Farm science.

yosemitesam1

Say my name wrote: »

A bit of an interesting one.
Here's a brand spanking new idea about applying crushed basalt rock to farmland to
A) improve crop yields.
reduce the need for crop protection sprays because of more healthier plants from the increased trace elements and carbon.
C) Pull increased carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as the soil bacteria, roots, rainfall break down the basalt.
D) Save the world from climate change.
I'll add but it's not on this link.
E) Decrease N2O emissions from soil by 40%.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-enhanced-weathering-could-slow-climate-change-and-boost-crop-yields

Those numbers thrown in at the end would need some infrastructure and money to work. 50t/ha annually over millions of hectares is fantasy land stuff I would think. It'd be much easier and cheaper to just pay farmers to change practices, if €50/t co2 was given here there could be over 100t/ha for the majority of farms, tillage land could be 2-3 times as much...

Say my name

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

Those numbers thrown in at the end would need some infrastructure and money to work. 50t/ha annually over millions of hectares is fantasy land stuff I would think. It'd be much easier and cheaper to just pay farmers to change practices, if €50/t co2 was given here there could be over 100t/ha for the majority of farms, tillage land could be 2-3 times as much...

Thanks for replying.
I was getting no thanks in this thread or replies so I was starting to wonder was anyone reading the posts and if it was worth the bother posting anymore. It wouldn't be a well supported thread either.

How and ever back to the issue at hand.
Yea those figures are just theoretical pie in the sky stuff.
Still though, permanent sequestering practices need to be carried out on farmland. The yield and fertility benefits do no harm either.

yosemitesam1

Say my name wrote: »

Thanks for replying.
I was getting no thanks in this thread or replies so I was starting to wonder was anyone reading the posts and if it was worth the bother posting anymore. It wouldn't be a well supported thread either.

How and ever back to the issue at hand.
Yea those figures are just theoretical pie in the sky stuff.
Still though, permanent sequestering practices need to be carried out on farmland. The yield and fertility benefits do no harm either.

Ye there's probably nothing wrong with it, I don't think there'd be much of a benefit on my own farm but I think encouraging farmers directly would be better than something that will probably just make a few very rich from opening quarries

blue5000

Say my name wrote: »

A bit of an interesting one.
Here's a brand spanking new idea about applying crushed basalt rock to farmland to
A) improve crop yields.
reduce the need for crop protection sprays because of more healthier plants from the increased trace elements and carbon.
C) Pull increased carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as the soil bacteria, roots, rainfall break down the basalt.
D) Save the world from climate change.
I'll add but it's not on this link.
E) Decrease N2O emissions from soil by 40%.

https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-enhanced-weathering-could-slow-climate-change-and-boost-crop-yields

How much energy does it take to pulverise basalt?
'There are other challenges too. The process of mining, grinding and spreading rocks on a large-scale would likely have negative environmental and ecological impacts, and would therefore require careful management. Depending on the size of the grains of powder the rocks are pulverized down to, the energy demand could account for 10-30% of the amount of CO2 sequestered. Using renewable energy sources would minimise this.
'

Say my name

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

Ye there's probably nothing wrong with it, I don't think there'd be much of a benefit on my own farm but I think encouraging farmers directly would be better than something that will probably just make a few very rich from opening quarries

Those rates are way too high on a yearly basis I'd think?. You'd upset any life in the soil too much and not give it much time to adjust properly.
Also the home of basalt applying (Brazil) they still apply lime with basalt. Mind you some out there claim to have found a way of just applying basalt and lime negating the use of chemical fertilisers.
I've gone to 5t/ac basalt. Even I'd be afraid to go much higher in an application and that was tried on a once off for my own interest. The article talks about 10t/ac/year. I'd want to be fairly sure of an economic benefit to myself before even thinking about it.
Also not all basalts are equal. Some suited to grassland some to fruit trees and some probably unusable.

