Posted on 07/08/2008 7:47:45 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
The dangerous rise in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may be troubling scientists and world leaders but it could prove to be a boon for plants, German researchers said Tuesday.
Increasing exposure to carbon dioxide appears to boost crop yields, Hans-Joachim Weigel of the Johann Heinrich von Thuenen Institute for rural areas, forestry and fisheries in the central city of Brunswick told AFP.
"Output increased by about 10 percent for barley, beets and wheat" when the plants were subjected to higher levels of carbon dioxide, Weigel said.
The Thuenen Institute, which has been monitoring the phenomenon in fields since 1999, trains CO2 jets on the plants so the gas reaches 550 parts per million in the air around them -- the level expected in the atmosphere by 2050.
Weigel said the studies have indicated that while greater CO2 exposure appears to spur growth, it can also undermine the quality of the produce.
He said the next step in the study would be to evaluate the effect of higher temperatures on plant growth -- which scientists cite as another consequence of higher CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
LOL, Dangerous rise! .........................and in a related story; Higher H20 Levels May Be Good for Fish!
That’s why our planet survives asteroid impacts and solar variations - the Earth and its biosphere is a set of robust feedback loops.
Where’s that Captain Obvious graphic?
Humans take in O2 and give off CO2, trees take in CO2 and give off O2.
Never in the history of the world has this miracle been better understood and condemned by those of little faith.
Wonder what it was like when we had no faith.
Back in 1990, I developed and taught courses for teachera nad students for the Dade County, Florida School Sysytem.
Part of those course curriculum included a TV program by ITV’s The GreenHouse Conspiracy and The Greening Of Planet Earth. Both are available by Google, video.
These programs clearly and unambiguously defined the role of anthropogenic CO2 and plants/animals on earth.
As a past member of the Florida Sierra Club’s Florida Executive Committee, believe me when I say that environmentalism is just another home for communism.
“Global warming” was a means to damage America so that socialism might have some chance.
Yeah, they ARE treasonous bachelor’s children. That’s why I left ‘em.
I seem to remember something called photosynthesis when I took science 45 years ago. Plants convert CO2 into oxygen.
The glass is always half empty isn't it.
I seem to remember something called photosynthesis when I took science 45 years ago. Plants convert CO2 into oxygen.
You f’in think? Large commercial greenhouses have been pumping CO2 into their growing bays for YEARS to boost yield.
Most run double atmospheric CO2.
Idiots.
I seem to recall my university botany professor saying something about plants and CO2...
Inconvenient Fact-Paging Al Gore!
Use of CO2 in Greenhouses
Carbon dioxide is one of the essential ingredients in green plant growth and is a primary environmental factor in greenhouses. CO2 enrichment at 2, 3 or four times natural concentration will cause plants to grow faster and will improve plant quality.
Modern growers are becoming increasingly aware of the value of CO2. Particularly now that most greenhouses are purposely shutting out CO2 [air] to conserve energy.
Carbon dioxide is an odorless gas and a minor constituent in the air we breathe. It comprises only .03% [ 300 parts per million, or PPM] of the atmosphere, but is virtually important to all life on this planet!
Plants are made up of about 90% carbon and water with other elements like nitrogen calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and trace elements making up only a small percentage. Almost all the carbon in plants comes from this minor 300 ppm of carbon dioxide in the air.
The process called photosynthesis is that plants take in CO2 through pores called stoma, in their leaves during the daylight hours. They give off oxygen at the same time. Without this oxygen animal and human life would not be possible.
The reason you will get more rapid and efficient growth and better plant quality with a higher CO2 level is because plants must absorb CO2 in combination with water, soil nutrients and sunlight which produces sugars which are vital for growth. If any of these elements are missing or low, plant growth will be retarded. When CO2 is increased to over 1000 ppm it results in higher production and plant quality. (emphasis mine)
The best time to add CO2 is from dawn to dusk. CO2 ranges from 400 to 500 ppm during the night due to plant respiration. Right after sunrise a level will drop to about 300 ppm. After three to four hours of early sun light it will drop to 100 to 250 ppm at which time growth will stop. If you add CO2 during the winter months when ventilators are closed and CO2 concentrations are low, you will get increased yield and bloom which normally happens during the spring and summer.
This is a formula which can be used to figure what amount of CO2 must be added to reach 1000 ppm. 9 ft.³ of CO2 per hour per 1000 ft.² yields 1000 ppm
The whole thing about "green" is plants. But plants, as we all know, need CO2 the same way we need oxygen. You wanna help plants? give them something to breath.
People who think they are being "green" by reducing their CO2 are actually doing just the opposite of what they think.
Idiots.
Four problems -
Higher CO2 levels - that should suck.
...may be good for plants - THAT can't be good.
...scientists - aren't they all supposed to agree with Algore?
Higher CO2 levels may be good for plants: German scientists... - goes against everything you've learned in school - eh?
It seems some German scientist just re-discovered their 3rd grade sciencebooks. And the sad thing, this qualifies as news.
I was listening to a caller to Rush rant about CO2 as a polluntant yesterday. I wanted Rush to ask him if the earth would be better if CO2 levels were zero. I suspect the guy would have been dumb enough to say yes.
Seriously folks - this ISN'T “news” ... www.CO2Science.org has been tracking the INCREASE found in hundreds of different plants and crops over the past few years - EVERY study shows an increase of 12% to 25% GREATER food, fodder, and feed crops (including plankton and algae and coral in the shallow oceans!)
CO2 science has listed several hundred studies showing this, and the general average seems to be 17% more plant growth due to today's higher CO2 levels. But the MSM is (of course) ignoring the benefits - because that doesn't help the democrat-socialists.
Yea, and you know why the Smokey Mountains are "Smokey" don't you?
I've seen the same effect in the piney woods of east Texas. A layer of smog above and in the tops of the trees, but over the road where the cars and trucks were, no smog.
I was a Tremont explorer in the 6th grade. (A week of dance and exploring) Thanks for knowing why. The Smokies, go figure.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_9_19/ai_100111682
The whole “higher CO2 levels” story is a fiction.
CO2 levels don’t predict or precede higher temperatures, they TRAIL temperature cycles by 800 years!
I seem to remember learning in grade school that plants take in co2 and emit oxygen.
-Out of 10,000 molecules of air only 3.8 are CO2. What does that tell you?
www.co2science.org
BTW: The state of California is not aware of any health risks associated with breathing atmospheric levels of oxygen, but cautions that this does not mean it is safe, only that the available research has not shown breathing atmospheric oxygen to cause health problems. However if the state of California discovers breathing atmospheric levels of oxygen is hazardous it reserves the right to ban oxygen in California at some future date.
Don't know if I am contributing to “global” warming. Golly, I really hope not. Would hate to piss off algore.
well..... DUH!!!!
Sorry, haven’t read the other posts yet, but I’m sure someone has already beat me to it XD
What’s an enviro-wing-nut to do? Support globull warming or not? I can hear the clucking from here.
Bush: 'Significant progress' on climate change
Cheney wanted cuts in climate change testimony
CO2 is not the only greenhouse gas, and greenhouse effects are not the only CO2 problem
Global Warming on Free Republic
I'm not a German scientist nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn last night but I can make an expert opinion that colder temperatures are bad for plant growth as is evident from this picture of a coastal plain in the arctic.
But it's a darn good place to drill for oil.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
