geo-, ge- +

Not reacting to gravity; that is, moving or turning away from the earth.

1. The absence of orientation movements in response to gravity: When participating in a space flight simulator, the astronaut experienced ageotropism and so he had no sense of responding to gravity.
2. Turning away from the earth: Elena was studying plant ageotropism and so she was growing plants in a gravity free environment.
3. A reference to parts of plants that would be expected to grow as gravity pulls them down, but instead grow upward; such as, the knee roots of cypress trees: Marcella tripped over the ageotropisms of the tree in the swamp because the roots were sticking up out of the earth.

A reference to the study of rock minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regards to soil fertility and fertilizer components.

Additional details regarding agrogeological fertilization

By adding rock dust as a complete plant fertilizer along with plant matter, the soil may be much healthier.

• Rock dusts contain most of the nutrients essential for growth except for nitrogen and phosphorous.
• The release of nutrients is directly related to weathering; therefor, their beneficial effect could last for many years before needing replacement, and even longer if used in conjunction with sustainable farming techniques.
• The problem of nutrient leaching is minimized as plants take up the nutrients at the same rate as they are being released and there is also minimal problem with toxicity from oversupply of nutrients.
• Some dusts raise pH, countering the effects of soil acidity often found in certain soils.

If the soil is healthier then the plants will be healthier. Mixed rock dust can provide a full spectrum of minerals to the soil and this improves cellular structure, which could explain why rock dusted plants are more resistant to insect attacks and diseases.

It has been noted that the use of rock dust can reduce (or even replace) fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Someone who specializes in the study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture: "The agrogeologist is especially interested in the relationships of soil fertility and the various fertilizer components."

1. The study of geology, soil, crop, and horticultural sciences, and focusing on practical approaches to land management in developing and developed countries.
2. The study of minerals of importance to farming and horticulture, especially with regards to soil fertility and fertilizer components. These minerals are usually essential plant nutrients and are referred to as agrominerals.

Expanding the understanding of agrogeology

Agrogeology is the study of the natural fertilization that takes place when weathering breaks rocks into their constituent elements. It was first studied in the early nineteenth century; however, the success of the artificial fertilizers eliminated interest in this natural approach until the late 1970s when Dr. Chesworth, a geologist at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, combined his theoretical studies of rock decomposition to determine that weathering of a common volcanic rock like basalt made land more fertile.

Continuing studies indicate that volcanic rocks like basalt, supply the nutrients necessary for plant and animal growth. The essential elements for plant growth include: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum and chlorine. In addition, the presence of rock fragments in the soil and on the soil surface significantly influences infiltration, runoff, and moisture storage, all of which significantly effect plant growth.

In recent years, soil scientists have conducted numerous studies to reduce the application of chemical fertilizers on the nation's farmlands. Results from these analyses indicate remineralization can achieve a series of benefits:

• Combat the effects of pests and diseases that effect plant growth.
• Reduce the water requirements necessary for plant growth.
• Lower the cost of production and produce higher yields on treated lands.
• Provide the necessary nutrients to increase the quality and quantity of the plants grown.

1. A reference to a plant that has underground as well as aerial flowers.
2. Extending all over the earth from the equator to both poles.

Someone who specializes in the physical features of the Earth and its atmosphere: The anthropogeographer investigates or does research about human activities as they affect and are affected by the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries.

1. A branch of human studies that deals with the world's distribution of divisions of people based on their physical characteristics, languages, customs, and institutions.
2. The study of the distribution of human types by their cultural traits and the ethnic and racial distributions of humankind over earthly areas.

1. The quality of antagonism to the earth, its systems and biota; anti-Nature.
2. Etymology: from anti-, "against" plus Gaea, "earth goddess".

1. The point at which a satellite orbiting an astronomical object is farthest from the center of the object being orbited.
2. The points in the orbits of the moon, or of an artificial satellite, that are most distant from the center of the earth.
3. The point in an orbit that are most distant from the body being orbited.
4. The farthest, or highest, point; a culmination.

Characterized by the response by an organism of turning away from the earth; such as, plant stems and leaves that grow upward from the soil where they exist.

The growth or orientation certain plants up away from the earth in which they grow or negative geotropism.

The tendency of leaves or other parts of plants to turn upward and in the opposite direction away from the soil of the earth; negative geotropism.

Referring to ancient geological conditions or situations: For a long time Vesuvius and Pompeii have been an archaeogeological mystery. Bodies found on dense layers of ash indicate that the volcano had been actively pouring pumice and ash into the atmosphere for some time, but also that the inhabitants had felt secure enough not to flee.

When the end came, however, it came so quickly that people were caught wherever they were. Hundreds of people in Herculaneum, who had time to run and find refuge in doored arched storage caverns, were still exposed to such surface temperatures. It is written that a hand raised to protect the face was burned to the bone, while the other hand, unexposed to the blast, was not.

The branch pf geology pertaining to ancient geological conditions or situations: Wendy was quite interested in the geological formations of the distant past and so she decided to study archaeogeology at the university in her city.