Time to turn your thoughts to house plants Nov 5, 2009
The best control for these are less water on the plant, newspaper over the plant's soil and hanging yellow sticky traps you can get at nurseries and nursery departments ... If those plants left have been fertilized with chemical fertilizers, refresh soil by re-potting with a rich, organic soil from time to time. (Anchorage Daily News)
Landscapers go green, save money Nov 5, 2009
Modern irrigation controllers can save thousands of gallons a year by adapting to soil and weather conditions and not overwatering. Many cities offer rebates to homeowners associations and individuals for converting to smart irrigation controllers and also for converting green areas to desert landscaping. (AZCentral -- News)
Greening Up Your Thumb Perennial weed destruction Nov 5, 2009
You can actually make it worse by cultivating the soil and pulling them by hand ... You have to catch every single weed as soon as it emerges from the soil ... A weeding tool of any kind can be used for this as long as you are able to cut the roots off 4 to 5 inches below soil level. (Ontario Argus Observer, OR)
Senegal: Youth Who Refuse to Farm Nov 5, 2009
Ziguinchor Landmines and armed attacks in Senegal's Casamance region are preventing farmers from maximizing production from the region's fertile soil, but there is another problem, too: not enough young people are taking up farming, residents and experts say. The increasingly urbanized youth are often reluctant to help with digging and hoeing, even during the holidays, forcing some families to pay day workers to do the job. (allAfrica.com)
Home, yard and garden, 11-4: Disorder affecting white oaks Nov 5, 2009
Mulching to conserve soil moisture, watering during extended droughts and fertilizing young trees will help trees recover from the injury ... They are planted in same soil and have the same amount of sun/shade ... There are so many factors, including sun exposure, soil drainage, water distribution, fertilizer availability and soil pH that can vary considerably, even within the same planting bed. (Vincennes Sun Commercial, IN)
Obama explains 6th grader's test challenges Nov 5, 2009
One of the schools, Bancroft Elementary, has helped with the garden since it began, preparing the soil, planting the crops and harvesting in the spring. "Are you guys ready to do some work? Are you ready to work really hard? Are you ready to get dirty?" she asked them. (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
'Weird Creatures' Finds a Mole Lizard Nov 5, 2009
I have in the region of 60 snakes ranging from large Boas and Pythons to some of my favorites, the odd and slightly unusual sand boas, which incidentally make rubbish pets as they spend all of their time buried under the soil. I have a few tarantulas, scorpions, various cockroaches, preying mantids, snapping turtles, big-headed turtles. (Fox News)
Pecan trees benefit from thinning technique Nov 4, 2009
Trees grown in Tifton loamy sand soil in a commercial pecan orchard in Irwin County, Georgia, were used for the study. The trees were spaced 40 x 40 feet and were drip-irrigated. (EurekAlert!)
