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October 2016 Education Report11-04-16 | News

October 2016 Education Report

Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new natural fertilizer of soy flour or protein mixed with a polymer made from cornstarch that will slowly release the nitrogen naturally found in soy as it breaks down. Of the 14 different formulas developed and tested by a team led by David Grewell, director of the school's Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, and associate horticulture scientist James Schrader, eight of their formulas reportedly performed just as well as synthetic fertilizers, and even better than bio-based fertilizers. https://tinyurl.com/jedh3h8

Researchers at Iowa State University have developed a new natural fertilizer of soy flour or protein mixed with a polymer made from cornstarch that will slowly release the nitrogen naturally found in soy as it breaks down. Of the 14 different formulas developed and tested by a team led by David Grewell, director of the school's Center for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, and associate horticulture scientist James Schrader, eight of their formulas reportedly performed just as well as synthetic fertilizers, and even better than bio-based fertilizers. https://tinyurl.com/jedh3h8

In the ongoing battle against the emerald ash borer, which has already killed hundreds of millions of Ash trees in the U.S., University of British Columbia Vancouver research associate Justin Whitehill, who discovered that a plant hormone called methyl jasmonate can boost the trees' natural immune systems and help them resist infestations, is now teaming up with University of Kansas researchers Joy Ward and Laurel Haavik to explore more ways to combat this invasive species.

The sudden death of a high number of post oaks in Texas despite a healthy rainfall this year has its roots in the 2011 drought, as well as a combination of environmental factors, says experts with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas Plant Diagnostic Lab. Agrilife research forest pathologist David Appel cautions to not confuse the decline with oak wilt as control measures for that will not help this problem, but replacing grass around the tree with mulch and not over-watering will.

As seen in LC/DBM magazine, October 2016.

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