Public Release: 4-Sep-2009 HortScienceOrganic apple orchard floor maintenance techniquesOrganic apple farming starts from the ground up. Maintaining a healthy orchard floor is the key to preventing weeds and keeping soil healthy. Researchers compared three methods of orchard floor maintenance; alfalfa hay mulch treatment, applied by hand in the spring and fall; a flame burning technique in which a propane burner was used to heat the weeds and the Swiss sandwich system, which leaves a strip of vegetation to grow in the tree row.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009Brown economists measure GDP growth from outer spaceMeasurements of economic growth often fall short for developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, and are rarely calculated at all for cities throughout the world. In a new working paper, three Brown University economists suggest a way to improve GDP estimates for such areas by using images of nighttime lights as seen from outer space.
Contact: Deborah Baumdeborah_baum@brown.edu401-863-2478Brown University
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009 HortScienceEnvironmental effects of cold-climate strawberry farmingCalifornia and Florida grow more than 95 percent of the nation's strawberries but how do growing methods designed to ensure successful strawberry production in colder climates affect the environment? The conventional matted row system was compared to another system, cold-climate plasticulture. Both rely on fumigation and pesticides to protect plants. This has led to the develo. Results indicate that AMR is more environmentally sustainable.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009 HortScienceFor peat's sake: Alternative growing mediaPeat, or semi-decayed vegetation matter, has been used by commercial growers and amateur gardeners since the middle of the 20th century. Peat is added to potting soil to help retain moisture and provide additional nutrients. Concerns about the environmental impact of extracting peat from wetlands are mounting. Researchers from the University of Turin's Department of Agronomy evaluated five materials as partial peat substitutes. The results show these alternatives have potential.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009 HortScienceWatermelon's hidden killerWatermelon vine decline is a new and emerging disease that has created devastating economic losses for watermelon producers in Florida. Caused by the whitefly-transmitted squash vein yellowing virus, the disease created monetary losses estimated at $60 to $70 million in Florida during the 2004 growing season. Responding to producers' concerns, scientists recently identified the cause of WVD and are seeking ways to control the plague.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009 Conservation GeneticsThe first DNA barcodes of commonly traded bushmeat are publishedResearchers from the American Museum of Natural History, the University of Colorado, and other institutions have published the DNA barcodes of commonly traded bushmeat from Central Africa and South America. DNA barcodes -- short genetic sequences that can be readily obtained and pinpoint the species of origin of any product -- offer wildlife enforcement a new tool in the international trade of wildlife. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Richard Lounsbery Foundation
Contact: Kristin Elise Phillipskphillips@amnh.org212-496-3419American Museum of Natural History
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009 Environmental PollutionPesticides -- easier detection of pollution and impact in riversLeipzig: The long-term effects of pesticides on living organisms in rivers and on water quality can now be assessed more easily. Researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research have developed a tool that can estimate the harmful effect of pesticides, such as those flushed into rivers and streams from agricultural land, within minutes. Environment Agency of England and Wales, European Union
Contact: Tilo Arnholdpresse@ufz.de49-341-235-1635Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Public Release: 4-Sep-2009Safe seed: Researchers yielding good results on food cotton in fieldField trials of a new cotton are verifying previous lab and greenhouse studies indicating the crop could become a source of protein for millions of malnourished people in the world. The cotton was engineered so that the toxic gossypol is reduced to tolerable levels in the high-protein seed but remain at higher levels in the rest of the plant to ward off pests and disease. The work was done at Texas AgriLife Research. Cotton Inc.
Contact: Kathleen Phillipska-phillips@tamu.edu979-845-2872Texas A&M AgriLife Communications
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 HortScienceOrganic or local?The emerging trend toward healthier, fresher foods presents new dilemmas for conscientious consumers. Marketers tout the attributes of "organic" food, while the "local foods movement" is gaining popularity throughout the world. The "organic-or-local" debate is particularly interesting when it comes to fruits and vegetables; but do consumers really understand the difference between "organic" and "local" produce? And what price are we willing to pay for these fresh, premium products?
