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SUMMARY:Where the Crystal Lattice meets the Double Helix - Peter J.Leggo (
 Department of Earth Sciences)
DTSTART:20111031T161500Z
DTEND:20111031T170000Z
UID:TALK34423@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ian Farnan
DESCRIPTION:This talk concerns a new approach to plant nutrition.  Using n
 atural zeolite together with organic waste a biofertilizer can be easily m
 ade which when added to soil sponsors intensive nitrification.  The ion-ex
 change properties of Clinoptilolite\, a zeolite mineral found in volcanicl
 astic sediment often in large deposits in volcanic terrains\, cause ammoni
 um ions to be preferentially adsorbed to the zeolite surfaces. When crushe
 d clinoptilolitic tuff is mixed and composted with organic waste the addit
 ion of this material to soil sponsors intensive nitrification\, due to the
  activity of ammonium oxidizing bacteria and or chenoarchaea.  Empirical i
 nvestigation has shown that the amended soil pore water becomes highly mob
 ilized by the presence of hydrogen ions produced by the enzyme reactions. 
 This protonation of the pore water produces hydronium ions which react wit
 h the soil substrate to release cations .  Thus\, cations which constitute
  major and trace amounts of essential and beneficial elements are made ava
 ilable  for plant uptake.   Examples of enhanced growth and quality are sh
 own by many plant species. Conclusions are reached concerning the efficacy
  of the organo-zeolitic-soil system.
LOCATION:Harker 2 lecture room\, Department of Earth Sciences\, Downing Si
 te
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