Biofuels more dangerous than fossil fuels

biofuels have often been billed as the silver bullets of climate change. In recent times, however, their benefits have come under scrutiny. One analysis suggests that clearing forests and savannah to grow biofuels releases vast amount of carbon into the atmosphere, far more than the carbon spared from the atmosphere by substituting fossil fuels with biofuels.

Ethanol demand could expand Gulf of Mexico's dead zone

The us demand for corn-based ethanol could cause nutrient-pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, expanding its dead zone, say scientists. The dead zone forms in the Gulf of Mexico every summer when oxygen levels in the water become too low to support marine life. The condition arises when the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers empty nutrient-rich waters into the Gulf.

What upsets the nitrogen balance?

the 'N' stands for nitrogen. Although an essential nutrient for plant growth, it could sometimes sound their death knell. A recent study shows low nitrogen deposits over a long period of time do exactly that. Two factors disturb its natural balance in the environment--one, fertilizer use, and two, industrial pollution, which causes acid rain.

Chemical-intensive farming good for soil?

Push for neem-based fertilisers

the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is deliberating on a mechanism to promote neem-coated fertilizers. The move is an attempt to prevent soil fatigue caused by imbalanced and excessive use of urea, and increasing crop yields. With the government set to promote neem-coated fertilizer, its manufacturers recently approached the government with a demand for subsidy or permission to increase the maximum retail price (mrp) of its product.

Sulphur deficiency in Madhya Pradesh soil leads to poor harvest

lakkhan Raghuwanshi had a bad harvest last monsoon. The farmer from Shyampur village, Guna district, cultivated soyabean, wheat and chana in 121 hectare (ha), of which he sowed soyabean in 61 ha. Despite the high-quality seeds sowed, the yield was a meagre 15 quintals per ha.

Other side of pesticides contamination

for 18 years now, scientists have discussed the reasons for the global decimation of amphibian populations. The cause list has been expanding from pesticides, to new diseases, to climate change that exacerbates both. But there is little confusion on what's driving nature's hardiest, most adaptive creatures to the brink. Mounting evidence points at environmental contamination and changes in climate regimes

Short News

Opposition to gm The All India Rice Exporters Association filed an application in the Supreme Court, in November 2006, asking to be included as petitioners in the civil writ petition filed by Aruna Rodrigues and others (see 'On hold', Down To Earth , October 31, 2006). The July 2005-writ asked the court to withhold permission to grow genetically modified crops until certified by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee. Papad passion

Iron power

Nitrogen is the most important nutrient in the rice-wheat cropping pattern predominantly practised in the Indo-Gangetic plain. Dinesh Kumar, one of the scientists involved in the study, says the use of iron pyrite is both viable and affordable as the country has vast reserves of the ore (350 million tonnes containing 22 per cent sulphur) as sedimentary deposits in Amjhore in Rohtas district of Bihar.

"We increasingly rely on inorganic fertilisers"

Of late, there is an emerging concern about increasing disruption in the global nitrogen cycle Wherever you produce food and energy, they disrupt the nitrogen cycle. Increased food production produces more nitrous oxide -- a greenhouse gas which contributes to ozone destruction. This nitrous oxide in the atmosphere reaches our coastal waters -- through rainfall -- and causes eutrophication (it renders a water body unfit to sustain life). Interviewee:  James Galloway