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 […]
How do nutrients in leaves inform farming practices?
What are drain tiles?
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 […]
“Does dew provide water to plants?”
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 […]
What are public food forests?
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. […]
Low-glycemic, high-protein rice – The quest for a perfect food
Rice is a main staple food of more than 2.4 billion people. Rice continues to expand into communities that are traditionally non-rice eating with the increasing levels of cross culture exchange, travel, […]
What are corn tillers?
If you want to start a heated discussion, ask your social group for their thoughts on pineapple pizza the next time you order take-out. While the opposition is strong, more pie-lovers approve […]
What are anti-nutrients and why are they important for researchers to consider?
Many of us consider the nutritional value of foods as we choose them. For example, you might add some strawberries to your morning cereal to get a boost of vitamin C and […]
How is cabbage grown organically?
Despite the ongoing controversy of “who started the corned beef and cabbage” tradition, many still celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with this meal. Researchers are looking at ways to grow your cabbage organically […]
What damage do sugarcane aphids do to crops?
Looking at sugarcane aphid damage, we need to look a little bit about the biology of sugarcane aphids. Their biology goes hand-in-hand with the damage they do! Aphids belong to the ‘true […]
How are new varieties of plants registered and why?
You may see a new variety of vegetable at the grocery store, for example an unusual new lettuce or apple. There are other important new varieties of crops that don’t show up […]