Kenneth Loades
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View article: Compost organic matter content varied five-fold and determined compost quality across 107 composts of the North Sea Region
Compost organic matter content varied five-fold and determined compost quality across 107 composts of the North Sea Region Open
Composting is a widely used method to process organic waste residues. It results in a valuable product for soil application and use in growing media. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation in characteristics of composts pro…
View article: Mitigation measures designed to reduce soil compaction decrease the surface runoff, soil erosion and phosphorus losses from tramlines in agricultural fields
Mitigation measures designed to reduce soil compaction decrease the surface runoff, soil erosion and phosphorus losses from tramlines in agricultural fields Open
The use of tramlines or wheelings to carry out agricultural operations, such as spraying and fertilizer applications, is common across the world. They are often orientated up and down the slope and the soil that is driven on becomes compac…
View article: WellPlaced: Cooperatively navigating challenges to land and water management to reach SDG
WellPlaced: Cooperatively navigating challenges to land and water management to reach SDG Open
Introducing 'WellPlaced,' an interactive and collaborative game designed as a unique tool for illustrating the intricate dynamics of land and water management, with a specific focus on the context of Malawi. Played on a hexagonal board, 'W…
View article: Root anatomy and biomechanical properties: improving predictions through root cortical and stele properties
Root anatomy and biomechanical properties: improving predictions through root cortical and stele properties Open
Purpose Quantifying the stability of individual plants or their contribution to soil reinforcement against erosion or landslides requires an understanding of the tensile properties of their roots. This work developed a new analytical model…
View article: Composts of diverse green wastes improve the soil biological quality, but do not alleviate drought impact on lettuce ( <i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) growth
Composts of diverse green wastes improve the soil biological quality, but do not alleviate drought impact on lettuce ( <i>Lactuca sativa</i> L.) growth Open
Intense soil cultivation and climate change have detrimental effects on soils. Solutions are needed to improve the biological quality and water holding capacity of agricultural soils. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate th…
View article: The Soil Sentinel - Issue 3
The Soil Sentinel - Issue 3 Open
Publication from the Healthy Soils project outlining soils research through the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) funded Strategic Research Programme. The Soil Sentinel will be published very…
View article: Impacts on surface and sub soil physical properties under minimum tillage through long-term compost application
Impacts on surface and sub soil physical properties under minimum tillage through long-term compost application Open
Background: The application of composts to agricultural soil is a well-established practice with evidence showing multiple benefits within the field and beyond through changes in a number of soil functions. With soil health and function be…
View article: Alteration of soil biophysical properties after decomposition of contrasting root systems
Alteration of soil biophysical properties after decomposition of contrasting root systems Open
Background: Increased water infiltration in the presence of vegetation has been reported in the literature for both woody and herbaceous plants. However, there is a lack of experimental data on macropores development after root decompositi…
View article: The Soil Sentinel - Issue 2
The Soil Sentinel - Issue 2 Open
Publication from the Healthy Soils project outlining soils research through the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) funded Strategic Research Programme. The Soil Sentinel will be published very…
View article: The Soil Sentinel
The Soil Sentinel Open
Publication from the Healthy Soils project outlining soils research through the Scottish Government Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) funded Strategic Research Programme. The Soil Sentinel will be published very…
View article: Modifying soil properties with herbaceous plants for natural flood risk-reduction
Modifying soil properties with herbaceous plants for natural flood risk-reduction Open
Background and aim Nature-based solutions to engineering challenges are essential to limit climate change impacts on the urban environment. Quantitative understanding of multiple “engineering functions” provided by soil-plant interactions …
View article: Rooting out soil structure
Rooting out soil structure Open
<p>Soil has a spatially heterogeneous mix of weaker and stronger elements, and larger and smaller pores.&#160; When studying physical constraints to root growth, however, most studies use sieved, repacked soil to create a more ho…
View article: Cover Image
Cover Image Open
The cover image is based on the Original Article Soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene-induced thickening by Dorien Vanhees et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14175 Image credits: Craig J Sturrock, The Hounsfie…
View article: UK Food and nutrition security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Project Report and Recommendations
