Nov
A new solution
In a world where fresh water is drying up fast and access to food is limited, a bright idea from researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia arrives on the scene like a knight on a white horse. These scientists have developed a new kind of crop that can withstand the withering effects of saline soil. Many plants die when subjected to an overdose of salt because these salts absorb all the water in the soil. However, this new genetically engineered crop will overcome that problem by enhancing the plant’s natural ability to prevent salt buildup in its leaves. The plant, i.e. rice or wheat, will store the salt in parts where it does less damage.
Implementing this method of agriculture could change the face of food scarcity forever. As of now, over one billion people do not have enough food to eat. This problem is exacerbated by population growth and a lack of arable land. Hopefully, saltwater crops will alleviate some of these problems by making it easier to grow food in places that have lost the ability to produce a sustainable amount of food thanks to human intervention in natural processes.
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In your posting on a new solution to salt on crop land, you said the problem with salt is that “because these salts absorb all the water in the soil.” Salt is a problem, but not really for that reason. Instead, what happens is that the higher concentration of salt in the soil outside of the plant cells causes water to move outside of the cells to try and equalize the concentration, this occurs through the process of osmosis. Root cells die and, if bad enough, the plant will die. The damage gives the plant a burnt look- often on the leaf edges first. Some types of plants can tolerate higher levels of salt and not be damaged. Their cells have a high concentration of salt already in them, so the water doesn’t move out.” (The info is from Answers.com)