AGGREGATE: NEWS & EVENTS
More than half of Earth’s species live in soil, study finds
Soil estimated to be home to 90% of world’s fungi, 85% of plants and more than 50% of bacteria, making it the world’s most species-rich habitat.
Soil organisms mediate unique functions we rely on for food, fiber, and human and planetary health. Despite the significance of soil life, we lack a quantitative estimate of soil biodiversity, making it challenging to advocate for the importance of protecting, preserving, and restoring soil life. Here, authors show that soil is likely home to 59% of life including everything from microbes to mammals, making it the singular most biodiverse habitat on Earth. The enumeration in this paper can enable stakeholders to more quantitatively advocate for soils in the face of the biodiversity crisis.
Current projects
Aggregate: News & Events
MORE STORIES
Legume research to improve sustainable cereal rotations
DPIRD MEDIA RELEASE: The nitrogen benefit from different legume species in cereal-based crop rotations has been quantified by Western Australian research to help boost yields, reduce fertiliser costs and industry emissions.
New online courses dig deeper to deliver critical soil information
Soil Quality Courses was launched at the 2026 GRDC Grains Research Update held in Perth over the last two days.
What makes a good maintenance lime strategy?
In this third and final instalment of the DPIRD Lime Series, we look at estimating maintenance lime rates.
This combination is sublime
In this second instalment of the DPIRD Lime Series, we look at the benefits of improved crop root development in ameliorated soils.