Vijay Jayaraj
A farmer in Gyeongbok-do, South Korea, carefully tends his potato fields, while on the other side of the world on a U.S. interstate highway, the engines of a thousand cars idle. These seemingly unrelated scenes are closely connected through the fertilizing effect of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which has been greening the earth for decades.
Yes, CO2 Emissions from tailpipes and industrial flues are good for plants and all life, contrary to the alarming stories that make this invisible gas an environmental monster. increase carbon dioxide2 Concentration has literally made the world a greener place, and in many cases it has enabled record-breaking crop yields.
A 2020 study funded by the Agricultural Science and Technology Development Cooperative Research Program reports that potatoes grow in an atmosphere with elevated carbon dioxide concentrations2— similar to what is expected in the coming decades — not just survive, but thrive!
These plants “experienced significant increases in growth and development and canopy net photosynthetic rates during tuber germination and enlargement.” As a result, biomass and net canopy photosynthesis increased, and tuber yield increased by 20.3%,” the researchers wrote.
This isn't just good news for potato growers. carbon dioxide2 The fertilization effect plays a role in photosynthesis in all plants, with the increase in gases acting as a kind of turbocharger. Production of wheat, rice, soybeans, and corn increased significantly, all of these staple crops that feed billions of people.
as CO2 As concentrations rise, many plants require less water, making them more tolerant of droughts—which have been the scourge of farmers for thousands of years.
In the U.S., agriculture is also booming as CO2 emissions rise2 atmosphere, including the agricultural centers of the Midwest. Thanks to data analytics in CO2 The alliance's report on the Midwest shows that it is clear that climate warming and the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere are increasing crop yields in the Midwest's corn and soybean regions.
Since Americans emit about 14 tons of carbon dioxide per person each year, these emissions are fertilizing crops around the world.
The greening effect extends far beyond agriculture. NASA satellite data attributes the increase in greening over the past 35 years to the combined effects of rising carbon dioxide levels and optimal temperatures for plant growth.
Rising emissions from increased use of fossil fuels in China and India contribute significantly to global greening and favor ambitious tree-planting programs and intensive agriculture. Forest areas have also increased in some European countries. In fact, “36 countries gained more trees than they lost,” the World Resources Institute reports.
In fact, the greening rate caused by carbon dioxide2 will be much higher than rates of browning caused by expansion of arid landscapes. Researchers at a Chinese university said that “by the end of this century, drylands will expand slightly by about 5%, while vegetation productivity will increase by about 50%.” Increased carbon dioxide concentration2 This hinders the expansion of drylands and “dramatically promotes vegetation growth through increased leaf assimilation and canopy foliage,” they say.
Dr. Indur Goklany reports that 70% of the Earth's recent greening is attributable to emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, and that “fossil fuel-dependent technologies have directly or indirectly increased agricultural yields by at least 167%.”
Whether it’s tomato plants in Europe or tropical forests in India, it’s clear that carbon dioxide2-Rich air is greening the planet and we as a society are actively contributing to it. You might say CO2 It is the green energy of plant life.
This comment was first published on california globe November 18, 2024.
Vijay Jayaraj is a scientific research assistant carbon monoxide2 allianceArlington, Virginia. he He holds a master's degree in environmental science from the University of East Anglia, UK, a postgraduate degree in energy management from Robert Gordon University, and a bachelor's degree in engineering from Anna University, India.
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