Hydroponics Gardening Without Soil Essays - Hydroculture

Hydroponics: Gardening Without Soil Have you ever thought of growing plants without soil? A science known as hydroponics will allow you to do just this. Hydroponics systems have been used since the time of the ancient Babylonians who used them to used them to grow their famous hanging gardens. Today, all around the world, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants are grown using hydroponics. The word hydroponics was derived from the Greek words hydros, meaning water, and ponos, meaning labor, or literally, water working. Hydro-ponics is simply growing plants in a water and balanced fertilizer solution. It is rapidly becoming the most common way of growing speciality crops and crops that require special conditions to grow. Hydroponics is also known as Soilless/Controlled Environment Agriculture. This means that plants are grown without soil in greenhouse environments in which everything from the amount of nutrients applied to the temperature and humidity can be monitored closely. Greenhouses are ideal for hydroponics systems because they have their own climate. New types of greenhouses are designed to distribute light from the sun during the day to promote better plant growth and retain heat at night which saves on fuel. These greenhouses are quickly becoming choice places for growers to set up their hydroponics systems. These set-ups are increasing yields and decreasing plant loss which is more profitable for the grower. Speciality crops such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and hot peppers, which cannot be grown conventionally all year long, are being grown in hydroponically. These vegetables which were previously scarce in some seasons will be plentiful all year. Hydroponically grown vegetables can be harvested year ?round so even regions that have harsh winters, or short growing seasons can enjoy these special crops anytime. One fruit that is especially hard to find at certain times of the year is the strawberry. The strawberry industry is beginning to convert from the traditional soil grown berries to the hydroponically grown variety. This drastic change was brought about by an upcoming ban on methyl bromide, which is used to fumigate strawberry plants. If the plants are not fumigated, yields drop, pests destroy the leaves and roots of the plant, as well as, the fruit. Scientists at the Appalachian Fruit Research Station in Kearneysville, West Virgina have transplanted many varieties of strawberries, previously grown in the soil, into a hydroponics system. They added the nutrients the plants normally received from the soil directly into the water. The results of the experiments have been good. Each of the plants were healthy and each yielded between one and two pounds of fruit. The strawberry experiments were not totally problem free. The researchers had problems with mites, thrips, and powdery mildew on the foliage of the plant. To solve pest problem the researchers used beneficiary predatory mites to rid the plants of the tiny parasites. To get rid of the mildew the researchers regulated the humidity level in the green house so prevent the mildew from growing on the leaves. Another industry that utilizes hydroponics is the flower industry. Holland is a main supplier of roses to the United States, and almost all of their flowers are grown hydroponically. Herbs such as cilantro, oregano, and dill are also being grown hydroponically. Ornamental plants are also being grown hydroponically. Flower shops and nurseries can have plants that are usually out of season at some time, all year long. The advantages of hydroponically grown crops are significant. The fruits and vegetables have superior taste, appearance, and quality. There are no weeds, cultivation, and no soil borne diseases or insects. All the plants receive the same amount of water and nutrients. Due to the closed circuit nature of the systems less water and less fertilizer is needed. All of these things make hydroponics a practical way to grow some crops. Commercial growers often use a product known as Perlite as a growth medium in their hydroponics system. Perlite is a volcanic glass formed when lava cools rapidly trapping water. The glass is crushed and heated to very high temperatures. From this comes a soft mineral foam. This foam can hold large amounts of water, and has a neutral pH. These two factors make it ideal for a growth medium. There are certain nutrients that are needed to

