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green living

12/03/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Irish researchers detail a potential solution for tackling plastic waste

Every day, the average American churns out a lot of plastic garbage that takes forever to decay. Over time, the nearly-indestructible waste piles up and contaminates the surroundings, causing serious harm to the environment and human health. This prompted Irish researchers to look for a way to manage the ever-growing mountains of plastic waste we […]

11/24/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Many botanical extracts show promise as natural, alternative insecticides

Horn flies and stable flies are growing more resistant to commonly-used chemical pesticides. A government-supported study evaluated plant-based insecticides and insect repellents as alternative means of controlling the populations of these biting flies. Biting flies feed on the blood of cattle and other livestock. Not only do their painful bites and swarming numbers disrupt the […]

11/22/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Study explores semi-artificial photosynthesis; a new way to produce and store solar energy

Researchers found a better way to squeeze more electricity out of solar power. An article in Science Daily described how they modified photosynthesis so that it could split water into its component molecules. In the photosynthetic process, sunlight is used by plants, some bacteria, and certain protists to turn carbon dioxide and water into food. Oxygen is […]

11/13/2018 / By Janine Acero

Soils treated with organic fertilizer are healthier; produce stronger plants

Come to any local gardening center and you may see rows and rows of plant- and animal-based fertilizers that boast of faster growth, beautiful blooms, or abundant produce from your plants. But which type of fertilizer can actually deliver these promises? A study published in the journal Biological Agriculture & Horticulture assessed the effect of plant- and animal-based soil amendments […]

11/06/2018 / By Janine Acero

Green manure helps with the organic production of horticultural crops

A study published in the journal Biological Agriculture & Horticulture assessed soil nitrogen mineralization through field incubation and analyzed the rate of nitrogen release by commercial fertilizers compared with farmyard manure compost. For the study, a three-year organic crop rotation was set up in a field with sandy loam, with a cover crop of rye and vetch grown over […]

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. […]

09/24/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Scientists find a way to increase soybean yield through biological fixation, could remove the need for nitrogen fertilizers

Nitrogen fertilizers are a double-edged sword for soybean farmers. While they’re vital for large crops, they’re also expensive and potential pollutants. Thankfully, Brazilian researchers found a different way to boost yields by increasing the number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the plant’s roots, according to a ScienceDaily report. Nitrogen is essential to the production of protein. Soybeans […]

09/21/2018 / By Isabelle Z.

Next-gen solar cells use bacteria that convert light into energy

Solar power has a lot of benefits, but one big downside is the fact that places where it’s overcast more often than not can’t make the most of this clean power source. All that could be set to change, however, as scientists in often-cloudy British Columbia have found a way to use E. coli bacteria […]

09/10/2018 / By Rhonda Johansson

Chickens that drink untreated water don’t grow as fast as poultry given clean water

Cutting corners when it comes to husbandry may seem like a tempting idea at first – especially for the beginner. However, smart preppers and experienced poultry farmers understand the importance of clean water in raising healthy and safe-for-eating chickens. This was recently validated with an experimental study published in OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, which looked at […]

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