Shrub willow as a bioenergy crop
Renewable energy demand and consumption is at an all-time high in the United States......»»
Report analyzes record-high fertilizer prices
Farmers and economists are wringing their hands on how to get a handle on record-high fertilizer prices heading into the 2022 crop year, and a new report compiled by the Agricultural and Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University suggests prices may.....»»
One gene closer to a super sorghum
Scientists are honing the traits of speed, strength and near invulnerability in an important food crop that, much like a superhero, will help protect the vulnerable......»»
Researchers sequence the quinoa genome, and introduce crop hybrids to developing nations
As soils across the world become less fertile and more desert-like due to climate change, it's getting harder for farmers, especially those in developing nations, to grow basic life-preserving crops such as corn, wheat and rice......»»
Are prairie mixes the only option for crop field borders?
Planting beneficial plants next to gardens and crop fields large and small has been a standard practice for decades, even centuries. The plants provide what are known as ecosystem services. These include attracting pollinators and preventing weeds......»»
Gene discovered crucial to making crop plants produce clonal seeds
Researchers from KeyGene and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), in collaboration with colleagues from Japan and New Zealand, have discovered a gene that will make it possible to produce seeds from crops that are genetically identical to the moth.....»»
Bioenergy sorghum"s roots can replenish carbon in soil
The world faces an increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and a shortage of carbon in the soil. However, bioenergy sorghum can provide meaningful relief from both problems, according to a new study by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scient.....»»
Mustard, fries in short supply due to Canada climate woes
A mix of drought in Canada's prairies and flooding on its Pacific coast have brought about crop production and shipping woes now leading to international shortages of fries and mustard......»»
Years later, restored wetlands remain a shadow of their old selves
Danes have been diligent about wetland restoration. Indeed, more than 200 wetlands have been restored over the past 25 years. In particular, restoration in Denmark has been used as a means to curb nutrient runoff from crop fields into watercourses. B.....»»
Study clarifies nitrogen"s impact on soil carbon sequestration
Soil organic carbon is a cornerstone of soil health. It improves soil structure while enhancing water- and nutrient-holding capacity, key factors for any agricultural production system. To build it up, farmers incorporate crop residues into soils......»»
Digital Trends staff picks: Our favorite tech gear of 2021
As the year draws to a close, the Digital Trends Editorial team wants to look back and highlight our favorite products of 2021. Here's the cream of the crop!.....»»
China"s crops at risk: Climate change boosts spread of crop pests and diseases
Based on a unique, previously unpublished data set ranging from 1970 to 2016, an international team including the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) compared long-term statistical records about pest and disease occurrence in China wi.....»»
In the neighborhood of microalgae, location is key to bacterial carbon use
Microscopic algae are responsible for half of the global atmospheric carbon fixed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, and may be used as a sustainable bioenergy source......»»
As climate "net-zero" plans grow, so do concerns from scientists
Faced with the prospect that climate change will drive ever deadlier heat waves, rising seas and crop failures that will menace the global food system, countries, corporations and cities appear to have come up with a plan: net zero......»»
How do phytohormones regulate nitrate transport in apple?
Apple (Malus domestica) is an economically important fruit tree that is extensively planted worldwide. Nitrogen is the most important nutrient for crop productivity; effective nitrogen utilization is the key to high plant yields in agricultural produ.....»»
How increasing the yield potential depends on the row-type in barley
Agriculture is the major player in contributing to global food security. Increasing our crop productivity is currently a challenging task due to the limitations of climatic change and decreasing of agricultural land. Sustainable agriculture has been.....»»
Liming and phosphorus increase cassava yields
Cassava is a vital source of calories for close to a billion people across the world. The plant is a woody, perennial shrub with edible roots. Cassava roots are rich in carbohydrates, potassium, calcium, vitamins B and C, and essential minerals. Cass.....»»
The layered effect: A single-cell map of corn"s root reveals a regulator of cellular diversity
A new study uses novel single-cell profiling techniques to reveal how plants add new cell layers that help them resist climate stressors like drought or flooding. The research focuses on corn—a critically important crop around the world—in an eff.....»»
Using less-profitable farmland to grow bioenergy crops also supports biodiversity
An analysis by Oak Ridge National Laboratory showed that using less-profitable farmland to grow bioenergy crops such as switchgrass could fuel not only clean energy, but also gains in biodiversity......»»
Study suggests crop insurance plays small role in discouraging cover crop use in Indiana
A new study suggests that having crop insurance may have discouraged Indiana farmers' use of cover crops to promote soil health, although the results also suggest that the statistically significant effect is small. The findings could help researchers.....»»
Inactive proteases important for plant development
Climate change with its extreme temperatures and fluctuating precipitations is affecting agricultural land conditions and crop yields. Therefore it is essential to understand and improve the details of plant growth. Laxmi Mishra has developed new kno.....»»