its assessment is of paramount importance to forecast changes in the water balance of a region. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technology overcomes the limitations of point data by producing a tridimensional view of subsurface characteristics with a large economy of time, logistic, data processing and analysis. The purpose of this resea...

The chernozem has high productivity, most of which is located in Northeast of China. Considering the restrictions of land use and terrain and meteorological conditions, soil erosion and degradation often result in lower agricultural output than expected. Land consolidation is served to consolidate parcels and to enlarge holdings as well as included provisions such as irrigation, drainage infras...

Soil erosion involves detachment and transport of soil particles from top soil layers, degrading soil quality and reducing the productivity of affected lands. Soil eroded from the upland catchment causes depletion of fertile agricultural land and the resulting sediment deposited at the river networks creates river morphological change and reservoir sedimentation problems. However, land managers...