Ecological farming practices encompass agricultural methods designed to work with natural ecosystem processes rather than against them, including crop rotation, intercropping, and reduced chemical inputs. For plant science, these practices offer critical insight into how plants respond to soil microbiomes, pest pressures, and nutrient cycling under more natural growing conditions. Studying these systems helps researchers understand plant resilience, symbiotic relationships, and sustainable yield strategies that could inform both conservation and food security efforts.
Researchers reviewed how combining low-quality coal waste with cattle manure — through composting and microbial treatments — can transform two major pollution problems into a soil-enriching resource that also cuts greenhouse gas emissions.
1
Microbial breakdown and surfactant-assisted treatments can convert low-rank coal into humic substances, which are key components of fertile, healthy soil.
2
Anaerobic digestion and composting of cattle manure can measurably reduce methane emissions compared to unmanaged waste disposal.
3
Co-composting low-rank coal and manure together was identified as a promising dual-benefit pathway, simultaneously improving soil carbon sequestration and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
mail
Weekly plant science — one email, Saturdays.
Check your inbox to confirm — link expires in 24 hours.
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many signup attempts from your network. Try again in an hour, or email hello@plant.news.