Collaborate Disseminate
The application of crushed rock to farmers’ fields may not only reduce greenhouse gases, it could also boost crop yields by up to 16%. These are the findings of a new study conducted by scientists from the University of Sheffield’s Leverhulme Centre fo… Continue reading Scientists boost yields by sprinkling CO2-capturing rock dust on fields
A new technique may make it easier to selectively breed crop plants for better, deeper roots. The non-destructive process involves quickly checking a plant’s leaves to see how far down its roots go into the soil.Continue ReadingCategory: ScienceTags: P… Continue reading Scientists look to leaves for longer roots on better crops
Thanks to a recent discovery regarding marine algae, scientists have developed crop plants that absorb a fuller spectrum of sunlight, resulting in better growth. The finding could also lead to increased production of biofuels.Continue ReadingCategory: … Continue reading Algae-gene-boosted crop plants grow better by using more light
When it comes to protecting crops via insect-blocking netting, you may think that the size of the holes in that netting is the most important factor. According to new research, however, the color of red netting makes an even bigger difference in effect… Continue reading Study suggests red netting is best at protecting crops from insects
Herbicides were touted as ‘miracle’ chemicals when they changed farming practices forever in the late 1940s, but researchers are now desperate to find a more sustainable, soil-friendly and non-toxic way of wrangling weeds while promoting crop growth. N… Continue reading Synthetic microbes gang up to safely smash weeds and fuel wheat growth
Much as we may like sun-dried tomatoes, they’re typically pretreated with sulfur dioxide or salt before the drying process, which may actually be carried out in an oven. By contrast, a new type of cherry tomato has been selectively bred to dry right on… Continue reading New type of cherry tomato self-dries while still on the vine
With an eye toward creating food for people with certain health conditions, scientists in Italy grew radish, pea, arugula, and Swiss chard plants, precisely controlling certain nutrients. And they did it without any soil.Continue ReadingCategory: Healt… Continue reading Scientists fine-tune iodine and potassium levels in designer veggies
The “microbiome” is the unique population of microorganisms found in and on every plant and animal. Scientists have now genetically altered that population in rice plants, making them more resistant to harmful bacteria. The technology could one day red… Continue reading Scientists alter rice plant microbiome for better resistance to pathogens
While hydroponic farms do allow a lot of crop plants to be grown in a relatively small space, they would certainly be a better alternative to traditional farms if those plants grew faster. That could soon be the case, thanks to the development of elect… Continue reading Electrically conductive eSoil boosts plant growth via zaps to the roots
Just like any other organisms, crop-destroying soil microbes die if they get too hot. With that fact in mind, scientists have developed a new system in which soil-heating microwaves are used to kill such pests. The technology could one day replace the … Continue reading Experimental system uses microwaves to cook crop pests in soil