(Natural News) Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are adaptable and can be customized to the requirements of crops and local conditions. While this farming system considers soil health and the impact it has on the ecosystem, it is not without its disadvantages. The early days of CA implementation may present various problems, such as nitrogen immobilization and […]

(Natural News) Scientists from the Punjab Agricultural University in India found that organic fertilizer can greatly improve soil health. In their study, which was published in the Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, they noted that the organic amendments, aside from being easily decomposable, can help microbes with carbon sequestration in highly saline soils and effectively […]

(Natural News) Most people know that drinking tea is good for them — just one cup a day already has a lot of benefits. However, to make the most of your daily cuppa, research suggests going for the organic kind, which has more antioxidants than the regular tea. The study, which appeared in the journal Biological […]

(Natural News) 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 […]

(Natural News) Woodchip mulching can suppress weed growths under field conditions, according to a study published in Agronomy Journal. Using a 16-year field trial of woodchip mulching, researchers demonstrated that not only does it diminish the development of weeds, it also does not affect the yield of the crops when it is used. Mulch – a general term […]

(Natural News) Nitrogen fertilizers are a double-edged sword for soybean farmers. While they’re vital for large crops, they’re also expensive and potential pollutants. Thankfully, Brazilian researchers found a different way to boost yields by increasing the number of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the plant’s roots, according to a ScienceDaily report. Nitrogen is essential to the production of […]

(Natural News) For the longest time, researchers have puzzled over the process that allows microbes to grow within the phosphorus-poor soil found in tropical rainforests. A recent study of their genetic data revealed that these microbes possess a higher amount of genes that specialize in getting the vital mineral, according to a NewsWise article. Tropical […]