[Agriculture and Horticulture ] Article in The Age today

[Tran, Lorraine I]

Dear colleague

There is an article on page 4 of today's The Age titled Farmer pumped about improving crop quality.
It outlines a method that arrived in Australia in 2007 that is practised by only 170 farmers world-wide. The method involves use of Bio-Agtive tractor kits which is a carbon capture system that takes exhaust fume which are rich in carbon and nitrogen from the tractor or seeder and pumps it back into the soil during planting or tilling.

A couple of links to read more about this technology, returned by my Google search are:
Bioagtive
http://www.bioagtive.com/
Minot Daily News
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/514706/Tractor-exhaust-fertilization-system-causing-dispute.html
The Land
http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/education/general/carbon-from-the-exhaust-to-the-soil/1643578.aspx

Farmers report they are saving $50 to $60 per hectare on fertiliser, and that soil tests have shown remarkable improvements. In addition, there are positive environmental impacts - reducing carbon emissions and fertiliser pollution.

However, the system for improving soil fertility and plant growth is under dispute (as reported in the Minot Daily News).

This article/information would be useful for Unit 3, Area of study 2 New or emerging technology.

Regards, Lorraine.

Lorraine Tran I Curriculum Manager

VELS Design, Creativity and Technology
VCE Agricultural and Horticultural Studies I VCE Food and Technology
VCE Design and Technology I VCE Systems Engineering

Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA)
41 St Andrews Place I East Melbourne I 3002

W (03) 9651 4407 I M 0400833521
E tran.lorraine.i at edumail.vic.gov.au<mailto:tran.lorraine.i at edumail.vic.gov.au>

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