nitrogen fertilisation News
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Engineering rice that needs less fertiliser
Genetic modification (GM) of crops is one of the more recent technological advances in agriculture designed to meet increasing demand for food. New research reveals that rice can be modified to use nitrogen more efficiently, thus reducing the need for nitrogen fertilisers while increasing yields. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has estimated that food production ...
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Adding nitrogen to chickpeas is a double hit
Growers considering adding nitrogen to chickpeas to boost yield should save their money, according to the results of recent trial research. Trials by the Northern Grower Alliance and funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation found that adding nitrogen to crops did not have any impact on yield, making the additional cost and potential loss in nitrogen (N) fixing ability a double ...
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Rising CO2 robs crops of protein
New analysis suggests that rising CO2 levels will affect the protein content of major food crops, and indeed this may already be taking place. Experts suggest this change in the composition of the foods we eat could have consequences for human nutrition. Farmers can limit these effects by using more nitrogen-based fertilisers, but these in turn have a high environmental cost. Research ...
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Soil Moisture Probes as a management tool for broadacre cropping enterprises
Are you interested in being involved in a 'Cutting Edge' Agronomic Project and Discussion Group? SANTFA and Rural Directions Pty Ltd, are kicking off a project focussing on Soil Moisture Probes as a management tool for broadacre cropping enterprises, which will run from July 2009 through to May 2010. The project is about using soil moisture monitoring as a guide for making informed decisions in ...
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Management of rice paddy fields affects greenhouse gas emissions
How rice paddy fields are managed significantly influences the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs), a recent study concludes. Permanently flooded soils release more methane than soils that are flooded and then dried between production periods, for example. In general, the researchers recommend growing other crops in dried soil between production cycles, as well as limiting nitrogen fertilisers, to ...
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Utilisation of nitrogen and phosphate on dairy farms could be increased
Nitrogen and phosphate are important fertilisers. But excessive amounts often found in fields and pastures end up polluting the ground and surface water. Furthermore, dairy farmers are squandering their profits by wasting these expensive fertilisers. The Koeien & Kansen [Cattle and Opportunities] project set up by two PhD candidates from Wageningen University, part of Wageningen UR, shows how ...
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GM crops can thrive as climate warms
Genetically engineering photosynthesis in plants could take advantage of rising global temperatures and increased levels of carbon dioxide, US scientists say. They believe this could achieve much higher yields on the same amount of land and help to stave off the prospect of widespread hunger as human populations increase. Researchers at the University of Illinois report in the journal ...
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Perennial grass crops - a carbon neutral biofuel?
Perennial crops, such as grasses, are attracting increasing interest as potential biofuel crops. Perennial crops have significant advantages over many annual crops because they require less energy input during growth than annual crops which not only need to be planted each year, but typically require more fertiliser, herbicide and pesticide input. Research on farm-scale cultivation of the ...
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Food security depends on sustainable nutrient management of soils
Food security is being threatened by loss of soil nutrients that are essential for the high yield of crops. A recent study outlines strategies to ensure the sustainable production of food through a holistic approach to soil nutrient management. In response to the rising demand for food from an increasing world population, high-yielding crops are being grown with the help of artificial ...
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