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Conventional agriculture depleting world supplyof phosphorus, inflicting widespread pollution

By
KR M
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Conventional agriculture
Conventional agriculture

CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE

Trendy agriculture is heavily dependent on the employment of phosphorus, a mineral necessary for correct plant and crop growth. however standard growing ways have near depleted this natural mineral from bound areas of farmland, that has resulted within the widespread mining of phosphorus to interchange it. This mining and its subsequent overuse in agriculture has junction rectifier not solely to widespread pollution of water provides, however it additionally threatens to deplete the world\’s restricted offer of phosphorus at intervals future many decades, say some.
Writing within the journal Environmental analysis Letters, Stephen Carpenter of the University of Wisconsin – Madison (UW-Madison) and his colleague Elena airman from McGill University say that agricultural and industrial use of phosphorus has the negative consequence of polluting rivers, streams, lakes, and different natural water sources. and since solely many areas round the world have natural reserves of phosphorus, provides can eventually become depleted if current mining practices continue.

According to Carpenter who is the associate authority on lakes and streams, and faculty member of earth science at University of Wisconsin,Madison”There could be a finite quantity of phosphorus within the world,\” \”This could be a material that is turning into additional rare and that we ought to use it additional with efficiency.\”

Phosphorus is an important mineral for all living things, together with humans. Without it, cells wouldn\’t be able to perform properly. however overuse is inflicting residues to course into H2O provides and spur alga blooms, that square measure destroying entire ecosystems. The chain result of this is often the widespread death of aquatic life, animals, and doubtless even humans.

\”If you\’ve got an excessive amount of phosphorus, you get eutrophication,\” adds Carpenter. \”Phosphorus stimulates the expansion of alga and weeds close to shore and a few of the alga will contain eubacteria, that square measure cyanogenetic. You lose fish. You lose water quality for drinking.\”

The authors say that phosphorus overuse should stop, which soils ought to be rigorously analyzed for phosphorus content before adding additional of the part.

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To Germinate or not …….

By
KR M
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Seed Germination
Seed Germination

SEED GERMINATION

Scientists at the University of royal family have uncovered new insights into the manner seeds use cistron networks to manage once they germinate in response to environmental signals.

Timing of seed germination is important for survival of plants within the wild and is additionally vital for industrial seed production wherever there\’s a requirement to confirm uniform growth.
A cold setting will signal associate at hand winter therefore the mother plant produces dormant seeds which will not grow till the subsequent spring. a hotter setting will signal associate early summer with the mother plant manufacturing seeds that grow straightaway permitting another generation to grow before winter.
Researchers at the Centre for Novel Agricultural product (CNAP) within the Department of Biology at royal family have found that a gene referred to as SPATULA will management the expression of 5 different restrictive genes that ar famous to impact once a seed germinates. The analysis, that was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences analysis Council (BBSRC) and also the United States President photographer Foundation, is revealed within the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (PNAS).
The CNAP analysis cluster, light-emitting diode by academic Ian Graham, used the model seed plant referred to as dilleniid dicot genus to realize new insights into however the cistron networks operate. They found that completely different styles of dilleniid dicot genus respond otherwise once this network of restrictive genes is disturbed. Some become a lot of dormant et al less reflective the various environmental responses of sorts that have evolved in numerous components of the globe.
Professor Graham says: \”Plants ar clever in many ways. The complexness of the cistron toolkit dominant seed germination is kind of exceptional. throughout seed set, plants ar ready to reply to a spread of environmental signals from temperature to day-length, lightweight quality and nutrient accessibility.
“Discoveries like this could underpin the event of higher quality seeds for farmers. Since seed dormancy is one amongst the primary traits to be self-addressed once domesticating a crop, the work ought to conjointly aid within the fast domestication of untamed species into novel crops for a spread of various applications.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ij1eW_gsrM

 

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Sub-irrigation- Watering from the bottom

By
KR M
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Sub-Irrigation
Sub-Irrigation

SUB-IRRIGATION

Sub-irrigation is turning into associate degree progressively common approach of watering and fertilizing greenhouse crops in Massachusetts. this text is for growers considering a sub-irrigation system or simply beginning out with a brand new system.

