Slashdot Mirror


Plowing Carbon Into the Fields

OzPeter writes "A wheat farmer in Australia has eliminated adding fertilizer to his crop by the simple process of injecting the cooled diesel exhaust of his modified tractor into the ground when the wheat is being sown. In doing so he eliminates releasing carbon into the atmosphere and at the same time saves himself up to $500,000 (AUD) that would have been required to fertilize his 3,900 hectares in the traditional way. Yet his crop yields over the last two years have been at least on par with his best yields since 2001. The technique was developed by a Canadian, Gary Lewis of Bio Agtive, and is currently in trial at 100 farms around the world."

4 of 467 comments (clear)

  1. Global Cooling by RandySC · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    How does avoiding the release of CO2 help prevent global cooling, which is our most pressing concern in the near future.

    --
    Organization: alphabetical, sometimes numerical or messy
  2. Re:Wealth and Population: Article by "The Economis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Stop the Catholic and Christine spread that encourages unbridled birth and you might have a chance,
    The chance you can do that == 0.0
    Most every third world country they have spread their stupidity is blighted with uncontrolled birth and Poverty.
    Examples: Philippines, Mexico.

    The Italians have accomplished two things, The destruction of the third world and professional gangsterism and Pizza
    wait, the Italians have accomplished three things, The destruction of the third world and professional gangsterism and Pizza and Picasso
    wait, the Italians have accomplished four things, The destruction of the third world and professional gangsterism and Pizza and Picasso and FUCK IT

  3. Re:It is funny by timmarhy · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    you are wrong. there are perfectly good solutions that can be money makers as well as helping the environment. it's just for every good idea, there is 1000 shit ones that are just an attempt to cash in on the global warming fad. they typically contain junk science that doesn't sense check and are always light on details - this one is case in point.

    CO2 is not a fertiliser, diesel fumes are toxic, any catalitic process to convert the fumes is going to be so wasteful that you'll need to burn significantly more diesel mitigating the cost saving by spending more on fuel. then there is the inflated savings figures which always accompany these kinds of "breakthroughs".

    what else can you expect but a jaded response?

    --
    If you mod me down, I will become more powerful than you can imagine....
  4. Re:Typical by khallow · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Look who's talking. If Slashdot isn't your thing, maybe you should go some place where they'll take your pathetic whining seriously (well aside from the idiot moderator who gave you points for being "insightful"). For my part, I've read both facts and useful opinions. You just need to figure out how to separate the wheat from the chaff. Here's a reference data point. Currently, you are chaff.