How cows are the friends of healthy soil
sir – Much has been said about the negative effect of cattle on the environment due to the gases they produce. Used properly, however, they can be very eco-friendly.
The soil of normal arable fields merely supports the roots of crops so they can be watered and fed. There is nothing in the soil to hold the water, so it runs off and takes a good deal of the fertiliser into the watercourses.
Traditionally a farmer’s soil was enriched with manure from his cattle. The manure not only produced nutriments for the crops, but also put humus into the land. Humus is any rotted animal waste or vegetation that acts like a sponge, and holds the rain and nutrients in the soil rather than let them run off.
Peter Amey
Hoveton, Norfolk
sir – Britain can achieve net zero only by shifting its manufacturing to China (Letters, November 5). But there is not enough green energy in the world to allow China to achieve net zero in the foreseeable future. For that, Britain would have to bring its manufacturing back – making net zero impossible here – or do without it. At least it would free up congestion at Felixstowe.
Trevor Norris
Ross-on-wye, Herefordshire
sir – Can’t we find an island for events such as Cop26, the Olympics and the G7, with a circular road around which convoys of cars for the important people could drive, from their private jets to expensive hotels and conference centres with red carpets and armed police? This would save disruption and cost for the little people who pay taxes, and those attending could grandstand without annoying protesters and journalists.
Mark Solon
London E1