Dear Panditji,
What are float farming and roof top farming? M
Mini
Via email
Dear Mini Ji
Float-farming is mainly practiced in regions like muddy
riverbanks, flood plains, marshes and lakes, which offer unused
platform for farming as the muddy waters always contain richest
minerals that are washed away from the topsoils by rains.
A floating mat is woven from bamboo, reeds, agricultural waste
by-products, industrial and residential waste products like bottles.
This mat is then seeded, floated and secured to the river’s edge.
Muddy water soaks through the mat and provides all the needed
nutrients. Float-farmers can easily walk over these platforms and
harvest. If platforms are not capable of supporting the weight of
farmers, they may be pulled on the banks for harvesting and
re-seeding. The most popular grain grown by using this method is
Rice.
Rooftop Farming or Garden denotes any garden on the roof of a
building, especially one found in an urban setting. Available
gardening areas in cities are often seriously
lacking, which is likely the key impetus for many roof gardens.
Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food,
temperature control, architectural enhancement, and recreational
oppor-tunities.
Dear Panditji,
I want to know if urine can be used in compost heap.
Shantanu Chakrabarti
Via email
Dear Shantanu Ji,
Urine seems to be a good compost accelerator and apparently provides
good nutrients. Urine, from animals or people contains a lot of
Nitrogen (primarily urea), and so is useful for speeding the
decomposition of “brown” (high-Carbon) waste. Urine also has fair
amounts of salts and potassium.
You can add urine (both human and animal) to your compost heap if
you dilute it before watering it onto the heap. However, too much
will raise the salt levels and inhibit worms.
Even human and animal hair can be added to your heap, as hair is
also a source of nitrogen (though it takes a long time to
decompose).
Remember to moisten the hair well when you are adding it to the
heap.
Dear Panditji,
I am a regular reader of Gobar Times and I would like to know
what does radiation mean?
Somajit
Via email
Dear Somajit Ji,
Radiation in physics means a process of emission of energy or
particles. Various forms of radiation may be distinguished,
depending on the type of the emitted energy or matter, the type of
the emission source, properties and purposes of the emission, etc.
Radiation can be both extremely beneficial and extremely dangerous.
It just depends on how we use it.
Electromagnetic radiation, Gamma radiation, Gravitational radiation,
Alpha radiation, Beta radiation, Neutron radiation, Thermal
radiation and Solar radiation are few examples. |