Celeriac imparts tanginess to dishes Nov 4, 2009
Some growers packed soil around emerging shoots, causing the stems to become paler and thicker, eventually producing the familiar stalks we now know as celery. Other farmers took greater interest in the subterranean portion of the plant. (The Augusta Chronicle)
Senegal: Groundnut Production in Freefall Nov 4, 2009
Drought and soil degradation - too severe to be corrected by applying fertiliser - are the root causes of Senegal's agricultural difficulties ... "It seeks to ensure the availability of 79,000 tonnes of groundnut seeds before December 2010 - and these must be certified N2 seeds (new varieties suited to the local soil and climate),". (allAfrica.com)
Saffron harvest season starts in Kashmir Nov 4, 2009
In highly drained clay-loam soil, the saffron crop is sown on an estimated 17,000 hectares of land in Kashmir in the months of May and June and the flowers are harvested at the onset of autumn. It takes some 170,000 flowers to get a kilogram (2. (Xinhuanet, China)
Nigeria: Erosion a 'State of Emergency' Nov 4, 2009
Until 150 years ago southeastern Nigeria was covered by thick rainforest but soil degradation began with the widespread planting of trees to meet European demands for palm oil in the mid-19th century, according to environmentalists. Palm trees generate soil salinity according to state environmental protection agency (EPA) director, Emma Ude Akpeh ... The combination of this loose soil, hilly landscape and strong rains for several months of the year are ideal erosion conditions, she said. (allAfrica.com)
Woolies' organic midway target draws flak Nov 4, 2009
"We've learned a great deal from our experience with organic farming, for example about managing soil and plant health, as well as about integrated pest management. Now we're able to apply these insights," he said. Rather than relying on past experience and blanket formulas for interventions like irrigation and fertiliser application, suppliers would be required to perform actual measurements and analysis. (Business Report, South Africa)
Mozambique: How to Demine - the Devil is in the Detail Nov 4, 2009
Soil movements have brought some landmines into view, but most remain hidden a few centimetres below the surface, waiting for the 6kg or more of pressure required to set them off; others are planted on spikes, the trip wire entangled and camouflaged by vegetation - a country's weeping wound decades after the fighting has ceased ... The area was heavily mined by the Portuguese; now desperately poor communities practice subsistence agriculture close to and sometimes within the minefields, their... (allAfrica.com)
Frito-Lay receives LEED Gold Certification (3) Nov 3, 2009
The building uses a variety of high-efficiency systems to further reduce the companys carbon footprint, including chillers that reduce annual energy consumption and eliminate the use of ozone-depleting refrigerants; a daylight harvesting system that turns off indoor lights when there is enough sunlight in the area, and landscaping that uses native and adaptive plants to reduce water consumption and soil erosion. The company also educates its employees. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
Ancient civilization cut path to its own demise Nov 3, 2009
This vital tree was a crucial part of the deserts fragile ecosystem, serving to enhance soil fertility and moisture and help hold the Nascas narrow, vulnerable in place ... "The huarango is a remarkable nitrogen-fixing tree and it was an important source of food, forage, timber and fuel for the local people.Furthermore, it is the ecological keystone species in this desert zone, enhancing soil fertility and moisture, ameliorating desert extremes in the microclimate beneath its canopy... (MSNBC -- Environment)
Greenspace: Household products can fix outdoor pest problems Nov 3, 2009
You know that nasty white build up houseplants get around the edge of the pots where the soil line is. This is caused from soluble salts in the water, and is a very common problem that can be difficult to deal with. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Santiago de Compostela Nov 3, 2009
At the women's feet are brown woven baskets filled as if they were cornucopias - still-dirty eggs in one; in the next, greens clearly pulled this morning, soil clinging to their roots. One woman hopes to earn a few extra euros with home brews - golden bottles with ramshackle corks - one named "licor caf," the other "orujo casero" (which is homemade grappa). (San Francisco Chronicle -- Travel)
Recycling tip: Rid your house of "hazardous waste" Nov 3, 2009
Now is the time for you to search your garage, basement, garden shed and even under the kitchen sink for those items that would contaminate soil and water if disposed of in a landfill or our transfer station. This includes oil-based paint (not latex), metal cleaners, wax strippers, rug or upholstery cleaners, flammable liquids, toilet cleaners, along with oven cleaners, detergents, spot removers and mothballs. (Marblehead Reporter, MA)