Say my name

blue5000 wrote: »

How much energy does it take to pulverise basalt?
'There are other challenges too. The process of mining, grinding and spreading rocks on a large-scale would likely have negative environmental and ecological impacts, and would therefore require careful management. Depending on the size of the grains of powder the rocks are pulverized down to, the energy demand could account for 10-30% of the amount of CO2 sequestered. Using renewable energy sources would minimise this.
'

Most quarries though the primary purpose is to sell the bigger stone. Aggregates, concrete production, road making, sea armour, etc. The dust is the screenings left over from these.
They don't dump it but it's usually not the primary purpose and money maker for the quarry.
The renewable energy angle is a little bit wishful thinking not saying it couldn't be done in the future.

Buford T. Justice XIX

An interesting one here. A study saying the average risk to health from pesticide residues in food is equivalent to the risk of drinking a glass of wine every 7 years.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691517306877

Say my name

In a kind of link in to Bufords post above about chemical residues.

Magnetite has been shown to speed up break down of chemical residue in soil.
Probably without it the residue would never break down.
Magnetite is also used as a catalyst in the Haber Bosch process of artificial nitrogen production. In the HB process it's ground into a fine dust and mixed with a smiggin of potassium before the process starts.
Magnetite is also produced from the burning of fossil fuels and coal and unfortunately it's thought nanoparticles of such inhaled could be the cause of Alzheimer's.
It's also naturally produced by the daily lives of bacteria and found in Basalts.

A small bit on the agricultural application of Magnetite here..
http://qmag.com/quality-magnetite-products-ideal-for-agricultural-applications/

Que everyone running out to test the Paramagnetism of their soil.

yosemitesam1

Teagasc are planting roundup resistant fescue for use in golf courses, could cause fun for lads reseeding if it catches on...



https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2017/TodaysFarm-septoct2017-article15.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwipsrGp98DbAhULPhQKHeHbDIYQFggNMAA&usg=AOvVaw0ltgthWa7sCmyEuXUnqxpf

Mooooo

Why the fcuk would they do that?

yosemitesam1

Mooooo wrote: »

Why the fcuk would they do that?

Dunno, but with the amount of spraying being done along roadsides I'd say it could definitely become a weed and spread across the country fairly fast

Say my name

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

Teagasc are planting roundup resistant fescue for use in golf courses, could cause fun for lads reseeding if it catches on...



https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2017/TodaysFarm-septoct2017-article15.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwipsrGp98DbAhULPhQKHeHbDIYQFggNMAA&usg=AOvVaw0ltgthWa7sCmyEuXUnqxpf

It just amazes me the different outlooks and approaches that human beings have to a situation.

http://www.growtrade.ie/time-for-tea/

alps

yosemitesam1 wrote: »

Teagasc are planting roundup resistant fescue for use in golf courses, could cause fun for lads reseeding if it catches on...



https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2017/TodaysFarm-septoct2017-article15.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwipsrGp98DbAhULPhQKHeHbDIYQFggNMAA&usg=AOvVaw0ltgthWa7sCmyEuXUnqxpf

How much is a typical teagasc golf course fee ? Do they pay a research fee like the dairy levy? 🤣

yosemitesam1

https://www.turfnet.com/news.html/_/usda-paves-way-for-glyphosate-resistant-fescue-r432

http://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/content/roundup-tolerant-tall-fescueperennial-ryegrass-trial


Hopefully its the second type they're growing but repeated applications of low rate glyphosate isn't good either

Buford T. Justice XIX

An interesting one here from the grass conference in Cork, measuring nitrogen fluctuations in groundwater levels over 10 years.

https://t-stor.teagasc.ie/handle/11019/521

ganmo

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

An interesting one here from the grass conference in Cork, measuring nitrogen fluctuations in groundwater levels over 10 years.

https://t-stor.teagasc.ie/handle/11019/521

I wonder if that is still ongoing, it’d be interesting to see pre and post quota

charolais0153

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

An interesting one here from the grass conference in Cork, measuring nitrogen fluctuations in groundwater levels over 10 years.

https://t-stor.teagasc.ie/handle/11019/521

Low nitogen use....low milk price.