Treaty of Portsmouth

Treaty of Portsmouth The Treaty of Portsmouth was a peace agreement signed on September 5, 1905, at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, United States, which officially ended the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 – 1905. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in brokering the pact. Fast Facts: Treaty of Portsmouth The Treaty of Portsmouth was a peace agreement between Russia and Japan, brokered by the United States. It put an end to the Russo-Japanese War, fought from February 8, 1904 to September 5, 1905, when the treaty was signed.Negotiations focused on three key issues: access to Manchurian and Korean ports, control of Sakhalin Island, and payment of the financial costs of the war.The Treaty of Portsmouth led to nearly 30 years of peace between Japan and Russia, and earned President Roosevelt the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. The Russo-Japanese War The Russo-Japanese War of 1904 – 1905 was fought between the Empire of Russia, a modernized world military power, and the Empire of Japan, a largely agrarian nation just starting to develop its industrial sector. Since the end of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, both Russia and Japan had clashed over their competing imperialistic ambitions in areas of Manchuria and Korea. By 1904, Russia controlled Port Arthur, a strategically important warm water seaport on the southern tip of Manchuria’s Liaodong Peninsula. After Russia helped put down an attempted Japanese coup in adjacent Korea, war between the two nations seemed inevitable. On February 8, 1904, the Japanese attacked the Russian fleet harbored at Port Arthur before sending a declaration of war to Moscow. The surprise nature of the attack helped Japan gain an early victory. Over the next year, Japanese forces won important victories in Korea and the Sea of Japan. However, casualties were high on both sides. In the bloody Battle of Mukden alone, some 60,000 Russian and 41,000 Japanese soldiers were killed. By 1905, the human and financial costs of war led both countries to seek peace. Terms of the Treaty of Portsmouth Japan asked U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt to act as the intermediary to negotiating a peace agreement with Russia. Hoping to maintain an equal balance of power and economic opportunity in the region, Roosevelt desired a pact that would allow both Japan and Russia to maintain their influence in East Asia. Though he had publicly supported Japan at the start of the war, Roosevelt feared that America’s interests in the region could suffer if Russia was driven out completely. Russian and Japanese diplomats seated at the negotiating table during the Portsmouth Peace Conference. Buyenlarge / Getty Images Negotiations focused on three key issues: access to Manchurian and Korean ports, control of Sakhalin Island, and payment of the financial costs of the war. Japan’s priorities were: the division of control in Korea and South Manchuria, the sharing of war costs, and control of Sakhalin. Russia demanded continued control of Sakhalin Island, flatly refused to reimburse Japan for its war costs, and sought to maintain its Pacific fleet. Payment of war costs turned out to be the most difficult negotiation point. In fact, the war had so badly depleted Russia’s finances, it would have probably been unable to pay any war costs even if required to do so by the treaty. Delegates agreed to declare an immediate cease-fire. Russia recognized Japan’s claim to Korea and agreed to withdraw its forces from Manchuria. Russia also agreed to return its lease of Port Arthur in southern Manchuria to China and give up its railroad and mining concessions in southern Manchuria to Japan. Russia retained control of the Chinese Eastern Railway in northern Manchuria. When negotiations stalled over control of Sakhalin and payment of war debts, President Roosevelt suggested that Russia â€Å"buy back† the northern half of Sakhalin from Japan. Russia flatly refused to pay money its people might see as an indemnity for territory their soldiers had paid for with their lives. After a lengthy debate, Japan agreed to drop all of its claims for reparations in return for the southern half of Sakhalin Island. Historical Significance The Treaty of Portsmouth led to nearly 30 years of peace between Japan and Russia. Japan emerged as the main power in East Asia, as Russia was forced to drop its imperialistic aspirations in the region. However, the agreement did not sit well with the people of either country. Postcard shows the building at the Portsmouth Navy Yard where the peace talks were held, the Hotel Wentworth, and flags of Japan and Russia, all superimposed on an American flag. Buyenlarge / Getty Images The Japanese people considered themselves the victors and saw the refusal of war reparations as an act of disrespect. Protests and riots broke out in Tokyo when the terms were announced. At the same time, being forced to give up half of Sakhalin Island angered the Russian people. However, neither the average Japanese nor Russian citizen was aware of how badly the war had damaged the economies of their respective countries. During the war and the peace talks, the American people generally felt Japan was fighting a â€Å"just war† against Russian aggression in East Asia. Viewing Japan as being fully committed to the U.S. Open Door policy of preserving the territorial integrity of China, Americans were anxious to support it. However, the negative, sometimes anti-American reaction to the treaty in Japan surprised and angered many Americans. Indeed, the Treaty of Portsmouth marked the last meaningful period of U.S.-Japanese cooperation until the post-World War II reconstruction of Japan in 1945. At the same time, however, relations between Japan and Russia warmed as a result of the treaty. While he never actually attended the peace talks, and the actual extent of his influence on leaders in Tokyo and Moscow remained unclear, President Roosevelt was widely praised for his efforts. In 1906, he became the first of three sitting U.S. presidents to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Sources and Further Reference â€Å"The Treaty of Portsmouth and the Russo-Japanese War, 1904–1905.† U.S. Department of State. Office of the Historian Kowner, Rotem. â€Å"Historical Dictionary of the Russo-Japanese War.† The Scarecrow Press, Inc. (2006). â€Å"Text of Treaty; Signed by the Emperor of Japan and Czar of Russia.† The New York Times. October 17, 1905. â€Å"Partial record of Privy Council meeting to ratify the treaty.† National Archives of Japan. Figes, Orlando. â€Å"From Tsar to U.S.S.R.: Russias Chaotic Year of Revolution.† National Geographic.

Atmosphere Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Atmosphere - Essay Example Firstly, the sense gives people the opportunity of knowing the designation of all their body parts and the activities they can facilitate. They also know the way the body parts move, their effectiveness and how to act in response to stimuli. The process is actualized through sensation and perception that facilitates processing of sensory data and interpretation to give credible meaning. The brain processes the information taken by the eyes and the body produces reflex actions as well as coordinated movements to respond to the external stimuli in a way that makes it the most convenient for the body to move in the given space and the challenges contained therein. Therefore, the elements greatly influence the direction of movement in space. Atmosphere has a direct as well as indirect influence on body movement. For example, while an individual enclosed in a closet or a lift has very little room to shift from one place to another and thus cannot make significant movements even if the ind ividual desires so; an individual hiding underneath a tree holding onto its trunk chooses not to make significant movements while an earthquake is happening in an attempt to keep safe and not catch significant harm. The difference between the two examples is that in the former, atmosphere places direct restrictions on the movement of the body whereas in the latter, external stimuli and factors contained in the atmosphere indirectly restrict the movement of the body. The restraints in the first example are mechanical or physical whereas those in the second example are abstract and a result of the interplay of the mind and body of the individual in the scenario. The relationship between atmosphere and body movement can be elaborated with the help of another example; an individual may see an object from a distance through light reflection and develop interest in acquiring it personally.