What about the biomass or grain yield ratio to water?
WT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Cherubini" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 11:34 PM
Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Physiology Productivity Promises and BS Re:
[ECOLOG-L] worlds authorities in sustainable ag/meat/ag ecology
Wayne Tyson wrote:
Please supply evidence that genetic engineering or any other method can
double the productivity of any species without increasing the amount of
water and nutrients, including a cogent explanation of just how this is
done.
Wayne, according to the National Corn Growers Association: "Farmers
today produce 70 percent more corn per pound of fertilizer than in the
1970s."
http://ncga.com/files/pdf/worldofcorn2010.pdf
USDA fertilizer use statistics http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FertilizerUse/
show US consumption of fertlizer for corn, cotton, wheat and soybeans
has been generally stable since the mid-1970's whereas the yields per acre
have risen dramatically:
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/index.asp
Specific examples of yield increases since 1979:
Corn: Up about 63%
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/cornyld.asp
Cotton Up about 52%
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/cotnyld.asp
Soybeans Up about 53%
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/soyyld.asp
Winter Wheat Up about 26%
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/wwyld.asp
With regard to your question "just how this is done" Monsanto explains
in general terms on it's website: "how we can use breeding, biotechnology
and better agronomy to help double yields." http://tinyurl.com/2ag8zl
Excerpt: "With the genome sequencer, Monsanto researchers are able
to learn in 10 days what it used to take them 10 years of research to
discover - that's why it's playing an integral role in the company's
commitment to double yields by 2030."
Paul Cherubini
El Dorado, Calif.
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