Say my name

This could be included in here.

Farmer Simon Cowell making his own compost on 400 acres and has eliminated p and k purchases and reduced fungicide applications.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/farmer-urges-others-to-adopt-no-till-system-to-improve-soil-health-1-5536543

(Hopefully this thread stays open).

Edit: He's also been voted "Soil farmer of the year".

Say my name

The minions can't hide the truth from the commodity traders no more!!

A global system (eye in the sky) available to view what's the story about moisture in farmland whether in excess or deficit.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180601134729.htm

Say my name

A bit of info on the Square project.

Tweet from the workshop in Johnstown Castle in the last few days.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SQUARE_Project/status/1013720314042339328

blue5000

Say my name wrote: »

The minions can't hide the truth from the commodity traders no more!!

A global system (eye in the sky) available to view what's the story about moisture in farmland whether in excess or deficit.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180601134729.htm

Perhaps we can fool them with min till?:D

ganmo

Say my name wrote: »

A bit of info on the Square project.

Tweet from the workshop in Johnstown Castle in the last few days.

https://mobile.twitter.com/SQUARE_Project/status/1013720314042339328

Olaf can be a hard man to listen to, knows his stuff though

Say my name

blue5000 wrote: »

Perhaps we can fool them with min till?:D

I don't know.

Me thinks they know too much already.
It's kind of global commodity, food planning on a earthwide scale.
It benefits society but not the farmer.

Say my name

ganmo wrote: »

Olaf can be a hard man to listen to, knows his stuff though

It's back to more life in the soil = More nutrients in the soil.
Did you ever wonder why that roadside verge grows so much grass with no input from a human hand? It's what they are alluding to and surprisingly they are teagasc. The much maligned supposedly supporters of the fertiliser industry.

The more varied bacteria you have. The more nutrients they can munch on and digest and poop. The more bacteria you have the more food for worms, fungi, nematodes, etc who feed on them and each other and nitrogen gets released as well as other by products of all this living jungle beneath our feet where ultimately the plants are the winners.

All bacteria need is heat, moisture, oxygen and a place out of the sun and then whatever food source they specialize in.

ganmo

Recently heard of a research programme using gene editing that was working on making pigs immune some viruses. They were waiting for a ruling from the eu if it would be classed as GMO to progress to the next stage.
And of course the eu has come out and said gene editing is GMO.

CRISPR is already in use in humans but as a result of this it won’t be allowed to be used in fruit, veg or animals in the food chain(I’m guessing they’re going to use it on cats and dogs soon).
All in all our food will be more natural than us

Buford T. Justice XIX

A little piece on how plants use sugars in their cells to tell the time of day and the seasons.


https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/08/180802141638.htm

yosemitesam1

https://www.eatthispodcast.com/our-daily-bread-08/

Say my name

Researchers have found and are further breeding a maize corn that requires no artificial nitrogen applications.
Obviously the local farmers in Mexico had this the whole time and it was no discovery for them but dated back to probably the Aztecs. But lucky for them and the world they didn't get sideswiped by some glossy catalogue with pictures of fancy corn.
There obviously was agriculture before artificial fertilizers and sprays and still is in parts of the world.

Anyways important "discovery".
Maize corn that has aerial roots able to take it's nitrogen from the air.

https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/grow-food-crops-without-fertilizer/

yosemitesam1

Herbs in pasture.

Also the English royal agricultural society's journals from 1840-1914

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/86012#/details

Upstream

Sustainable Soil Management: Soil for life
Free EdX online course from University of Wageningen
https://www.edx.org/course/sustainable-soil-management-soil-for-life

It's a twelve week course from one of the best universities in Europe.
It's a free course
Anyone else interested in signing up?