(Natural News) The benefits of using cover crops and compost in growing all sorts of plants have been known for a long time. However, the effects of adding them in specific configurations haven’t exactly been well-studied. In fact, certain long-term impacts of adding organic matter through cover crops (CC) and compost in the soil are […]

(Natural News) Do you like having cornflakes for breakfast? It may not be the best breakfast option after all. Research has revealed that the cancer-fighting phenolics in corn are lost when they are processed. A team of researchers from the University of Illinois conducted a set of studies to determine what happens to cancer-fighting phenolic acids in […]

(Natural News) Fruits and vegetables are known for being rich in beneficial substances, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. To ensure that food being consumed is safe, these crops can easily be planted in your backyard without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and other toxic chemicals. While organic and pesticide-free fruits and vegetables may […]

(Natural News) Xanthomonas bacteria are known to damage economically important crops by using destructive effector proteins that break down plant cells. Recently, a German research group discovered the specific means by which one of these effectors interrupted a plant’s nutrient supply and disrupted its hormones, reported a ScienceDaily article. The researchers hail from four respected […]

(Natural News) Essential oils are being thoroughly studied for their numerous benefits on human health. But they are also capable of protecting plants from fungal diseases that would ruin entire crops. Brazilian researchers investigated the anti-fungal activity of essential oils from 17 different plants against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the fungus that causes white mold. White mold is also known as […]

(Natural News) Okra may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but like other vegetables, it packs some serious nutritional benefits. For those of you who do love this green seed pod, did you know that they are easy to grow? All you need is this simple but fool-proof guide to growing your own okra, and you […]

(Natural News) Want to get the most yield and the biggest tubers from your crop of potatoes, protect them from certain pests and weeds, and not use any artificial chemicals? An American study reported that adding straw mulch to the soil around emerging potatoes will result in bigger, healthier tubers. Mulch was also shown to […]

(Natural News) Global food production has been a significant issue for years. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in its “The future of food and agriculture – Trends and challenges” report for 2018, lists the challenges that face modern agriculture. One of the challenges presented is the need to make food systems […]

(Natural News) Why use commercial pesticides that are harmful to human health and the environment when there are safe and more effective natural ones are available? A study published in the journal Industrial Crops and Products discovered that plants native in Chile, such as canelo (Drimys winteri), tabaco del diablo (Lobelia tupa), huevil (Vestia foetida), […]

(Natural News) Modern farms these days have dispensed with the familiar hedgerows that surround crop fields in the name of maximum efficiency and productivity. This is a mistake because a study conducted by California-based researchers showed that these natural habitats can benefit nearby farms. Restoring these so-called field edge habitats will improve the productivity and […]