Cultivated grazing: Fertiliser is the key to success

Nowadays everything in agriculture has to be done on a larger scale. Cultivated grazing has also become a science, with producers forced to think bigger to get more out of their grazing – all at the most economical cost.

- Koos du Pisanie

“Planting good grazing will not necessarily cost you an arm and a leg, but it is worth taking your time to implement the entire process properly. Rather spend a little time and money preparing and cultivating the soil adequately if you want maximum production,” says Driaan Potgieter, an agriculturist, producer, and Omnia and Kalkor fertiliser agent in the Prieska area.

He explains that the successful cultivation of grazing depends on good soil health, which rests on three pillars: chemical, organic and biological. “The biology of the soil is the most important because it determines how healthy your soil is. Whether you use chemical or organic fertilisers is not a key factor as each has its place and purpose. In fact, I believe both chemical and organic fertilisers are needed to keep soil healthy and productive in order to farm sustainably.”

Chemical fertiliser

Driaan explains that chemical fertilisers are an artificial way of putting the macro and micro-elements back into the soil at the right ratio. The advantage of these fertilisers is that you have control over what is put into the soil. With the help of good soil analyses, you can determine what is needed and adapt your fertilisation programme accordingly.

The downside is that the indiscriminate use of fertilisers can interfere with your soil’s health, which is why the fertilisation process must be managed correctly and with the guidance of an expert.