After analyses at the Canadian Light Source, European researchers recommend 2000-year-old farming techniques that can improve modern soil health, produce more crops and absorb greenhouse gases.
A recent investigation into the source of deep, dark, nutrient-rich soil found in select locations across northern Europe has researchers suggesting ancient soil-improving practices may benefit today’s efforts to feed a hungry world while addressing the challenges of global warming.
Peter Leinweber and his colleagues, especially PhD student Andre Acksel, at the University of Rostock in Germany, used synchrotron light from the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to analyze soil samples from twelve sites in Germany, Norway and Denmark. Their team sought an explanation for their unique, long-lasting fertility and the answer lay in the organic matter ancient farmers added to their plots of land.
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After analyses at the Canadian Light Source, European researchers recommend 2000-year-old farming techniques that can improve modern soil health, produce more crops and absorb greenhouse gases.
A recent investigation into the source of deep, dark, nutrient-rich soil found in select locations across northern Europe has researchers suggesting ancient soil-improving practices may benefit today’s efforts to feed a hungry world while addressing the challenges of global warming.
Peter Leinweber and his colleagues, especially PhD student Andre Acksel, at the University of Rostock in Germany, used synchrotron light from the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan to analyze soil samples from twelve sites in Germany, Norway and Denmark. Their team sought an explanation for their unique, long-lasting fertility and the answer lay in the organic matter ancient farmers added to their plots of land.