* Probe to track impact of warming Nov 3, 2009
The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) probe was lifted into space on a Russian Rockot launcher from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia. By providing the first space-based measures of Earths surface soil moisture and ocean salinity, SMOS will fill important gaps in scientific knowledge about our planets life-giving water cycle ... One is to measure the water content of soil across the planet every three days to a depth of 1m to 2m, which will improve weather forecasting and... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
Plant a seed, get a tree Nov 3, 2009
In the case of a tree or shrub with a wide natural range, increase the likelihood that the seedlings will be adapted to your backyard by choosing seeds from plants growing under similar weather and soil conditions as those in your yard ... Pack them into plastic bags along with slightly moist potting soil, then put the bags in a refrigerator for a couple of months ... Make such seeds permeable to water by nicking them with a file, or soften them by packing them into plastic bags with potting... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Market Forecaster Nov 3, 2009
Soybean growers in Brazil, the world s second- largest producer, are speeding up planting of the oilseed as above-average rains improve soil conditions, Safras dos analyst Flavio Franca Jr. said. Soybean planting was 17 percent complete as of Oct. 16, compared with 8 percent a year earlier and an average of 5 percent in the past five years. (Midwest Bulls Eye, NE)
Incorporate the exotic and rare into garden for flair Nov 3, 2009
Ossorios Gold grows three to four inches per year and needs good drainage, yet moist soil, Karlin advises. This cultivar has chartreuse needles, which Karlin says can appear chlorotic to some while stunning to others. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Living)
Failed rains force India to look at food imports Nov 3, 2009
Sowing of winter rapeseed crop has also been delayed because of dry soil and high temperature, but in some regions, mainly the wheat-growing states in northern India, late rainfall has helped, brightening the prospects of a strong winter-sown crop. Late rains will help the winter sowing, but the temperature in February-March holds the key for the extent of food imports next year, said LS Rathore, head of the Agromet division of the meteorological department. (India Times)
Conditions putting corn crop at risk for lodging Nov 3, 2009
This stress, coupled with other less evident issues such as disease and soil nutrient imbalances or deficiencies add up to a precarious situation ... On the flip side, low levels of soil nitrogen may result in less vigorous plants which put all their available energy into producing grain ... Be sure to choose your sampling areas to adequately reflect soil types, soil drainage patterns, hybrids, rainfall differences, and soil fertility levels. (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
Crop estimate to steer grain mkts Nov 2, 2009
Sowing of winter rapeseed crop has also been delayed because of dry soil and high temperature, but in some regions, mainly the wheat-growing states in northern India, late rainfall has helped, brightening prospects of a strong winter-sown crop. "Late rains will help the winter sowing, but the temperature in February-March holds the key for the extent of food imports next year," said L.S. Rathore, head of the Agromet division of the India Meteorological Department. (India Times)
It's a plant - and an air filter Nov 2, 2009
He suspects the plants may have gotten an assist from soil microorganisms in their pots: "Plants play a major role in delivering airborne toxins to microbes living around their roots, which can then break down the toxin," he writes in his book. The Penn State researchers plan to explore that potential route in their continuing ozone studies, as well as comparing types of plant with different leaf areas. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Wolves, moose and biodiversity: An unexpected connection Nov 2, 2009
Joseph Bump, Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich report in the November 2009 issue of the journal Ecology that the carcasses of moose killed by wolves at Isle Royale National Park enrich the soil in "hot spots" of forest fertility around the kills, causing rapid microbial and fungal growth that provide increased nutrients for plants in the area ... They measured the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels in the soil at paired sites of wolf-killed moose carcasses and controls ... They also... (EurekAlert!)
