How plant diversity can help combat climate change
We might want to start considering a diversity makeover for the simulation game 'Farmville,' making it more environmentally conscious and modeling it to promote biodiverse farming practices. Why, you ask? Because research has found that adding a dash of plant diversity to agricultural systems can effectively accelerate the carbon consignment potential of the soils. This is a significant discovery, and is particularly relevant as the agriculture industry strives to decrease its carbon footprint. Plant diversity could be our very own secret ingredient to sustainable, eco-friendly agriculture and food production. Plant diversity and sustainable agriculture It is no secret that the progress and intensification of farming...
Planting diverse crops traps carbon and boosts soil health
Ever wonder why some farmers keep planting different crops or allowing wildflowers to flourish on the periphery of their field? It's not just to create a pretty scene. Planting diverse crops involves something as intricate and invisible as bacteria and as immense and palpable as carbon storage and climate change. Agriculture has a carbon issue A large portion of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere originates from the soil. Plowing, tilling, and harvesting release carbon from the ground and send it skywards. Despite the well-intentioned green thumb, agriculture finds itself in the red. About 40% of the world's land is used for...
Islands are home to one-third of all known plants
Plant life is the fundamental fabric of our planet, and it's astonishing to realize that about one-third of all known plant species have made islands their home. Despite representing a little more than 5% of Earth's land surface, islands are the embodiment of rich biodiversity. How did this happen? Plant species dwelling on islands Dr. Julian Schrader from Macquarie University’s School of Natural Sciences, along with an international team of researchers, analyzed data from around 304,103 plants – which essentially sums up all species known to science. The results highlight the incredible biodiversity existing on islands. Out of 94,052 species that were identified...