Advantages
There are 3 major economic benefits to sub-irrigation. the foremost unremarkably cited advantage is that the savings aborning required for watering the plants: one person will water thousands of plants by in operation the flooding system manually or with the assistance of a pc. to boot, there\’s a possible savings in water and plant food with sub-irrigation since each are recirculated and not lost by natural action or runoff. Also, betting on the system and the way it\’s put in, a farmer will expect a rise greenhouse area potency (percentage of total floor space in use for growing plants).
Many growers report additional uniform plant growth and fewer foliar illness with sub-irrigation. the rise in plant uniformity could also be the results of additional even and complete dampening of the expansion medium and higher distribution of nutrients absorbed by capillary flow. The absence of water on the leaves with sub-irrigation most likely leads to less foliar illness.
The elimination of plant food and chemical natural action and runoff from the greenhouse may be a vital reason for victimization sub-irrigation. so as to realize the goal of reduced natural action and runoff the system should be maintained as a really closed system. The immediate sensible worth of preventing irrigation effluent from escaping the greenhouse isn\’t invariably apparent, however protection of water used for drinking and recreation from contamination is maybe the foremost necessary long good thing about sub-irrigation.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atfeElaYybM

 

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Tillage and Reduced-Input Rotations have an effect on the Runoff from the Agricultural Fields

By
KR M
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0
Tillage
Tillage

Tillage and Reduced- Input rotation

No-till management practices will cut back eating away, however proof suggests they will additionally cause increased runoff of dissolved phosphorus from soil surfaces. Meanwhile, farmers trying to avoid herbicides typically have to be compelled to combat weeds with tillage, that causes erosion. With all of the trade-offs of various management systems, that one ought to growers use? To answer that question, researchers from the Department of Agriculture Agricultural analysis Service compared nutrient and sediment loss from no-till, standard tillage, and reduced-input rotation watersheds in an exceedingly study revealed on-line these days in Soil Science Society of America Journal.
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By keeping a protecting layer of plant matter on the soil surface, no-till practices cut back the loss of soil and phosphorus (P) connected to soil particles. however no-till needs herbicides to manage weeds, and even once adoption of the apply by several farmers, harmful protoctist blooms were still occurring in surface waters. It looked as if no-till, whereas decreasing particulate P loss, was resulting in increased runoff of dissolved P.
According to Martin Shipitalo”Normally once you apply P-containing fertilizers, they would be incorporate in the soil”. “It is a simple broadcast on the soil surface with no-till, resulting in high P concentrations at the surface though we get less particulate loss, runoff can acquire that dissolved P that is extremely targeted at the soil surface.”
Shipitalo and his team set to seem at information from a 16-year experiment to match soil and nutrient runoff in watersheds managed in 3 other ways — no-till, standard tillage, and reduced-input rotations.
In the current study, researchers provided most of the nutrients to crops within the reduced-input watersheds by planting purple clover and spreading manure rather than fertilizers. They reduced the quantity of blank soils and used simply a shallow disking rather than total inversion tillage to depart some crop residue on the soil surface. whereas herbicides were utilized in the experiment, they are not necessary as a result of the sunshine cultivation and in-row cultivation that was done unbroken weeds in check.
\”Reduced-input rotations strike a medium between standard tillage and no-till,\” says Shipitalo. \”And they might simply be custom-made to be organic rotations.\”
As was expected, the researchers found that soil loss was lowest in no-till watersheds. Reduced-input fields, however, had the very best levels of soil loss. whereas levels were still below annual soil loss tolerance values, reduced-input practices light-emitting diode to soil loss levels of quite double those from no-till fields.
To address the priority of dissolved P loss from no-till fields, the researchers compared runoff from standard tillage and no-till watersheds. whereas the common loss of total dissolved P from no-till was slightly above from standard tillage, the loss was still quite little. Also, average total P loss from no-till watersheds was really smaller than that from standard tillage watersheds.
The lack of huge variations in P loss from these 2 management practices could partially be explained by one thing surprising — earthworms.
But however ar earthworms poignant transport of P? Earthworms will ingest and distribute soil, and that they enhance soil structure making a lot of stable aggregates and permitting water to maneuver sooner into the soil. it\’s additionally attainable that crawler activity mixes up soil moving surface-applied P deeper into the soil and far from potential runoff.
So that management apply is best for farmers? No-till practices did not cause increased dissolved P runoff during this study, however they need weedkiller use. Reduced-input rotations do not need herbicides, however they light-emitting diode to higher levels of soil loss. The authors counsel more work viewing alternative reduced-input rotations, maybe some that use less tillage to tease out even a lot of management choices.
\”It can rely on things and therefore the philosophy of the growers”says Shipitalo. \”There is not a one-size-fits-all answer or a precise apply that\’s best for everybody.\”
While there might not be one answer, the increased understanding of the various practices and their trade-offs give a basis for farmers to decide on a crop management system that\’s best for them, their crops, and their land.



