agriculture soil News
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10 Frequently Asked Questions about soils
Why are soils important? Soils are the basis of life for a large number of plants and animals. Next, to their importance for biodiversity, soils are the essential substrate on which most agricultural plants grow. It means that this is where the food we eat comes from. In addition to that, soils play an important role in the structuration of the ground, which is essential for any sort of ...
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Announcing IFA’s New Scientific Panel on Responsible Plant Nutrition
A new scientific panel will provide crucial data and research to facilitate continued progress towards sustainable plant nutrition required for feeding the world’s growing population in the face of climate change and other challenges to agricultural systems. Following an inaugural organizational meeting among seven scientists held in Versailles, France on November 17, the International ...
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Integrating animal and crop production can reduce nutrient leaching from agricultural fields
Nutrient leaching, the movement of plant nutrients from soil to water, can have negative effects on aquatic ecosystems due to eutrophication, which reduces the oxygen available in water, causing species and habitat loss. Ecological Recycling Agriculture (ERA), which is based on ecological principles and integrates crop production and animal husbandry, may limit this effect. This study ...
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Africa, India to boost agricultural technology cooperation
[CHENNAI] Africa and India will boost cooperation in agricultural technologies for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a view to achieving food security by 2015. The Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European Market Research Centre (EMRC) this month, to facilitate ICRISAT's ...
By SciDev.Net
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UN report confirms organic farming can protect soils
Organic agriculture can contribute to delivering global food security, help tackle climate change, protect soils and conserve wildlife. So recognises a four year study involving 400 scientists from around the world as well as 30 governments and the same number of NGOs. The International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) report criticises industrial ...
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New PED Talks Video Series Digs into Soil Health
A series of 10-to-15-minute, science-centered “PED Talks” on soil health has been posted on YouTube. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to ...
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Artificial wetlands on farmland help to prevent soil loss and recapture agricultural by-products
Small field wetlands are a simple and effective way to reduce soil erosion and nutrient pollution, recent research suggests. The authors adapted Norwegian designs for the UK environment and created a series of small rectangular lakes on the edges of agricultural fields. After three years, the wetlands had prevented tonnes of soil from leaving the land, and helped alleviate some of the nutrient ...
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Sustainable Agriculture to Promote Biodiversity
• Biodiversity affects key ecosystem services, such as the primary production of food for humans and the rest of nature, plus the recycling of nutrients and water. • One hectare of land contains a lot of biodiversity in the soil – equivalent to the weight of one cow of bacteria, two sheep of protozoa, and four rabbits of soil animals such as earthworms. The INSPIA* project is ...
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Living mulch, organic fertilizer tested on broccoli
Cover crops provide many benefits to agricultural production systems, including soil and nutrient retention, resources and habitat for beneficial organisms, and weed suppression. In regions where short growing seasons can hinder the establishment of productive cover crops between cash crop growing periods, living mulch systems may provide vegetable crop growers with opportunities to establish ...
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Small Robot Company £4m Crowdfunding Success: Public Back Sustainable Farming Future
Small Robot Company (SRC), a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, raised £4 million in a successful equity crowdfunding campaign with Crowdcube. The company has now secured £11 million in funding to date. Over 2500 retail investors backed the campaign, with the initial target of £2m raised on the day of launch. The campaign then doubled the target, reaching the ...
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Small Robot Company Launches New Crowdcube Fully Funded At £2 Million
Small Robot Company (SRC), a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, today announced the launch of its latest Crowdcube equity crowdfunding campaign, which already successfully hit its target of £2 million at launch. SRC has now secured £9 million in funding to date. Agriculture is a $2.4 trillion industry, with the precision farming market a huge global opportunity for ...
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Why I turned from GM opponent to advocate
Just under 20 years ago, when the issue of GMOs was first hitting the news, I was a dedicated anti-biotech activist. I believed that genetic modification was a dangerous technology that would harm the environment and dispossess farmers around the world. Accordingly, I joined with others in organising protests and even crop vandalism — I personally destroyed GMO field trials on multiple ...
By SciDev.Net
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Exactly How The New Pyrolysis Machines Can Make Waste Agricultural Products Into Money
Because most people live in or close to the cities all around the world, the majority are surprised to learn that there is a lot of agricultural waste created in farm areas. Actually, worldwide, there is certainly about 998 million tonnes of organic waste produced each and every year. And, that amount actually makes up for huge percentage of the solid waste in the world. Should you thought the ...
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Potentially harmful effects of nanomaterials on soybean crops
A new study has examined contamination of fully grown soybean plants by two nanomaterials – nano-cerium oxide and nano-zinc oxide. The results could be concerning, as they indicate that the nanomaterials are absorbed by plants, possibly affecting growth, yield, and the fixation of nitrogen in soil, an important ecosytem service. With the rapid expansion of nanotechnology, there is concern ...
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Small Robot Co launches robot services to 50 farms
Salisbury, 6 June 2022 Small Robot Company (SRC), a British agritech start-up for sustainable farming, today announced the launch of its commercial Per Plant Farming robot services. Pilot trials this season have revealed herbicide applications can be cut by around 77% and fertiliser by 15%. Britain’s first fully autonomous crop-scanning service, it will roll out from this autumn to about 50 ...
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Grass-based farming systems: Soil conservation and environmental quality
Crop selection and sequence can have a profound effect on the environment and on farm profitability. According to Chapter 7, “Grass-based Farming Systems: Soil Conservation and Environmental Quality” by Jeremy W. Singer, Alan J. Franzluebbers, and Douglas L. Karlen in the book, Grassland Quietness and Strength for a New American Agriculture, the basis for a productive agricultural system should ...
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The Way The New Pyrolysis Machines Can Make Waste Agricultural Products Into Money
Since the majority people live in or near the cities all around the world, lots of people are surprised to discover that there is a huge amount of agricultural waste manufactured in farm areas. In reality, worldwide, there may be about 998 million tonnes of organic waste produced annually. And, that amount actually makes up for huge percentage of all the solid waste on earth. In the event you ...
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IGS to deliver vertical farming solution supporting first solar-powered commercial scale farm in Perth, Australia
IGS has secured a partnership with Eden Towers, the hyper-efficient vertical farming business, to power a commercial scale vertical farm in Western Australia to grow leafy greens, specialty crops and begin the development of indigenous crops to support the local indigenous community and enter new markets. The farm will be an Australian-first, located next door to the Shire of Murray’s ...
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SOIL Chosen as Editors’ Pick in the Food Planet Prize
We have exciting news. SOIL’s team has been chosen as Editors’ Pick in The Curt Bergfor’s Food Planet Prize! SOIL has been recognized for its particular achievements in the category of Land Use and Agriculture for our innovative circular economy sanitation solution which promotes climate resiliency, protects ecosystems, restores soil fertility, and ultimately: nurtures ...
By SOIL Haiti
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The Role of Charcoal Making Machines in Agricultural Development
Charcoal has long been a valuable resource in agriculture, contributing to soil enrichment and energy generation. However, recent advancements in charcoal making machine has revolutionized its role in agricultural development. This article explores the significance of charcoal in agriculture, the evolving technology behind charcoal making machines, and the multifaceted impact on modern farming ...
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