The benefits of added organic matter to the soil have long been
known, and are usually attributed to increased nitrogen, greater
water-holding capacity and an increase in activity of soil earthworms
and microbes. But experiments have shown that the increase in carbon
dioxide (CO2) release that accompanies added organic matter is
certainly one of the main reasons why adding organic matter to the soil
increases plant growth.
Greenhouse owners have long
understood that plants consume CO2 and release oxygen. In a greenhouse
packed full of plants, through the process of photosynthesis, the
plants can quickly use up most of the available CO2, and then their
growth slows down or stops. To compensate for this, old-time growers
used to place boxes or flats of fresh manure underneath their
greenhouse benches. As the manure decomposed it released CO2 into the
greenhouse air, and the plants grew faster as a result.
In today’s modern greenhouses, especially those with concrete floors,
lack of CO2 is always a concern. Most of the newer greenhouse ranges
are now equipped with automatic CO2 regulators that monitor the amount
of CO2 in the air inside the greenhouse, and then release more as
needed.
In these greenhouses with their gas growth CO2 generators, the plants don’t just grow bigger – they also mature earlier.
So, what has all this to do with
global warming and allergies?
As we become more and more reliant on burning petroleum products and as
our global temperatures continue to rise, carbon dioxide levels in our
air are rising. Before the last election we in the U.S. had assumed,
incorrectly, that no matter which candidate won the election, new
controls were going to be placed on CO2 emissions.
We know better now.
The
U.S. with its huge consumption of fossil fuels, (the U.S. produces
nearly 25% of man-made carbon dioxide emissions worldwide). also is
experiencing the greatest increase in CO2. Actually, CO2 accounts for
80-85% of the heat trapping (greenhouse) gases contributing to global
warming.
The idea that is now called the “Greening
Theory” holds that all this extra CO2 is good. It will result in
increased plant growth and thus in resulting increases in food
supplies. There is some merit to this theory but there are numerous
downsides too.
Mais sinopses sobre CO2, Global Warming, and Pollen Allergies