Comments on: GM and climate change http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/ It is all obvious or trivial except... Thu, 24 May 2012 19:11:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Englishman http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20357 The Englishman Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:26:12 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20357 Major reason for ploughing is to bury and kill weed seeds - with GM crops resistant to a common wide spectrum herbicide such as Roundup the weeds seeds aren't a problem as you can let the crop and weeds grow and splash on the agrichems afterwards. Without a doubt GM means less soil inversion, which reduces the oxidization into Co2 of the carbon compounds in the soil. Major reason for ploughing is to bury and kill weed seeds – with GM crops resistant to a common wide spectrum herbicide such as Roundup the weeds seeds aren’t a problem as you can let the crop and weeds grow and splash on the agrichems afterwards. Without a doubt GM means less soil inversion, which reduces the oxidization into Co2 of the carbon compounds in the soil.

]]> By: Bill W http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20353 Bill W Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:45:22 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20353 I have been out of agriculture for 8 years now, so I can't give a quick reference about tillage and organic matter in the soil. However, as I recall it, was well established in many trials and observational studies that tillage reduced organic content in the soil and increased erosion. GM crops are not necessary for no-till cropping. They do make cheaper and easier though. I have been out of agriculture for 8 years now, so I can’t give a quick reference about tillage and organic matter in the soil. However, as I recall it, was well established in many trials and observational studies that tillage reduced organic content in the soil and increased erosion.
GM crops are not necessary for no-till cropping. They do make cheaper and easier though.

]]> By: Mark Wadsworth http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20350 Mark Wadsworth Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:16:27 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20350 Maybe it was thirty years ago, when we were 'worried' about pesticides and global cooling? Maybe it was thirty years ago, when we were ‘worried’ about pesticides and global cooling?

]]> By: knirirr http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20339 knirirr Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:15:46 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20339 I'm sure that the greenies were having a go at us 10 years ago for producing GM crop plants. I’m sure that the greenies were having a go at us 10 years ago for producing GM crop plants.

]]> By: Mark Wadsworth http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20338 Mark Wadsworth Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:09:46 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20338 Obviously that era escaped renowned scientist and free thinker <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7557644.stm" rel="nofollow">Prince Charles</a>. Obviously that era escaped renowned scientist and free thinker Prince Charles.

]]> By: Mark Wadsworth http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20335 Mark Wadsworth Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:01:45 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20335 Tim, you should be old enough to remember ten or twenty years ago, before the greenies were in ascendance, when GM crops were hailed as the potential saviour of mankind - higher yields, less pesticides etc, maybe thinking will swing round again? Tim, you should be old enough to remember ten or twenty years ago, before the greenies were in ascendance, when GM crops were hailed as the potential saviour of mankind – higher yields, less pesticides etc, maybe thinking will swing round again?

]]> By: steve_roberts http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20329 steve_roberts Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:49:31 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20329 "One of the huge carbon sinks in hte world is in fact the soil." Yes, Freeman Dyson refers to this. "Something which increased the take up of carbon in hte soil would be highly welcome." Yes, a logical deduction " That, in turn, means that we need to plough the soil less." Interesting, new to me. Do you have a reference ? Tim adds: No direct reference, no. Implied by Dyson and a couple of other things I've read, no more. “One of the huge carbon sinks in hte world is in fact the soil.”
Yes, Freeman Dyson refers to this.

“Something which increased the take up of carbon in hte soil would be highly welcome.” Yes, a logical deduction

” That, in turn, means that we need to plough the soil less.”
Interesting, new to me. Do you have a reference ?

Tim adds: No direct reference, no. Implied by Dyson and a couple of other things I’ve read, no more.

]]> By: knirirr http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/comment-page-1/#comment-20328 knirirr Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:46:43 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/08/13/gm-and-climate-change/#comment-20328 Excellent stuff! I doubt that the greens will have any interest, though. Excellent stuff!
I doubt that the greens will have any interest, though.

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