tapped in maxfacts growing news , tips , & trivia
Rice Nitrate Transporter Increases Grain Yields
A recent study has identified a rice nitrate transporter that can be overexpressed to increase grain yield and accelerate flowering . This new approach should improve grain yields , while avoiding the downside of late maturation in rice . Nitrogen fertilizers
( applied as nitrate or ammonium ) improve the amount of grain produced per acre , but nitrogen runoff and volatilization pollute water and the air . In grains such as rice , large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer can delay flowering , leaving the crop vulnerable to late-season cold weather . Now , recent work in the key staple crop rice ( Oryza sativa ) identified a nitrate transporter ( OsNRT1.1A ) that may provide a solution to the nitrogen use / flowering problem . In the plant , different transporters move nitrogen from the soil into the roots and move nitrogen compounds throughout the plant . Some transporters sense nitrogen levels and trigger responses . The study by Wang et al ., published in The Plant Cell , showed rice OsNRT1.1A can affect both nitrogen use and flowering time .
— sciencedaily . com
Greenlandic Mud Could Help Feed the World
Not all mud is not created equal . In fact , the grey mud flowing off the melting glaciers in Greenland is rich with nutrients like quartz , feldspar , and mica . The minerals get crushed to a fine powder . The rocks are ground to incredibly fine flour , known as glacier flour . The tiny grains give this flour an incredibly large surface area , which can react with water , roots , and microorganisms in the soil . What if we take this nutrient-rich glacier flour from the Arctic and transport it to the tropics , where soil is poor for crop growing ? The glacial flour could be quickly activated and release its nutrients to the soil and plants , giving a huge boost to the poor tropical soil . And Greenland would benefit financially from a new , sustainable industry , while benefitting tropical countries with better crop growing conditions . Trials are ongoing , and the mud will soon be tested in Brazil .
— sciencenordic . com
German Cities Transformed Into Organic Gardens
With more and more people living in urban centers , food security and quality is a huge issue . In Germany , the world ’ s 17th most populated country , cities are going to a hyperlocal level when it comes to producing organics . For example , in Nuremberg , every first-grader begins the year with a gift : a yellow plastic lunchbox filled with healthy food that is refilled every day . It ’ s part of a city movement to increase the share of local , organic food in public institutions . As part of Biostädte , or “ organic cities ”, Nuremberg is part of a network of municipalities — including Munich , Bremen , and Karlsruhe — that is working to make food production healthier and more sustainable . In other cities like Berlin , Cologne , and Kiel , similar food councils are introducing urban and community-supported agriculture , which includes the greening of new buildings and transforming uncontaminated industrial land into community gardens . Their plans also include projects for car-free , solarpowered districts where edible plants grow on and around buildings .
— dw . com
20 tapped in