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Irrigation waste material will facilitate Salvage broken Soils

                

	                                    
By
 KR M
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0
                


                
waste water from irrigation
waste water from irrigation

	            

		            
WASTE WATER FROM IRRIGATION


Studies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that examined the semi-permanent property of degraded water use have incontestible that irrigation waste material will be accustomed revive non-productive saline and sodic soils in California’s San Joaquin vale.


Agricultural analysis Service (ARS) soil human Dennis Corwin, at the agency’s U.S. Salinity Laboratory in Riverside, Calif., and his colleagues conducted their investigation on a non-public 80-acre field with crusty saline-sodic soils and intensely poor voidance.  ARS is USDA’s chief internal research agency, and this analysis supports the Department of Agriculture priority of responding to temperature change.


The researchers put in tile drains for channeling subterranean leachate from the sphere and so began irrigating with the waste material, which generally contains elevated levels of element, salt, and traces of arsenic, boron, and metallic element.


The scientists collected soil samples at 1-foot depth increments 5 times throughout the 12-year study. when they began irrigating, the scientists were able to establish a forage crop on the sphere simply 2 years when the study began.


The researchers found the irrigation waste material leached salts and trace parts below the foundation zone, that resulted in associate overall decrease in levels of salts, boron, and metallic element through the foundation zone. This action light-emitting diode to a big and speedy improvement in soil quality. From 1999 to 2004, salinity minimized twenty one p.c, B minimized thirty two p.c, and metallic element minimized sixty seven p.c within the high four feet of the profile. The decrease step by step leveled off by 2009.


But within the last 2 years of the study, drought conditions severely reduced accessible voidance water provides within the San Joaquin vale. As a result, irrigation was halted at the location and rain became the sole supply of water that the sphere received.


During this biennial amount, salts, soil acidity, and levels of B, molybdenum, and element augmented throughout the profile. Soil salinity virtually reached its former level, whereas soil acidity and element levels exceeded them. during a very little but 2 years when irrigation stopped, the soil had nearly came back to its original poor quality.


 




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Alleviation of  Soil compaction

                

	                                    
By
 KR M
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0
                


                
Soil compaction
Soil compaction

	            

		            
 


Soil Compaction


When stress is applied to soil, it causes densification as air is displaced from the pores between the soil grains which is soil compaction. Generally, compaction is the result of heavy machinery compressing the soil, but it can also occur due to the passage of animal feet. When soil becomes compact, the first thing that comes to mind is to loosen the soil with tillage. But, it may not address the problem completely.