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 HortScienceIndoor plants found to release volatile organic compoundsPotted plants add aesthetic value to homes and offices, and have been shown to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) gases or vapors emitted by solids and liquids that may have adverse health effects. But take heed when considering adding some green to your environment; in addition to giving off oxygen and sucking out harmful VOCs, a new study shows that some indoor plants actually release volatile organic compounds into the environment.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 HortScienceGreening university classroomsIn today's frenetic world, many urban dwellers spend more than 80 percent of the day indoors. Enhancing homes and offices with ornamental plants has become a popular way to "green" our lives. Researchers have found that the presence of houseplants in homes and workplaces can reduce eye irritation and stress, motivate employees, improve concentration and even reduce air impuritie. Now, scientists are testing the impact of plants on student performance and satisfaction in the classroom.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 HortScienceGolf course putting greens show their ageJust like the rest of us, golf courses show their age -- especially on putting greens, which experience more foot traffic than anywhere else on golf courses. Putting greens, which comprise 1.6 percent of the total area on most courses, require more intensive management than any other part of the course. To keep putting greens in top form, turfgrass experts study ways to provide proper nutrients to the root zone, a critical area for maintaining healthy turf.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 HortScienceGrowing green roofsOne way to maximize the eco-friendly factor of a structure is to include a green roof. "Greening" a roof, or covering a roof with vegetation, is gaining popularity in North America, where the number of green roofs increased 30 percent from 2006 to 2007. Benefits of green roofs include improved storm water management, energy conservation, reduced noise and air pollution, improved biodiversity and even a better return on investment than traditional roofing.
Contact: Michael W. Neffmwneff@ashs.org703-836-4606American Society for Horticultural Science
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 American Journal of BotanyHow to advance scientific literacyThis set of papers captures current issues about the public understanding of science, illustrates why greater emphasis on helping students understand and appreciate the process of science is so important, and provides insights and perspectives on what all practicing scientists can do to build a more receptive audience. Academic scientists contribute to the problem by tending to teach content (facts about biology) rather than process (how to learn about biology). Botanical Society of America
Contact: Richard Hundrhund@botany.org314-577-9557American Journal of Botany
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 ScienceEurope's first farmers replaced their Stone Age hunter-gatherer forerunnersAnalysis of ancient DNA suggests that Europe's first farmers were not the descendants of the people who settled the area after the retreat of the ice sheets. Instead, the early farmers probably migrated into major areas of central and eastern Europe about 7,500 years ago, bringing domesticated plants and animals with them. DNA analysis reveals little evidence of a direct genetic link between the hunter-gatherers and the early farmers.
Contact: Professor Mark Thomasm.thomas@ucl.ac.uk44-079-737-25955University College London
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009USGS science picksWant the cold facts about melting glaciers? How about details on a recent study finding mercury contamination in fish nationwide? Or how you can wander New York on September 11 and help find the city's lost crickets? The answers are in this edition of USGS Science Picks. In addition, find out about educational resources for teachers, the power of small life forms, details on Cash for Clunkers, and sewage in rivers.
Contact: Kara Capellikcapelli@usgs.gov703-648-5086United States Geological Survey
Public Release: 3-Sep-2009 Botanical Journal of the Linnean SocietyWeeds that reinvented weedinessFlowering plants are all around us and are phenomenally successful -- but how did they get to be so successful and where did they come from? This question bothered Darwin and others and a paper published in the September issue of the Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society indicates that their ability to adapt anatomically may be the answer.
