Anthocyanins are compounds related to the colour of plants. They also have beneficial effects on human health and are used as supplements. There are various species of anthocyanins in plants that are divided by their molecular shape. Simple and rapid analytical techniques that can distinguish among these species in crops are necessary for breeding and […] Read more
Tag Archives Science Notes
New technique analyzes nutritional compounds in crops
Science Notes: Fruits, vegetables analyzed using mass spectrometry
New soil sensor may improve efficiency of crop fertilization
Science Notes: Accurate nitrogen detection could help farmers achieve optimal fertilization levels
Measuring temperature and nitrogen levels in soil is important for agriculture systems but detecting them apart from one another is difficult. Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, an associate professor in engineering science and mechanics at Penn State, led researchers in the development of a multi-parameter sensor that can decouple temperature and nitrogen signals so that each can […] Read more
High winds can worsen pathogen spread from outdoor poultry
Science Notes: Researchers interviewed farmers about their management practices
Farmers who keep their chickens outdoors may want to watch the weather. A study of chicken farms in the western United States found that high winds increased the prevalence of campylobacter in outdoor flocks, a bacterial pathogen in poultry that is the largest single cause of foodborne illness in that country. Researchers found that about […] Read more
Wheeled robot measures leaf angles to help breed better corn plants
Science Notes: New technology, called AngleNet, has two key components
Researchers from North Carolina State University and Iowa State University have demonstrated an automated technology capable of accurately measuring the angle of leaves on corn plants in the field. This technology makes data collection on leaf angles significantly more efficient than conventional techniques, providing plant breeders with useful data more quickly. “The angle of a […] Read more
Key mechanisms uncovered for sustainable ammonia production
Science Notes: Research expands on previous production efficiency efforts
Ammonia is an essential ingredient in many fertilizers for food production, but its primary production method is energy and fuel intensive. But a University of Central Florida (UCF) research team, with collaborators at Virginia Tech, are working to change this by increasing the efficiency of a more sustainable method. The researchers recently published critical findings […] Read more
Exotic wheat DNA helps breed ‘heat tolerant’ crops
Science Notes: Seeds sown later in season to force plants to grow in hotter months
Research from the Earlham Institute in Norwich, England, in collaboration with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre in Mexico, offers hope for improving crop resilience and food security in the face of climate change. Wheat provides more global calories than any other crop, yet most of the wheat grown around the world has limited […] Read more
Research could simplify process for calculating soil carbon credits
Science Notes: Results indicate that expensive in-field soil sampling may not be required
A study led by researchers at the Agroecosystem Sustainability Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides new insights for quantifying cropland carbon budgets and soil carbon credits, two important metrics for mitigating climate change. The results, outlined in a paper published in the soil science journal Geoderma, could simplify the process for calculating soil carbon […] Read more
How intensive agriculture turned a wild plant into a pervasive weed
Science Notes: Herbicide resistance continues to challenge growers
New research in Science is showing how the rise of modern agriculture has turned a North American native plant, common waterhemp, into a problematic agricultural weed. An international team led by researchers at the University of British Columbia compared 187 waterhemp samples from modern farms and neighbouring wetlands with more than 100 historical samples dating as far […] Read more
Study shows amines can go airborne
Science Notes: Finding may help explain how dicamba drift occurs
Dicamba drift, the movement of the herbicide off crops and through the atmosphere, can result in unintentional damage to neighbouring plants. To prevent dicamba drift, other chemicals, typically amines, are mixed with dicamba to “lock” it in place and prevent it from turning into a vapour that more easily moves in the atmosphere. New research […] Read more
Database tracks worldwide agricultural phosphorus use
Science Notes: Phosphorus scarcity is a concern for countries with limited reserves
Researchers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science have released a first-of-its-kind study quantifying cropland phosphorus budgets around the world. It is expected to help identify regional nutrient management gaps in food production and consumption systems. The database is also expected to help countries and regions evaluate their performances in addressing phosphorus pollution and scarcity challenges, […] Read more
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