Raipur: For those who extreme dislikes dust around the house, here’s a quick remedy.
A scientist in India’s central Raipur city has productively grown a variety of fruits and vegetables from the dust accumulated in his terrace-garden.
The trial of growing plants on dust began after Aggarwal happened to visit his inherited house and witness an array of small plants growing on a thick layer of dust on the terrace.
Aggarwal quickly applied certain scientific principles, which supported the cause of growing plants even on dust using nutrients there in atmospheric air.
Though roots of any plant growing in dust cannot expand like to that of a potted plant, it was sufficient for Aggarwal to prove his point to non-believers.
“Initially, I grew vegetables in the dust. I have grown an 8-10 kilogram pumpkin, a six-kilo bottle gourd, cauliflower and cabbages on an experimental basis. But because there was no space for the roots to grow, I cut them after one or two flowerings. Slowly, I graduated to growing flowers and fruits and now I am growing ornamental flowers.”
Initially wary of his eager interest, Aggarwal’s passion has established acceptance with his wife, who no longer minds his eagerness to broom the house unlike any other conservative Indian wife.