Farmers use nitrogen fertilizers to grow more crops. However, plants absorb only about half of the fertilizer from the soil. The rest pollutes water and creates a strong gas that harms the environment. Chemical fertilizers are also expensive to produce and transport.
Scientists in the US and Argentina found a protein called HHO5 in plants. This protein tells the plant that it has enough nitrogen. When HHO5 works alone, it stops the plant from taking up more food. In experiments, plants without HHO5 absorbed almost three times more nitrogen than normal plants.
Scientists hope to breed new crops with less HHO5. These plants will take in more nitrogen naturally, so farmers can use much less fertilizer in the future.
Difficult words
- fertilizer — a substance put on soil to help plants growfertilizers
- absorb — to take in liquid, gas, or other substancesabsorbed
- pollute — to make water, air, or land dirty and dangerouspollutes
- environment — the natural world of land, air, water, and plants
- breed — to produce new types of plants or animals
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why is it important to protect the environment from fertilizers?
- Would you like to buy food grown with fewer chemicals?
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