Plant science articles

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Upcoming Webinar: Made in the Shade- How 11 Research Studies Cleverly Use Canopy Analysis to Measure Crop & Forest Health

Special guest researchers Brendon Anthony of Colorado State University and Derek Godwin of Oregon State University, along with our application scientists Eric Munoz-Garcia and Galen George review 11 studies that have used canopy analysis for everything from typhoon effects to pruning!  Here is a quick look at some of what will be covered: How pruning… Continue reading…

Aiming to Optimize Irrigation Levels

With irrigation being used in many spheres of life and food production methods getting diversified, it is not surprising that research on this topic is getting more specialized. Procedures for analysis, which were restricted earlier to big institutions, need to be widely available so that their reach is extended and science will benefit from more… Continue reading…

Adapting Production to Drought

Many parts of the world face water shortage and drought. As a result, farms and orchards are losing their capacity to produce food. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), drought cost the world 29 billion USD in 2018; therefore, it is imperative for governments, crop consultants, and farmers to be proactive. Technology is… Continue reading…

Digging Deep for New Irrigation Methods

Irrigation is essential to increase food production. However, competing needs and increasing drought makes water for irrigation scarce. Therefore, new methods and strategies are continuously being tested by scientists to improve food production, accompanied by better water use efficiency. This article will examine how modern field tools are helping in this venture. Irrigation Methods According… Continue reading…

How Good is Wastewater For Irrigation?

Water use is increasing at twice the rate of the population, and many places on earth are reaching the limit of their capacity to supply water. Agriculture that uses 70% of the water withdrawn can be a part of the solution to this problem. Using reclaimed water for agriculture is one of the possibilities. More… Continue reading…

Growth Regulators and Bio-stimulants Boost Plant Growth and Yield

We are currently faced with the task of increasing food production for a growing population with little additional land. Agriculture already uses 37% of land area and converting more forests to farms can further exacerbate environmental problems, so strategies, such as the use of bio-stimulants and plant growth regulators, could be a possible solution to… Continue reading…

WEBINAR THIS WEEK- Leaf the Graph Paper at Home: Real-Life Applications for Leaf Area Meters

March 5, 2020 @ 8AM Special guest researchers Dr. Nicodeme Fassinou Hotegni and Dr. Adje Charlotte from the University of Abormey Calavi in Benin, Africa, will share their experience with leaf area meters. Our application scientist, Galen George, will also review a number of studies that have used leaf area measurements for everything from orchard… Continue reading…

How are Gaseous Pollutants Influencing Crop Growth?

The rising air pollution worldwide has spurred research into possible beneficial or adverse effects on plants and crops. These surprising findings provide an insight into the internal processes of plants that were otherwise unknown. New technological developments are being used in this field of science that give precise measurement and analyses of many plant features… Continue reading…

Measuring Soil Carbon Flux

The carbon fluxes of many terrestrial ecosystems are well known. However, below-ground carbon’s contribution to the carbon cycle of different ecosystems has yet to be defined and quantified for forest soils. Since most of the carbon fluxes are occurring out of sight and underground, research on this topic is particularly challenging. Scientists are relying on… Continue reading…

Defoliation Shifts Allocation of Resources in Plants

Carbon allocation by individual plants gives us information on carbon cycling and sequestration by forests. How a plant invests its resources in different functions depends on the species and also the stress it might face during its life cycle. Plant response to stress and tasks they prioritize is an exciting field of study that looks… Continue reading…