July 29, 2013

Ho Li Crap - move over Dr. Borlaug

A very interesting bit of research from The University of Nottingham:
World changing technology enables crops to take nitrogen from the air
A major new technology has been developed by The University of Nottingham, which enables all of the world�s crops to take nitrogen from the air rather than expensive and environmentally damaging fertilisers.

Nitrogen fixation, the process by which nitrogen is converted to ammonia, is vital for plants to survive and grow. However, only a very small number of plants, most notably legumes (such as peas, beans and lentils) have the ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria. The vast majority of plants have to obtain nitrogen from the soil, and for most crops currently being grown across the world, this also means a reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertiliser.

Professor Edward Cocking, Director of The University of Nottingham�s Centre for Crop Nitrogen Fixation, has developed a unique method of putting nitrogen-fixing bacteria into the cells of plant roots. His major breakthrough came when he found a specific strain of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in sugar-cane which he discovered could intracellularly colonise all major crop plants. This ground-breaking development potentially provides every cell in the plant with the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. The implications for agriculture are enormous as this new technology can provide much of the plant�s nitrogen needs.
And it is already at market by Azotic:
Natural nitrogen to boost agriculture
Azotic Technologies specialises in natural nitrogen which helps address the problem of nitrogen pollution. Our technology provides every cell in the plant with the ability to fix its own nitrogen from the air. It also promotes plant growth and increases vigour.
The Dr. Borlaug I reference in the title is this man: Dr. Norman Borlaug. A world savior but not well known. Posted by DaveH at July 29, 2013 8:34 PM
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