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farming

12/04/2018 / By Tracey Watson

Scientists: Long history of fertilizer use on land is threatening our water quality today

Imagine you’re driving down a long, straight road through rural farmland. One either side of you are beautiful green farms. The produce being grown on these farms looks healthy and appears to be thriving. Now picture the land beneath those farms as massive sponges. Like all sponges, put enough liquid in and eventually the absorption […]

11/02/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Manure-based fertilizers are ideal alternatives to conventional varieties, according to a study

A seven-year-long study conducted by Spanish researchers in a farm under the Mediterranean sun has concluded its comparison of natural and synthetic fertilizers. The researchers reported that manure-based fertilizer greatly improved the crop yield, both on its own and when added to chemical fertilizer. The goal of the Universitat de Lleida (UDL) research team was […]

10/31/2018 / By Carol Anderson

Organic fertilizer found to promote more rapid plant growth in soybeans

Researchers from Brazil have found that the growth of soybeans is made significantly higher by organic fertilizer. The study, published in the journal Applied Research and Agrotechnology, looked whether it was possible to confirm the use of certain waste products as fertilizer. Using a randomized block design, they tested four different treatments to see how each one of […]

10/13/2018 / By David Williams

Use of compost and cover crops improves soil nutrients, helps mitigate the impact of extreme weather on vegetable crops

The benefits of using cover crops and compost in growing all sorts of plants have been known for a long time. However, the effects of adding them in specific configurations haven’t exactly been well-studied. In fact, certain long-term impacts of adding organic matter through cover crops (CC) and compost in the soil are poorly understood. […]

10/09/2018 / By Ellaine Castillo

For the organic farmer: Cattle manure is best for crop growth

A study, published in Horticultural Science, compared the effects of different organic treatments on the growth of the Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. var. pekinensis Lour [Olson]). They considered treatments such as the type of organic fertilizer, location, and the cabbage hybrid used. Growth was estimated using the following parameters: yield, plant height, and cabbage head […]

10/07/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Charcoal-enriched soil improves maize yield

Adding biochar to farm soil can help boost maize yield, according to research. The study, which was published in the European Journal of Agronomy, showed that the addition of biochar to Belgian farm soil was linked to a considerable increase in maize/corn (Zea mays) yield. The study authors explained that historical charcoal, or biochar, can boost maize yield […]

10/01/2018 / By Zoey Sky

The effect of charcoal on maize yield

Data from a study published in the European Journal of Agronomy revealed that adding biochar to farm soil in Belgium significantly increased maize/corn (Zea mays) yield. The researchers said that this was because the presence of charcoal helped increase available water content in the soil. The findings implied that charcoal effect on maize yield was at its highest […]

09/25/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Plants have sophisticated defense systems: They can share proteins, bait and trap pathogens

New research has revealed that specific plant proteins can identify signals linked to disease-causing agents using “baits” and trap them before they can affect a plant. The study, published in Genome Biology, looked at how “bait genes” are distributed in various wild and domestic grasses, as well as how they respond to protect the plant against a pathogen attack. […]

09/20/2018 / By Janine Acero

Balance is key: Farmers must maintain soil health to successfully grow both free-range pigs and energy crops

Owning livestock is a huge responsibility. Free-range farmers must ensure that their pigs do not cause permanent harm to the environment. Free-range pig farming is typically associated with a high risk of nitrogen loss in the soil known as leaching, as the pigs cause an uneven distribution of mineral nitrogen in the soil through their […]

09/18/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Organic fertilizers found to help soybeans grow stronger and healthier

The turkeys you raise on your farm or homestead are more than just future Thanksgiving dinners and healthy sandwich fillings. Their manure can serve as organic fertilizers that boost the health and yield of your soybean crop, a Brazilian study reported. Like any other large operation, raising turkeys produces large amounts of litter such as […]

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