If the soil structure is massive near the surface, and no evidence of soil life or abundant organic matter is seen, you first have to think about how to rebuild soil structure by stimulating soil life. Tillage is mostly detrimental to soil organisms. Deep-tunneling earthworms such as night crawlers are very sensitive to absence of crop residue so to favor them residue should be maintained. Soil fungi that help improve the soil structure are negatively affected by tillage.


However, tillage may open up the soil to allow water and air movement and improve root growth. So in certain cases tillage may be warranted. It is important to plant a cover crop with vigorous roots to occupy the voids created with tillage. Organic matter additions such as manure or compost help to improve the surface soil structure.


If a highly compacted layer is at a certain depth and on the other hand surface soil structure is in a good condition, it may be worth breaking that up with a sub-soiler or heavy chisel plow. It should be kept in mind that tillage breaks the soil structure and never build it.


A compacted layer can be diagnosed with a penetrometer. The penetration resistance becomes very high (>300 psi) and then decreases after we push the penetrometer through it. Determine how deep the bottom of the compacted layer is and set the sub-soiler or chisel plow one inch deeper than that. Make sure the soil is in optimal condition to shatter it.


If it is too wet you are likely to do more harm than good by smearing up the soil next to the shanks. The choice of shanks is important. Curved or parabolic shanks cause more surface disturbance than straight shanks so, straight ones are preferred as they cause less disturbance.


It has been shown that good results have been achieved with para plow shanks that curve sideways. They do not disturb the surface much but cause maximum shattering below ground, and take less power to pull than the straight leg sub-soiler.


Once a sub-soiling operation is completed, make sure you rebuild soil structure by planting a cover crop with heavy root mass, and add organic matter.


 


Core aerating pulls 3 to 4 inch cores of soil (Source - Cornell University)


 


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Seed saving  prohibited for GMOs is vital for food sovereignty

                

	                                    
By
 KR M
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0
                


                
Seed saving
Seed saving

	            

		            
Seed Saving


Seed saving- Farmers relied on nature to reproduce new seeds for them for free long before the GMO crop systems were ever even a thought in the minds of agribusiness opportunists. Farmers utilize the natural growing methods which promote the  soil health without the need for artificial fertilizers and other expensive chemicals by growing a variety of different crops within the same fields and regularly rotating them.


 
Farmers are best equipped to maintain independent control over the growing process, which includes saving and distributing seeds as every growing region of the world has its own unique combination of climate conditions, native bug species, native plant and weed species, and soil conditions. And many years of learning and adapting to the distinct ecological balance in a particular area continues to allow farmers to develop the most effective and efficient ways to grow food.
 
Seed Saving





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Organic farming | Seven ways why it is superior to Industrial Agriculture

                

	                                    
By
 KR M
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0
                


                
Organic Farming
Organic Farming

	            

		            
Organic Farming


organic farming | The industrial agriculture scheme has assured numerous Americans that it is a necessity in alignment to produce an adequate food provide for the entire homeland. It functions under the assumption that it makes higher yields, more profits and is general more effective than organic farming. In truth, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. A 30 year side-by-side study released by the Rodale Institute discovered that organic agriculture out presented developed farming in the areas of yield, earnings, energy usage and greenhouse gasses. In detail, there are seven fundamental ways that organic farming outperforms developed schemes. 1. Profits – This is one you might believe industrial agriculture would take, since profits are the bottom line for the businesses that comprise the industry. But due to considerably smaller input charges (fertilizers, pesticides, oil, etc.), organic agriculture incomes are larger. The Rodale study displayed the signify snare come back for the organic systems was $558/acre/year contrasted to only $190/acre/year for the industrial schemes.

2. Yield – The 30-year Rodale study concluded that after a three-year alteration time span, organic yields were matching to developed yields. Another study cited by the Organic buyers Association states “In a review of 286 tasks in 57 nations, farmers were discovered to have bigger agricultural productivity by an mean of 79 per hundred, by adopting ‘resource-conserving’ or ecological agriculture.”

