Every day, the average American churns out a lot of plastic garbage that takes forever to decay. Over time, the nearly-indestructible waste piles up and contaminates the surroundings, causing serious harm to the environment and human health. This prompted Irish researchers to look for a way to manage the ever-growing mountains of plastic waste we … Continue reading Irish researchers detail a potential solution for tackling plastic waste
Soils treated with organic fertilizer are healthier; produce stronger plants
Come to any local gardening center and you may see rows and rows of plant- and animal-based fertilizers that boast of faster growth, beautiful blooms, or abundant produce from your plants. But which type of fertilizer can actually deliver these promises? A study published in the journal Biological Agriculture & Horticulture assessed the effect of plant- and animal-based soil amendments in the … Continue reading Soils treated with organic fertilizer are healthier; produce stronger plants
Organic fertilizer can be used to increase crop yield in plants grown in rotation
A study published in the journal Biological Agriculture & Horticulture assessed soil nitrogen oxidation through field incubation, and analyzed the rate of nitrogen release by commercial fertilizers compared with farmyard manure compost. For the study, a three-year organic crop rotation was set up in a field with sandy loam, with a cover crop of rye and vetch for green manure. In the … Continue reading Organic fertilizer can be used to increase crop yield in plants grown in rotation
Are bioplastics really as eco-friendly as they’re touted to be?
Approximately 165 million tons of petroleum-based plastic now pollute the ocean. Another nine million tons of plastic are added to the seas each year. Only nine percent of plastic is recycled. It takes at least 500 years for traditional plastic to decompose, as toxic chemicals break down and leach into the environment. In the rush … Continue reading Are bioplastics really as eco-friendly as they’re touted to be?
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 