Contact: Kate Longhurstkate@linnean.org44-207-434-4479Wiley-Blackwell
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 Resources and Energy EconomicsResearch recommends compromise when choosing conservation siteA lot of variables come into play when selecting a site for environmental conservation that yields benefits to people nearby such as wildlife needs, species and vegetation uniqueness, and costs to the government or community. When faced with a choice, University of Illinois researchers found that society and the environment can be better off if conservation agents choose sites that are closer to people because people are more willing to financially support something close to them. US Department of Agriculture
Contact: Debra Levey Larsondlarson@illinois.edu217-244-2880University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 Environmental Science & TechnologyTrash or treasure? Discarded US computers often get a second lifeMore computers discarded by consumers in the United States are getting a second life in developing countries than previously believed, according to a new study -- the most comprehensive ever done on the topic -- reported in ACS' semi-monthly journal Environmental Science & Technology. The findings may ease growing concerns about environmental pollution with toxic metals that can result from dismantling and recycling computer components in developing countries.
Contact: Michael Woodsm_woods@acs.org202-872-6293American Chemical Society
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 Journal of Agricultural and Food ChemistrySustainable fertilizer: Urine and wood ash produce large harvestResults of the first study evaluating the use of human urine mixed with wood ash as a fertilizer for food crops has found that the combination can be substituted for costly synthetic fertilizers to produce bumper crops of tomatoes without introducing any risk of disease for consumers. The study appears in the current issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication.
Contact: Michael Woodsm_woods@acs.org202-872-6293American Chemical Society
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 ACS Chemical BiologyPowerful new 'molecular GPS' helps probe aging and disease processesScientists in Michigan are reporting the development of a powerful new probe for identifying proteins affected by a key chemical process important in aging and disease. The probe works like a GPS or navigation system for finding these proteins in cells. It could lead to new insights into disease processes and identify new targets for disease treatments, the researchers say. Their study is scheduled for the Sept. 18 issue of ACS Chemical Biology, a monthly journal.
Contact: Michael Woodsm_woods@acs.org202-872-6293American Chemical Society
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 Nano Letters'NanoPen' may write new chapter in nanotechnology manufacturingResearchers in California are reporting development of a so-called "NanoPen" that could provide a quick, convenient way of laying down patterns of nanoparticles -- from wires to circuits -- for making futuristic electronic devices, medical diagnostic tests, and other much-anticipated nanotech applications. A report on the device, which helps solve a long-standing challenge in nanotechnology, appeared in ACS' Nano Letters, a monthly journal.
Contact: Michael Woodsm_woods@acs.org202-872-6293American Chemical Society
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009Time to tap climate change-combating potential of the world's ecosystemsInvesting in restoration and maintenance of the Earth's multitrillion dollar ecosystems -- from forests and mangroves to wetlands and river basins -- can have a key role in countering climate change and climate-proofing vulnerable economies. This is among the central findings of a new climate issues update by the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, a project launched by Germany and the European Commission to develop a global study on the economics of biodiversity loss.
Contact: Tilo Arnholdpresse@ufz.de49-341-235-1269Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 American Journal of Clinical NutritionVitamin C deficiency impairs early brain developmentIn the latest issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a group of researchers from LIFE, Copenhagen, shows that guinea pigs subjected to vitamin C deficiency have 30 percent less hippocampal neurones and markedly worse memory than guinea-pigs given a normal diet. Like guinea pigs, humans are dependent on getting vitamin C through their diet, this leads to the speculatioAn that vitamin C deficiency in pregnant women may also lead to impaired early brain development.
Contact: Professor Jens Lykkesfeldtjopl@life.ku.dk453-533-3163University of Copenhagen
Public Release: 2-Sep-2009 Nature GeoscienceHumans causing erosion comparable to world's largest rivers and glaciersA new study finds that large-scale farming projects can erode the Earth's surface at rates comparable to those of the world's largest rivers and glaciers. Published online in the journal Nature Geosciences, the research offers stark evidence of how humans are reshaping the planet. It also finds that -- contrary to previous scholarship -- rivers are as powerful as glaciers at eroding landscapes.
Contact: Basil Waughbasil.waugh@ubc.ca604-822-2048University of British Columbia
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