Sorry to disappoint you Ashley: <I'm disappointed. We discussed this and I pointed out that while CO2 will stimulate growth in a greenhouse - with unlimited nutrients etc., experiments done in more natural conditions showed that plants are generally limited by other nutrients - such as potassium, phosphorus, etc.>
But I have to follow where the science leads, not just believe theories, be they my own amazing constructs, or even yours.
Apparently, according to climate scientists or botanists or hydrologists or some combination of a bunch of such people, not to mention sundry Greenies, we are in danger of flooding because of plants not needing so much water.
I quite liked the theory "Plants are lacking potassium, phosphorus, iron etc". But if they are in fact gobbling CO2 and shrinking their stomata and soaking up less water, then while some "Third World" plants are lacking K, P, Fe, Se and whatever they need to live, the greedy "Rich West" plants are scoffing far more than their share of CO2 and not even bothering to drink water. On average, there is obviously not a shortage of K, P, Fe etc. Hence the surplus water and greenhouse gas flooding.
With the increased levels of storms due to greenhouse effect, meaning a LOT more rain, and with plants getting fat dumb and happy with surplus CO2, it seems that Water Wars might not come to pass after all. Though in Greenie tradition, "Whatever is happening, it's bad", it's certain that the surplus water and flooding, and K, P and Fe shortages are in the wrong place and where the extra growth is needed, is not where the growth is happening. So, we'll get Water Wars, flooding, lack of plant growth and excess plant growth, all just where we don't want them. Not to mention hurricanes, melting ice caps, sea level rise, runaway heating and simultaneous European ice-age and lack of fish due to the stopping of the Gulf Stream.
Just gazing out the window here, there is a profusion of rampant plants which require constant hacking back to stop them taking over the city, which suggests they are not lacking K, P, Se, Fe, Zn, N, CO2, water, sunlight or anything else they need.
We mustn't stick with our theories if we can't twist the facts to match. I always remove the grass clippings from the lawn in an attempt to starve them of K, P or something, as well as to stop the cuttings being walked inside. But after years of such depleting of nutrients, the lawn just carries on growing.
Maybe birds are dropping enough to keep the lawn going.
I know farmers need to add lots of K, P, Fe, Se, Zn, N and stuff to get better crops. My uncle used to load his Potentate tomato glasshouse with potassium to get more delicious fruit, though they were smaller - quality, not quantity was his aim. There are fertilizer factories around the country, producing huge quantities of fertilizer which farmers buy and I suppose that's necessary or they wouldn't waste their money. So you are obviously right, but maybe on average, worldwide, there is enough of the plant nutrients to be going on with and they can in fact use the extra CO2 quite happily.
Mqurice
PS: Hayes is a great little grandchild, 8 months old on Friday. Tough little guy, super-friendly to people, a ladies' bloke [Alison calls him "Chip" as in chip off the old block - his father is a lady-charmer], figures things out very well. Has lots of fun. Likes riding my motor scooter with me. He's very exuberant and highly active - that'll need taming and directing soon. Great fun. |
