Agriculture Report - The Benefits of Companion Planting

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But	From	These	VOA	a	apple	are	as	at
bacteria	by	decomposeBeans	example	fix	from	harvested	help	kinds	nutrients
plant	planting	program	ripen	roots	similar	so	some	they	why

VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report. Companion is the idea that some kinds of plants can each other grow. Plants that are compatible generally need soil, nutrients and moisture levels. Advice about which plants compatible is sometimes based more on tradition than fact. experts say there is evidence to support certain combinations. can improve harvests, reduce disease and help control pests attracting helpful insects. For example, some kinds of soil take nitrogen from the air and make it into form that plants can use. The plants hold, or , the nitrogen in their roots. Legumes are especially good nitrogen-fixing-. Then any crops that share the same space the legumes can get the nitrogen as the roots and potatoes can also share territory well because their reach different levels in the soil. Deep-rooted vegetables get and moisture from lower down in the soil, so do not compete with plants with shallower roots. But plants placed together can harm each other's development. For , tomatoes do not like wet soil, but watercress does, you would probably want to keep them separated. Some of produce should be kept apart even after being . This is because of ethylene gas. Ethylene is a hormone that can cause some kinds of produce to too quickly. This risk of ripening too soon is markets often separate high ethylene-producing foods from those that sensitive to the gas. But if you put an in a bag with a green banana, the ethylene the apple will make the banana ripen sooner. For Learning English, I'm Alex Villarreal. (Adapted from a radio broadcast 05Mar2013)

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