Corn Cob- A Renewable Feedstock

Corn Cobs

Renewable Feedstock

             Renewable feedstocks are products that help a chemical reaction, and they are able to be produced over again without any negative side effects to the earth. Corn cobs are an excellent source of a renewable feedstock. These corn cobs have potential for renewable energy, and they are a sustainable product, and there is no chance of them running out.

            Corn cobs have a similar energy make up like that of coal, but they are less energy dense than fossil fuels, meaning they can not produce as much as the fossil fuels. Corn cobs are a better source than coal, because they do not produce hazardous waste in the air like ash.

            I think the idea of corn cobs as an alternative energy source would be a good start on reducing the use of fossil fuels. There is a large amount of unused corn cob in the United States, and these cobs could be put to good use. Corn cobs are a good way to help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, making the air cleaner, which in turn could help people with respiratory problems like asthma or COPD. Corn cobs should be considered as an alternative fuel source.

Source:

Zych, Daron. (2008, August). The viability of corn cobs as a bioenergy feedstock

            Retrieved from:

http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/biomass/documents/zych-theviabilityofcorncobasabioenergyfeedstock.pdf   

UNH: A Green Way

UNH

 A Green Way

UNH took the first step in becoming green in 2006. Their heat and power were combined together, this is called a cogeneration plant. This plant is supposed to save the university twenty eight million dollars, and will payback in twenty years. Also, a cogeneration plant reduced the amount of greenhouse gas by about twenty one percent in the academic year of 2006.

In 2007, UNH started an Eco Line project, with the help of Waste Management of New Hampshire, Inc. Waste management in Rochester is used for this project. Eco Line Project would use landfill material, and convert it into energy. The natural gas is piped down in an underground pipeline where it is purified, and then it is transported to UNH campus at Durham. This project provides eighty five percent of the energy to the main campus buildings, using methane as its source. UNH was the first university in the United States to have one of these plants. When the cogeneration plant and the Eco Line are combined they will ensure energy security. UNH is showing people how environmentally aware they are in their two different projects.

This is a great way to reduce fossil fuels, and become a greener society. I think other universities should follow UNH as an example. They are reducing their dependency on fossil fuels, and saving the university money. Maybe this idea will be used more in the future.

Sources:

http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/ecoline

http://unh.edu/news/cjnr/2009/may/bp19ecoloine.cfm

High-Yield Farming

High-Yield Farming

Green Agriculture

            High-yield farming is a part of green agriculture. This idea of high-yield farming has produced a green revolution. The production of food has been made easier because of better seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Also high-yield farming decreases the risk of soil erosion. With the concept of high-yield farming, people use low-till farming with herbicides. This controls weeds, instead of using the practice of bare-earth plowing and hoeing. High-yield farming is the best example of biodiversity all over the world.

In high-yield farming more food is produced per acre of farmland. In any area where there is high-yield farming, there is no famine. The food that is produced provides more nutrients including iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Children are healthier, and are able to learn better and more quickly. The livestock and poultry are affected by high-yield farming. The farmers are able to produce more meat products, and their animal breeding is better for high-yield farming.   

            High-yield farming seems like a good idea which benefits the environment, by reducing soil erosion. It helps children in areas where high-yield farming is located. Children are more likely to be better learners and healthier too. This also could help farmers as well. High-yield farming should be put into practice, and we might be better for it.

Source:

Avery, D.T. (2007). How high-yield farming saves nature. Society, 44(6), 137-138.

Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=17&sid=b79b836f-5db3-4528-bff8-3f412343fdda%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=27734097

Plant Fertilizing- Biological Interactions

Plant Fertilizing

Biological Interactions

            Using fertilizer is an important element in gardening. Fertilizers help with biological interactions by helping plant growth within the soil. When you garden, you need nitrogen in the soil; which helps control the nutrients, and makes the plant grow. Also you need phosphorus, which prevents disease, and aids the roots spread in the soil. Lastly, you need potassium in your soil; which also helps prevent disease and aids the roots like phosphorus.

             Compost is the preferable way of fertilizing your plants. Manure is the best type of compost; it has all the organic materials necessary. Now there is such a thing as green manure. With this manure, nitrogen is broken down, and nutrients become readily accessible to the plant. Green manure could help prevent soil erosion. You can make your own compost, and it is easy to do. In your compost, you could use vegetable scraps, newspapers, tree leaves, and other material. If you do not want to use compost on your soil you can use commercial fertilizer. You just need to read the package of fertilizer correctly, or you could damage or kill the plant.

            Fertilizers help plants with biological interactions. Without these fertilizers, plants could not grow well. We need fertilizers to help us grow the food we need.  

Gehring, A. R. (Ed.). (2009). Homesteading. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing.