Soil tests

Ovaskainen, 2000), establishment (Bowman, Cappuccino & Fahrig, 2002), habitat selection (Fletcher & Hutto, 2008), animal predation of pollinators (Batary & Baldi, 2004), resource quality (Burke & Nol, 1998), and interspecific competition. Edge effects in plant and animal communities are common but may be positive (Chen et al., 1992) or negative (Bruna 2002) and affect distributions, abundance (Bolger et al., 2000), growth (McDonald and Urban, 2004), and reproduction (Burgess et al., 2006). Edge…

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient to all forms of life and is required for building DNA, RNA and amino acids (Paytan, 2011). Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient in ecosystems, along with nitrogen, and therefore its abundance determines the amount of primary production that can occur within a system (Schindler, 1971). The two main types of phosphorus are inorganic phosphate minerals, such as calcium phosphate rock that is mined for fertilizer, and organic compounds containing phosphorus…

Brown describes mass soil erosion as “a catastrophic form of natural erosion and can be produced by road construction in unstable, steep topography”, one of the most common forms of erosion in Oregon due to poorly places logging roads. Not only does clearcutting in northern parts of Oregon create compacted roads, but when these mass soil movements occur along these roads that are built to transport the wood being taken out they flow right into river systems that can greatly affect the biotic…

physical properties, the more cultivation is typically needed. Without adequate cultivation, there remains a high potential for layering in the soil. Anytime there is a layer created in the soil, the interface between the layers will have the potential to negatively affect hydraulic conductivity, root penetration and even air and gas exchange characteristics of the soil. The goal of all topdressing programs is to reach 75% sand by weight in the rootzone. When 75% is reached, macropores are…

Monascus Pigment: A Versatile Fungal Pigment Introduction Pigments is defined as a organic compounds that give a characteristic color to plant or animal tissues and is involved in critical processes. Chlorophyll in plant (photosynthesis) and hemoglobin present in Red blood cells (oxygen transportation) are examples of pigment. Variety of color pigments produced by organisms is also known as biological pigment or bichromes. Pigments from plants and animals have been obtaining since long…

What kind of soil structure that supports the growth of garden landscaping? The structure of the soil fertile and flat is coveted for each kind of garden landscaping. But for those of you that have outdoor areas like slopes, how to make garden landscaping? What is the area of hillside garden landscaping can be made? Of course it can, although the contours of the land are like that, you can still create a garden or often called the hillside landscaping. But when you happen to have to make the…

As low-water landscaping gains ground in desert areas like SoCal, many people worry that it’s a choice between being responsible and having an appealing lawn. It doesn’t need to be that way. Xeriscape and hardscape design Santa Clarita can use materials like decomposed granite, tumbled glass, wood and metal to create visual appeal. Color One of the biggest draws of a grass lawn is the vibrant, green color. Giving up on grass doesn’t mean relegating your lawn to shades of tan. Decomposed…

“Song of Myself” Writing The poet, Walt Whitman, conveys what the grass is through “Song of Myself” from the collection of Leaves of Grass; the grass is everything all at once, but also how the individual has his or her place in the world because it is composed of the same material. Whitman articulates “What do you think has become of the young and old men? And what do you think has become of the women and children? They are alive and well somewhere. The smallest sprout shows there is really no…

A well-planned garden by Mike Carruthers of Carruthers Landscaping www.carrutherslandscaping.ca will add to your property’s value – and curb appeal. But not just a couple of hastily cut out flower beds with a few annuals thrown into it. These days, a home’s yard(s) may become an extension of the lifestyle of the homeowners. With discussion and proper planning, your garden can be transformed into practical living/lifestyle space for you and your family. An oasis need not be only well-manicured…

Integrated water management Integrated water management (IWM) of storm water has the potential to address many of the issues affecting the health of waterways and water supply challenges facing the modern urban city. Also known as low impact development (LID) in the United States, or Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) in Australia, IWM has the potential to improve runoff quality, reduce the risk and impact of flooding and deliver an additional water resource to augment potable supply. The…