CID Bio-Science, Inc. articles

With irrigation being used in many spheres of life and food production methods getting diversified, it is not surprising that research on this topic is getting more specialized. Procedures for analysis, which were restricted earlier to big institutions, need to be widely available so that their reach is extended and science will benefit from more in-depth studies. An increasing number of conventional analytic techniques are being miniaturized to fit into small devices so that they are both po

Irrigation is essential to increase food production. However, competing needs and increasing drought makes water for irrigation scarce. Therefore, new methods and strategies are continuously being tested by scientists to improve food production, accompanied by better water use efficiency. This article will examine how modern field tools are helping in this venture.

Irrigation Methods

According to FAO, although only twenty percent of the land is irrigated, it p

Currently, agriculture uses seventy percent of the freshwaters, globally. Available freshwater sources will not be enough to increase food production to feed growing populations in the coming decades. Therefore, there is a concerted effort to grow crops with seawater. Hence, scientists are investigating the various challenges involved in growing plants with saline water. These include greenhouse and field experiments that require a multitude of measurements, therefore requiring precise field

Salinity inhibits growth and development in crops. Due to the extent of damage salinity causes to agriculture, it is identified as a major threat to food production. Therefore, practices to deal with the effects of salinity on crops are receiving a lot of attention. To be able to provide proper recommendations that are also sustainable, it is first necessary to find out how salinity affects plants in different stages of their growth. Precise instrumentation plays a major role in monitoring th

There is no denying the importance of light for the growth of plants; however, there are many other environmental factors—such as temperature, moisture and nutrient availability, and soil type–that also influence plant growth. These factors do not act in isolation and are, many times, correlated. So, it is interesting to see how light works in combination with other resources to influence plant growth in the wild or in farms. Accurate and quick measurements are vital to advance th

With the pressure to increase food production, every agricultural practice that can be optimized for improving crop yield is under scrutiny; therefore, micronutrients, which are important for crop health and growth, are receiving more attention. Agronomists are increasingly studying different treatment methods to establish the easiest and most cost-effective way to improve micronutrient management. There are many small field tools available that give precise and immediate results to help agro

Cadmium is a heavy, non-biodegradable metal that is toxic to plants, people, and animals. With increasing pollution and emission of cadmium, its levels in agricultural soils are increasing. The risk to humans is high due to consumption of cadmium-contaminated food. Modern applications of gas analysis and laser measurements are speeding up research in addressing the problem of cadmium stress.

Cadmium Sources

Cadmium occurs naturally in the environment but only

The University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Plant Root Biology Laboratory led by Dr. Lorenzo Rossi is located at the Indian River Research and Education Center (UF/IFAS IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. Situated in the heart of the premiere grapefruit growing region of the world, the lab primarily uses the CI-602 root imager to study grapefruit root growth and development under different nutritional and irrigation levels.

Currently, researchers at t

According to a review by Dr. Crocombe, hand-held spectrometers have historically been used by only small groups of people, such as analytical and drug companies. These days, spectroscopy is available in simple low cost devices for a multitude of applications for scientists and non-scientists alike. One of the most prominent uses of spectroscopy has been the use of the technology on leaves for plant research and agriculture.

Spectrometers - The Quick Background

Farm Fertilizer - A Double-Edged Sword

The excessive use of fertilizers is one of the main causes of the environmental impact of industrial agriculture. The notion that more is better has caused more harm than good to farming, as well as the environment. Therefore, using the right amount of fertilizers is considered an important part of farm management. To this end, there has been a lot of research to see how the efficacy of fertilizer use can be improved.