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Study Reveals Healthy Soil's Sponge-Like Water Retention

3/23/2026

26 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A study by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences finds healthy soil acts like a sponge.
Researchers used fiber-optic sensing at Harper Adams University (UK) to monitor soil water movement noninvasively.
Intensive plowing and compaction disrupt pore structure, causing surface pooling and rapid evaporation.
The study, published in Science, notes reduced crop resilience during extreme weather.

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Story summary

A study by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences finds healthy soil acts like a sponge.
Researchers used fiber-optic sensing at Harper Adams University (UK) to monitor soil water movement noninvasively.
Intensive plowing and compaction disrupt pore structure, causing surface pooling and rapid evaporation.
The study, published in Science, notes reduced crop resilience during extreme weather.