Program helps farmers who help the environment Nov 2, 2009
But, if the U.S. Department of Agriculture accepts his applications, he could get payments for measures he has taken to improve the fertility of the soil and to produce ladybugs and other insects that will prey on the pests that could harm his vegetables ... He already reduces soil erosion on his land by limiting his tillage, but he has proposed to do more if the conservation payments will cover his extra costs ... The barn is flanked by the vegetable patches, which is separated by grass strips... (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Farmers fight climate bill, but warming spells trouble for them Nov 2, 2009
"I can understand in the political world why they're trying to get this under control," said Bill Wiebold, a University of Missouri agronomist, a scientist who specializes in crop production and soil. "What are the ripple effects? That's what farmers are concerned about. They understand that what's being passed in Washington, D.C., could have a direct effect on their bottom line.". (Fresno Bee -- Nation)
S.D. man uses unemployment to raise food for charities Nov 2, 2009
By Jeff Martin, USA TODAY SIOUX FALLS, S.D. In the eyes of the charities who receive his donated food, Brian Parsons is a godsend in the garden, where he plies the rich South Dakota soil to help people in need. Parsons, who was laid off from his job as an electrician last November, says he's raised about 22,000 pounds of food since last April and given nearly all of it to food banks and other charities. (Florida Today)
Deforestation sped demise of Nasca in Peru-study Nov 2, 2009
The Nasca people cleared valleys for farming by felling huarango trees -- a key species which can live more than 1,000 years and helps regulate soil fertility and moisture. "Eventually, they cut down so many trees that they reached a tipping point at which the arid ecosystem was irreversibly damaged," it said of the findings published in the journal Latin American Antiquity. (AlertNet)
Vegetarians' meat tax plan just a load of hot air Nov 2, 2009
This week British economist Lord Stern called for the world to get off beef and on to broccoli: go vegetarian for the planet. Methane - burped, belched and otherwise released by cows in impressive amounts - is around 20 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Opinion)
No-fail houseplants Nov 2, 2009
Let the soil dry between waterings and check it occasionally to ensure it's well drained. - Pothos: This leafy, versatile houseplant can endure two of the biggest plant maintenance no-nos for extended periods of time: Low light and low water levels. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Burkina Faso: New Farming Technique Brings Trees Back to the Sahel [interview] Nov 1, 2009
And the manure attracts termites, whose tunnels help break up the soil further. Once the rainy season comes, you can collect water in this hole. (allAfrica.com)
ARKANSAS COUNTY ADDED TO FEDERAL FIRE ANT QUARANTINE Nov 1, 2009
Soil, separately or with other things, except soil samples shipped to approved laboratories. Potting soil is exempt if commercially prepared, packaged, and shipped in original container ... Plants with roots and soil attached, except house plants maintained indoors and not for sale. (Pine Bluff Commercial, AR)
All About Dracaena Nov 1, 2009
Their soil should be kept moist at all times ... D. sanderiana can also be grown in a soil ... Like D. sanderiana it likes moist but not saturated soil. (Suite101.com)
Africa: Trees Can Increase Farm Yields and Transform Agriculture Says Agroforestry Group [interview] Nov 1, 2009
Headquartered in Nairobi Kenya and working across sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Latin America and Asia, the World Agroforestry Centre aims to enhance soil fertility and the livelihoods of poor families and communities by introducing or improving the varieties of - nutrient providing trees into farm feeds ... "Fertilizer trees", which are systems that farmers can apply with virtually no cash investment, are a way in which farmers can ramp up their soil fertility and their crop yields with... (allAfrica.com)
Native 'akiohala thrives in school's garden Nov 1, 2009
Akiohala likes a nice, moist organic soil, or a wet boggy place. Grow it on the edge of the loi kalo (taro patch) or plant it at the bottom of a hill where the rain gathers. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Miss Millet's food fest Nov 1, 2009
"Millet is what Nanak Baba used to eat. Adding millet to crop mix brings in diversity and keeps the soil healthy," she says. But Kaur found that it wasn't enough to tell farmers about the soil benefits of growing millet or the health advantages of eating it ... "Punjab's monoculture farming demanded lots of chemicals and plenty of water. As a result, the soil turns sterile. Climate change is now an added challenge," he says. (India Times, India)
South Africa: Women Farmers Play Vital Role in Food Security Nov 1, 2009
She rotates vegetables such as cabbage and spinach, and also grows mealies (corn) and sunflowers to sustain soil quality. TotalSA. (allAfrica.com)
Conservation District gets $5,000 grant to build native plant greenhouse Oct 31, 2009
Otsego County contains more than 300 lakes and is the headwaters of six major rivers; however, much of the soil is highly permeable and erodible. The OCD encourages the use of native plants in greenbelts around lakes and streams because they are excellent at improving and maintaining water quality by reducing soil erosion, filtering contaminants from runoff and trapping sediment. (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
Green Thumbs: Notes of a difficult growing season Oct 31, 2009
To rejuvenate depleted garden plots or improve poor, heavy, or sandy soils, spread several inches of organic material in the form of shredded leaves, well-decomposed manure, compost, and peat moss over the surface; top-dress with lime, wood ashes, or gypsum and turn all the amendments into the soil with a digging fork or a tiller ... If these evergreens are growing in heavy, wet soils, yellowing may be an indication of poor drainage, but most of these dropping needles are part of the natural... (Hanover Mariner, MA)
November 2009 Geology and GSA Today highlights Oct 31, 2009
Earth's surface is shaped by chemical and physical processes that erode soil and dissolve rock. Climate likely controls erosion and chemical weathering on soil-mantled landscapes; however, a complete understanding of this relationship remains elusive due to an absence of data that quantifies both the rates of landscape evolution and the mechanisms by which the land surface changes ... Dixon et al. explore physical and chemical changes in soils and rock at two sites in the Sierra Nevada of... (EurekAlert!)