3. paid work – accepted wisdom might convince you that a large scale industrial system has the promise to conceive more jobs than a little or medium dimensions organic scheme. This is not the case. Where human hands utilized to work, now appliances take their location. Over the last hundred years, the EPA says work efficiency has increased from 27.5 acres/worker to 740 acres/worker. While this may appear like a affirmative, it means the identical care and attention will not be paid and subsequently, crop value is inferior.

4. power effectiveness – Oil utilized to transport and request fertilizers and pesticides, along with nitrogen fertilizer representing 41 per hundred of total energy costs, makes developed agriculture far less effective than organic. Organic schemes consume 45 per hundred less energy overall than developed systems, with output effectiveness being a whopping 28 per hundred higher.

5. Resilience – Organic crops are more resilient throughout times of drought or weather change. Organic corn even outperformed GM so called “drought tolerant” varieties by between 18 to 24 per hundred.

6. dirt well being – The Rodale study found that, while developed schemes merely sustained dirt well being by utilizing chemical fertilizers, which over time destroys microbial life and dwindles dirt integrity, organic systems advanced dirt quality.

7. Toxic chemicals – With over 17,000 pesticides utilized today, numerous of which haven’t undergone any safety checking, dangerous pesticide residue is a given when it arrives to developed farming systems.The idea that organic agriculture is incapable of feeding the world is simply not factual. The present industrial scheme does not even deliver on its prime aim of bigger effectiveness. Most worrying, we are left with nutritionally depleted, highly toxic foods traded at artificially low charges. Organic grower, scribe and speaker Joel Salatin remarked “We spend round 10% of our earnings on food and some 16 per hundred on healthcare, and it utilized to be the reverse.” In other words, we get what we pay for.




Organic Farming
Organic Farming







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Existence of worldwide food supply threatened by Biotechnology

                

	                                    
By
 KR M
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0
                


                
Biotechnology

	            

		            
Biotechnology


Food Supply- Biotechnology is destroying the heritage of cultural farming, and replacing it with a one-size-fits-all system which is controlled by private interests seeking maximum profits at any cost. Perhaps, the worst part about it is that the industry is doing this by making up lies about the alleged benefits of GMOs which, do not perform better than the traditional crops at producing higher yields.

According to Charles Eisenstein in U.K.’s Guardian “It is a myth that mechanized, chemical, GMO  agriculture maximizes yield per hectare”. “Numerous studies showed that when organic agriculture is well practiced, it can bring double or triple the yields of conventional techniques. With intensive inter-cropping, yields can be higher still.”

Unlike GMO crop systems, traditional growing systems are essentially fluid. According to Eisenstein, traditional farmers learn to “co-evolve” with the land over many generations, which create a lasting legacy of deep understanding about how the natural world works. Traditional growing methods, many of which are openly embraced today are undoubtedly proving to be the most effective way to maximize crop yields, create food independence and sovereignty, and ensure a healthy, clean food supply.

“The western-style agriculture faces a mounting crisis that is insurmountable through the usual application of more control-based technology,” adds Eisenstein. “This crisis calls us toward more ecological farming methods that draw from the world’s ancient agricultural traditions’’.


 


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Seed saving could replace the disastrous GMO practices

                

	                                    
By
 KR M
 - 
 
                                        
0
                


                

	            

		            
Traditional methods of agriculture, which include seed saving, seed sharing, selective breeding, and permaculture, are all far more viable and sustaining for human life on this planet than anything offered by the companies in the way of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). Practically everything we have been told about the supposed benefits of biotechnology is false, at least as far as its necessity and usefulness in agriculture is concerned


Forcing the farmers to buy new “terminator” seeds and crop chemicals every year from private corporations will provide any sort of long-term security for the food supply is naive at best. The biotechnological model dictates that the corporations control the price, availability, and performance of seeds and crop chemicals, both of which are confined to restrictive patents that prevent farmers from taking true ownership of the foods they grow.


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