![New subsurface irrigation technologies: will they work in South Africa?](https://cdn.magzter.com/1373618752/1707463642/articles/yZfxs9l1L1707483919753/NEW-SUBSURFACE-IRRIGATION-TECHNOLOGIES-WILL-THEY-WORK-IN-SOUTH-AFRICA.jpg)
Subsurface irrigation has been widely adopted in the production of highly mechanised crops, such as sugar cane and lucerne, because it helps to improve labour efficiencies and reduce damage to irrigation infrastructure.
Added bonuses are that water is delivered directly into the root zone, reducing water losses caused by evaporation in overhead irrigation, and farmers can apply fertiliser via irrigation, which reduces labour costs and improves fertiliser efficiency.
Hardly any fruit and grape farmers, however, are using subsurface irrigation in their orchards in South Africa. In ‘The pros and cons of subsurface irrigation’, which featured in Farmer’s Weekly on 18 August 2018, both Pieter Fouché, viticulturist of Graham Beck Wine Estate near Robertson in the Western Cape, and Dr Philip Myburgh, a retired researcher of the Agricultural Research Centre Nietvoorbij, advised against the use of subsurface irrigation.
THE CHALLENGES
Why? Fouché said that they planted 6ha of Chardonnay wine grapes under subsurface irrigation in 2004 to improve their water use efficiency. They got the idea to use subsurface irrigation during a visit to the Margaret River wine region of Australia, where farmers claimed it reduced their water usage by roughly 30%.
Fouché during the interview back then, and now again, confirmed that Graham Beck never saved more than 10% water per season on the vineyards where they installed subsurface irrigation. He blamed this on Robertson’s soils being much more diverse than Margaret Valley’s deep alluvial soils, and the difficulties in managing these variations.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 16, 2024-Ausgabe von Farmer's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der February 16, 2024-Ausgabe von Farmer's Weekly.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
![Tasty, nutritious beans come in many forms](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/J7q7HY0aJ1719512961641/TASTY-NUTRITIOUS-BEANS-COME-IN-MANY-FORMS.jpg)
Tasty, nutritious beans come in many forms
Beans originated in Central and South America and have been domesticated for thousands of years
![Can privately owned One Loft Races revive pigeon racing in SA?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/LEyQ7qNre1719512787875/CAN-PRIVATELY-OWNED-ONE-LOFT-RACES-REVIVE-PIGEON-RACING-IN-SA.jpg)
Can privately owned One Loft Races revive pigeon racing in SA?
In this article, part one of a three-part series on pigeon racing, Thomas Smit looks at the sport's decline in South Africa, and whether One Loft Races, with their attractive cash prizes, can revive it.
![Managing macadamia production when margins are low](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/-4k5rPEEw1719512547607/MANAGING-MACADAMIA-PRODUCTION-WHEN-MARGINS-ARE-LOW.jpg)
Managing macadamia production when margins are low
Macadamia nut farms have been in dire straits over the past two seasons as prices have dropped and input costs have risen. With little relief on the horizon, orchard management needs to be revised to maintain sustainability. Lindi Botha looks at the options available to farmers to reduce their costs.
![Lessons on the importance of general herd management](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/h1ezjZW8X1719512195923/LESSONS-ON-THE-IMPORTANCE-OF-GENERAL-HERD-MANAGEMENT.jpg)
Lessons on the importance of general herd management
Louis Steyl, CEO of the Bonsmara Cattle Breeders’ Society of South Africa, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the true value of effectively managing a Bonsmara herd in order to maximise profit.
![Combating GBV scourge in rural communities](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/X3q3pCuGd1719511998711/COMBATING-GBV-SCOURGE-IN-RURAL-COMMUNITIES.jpg)
Combating GBV scourge in rural communities
A ground-breaking programme is addressing gender-based violence in South Africa's rural communities and empowering young men to fight harmful stereotypes
![The role of One Health in sustainable farming and well-being](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/E5oOJzQ9v1719510075715/THE-ROLE-OF-ONE-HEALTH-IN-SUSTAINABLE-FARMING-AND-WELLBEING.jpg)
The role of One Health in sustainable farming and well-being
A movement strengthening relationships between communities and the land and promoting a mutually beneficial relationship between agriculture, health and the environment is emerging in sustainable farming. Ntokozo Zitha, a PhD student in the Economics Analysis Unit at the Agricultural Research Council, writes.
![Sustainable palm oil production in SA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/OuB4dv5-i1719509841822/SUSTAINABLE-PALM-OIL-PRODUCTION-IN-SA.jpg)
Sustainable palm oil production in SA
Palm oil has been heavily criticised due to the unsustainable practices used in its cultivation. But this is beginning to change, says Jannie Myburgh, senior manager of trading oils procurement at SD Guthrie International SA. He spoke to Marinda Louw Coetzee.
![Western Cape avocado production on the rise](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/ehGYN5Zsd1719509662296/WESTERN-CAPE-AVOCADO-PRODUCTION-ON-THE-RISE.jpg)
Western Cape avocado production on the rise
Avocado production is booming in the Western Cape, and new insights into the industry were shared at a recent grower day
![Top Western Cape young farmer enjoys a challenge](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/jduzd_jX41719509567442/TOP-WESTERN-CAPE-YOUNG-FARMER-ENJOYS-A-CHALLENGE.jpg)
Top Western Cape young farmer enjoys a challenge
Dean Barnard, a farmer from George in the Western Cape, was recently named the Agri Western Cape Santam Young Farmer of the Year and will go on to represent the province at the Toyota SA/Agri SA Young Farmer of the Year competition later this year.
![Guava association expects smaller 2024 harvest](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/3894/1744712/owTIaZZ4s1719509447058/GUAVA-ASSOCIATION-EXPECTS-SMALLER-2024-HARVEST.jpg)
Guava association expects smaller 2024 harvest
The Guava Producers' Association (GPA) has adjusted its guava production estimate down from 25 200t to 22 500t, making the harvest 16% smaller than the 26 641t harvested last season and the smallest harvest in the past three years.