Public Health: Buyer beware Oct 31, 2009
A conversation with the health agent could let them know that they have plenty of room, the yard is well above ground water and the soils in the area are known for being sandy ... What if you found out that the agent has only seen tight, silty soils in the area ... Those soils are not very generous when it comes to allowing water to leach (or percolate) down and through it. (Kingston Mariner, MA)
Possible class action suit in DePue? Oct 31, 2009
It includes soil and home testing in residential areas of DePue, Wetzel said ... Lawyers also are investigating whether Superfund contaminants were spread throughout DePue by people who took contaminated soil and slag from the DePue;s former zinc plant operations for use in civic projects or residential landscaping ... In probes of soil and tests in homes in residential DePue, Wetzel said legal researchers found concentrations of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, zinc and arsenic. (Princeton Bureau County Republican, IL)
Yard and Garden: Master gardener offers lessons in Hydrangeas 101 Oct 31, 2009
The more acid your soil the bluer your blooms. The more alkaline the soil the pinker your blooms. (Mattoon Journal-Gazette, IL)
Sally Scalera: What to do in garden once weather cools Oct 31, 2009
This is a great way to add organic matter to the soil. Check vegetable plants daily to make sure they are healthy. (Florida Today)
Growing and Caring for House Plants Oct 31, 2009
If the pot is water-logged the plant will need to be re-potted in a spongy soil mixture and watered less frequently ... Plants manufacture their food from the air and the soil in which they grow by a process called photosynthesis, using light as the energy source ... The only disease that may occur is caused by a soil-borne rot-producing organism and is called 'stem rot' which is basically the stems of the plant becoming soft and slimy. (Suite101.com)
Growing and Cooking Fresh Curry Lea... Oct 31, 2009
The curry tree will do best when grown in rich, well drained soil. They need consistent watering, ensuring they never are completely dried out or overly wet, and will thrive with some light feeding during the warmer growing months. (Suite101.com)
Medford resident Kevin Rings green vision now a reality Oct 30, 2009
Among the many green elements of the house are an array of Energy Star appliances, a roof that contains four inches of soil and drought resistant plants to reduce storm water runoff, air- and water-tight sealing, a high efficiency ductless mini split air conditioning system, a system to harvest rainwater and high-performance fiberglass windows. The solar panels on the roof, rather than harvesting energy, heat a large tank of water in an underground engine room throughout the year. (Medford Transcript, MA)
First Keokuk Executive Field Day brings business, farm communities together Oct 30, 2009
A GPS system in the combine allows yield and soil types to be tracked by computer, for use in planning the following years planting. OBrien said that next year the Chamber hopes to include more people from the agriculture industry, as well as more types of equipment for participants to operate. (Keokuk Daily Gate City, IO)
White House Garden goes through 2nd major harvest Oct 30, 2009
One of the schools, Bancroft Elementary, has helped with the garden since it began, preparing the soil, planting the seeds and harvesting in the spring ... She said the garden already has produced more than 740 pounds of food, at a cost of about $180 to prepare the soil and plant the seeds. (The Augusta Chronicle)
US cotton almost clear of voracious boll weevil Oct 30, 2009
Their roots are shallow, they are finicky about their soil, and extreme temperatures can ruin a crop -- but blueberries can bring sweet rewards for San Joaquin Valley growers who master the art of growing them. Over the last decade, California farmers -- including those in the Valley -- have quietly and some would say secretively grown the blueberry industry from fewer than 200 acres to about 5,000 today. (Fresno Bee -- Business)
