Phosphate poses one of Florida’s ongoing water-quality challenges. A process developed by University of Florida researchers using partially burned organic matter called biochar could provide an affordable solution, however. The process also yields methane gas usable as fuel and phosphate-laden carbon suitable for enriching soil.
Phosphate is used to make fertilizers, pesticides, and detergents. Florida produces about one-quarter of the world’s phosphate, and its surface waters sometimes contain large amounts. Because the chemical can spur algae growth, it has caused water-quality concerns in some communities. Some water treatment plants filter phosphate from wastewater, but existing methods have drawbacks such as high cost, low efficiency, and hazardous byproducts.
A new study has found that an emerging tool for combating climate change may cause less harm to some soil animals than initial studies suggested. Earthworms perform many essential and beneficial functions in the soil ecosystem, including soil structure improvement and nutrient mineralization. However the earthworms' ability to perform these crucial functions can be suppressed when they are exposed to toxic substances.
EDMONTON - Edmontonians now have a chance to check the health of their young elm trees through smartphone technology. Fifty-five of the downtown elms bear tags with abstract black and white logos, known as “quick-response codes,” for phones such as BlackBerrys or iPhones to scan. On average, the city loses about 4,300 trees a year, including elms. The drought of recent years is partly to blame, the city’s principal of forestry Jeannette Wheeler said.