Most people are aware that seeds need to be kept cool and dry to maintain their quality in storage. But the real questions are: How cool, and how dry, do the storage conditions need to be? While the answers to these questions differ between species of plants, there are some general guidelines that apply to all types of seeds.  The two most significant factors that affect seed quality in storage are temperature and relative humidity. Seeds need to be stored in conditions that carefully balance temperature and humidity to maintain seed quality and reduce seed deterioration. Scientists also ..read more

Cumin seeds can be used alone to spice up dishes, or in combination with other spices. Cumin seeds are also known to have medicinal benefits. But farmers have to grow the cumin before any of us can benefit from it. Researchers in Ethiopia recently published a study about using vermicompost to increase cumin seed yields. Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herbaceous plant grown for its pungent seeds. It’s cultivated in many countries throughout the world including Ethiopia. Despite black cumin’s importance, not much has been done to improve its production and productivity. Black cumin ..read more

Have you ever wondered what is in the soil that supports a plant to survive, reproduce, and complete its life cycle? Where do all those nutrients present in your breakfast corn flakes, or the bread for your sandwiches come from? Nutrients come mostly from – the soil! Plants need 17 essential nutrients to function and carry their routine physiological processes. Of these nutrients, three are found in air and water: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O). The remaining 14 nutrients come from the soil. This is a soil core before analysis. Farmers take these cores and other soil samples to be se ..read more

Soil is a living thing. It sustains life in many ways and plays a vital role in providing us with food, fuel, fiber, and shelter. Therefore, it is important to think about what we can do to protect this incredible resource for the present and future generations. One of the methods farmers can contribute to protecting soil is with the use of cover crops. These are defined as “crops grown for the protection and enrichment of soil.” The benefits of the use of cover crops on agricultural land have been known for decades. However, the total acreage using these crops is extremely small. The main rea ..read more

However you eat your peanuts – shelled, salted, or in a favorite mix – they are a snack item enjoyed by many. They are also a main ingredient in many favorite dishes, especially for vegans and vegetarians, as they contain protein. Peanut plants are in the legume family. In the United States, they are grown mostly in the south. Peanuts are perennial – meaning they regrow each year and don’t need replanting. The peanut we eat is technically a seed, and they also are a rich source of oils. Peanuts are used in many dishes, such as this peanut masala. Unfortunately, peanut crops are plagued with a ..read more

Last fall, I spent hours washing leaves as I would wash my hands – first, I dunked them in soapy water and wiped off any residues. Then I rinsed the leaves with distilled water until there were no more hints of soapiness. I spread them on brown paper to dry, and eventually sent them to a lab for nutrient analysis. I was working on a research project involving grapevine nutrition. Specifically, I was investigating which vine parts are most reliable for tissue nutrient analysis. Tissue nutrient analysis can help farmers decide if their plants are hungry – that is, whether the plants are getting ..read more

Drain tiles are pipes buried in the ground at a shallow depth, to remove excess water from saturated soils. Modern drain “tiles” are actually perforated plastic drain tubes typically placed at a depth of 3 to 4 feet in an agricultural field. Drain tiles allow farmers to plant earlier in the spring by helping to drain soil of water from snowmelt and spring rains. Drain tiles are installed using a trenching machine that forms the trench. The machine lays the drain tube at a precise depth and slope across the field. The name “tile” comes from the centuries of use of short (6 to 12 inches) pieces ..read more

In ancient times, the dew was believed to be a source of vegetative and plant life and considered a great blessing. According to the literature, the accumulation of dew at night on plants can negatively impact vegetation and fruits by creating spongy effects. But some scientists say dew is an important source of moisture or water for plant life. This could be especially true in climates such as the Eastern Mediterranean and some parts of the US Great Basin Desert. Dew droplet on top of the small corn plant. Dewdrops that form or fall onto the soil surface decrease soil evaporation loss and mit ..read more

Imagine a space in your downtown – no matter the size – where fruit is grown. Planners have intentionally planted woody, perennial plants as key components of a community food production system. That’s a public food forest. Public food forests can vary in their design. An ideal design would use the vertical space of the forest well. Low shrubs with tall trees. Ground cover could be replaced with herbs. Each species plays a different role in this type of agroecosystem. These multiple storied polycultures (i.e., growing multiple crops at once in the same space) can optimize yields in a sustainab ..read more

Turfgrass is also known as “natural grass.” It’s a natural, root-bearing plant. Artificial turf is made of nylon or polypropylene fibers. Natural turfgrass can be managed in sustainable ways, but artificial turf cannot. Natural turfgrasses also provide environmental benefits that artificial turfs cannot. A quality turfgrass can cover land surface and tolerate either foot or vehicle traffic. It also will tolerate mowing. In the world, there are only about 50 grass species that fit this definition. Some of the many environmental benefits of turfgrass “natural grass.” Retrieved from www.thelawnin ..read more