Play it cool with fall gardens Oct 30, 2009
"I have a raised bed with really, really good growing soil in it. But it's looked like soup for weeks."The main thing somebody needs to know if they want to start a winter garden is they they still need to be prepared, just as they are in the summer. You'll need to fertilize. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Unusual is the norm at Conyers exotic nursery Oct 30, 2009
Ossorios Gold grows three to four inches per year and needs good drainage, yet moist soil, Karlin advises. This cultivar has chartreuse needles, which Karlin says can appear chlorotic to some while stunning to others. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Home & Garden)
Herd around town (10/29/09) Oct 30, 2009
The cows also left hoof marks in the soggy soil ... The cows also left hoof marks in the soggy soil. (Allston Brighton TAB, MA)
Rot-resistant Wheat Could Save Farmers Millions Oct 30, 2009
Minimum till cropping minimises soil disturbance and retains plant stubble from previous crops in order to promote soil health and limit erosion. Developing Crown Rot resistant wheat and barley varieties is an essential strategy in fighting the disease. (Science Daily)
Africa: Food Crisis Forces Changes on GM Crops [interview] Oct 30, 2009
Nitrogen use in rice in Africa we have two eco systems where where we have got what you call lowland rice, which is grown on areas which are not v high above sea level and the soil in those environs tend to be saline. They they tend to have a lot of salt in them. (allAfrica.com)
Sierra Leone: New Agriculture Plan Sprouts Oct 30, 2009
Even the people that studied agriculture in universities do not come back to the soil, Agriculture was looked upon as work to sustain poor peasants. " "But with NSADP there are plans to inject loan capital into agriculture and make these loans accessible to small farmers. (allAfrica.com)
OceanaGold Third Quarter 2009 Management Discussion & Analysis Oct 29, 2009
NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES AND NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICE. MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 29 /CNW. (Canada Newswire)
Conditions putting corn crop at risk for lodging Oct 29, 2009
This stress, coupled with other less evident issues such as disease and soil nutrient imbalances or deficiencies add up to a precarious situation ... On the flip side, low levels of soil nitrogen may result in less vigorous plants which put all their available energy into producing grain ... Be sure to choose your sampling areas to adequately reflect soil types, soil drainage patterns, hybrids, rainfall differences, and soil fertility levels. (Great Falls Prairie Star, MT)
Documentary on Pollan's 'The Botany of Desire' Oct 29, 2009
In the sections devoted to the apple and the potato, Schwarz moves the viewer from the crops' origination in Kazakhstan and the Andes to the histories of their transplantation to U.S. soil. Then we learn the bad news - Americans' preference for a few types of apples and potatoes has led to a "monoculture" approach to agriculture. (San Francisco Chronicle)
* In Africa, urban dwellers are turning to a harvest on the side Oct 29, 2009
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, recognizing that educated people could contribute much to an agriculture revival, launched her Back to the Soil campaign in June last year in large part to encourage urban dwellers to farm ... In a new advertising campaign rolled out this summer, the authorities declared: The soil is a bank; invest in it. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
The end of the road Oct 29, 2009
At the women's feet are brown woven baskets filled as if they were cornucopias still-dirty eggs in one; in the next, greens clearly pulled this morning, soil clinging to their roots. One woman hopes to earn a few extra euros with homebrews golden bottles with ramshackle corks one named "licor caf;," the other, " orujo casero" (which is homemade grappa). (San Francisco Chronicle -- Travel)
