Stop Using Fertilizers and Help Stop Pollution
Both the area of land covered with grass in the U.S., and the area of England are both the same size. Both cover approximately 50 million acres. The reason these both statistics are interesting to note, is that the custom of having manicured lawns in America comes from England. The wealthy English noblemen who lived on large estates were the only ones who could afford to have manicured lawns. Gardners were employed to keep the grounds picture perfect in the days before lawn mowers.
As more and more wealthy Americans visited England, they fell in love with those beautiful lawns and brought the custom back with them to the U. S. The quickly found out that this was easier said than done. The native grass that grew in the States, did not produce the results that they expected.
It wasn't until the early 1900's that the United States Department of Agriculture assisted the U.S. Golf association in their quest for a suitable grass for the many golf courses that were sprouting up all over the country. After several years of research, they came up with grasses that would grow well on these golf courses. As more and more golf courses were established, the golf club required pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers to keep these non-native grasssslooking beautiful. It became a matter of economics as the most beautiful golf courses drew the most customers.
The proliferation of lawns, the widespread availability of chemicals, and the gas powered lawn mower were the catalyst that made the lawn so popular here in the United States. Lawns are a big business generating millions of dollars of revenue from the sale of the grass itself to the care and maintenance of that lawn.
Fertilizers and Lawns
The problem with having these beautiful lawns is that the fertilizers being used to keep them green is wrecking havoc on our waterways and causing a severe water pollution problem. While Nitrogen and Phosphorus, the two main ingredients of fertilizers help us grow those beautiful lawns, they also
· Stimulate the growth of aquatic plants and algae.
· Cause algae blooms
· Cause clogged waterways
· Use up the oxygen in the water when they decompose
· Block available sunlight causing death to native aquatic plants
· Cause the death of fish due to the lack of oxygen
Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Fertilizers
Fertilizers normally contain three major ingredients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the form of potash. The numbers on the bags indicate how much of each of these elements are found in the product and always indicate the amount of N-P-K, always in that order.
Nitrogen and phosphorus are naturally occurring elements and are essential to plant growth. The problem is that too much of a good thing is destroying our waterways, and making them very unhealthy. Scientists are still studying the role that fertilizers, which contain these essential elements, are contributing to the decrease in the quality of our oceans, lakes and streams.
Their research is leading to the conclusion that Phosphorus is causing the algae blooms and other problems in fresh water, while nitrogen can be the cause of pollution in our coastal waters.
There are movements on in many communities and countries to ban or limit the use of fertilizers. Westchester County, one of the most affluent counties in the United States, recently banned the use of phosphorus on lawns and put restrictions on the use of fertilizers in an effort to protect their nearby waters. More and more municipalities are putting fertilizer bans or restrictions in place.
Conclusion
America's love affair with beautiful lawns has to change. No longer can we dump millions of pounds of fertilizers on our lawns and also expect to have clean water. The big problem with the bans that have been put into place is that it is difficult to enforce them on residential properties. Much education is needed to change the mindset of those people who insist on these green lawns. They need to be shown the direct correlation between the fertilizers used on their lawns and the effect it has on our waterways.
Just as gas guzzling automobiles are losing their status symbol due to environmental awareness, lush green lawns will also lose their status. As the world moves towards a greener planet, the lawns as we know them will be a thing of the past.
About the Author
Beverly Saltonstall is an avid writer about issues related to the environment, especially about pollution. Her website http://pollutionwebsite.com offers timely news, podcasts and articles on all facets of the problems causing pollution. For a free report, "What YOU Can Do To Help Reduce Pollution", visit http://pollutionwebsite.com/freereport
Fishing: How to Choose the Right Fishing Rod
There are many ways to catch fish. A fisherman can surely catch fish with his hands. He can catch fish with a spear. He could even cast a net over a school of fish, however awkward it may be at first. All of these methods can be effective with practice but they offer the same disadvantage to the fisherman: the catch is restricted to only shallow water varieties of fish.
On the other hand, many believe that it is the fishing rod that is the fisherman's most basic, most important weapon. With a fishing rod, your chances of getting a good catch are very much improved.
When it comes to game fishing, that is, fishing for large, offshore fish, a fishing rod is a necessity. You just can't do without it.
If you're new at fishing, a fishing rod will be your main investment. It is the one, essential tool that makes most fishing possible and enjoyable. Oftentimes, just manipulating a fishing rod can become addictive for many people.
Here are some guidelines that will help you select the right fishing rod for your needs.
▪ Shape. A fishing rod should taper off from its base to its tip. You won't have problems with finding a fishing rod that satisfies this shape. It's quite widespread, practically universal. Advanced designs are introduced to the market every now and then, but the classic and traditional is still the best and finest choice.
▪ Weight. A fishing rod is described by weight. This weight doesn't refer to the actual heaviness of the rod. Rather, this refers to how resilient the rod will be for specific types of lures and for specific types of fish. Therefore, classifications like Ultra-Light, Light, Medium-Light, Medium, Medium-Heavy, Heavy, and Ultra-Heavy are used when describing fishing rods or fishing poles to help the fisherman in choosing the correct one for his objectives.
Fly fishing, for instance, can be managed with Ultra-Light to Medium weight rods. Bass fishing, on the other hand, would require Medium-Light to Heavy weight rods.
▪ Action. A fishing rod is also described by action. Action refers to how much the fishing rod can bend when pulled by a particular force, and how fast it will revert to its neutral position when the force is removed. Action is categorized as slow, medium or fast, although middle-points between levels can be found.
▪ One-piece or Two-piece. Some fishing rods are labeled as one-piece, because they come in, well, one piece. They are said to feel very natural for the fisherman, allowing for a more comfortable and relaxing time.
On the other hand, two-piece fishing rods are, of course, more complicated. But with the proper engineering, these rods can achieve their goals effectively well. However, you'll need to take special care when selecting a two-piece rod. If it's ineptly manufactured, it could be disastrous even for experienced fishermen.
When the time comes for you to choose a fishing rod, you really need to know about the fish you intend to catch. Some fish take a few minutes to catch, while others can take many long hours. Knowing this will dictate what kind of fishing rod you'll need. There'll be no room for guesswork and you'll have the best fishing rod possible. Good luck!
About the Author
Len Q. is a master blade sharpener and an adventurer who strives to protect the natural world. If you would like to find out about
▪ Knife Sharpening: How to Sharpen Knives, Maintain and Store Them
▪ Sharpening Other Edges
(e.g. Lawn Mower Blades, Chain Saws, Gardening Tools, Axes)
Find it here at http://www.MakeKnivesSharp.com .