UK Food and nutrition security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: Project Report and Recommendations Open
This is the final, summary report presenting the findings of a study on the impacts of COVID-19 on the UK’s food and nutrition security and what lessons can be learned for the future in respect of transformation of the food system to be re…
View article: Drying of fibrous roots strengthens the negative power relation between biomechanical properties and diameter
Drying of fibrous roots strengthens the negative power relation between biomechanical properties and diameter Open
Aims Test the effects of root drying on biomechanical properties of fibrous roots. Methods Tensile strength and Young’s modulus of Festuca arundinacea roots were tested after full hydration and during progressive drying. Root diameter, wat…
View article: Monitoring soil health in Scotland by land use category – a scoping study
Monitoring soil health in Scotland by land use category – a scoping study Open
Monitoring of soil health in a changing climate is a priority issue for Scottish Government. In 2020, CXC published a baseline report that pulled together existing research on the vulnerability of Scottish soils to climate change. This sco…
View article: Soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene‐induced thickening
Soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene‐induced thickening Open
Radial expansion is a classic response of roots to a mechanical impedance that has generally been assumed to aid penetration. We analysed the response of maize nodal roots to impedance to test the hypothesis that radial expansion is not re…
View article: An overview assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK food and nutrition security
An overview assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK food and nutrition security Open
This report constitutes an overview assessment of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the UK’s food and nutrition security. It considers how the various parts of the food system have been impacted and what the consequences have been. It…
View article: Plant-soil interactions can enhance earth barrier systems in urban spaces&#160;
Plant-soil interactions can enhance earth barrier systems in urban spaces  Open
<p>Climate change is expected to introduce increasing threats to human health and the urban built environment, due to extreme events such as heavy precipitation. In the urban environment, impermeable hard-engineered surfaces may exac…
View article: UK food and nutrition security during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic
UK food and nutrition security during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic Open
The COVID‐19 pandemic is a major shock to society in terms of health and economy that is affecting both UK and global food and nutrition security. It is adding to the ‘perfect storm’ of threats to society from climate change, biodiversity …
View article: Root age influences failure location in grass species during mechanical testing
Root age influences failure location in grass species during mechanical testing Open
Aims Root tensile tests are often rejected if failure location is outside the middle section of samples. This study aims to identify where and why failure occurs along a root axis, and hence to revisit current approaches to test-validity. …
View article: Genotypic variation in soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene-induced thickening
Genotypic variation in soil penetration by maize roots is negatively related to ethylene-induced thickening Open
Radial expansion is a classic response of roots to mechanical impedance that has generally been assumed to aid penetration. We analysed the response of maize nodal roots to impedance to test the hypothesis that radial expansion is not rela…
View article: Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate
Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate Open
The second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) identifies soil health as a priority research area to support sustainable soil management and ecosystem services. This follows concerns over a perceived lack of data or gaps i…
View article: Root anatomical traits contribute to deeper rooting of maize under compacted field conditions
Root anatomical traits contribute to deeper rooting of maize under compacted field conditions Open
To better understand the role of root anatomy in regulating plant adaptation to soil mechanical impedance, 12 maize lines were evaluated in two soils with and without compaction treatments under field conditions. Penetrometer resistance wa…
View article: Measuring the Strength of Root-Reinforced Soil on Steep Natural Slopes Using the Corkscrew Extraction Method
Measuring the Strength of Root-Reinforced Soil on Steep Natural Slopes Using the Corkscrew Extraction Method Open
Roots can help to stabilise slopes against landslides and anchor trees against wind loading, but their mechanical contribution to the strength of soil is difficult to rapidly quantify under field conditions. A new field measurement method,…
View article: The helical motions of roots are linked to avoidance of particle forces in soil
The helical motions of roots are linked to avoidance of particle forces in soil Open
Summary Limitation to root growth results from forces required to overcome soil resistance to deformation. The variations in individual particle forces affects root development and often deflects the growth trajectory. We have developed tr…