h1 style="margin: 0; padding: 0;">Nature: Sunlight could boost crop yields despite dry fertilizer
Plants may process nitrogen in soil more efficiently
A rare bit of good news on the food front
Plants can use nitrogen in the soil more efficiently when exposed to sunlight, according to a recent study—a finding that could help boost crop yields globally even when fertilizer is scarce. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, found that plants exposed to sunlight had higher levels of a protein that helps them absorb nitrogen from the soil. This could lead to a significant increase in crop yields, even in areas where fertilizer is limited.
The study was published in the journal Nature, and the findings could have a major impact on global food production. Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants, and it is often applied to crops in the form of fertilizer. However, fertilizer is expensive and can contribute to environmental pollution. If plants can be made to use nitrogen more efficiently, it could reduce the need for fertilizer and help to protect the environment.
The researchers believe that their findings could be used to develop new crop varieties that are more efficient at using nitrogen. This could lead to increased crop yields and reduced fertilizer use, which would be a major benefit for farmers and the environment.
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