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> What do you think happens to the nitrogen in plant matter digested by these bacteria? My first guess is that it's being kept as, or converted into, amino aci
by anonymouskimmer 3y ago
> What do you think happens to the nitrogen in plant matter digested by these bacteria?
My first guess is that it's being kept as, or converted into, amino acids for use in protein synthesis by the bacteria.
> thereby keeping carbon out of the air
For some of it, yes. However the production, and transportation of compost if it can't be used on site (possible in Japan), puts carbon into the air. I don't know how this balances out.
> The lack of critical thinking is very frustrating.
Critical thinking should go into study design and interpretation, but it doesn't hold a candle to actually doing a full lifecycle analysis. Is this technology better or worse for the environment than the status quo? We don't have enough information to determine that.
- alvarezbjm-hn 3y agoIt has been well stablished that compost reduces the need of plaguicides and fertilizers. But agriculture never having been a basic public service and running on such slim margins that it is tending towards oligopoly, let's not kid ourselves that compost will ever be given a chance Not all industries have the luxury of joining the green revolution.
- anonymouskimmer 3y agoIt is a problem. Some people are working on it, though a major solution to the issue appears to be tax or mandate. And some agricultural industries apparently are high-value enough that they can afford it on their own. https://civileats.com/2022/03/02/california-compost-law-food-waste-produce-farmers-brown-gold-soil-health-climate-agriculture/ https://civileats.com/2022/03/02/california-compost-law-food...