Soil bacteria are important components of the ecosystem. They help improve soil structure and aggregation, as well as recycle soil nutrients and water. Soil bacteria also serve as decomposers that consume carbon compounds and provide large quantities of nitrogen to plants. Nitrogen is a major component of chlorophyll and is essential for the production of amino acids, which are … Continue reading How do bacteria populations travel through soil layers?
How safe are urban gardening crops?
As more people learn about their benefits, urban gardens have increased in number across the United States. However, there are several issues surrounding food production in urban areas, like soil contamination, that are thought to pose risks to human health. In a recent breakthrough, a team of researchers from the Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM) in Spain conducted a probabilistic risk assessment … Continue reading How safe are urban gardening crops?
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
Graphene could make fertilizer more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly
Researchers continue to search for fertilizers that are more efficient and affordable. One study, published in the journal Applied Materials and Interfaces, looked at graphene as a carrier for fertilizers to exhibit these characteristics, without causing more harm to the environment. A team of researchers at the University of Adelaide developed a fertilizer carrier using graphene oxide sheets to make effective … Continue reading Graphene could make fertilizer more efficient, affordable and environmentally friendly
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 