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News & Articles By RJ Jhonson

10/11/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Amending hardwood biochar with compost tea improves soil quality

Compost tea — compost steeped in water — has been used as an amendment for biochar, charcoal that’s used in agriculture as a soil amendment. Evidence of the practice’s positive effects is scarce, prompting researchers to investigate the matter in a study published in Biological Agriculture & Horticulture. The researchers investigated the effects of combining […]

10/10/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

The herbicidal activity of 3 species of Baccharis

Bidens pilosa, also known as blackjack, cobbler’s peg, and Spanish needle, among others, is a noxious weed in Africa, North America, Asia, and other parts of the world. In a study published in Allelopathy Journal, researchers tested the natural herbicidal properties of three North American shrubs in genus Baccharis (B. dentata, B. uncinella, and B. […]

10/10/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

A natural fungicide identified in Zuccagnia punctata, a legume

Zuccagnia punctata is a species of legume native to Argentina and Chile. In a study published in Annals of Applied Biology, researchers found that the plant’s extracts and phenolic compounds have protective effects on corn against species of fungi. The researchers obtained the plant’s ethanolic leaf extract (TZP), its ethereal fraction (Eet), and its phenolic […]

10/09/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

The nematicidal potential of pomegranate extracts vs. root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on tomato

Meloidogyne javanica, also known as the sugarcane eelworm, is one of several root-knot nematode species and is a pest to tomatoes, among other plants. In a study that was published in the journal Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, researchers evaluated the ability of pomegranate (Punica granatum L. var. Gabsi) peel extracts to control M. […]

08/27/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Conservationists looking at fungi to restore native plant populations

More than five million species of fungi have been identified so far, but only about 300 are known to make people sick. Fungi – both the “good” and the “bad” ones – play a vital role in the ecosystem, something that conservationists from Washington State University Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities) are demonstrating through their research. Tanya […]

08/26/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

The hidden world of soil pathogens: Harmful microbes not only have to contend with a farmer’s chemical attacks but their microscopic neighbors as well

Many microscopic species of fungi and bacteria in the soil infect and damage plants. This makes them the enemy of farmers who use chemical pesticides to prevent or – at least – minimize damage to crops. In a study published in the journal mBio, researchers report that for these microscopic pathogens, an angry farmer isn’t […]

08/21/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Minnesotan farmers use 10-15% more fertilizer than they actually need for healthy crops

Minnesota’s farmers are using more fertilizer than needed, say the state’s agricultural officials. The state government’s response to regulate the use of nitrogen fertilizer – a bid to ensure clean drinking water at, according to detractors, the risk of impairing one of Minnesota’s biggest industries – is seemingly a question of which gets the higher […]

08/07/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

An easy guide to starting your own organic garden in your home today

If you want to eat the best fruits and vegetables, you can’t go wrong with organic produce. However, their price can be too prohibitive, especially when compared to farmed, mass-produced fare. Instead of going down the easier, cheaper road and risking your health and your family’s in the process, you can opt to build an […]

07/28/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Alternative tools for weed management, such as flame weeding, can be useful for crops such as field corn and winter wheat

Anybody who grows plants, whether it’s in a garden or a farm, knows how big a problem weeds can be. They can a huge challenge for organic farmers who cannot use synthetic herbicides lest they lose their organic certification. Propane-fueled flame weeding is just one of several alternative tools and approaches being developed to manage weeds […]

07/14/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

A great tip for weed control for the organic farmer: Well-timed cultural management makes crops more competitive

Weed management is one of the primary challenges organic farmers face. Research published in the journal Weed Science suggests that taking advantage of the weather, as well as properly timed cultural management could be effective solutions to the problem. The authors of the study, a team from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), […]

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