GPS News  
SmartGrow uses hair to grow food

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only
by Staff Writers
Florida City, Fla. (UPI) Dec 23, 2007
A new product marketed as SmartGrow uses human hair imported from China and India to help in people with their horticultural efforts.

Tropical Research and Education Center researchers at the University of Florida said the new horticultural product has been proven to be a useful alternative to herbicides, but still surprises most people who learn about it, The Miami Herald reported Sunday.

"For people who say, `Oh my God, this is hair' and think it's disgusting, they should know these farmers put manure on tomatoes like it's going out of style,'' researcher Aaron Palmateer said.

The imported human hair is used to create mats that can help cover plants' roots, keeping them warm and protected from environmental factors.

Palmateer said the mats help increase crop yields and plant growth, but the exact reason why is still being investigated.

The SmartGrow mats were even used this year by environmental activists during the San Francisco Bay oil spill, the Herald reported.

Related Links
Farming Today - Suppliers and Technology



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Jekyll And Hyde Bacteria Offer Pest Control Hope
York, UK (SPX) Dec 20, 2007
New research at York has revealed so-called 'Jekyll and Hyde' bacteria, suggesting a novel way to control insect pests without using insecticides. Researchers at the University of York studied the relationship between plant-dwelling insects and the bacteria that live in them - and discovered an unexpected interaction.







  • China's rolls out first home-made commercial jet
  • Dutch cops to ditch helicopters for airships in green bid: agency
  • EU agrees curbs on airline emissions from 2012
  • Airbus close to sale of four factories: report

  • EU official rejects German criticism of car emissions plan: report
  • US environment chief ignored advice on Cal. emissions: report
  • AISI To Participate In Future Steel Vehicle, A New Global Steel Industry Research Initiative
  • California to sue over emissions snub in weeks: Schwarzenegger

  • Northrop Grumman And L-3 To Work Together In Bid For US Navy's EPX Aircraft
  • Raytheon Technology Receives High Marks At Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration
  • Northrop Grumman Develops World's Fastest Transistor To Support Military's Need For Higher Frequency And Bandwidth
  • Russia launches military satellite: agencies

  • Russia warns of 'measures' against US missile shield
  • A Good Year For Missile Defense Part One
  • BMD Focus: South Korea's leisurely BMD
  • Making Sense Of Arms Control Part Two

  • Illegal land grabs in China threatening food supplies: minister
  • China's Agricultural Bank ready for bailout: officials
  • SmartGrow uses hair to grow food
  • Jekyll And Hyde Bacteria Offer Pest Control Hope

  • Sunk swampland recovering post-Katrina
  • Graft, fighting hinders Sri Lanka's tsunami recovery
  • Indonesia's tsunami reconstruction chief lauds progress
  • Sri Lanka's cinnamon farmers seek divine help to spice up trade

  • Efficiency Of Satellite Telecommunications For Civil Protection Agencies
  • Russia And France Developing New Satellite Platform
  • Light Is Shed On New Fibre's Potential To Change Technology
  • Major Physics Breakthrough In Understanding Supersolidity

  • Honda's ASIMO robot gets smarter
  • Toyota's new robot can play the violin, help the aged
  • Humanoid teaches dentists to feel people's pain: researchers
  • Japan looks at everyday use of robots

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement