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organic farming

11/07/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Functional and efficient: Why vertical farming is being embraced by many farmers today

The vertical farming system, a relatively new method of planting crops, is proving that it’s not always where, but also how you plant your crops, that lets you increase your yield. A vertical farming system breaks away from many of the conventions of traditional farming. This is most evident in how crops are set up […]

11/06/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Compost made from cocoa pod waste better than inorganic fertilizers at improving soil quality

Most people know that chocolates come from the cocoa tree; however, only the seeds of the tree are used, with most industries discarding the husks that house these seeds. However, a study published in the OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences may breathe new life into these husks, thanks to rot fungi – which can be used […]

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 […]

10/24/2018 / By Ralph Flores

Improving cabbage production with fecal sludge

Researchers from the BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Centre in Bangladesh have found that fecal sludge could be amended into agricultural soil with commercial fertilizer to increase crop yield. The study, published in the International Journal of Agricultural Research, Innovation, and Technology, looked at how the sludge affects crop production, as well as how it increased maximum yield. […]

10/20/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Pomegranate peel extract found to be a safe and natural pesticide

Tomatoes are among the most popular crops in the world, but they are also a magnet for pests and plant diseases. A study published in the journal Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection evaluates the potential uses of pomegranate peel extracts for controlling Meloidogyne javanica, a tomato pest, offering farmers a safe and organic solution […]

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 […]

10/03/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Annona is a natural insecticide to fruit flies

Several species of Annona (Annonaceae) were tested as natural means of managing the spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). The Brazilian research team found that the extracts were fairly effective insecticides that could inhibit the ability of the fruit fly to lay eggs on strawberries. The study was supported by the Research and Rural Extension Company of Santa Catarina. […]

09/28/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Application of straw mulch increases potato yield

American researchers reported that adding straw mulch to the soil around emerging potatoes increases the size of the individual tubers and the yield of the crop for two different cultivars. They further added that the straw mulch managed broadleaf weeds better than mechanical means of removing the weeds. The study was supported by the University […]

09/14/2018 / By Ellaine Castillo

The impact of different manure types in Chinese cabbage growth

Researchers show that differences in manure used, location, and hybrid affect the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. var. pekinensis Lour (Olson)). This study, which was published in Horticultural Science, compared the effectiveness of various organic treatments on Chinese cabbage growth, yield and quality of the final product. The different organic treatments included organic fertilization, two […]

09/08/2018 / By Ellaine Castillo

Comparing organic vs. conventional farming on plant yield and nutritional content

Researchers have found that the treatment of soil for organic farming increases its biochemical quality and makes it more sustainable in the long run. In this study, published in the Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, organic and conventional means of farming were compared based on onion yield, biochemical quality, soil organic carbon (SOC), and microbial […]

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