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soil nutrients

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 […]

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. […]

10/07/2018 / 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 […]

09/24/2018 / 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 […]

09/20/2018 / 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

Spent coffee grounds can be used as an organic amendment to enhance soil fertility

Spanish researchers tested the efficacy of spent coffee grounds as a natural means of amending the fertility of the soil. They reported that recycling the used coffee grounds was able to greatly increase the nutrients and respiration in the soil. This study was supported by the Universidad de Granada. Its findings were published in the journal Archives of Agronomy […]

08/02/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Adding silicate rocks to farmland could restore soil, protect against pests and disease, and capture CO2, improving global food security

The groundbreaking results of a new British-led study suggested a simple yet profoundly effective way to improve global food supplies and cut down on carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution: Farm crops with crushed silicate rocks. An international research team headed by University of Sheffield researchers have found that the addition of crushed silicate rocks brought significant advantages […]

06/05/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers explain why it’s the root, not the stem, that determines the growth of crops

Most growers focus on the parts of the plant that are visible above ground, especially the stem and everything attached to it. But U.K.-based researchers beg to differ from this out-of-sight-out-of-mind mentality. In an article from Science Daily, they reported that the roots of a plant decide its growth and fertility as a crop. The […]

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