Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere could reduce the protein content of crop plants by as much as 20 percent, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of California, Davis say high CO2 levels interfere with the ability of plants to convert nitrate into proteins, and thus reduce their quality as food.
The findings, the researchers say, suggest new fertilizers may be needed to counteract rising levels of atmospheric CO2 in the coming decades. The scientists tested how two major forms of soil nitrogen — nitrate and ammonium — affected wheat and the mustard plant, Arabidopsis, that were exposed to elevated CO2 levels. Those crops exposed to CO2 had a reduced ability to produce nitrogen-containing compounds, including proteins. Increased CO2 levels predicted for the next 20–50 years could reduce the amount of protein in crops by up to a fifth because of this phenomenon.
This study is alerting us about the need to develop new fertilisation techniques and to improve crops' nitrogen use efficiencies.
Perhaps organic farming is the solution. Kerala in India has officially announced a new farming policy which aims to covert all agriculture in the state to organic methods over the next ten years. Recently, the state of Sikkim, in the northeast part of the country, announced that it had converted 6,000 of its 70,000 hectares of agricultural land to organic agriculture, on way to converting it all by 2015.
Organic farming advocates also claim it reduces carbon emissions in farming. In the long run, dependence on fertilisers and chemical pesticides is a good thing for the soil.
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Organic agriculture can remove from the air and sequester 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per acre per year. The Rodale Institute study that came up with the above number also found that, when properly executed, organic agriculture does not compromise yield. As a matter of fact, in drought years, it increases yield, since the additional carbon stored in soil helps it to hold more water. In wet years, the additional organic matter in the soil wicks water away from plant roots, limiting erosion and keeping plants in place.
All that is besides the relief from over-use of pesticides and fertilisers!
Organic agriculture can remove from the air and sequester 7,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per acre per year. The Rodale Institute study that came up with the above number also found that, when properly executed, organic agriculture does not compromise yield. As a matter of fact, in drought years, it increases yield, since the additional carbon stored in soil helps it to hold more water. In wet years, the additional organic matter in the soil wicks water away from plant roots, limiting erosion and keeping plants in place.
All that besides the damage to soil and environment from over-use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Yes, organic seems to be the sustainable way ahead.
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