Fertilizer

Monoculture is prevalent in the United States’ industrial agriculture to sustain an efficient amount of singular crops, unfortunately, this agricultural practice degrades the soil by depleting the nutrients, increases dependency on chemical fertilizers, and lacks diversity which contributes to the spread of diseases. Monocropping should not be practiced for the sake of the environment and the potential health risk it proposes to humans. Furthermore, the short-term results do not outweigh the…

Aim: This experiment will investigate the effects of different concentrations of fertilizer on the growth of duckweed. Hypothesis: It is expected that the cup with the most amount of fertilizer (cup D) over the 14 days will have the most amount of growth compared to cup A, B and C. Apparatus: 4x polystyrene cups 20x duckweed fronds (5 in each cup) 1x 5ml medicine teaspoon 1x tweezers 1x syringe 1x marker fertilizer Method: 1. Label each cup as A, B, C or D with the marker 2. Using the…

When an item says “organic” compared to “conventional,” thoughts of old-fashioned farming practices come to mind. In certain aspects that is what organic farming is. The labeling, pesticide use, fertilizer use, and certifications are different between the two farming industries. Because of this, organic and conventional farming are very different industries, and when it comes to feeding an overpopulated planet, conventional farming appears to be the only choice. However, modern day farming…

government had... a tremendous surplus of ammonium nitrate” which they sprayed on corn as a fertilizer to help farm the land without depleting nutrients (Pollan 41). This not only helped farmers grow higher yields but also “liberated [them] from old biological constraints” by allowing a monoculture and an abundant supply of corn (Pollan 45). However helpful in creating a surplus to feed billions, nitrogen fertilizers have a negative connotation to many in society. One farmer activist even said…

polluting our water” Corporate agribusinesses could potentially be the number one polluter to the water supply today, harming marine life and even humans if the polluted water is consumed. With runoff of an abundance of chemicals from the usage of fertilizers and animal manure, agribusinesses create a huge threat to the health of the environment and all life relying on water purity. Agriculture is cited as” a leading cause of groundwater pollution in the United States” and “the leading source of…

For my fourth activity I volunteered at the student run UT Microfarm for two hours equaling one unit. During my time there I was asked to perform a variety of tasks including painting, weeding, and mulching. I also leaned about sustainable farming methods and what types of plants were grown at the farm. My first task at the UT Microfarm was to paint the outside of the shed. This was an attempt to beautify the farm to entice people to volunteer and support it. With the help of others I was able…

Should animal cruelty be illegal? Animal cruelty is also known as animal abuse or animal neglect, which is when someone hurts and animal or does not care for an animal responsibly. Animal cruelty has been apart of the society since the ancient ages. People don’t actually see the different parts of animal cruelty, they just see it as having pets, going hunting, using them for experiments, making them fight each other, and used for entertainment. According to the ASPCA, “150,000 American horses…

safety matches (figure C). Black phosphorus is created by adding oxygen and one more element. Phosphorus is a useful element that is used for a number of reasons. It’s most useful application is in the production of fertilizers. Phosphorus acid (H3PO4) is needed in the mixture of fertilizers as small amounts…

86%, which was the highest in the Chinese water system. (Liang, G., 2012; He, H., 2012) This is because from the year 1993, the Taihu lake had suffered eutrophication. The fertilizers from the nearby farms were not absorbed by the crops and were washed into the lake by rainwater. The nitrates and phosphates in the fertilizers enhanced the growth of algae and water plants, leading to the increased growth and multiplication of algae and floating water plants in the lake. Organic pollution at the…

agriculture, and they are organic and conventional farming. These two farming methods have been under constant debate, says New York Times journalist, Kenneth Chang (2012). For those that support organic farming, they believe that the using of natural fertilizers and no pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) maintains the health of the environment and its people by exposing less harmful chemicals in the air, ground, and crops (Environmental Benefits, 2014; Procopio, 2013). On the…