Soil erosion is a catastrophe
The topsoil is the most fertile and active of the soil horizons. Approximately 80% of the feeder roots occur in the topsoil. Soil is a living organism containing more microorganisms in a teaspoon of topsoil than there are people on earth.
The roles of these micro-organisms are wide and varied, including the supply of nutrients to the plant through the different nutrient cycles. These include symbiotic relationships, such as with mycorrhiza, which play a vital role in supplying nutrients and water to the plant.
The mycorrhiza hyphae (roots) are extensive, with a measured length of 2 to 20m per gram of soil. The hyphae are extensive and occupy all parts of the soil, play a vital role in gathering water and nutrients for the plant, help stabilise the soil, and reduce soil erosion. If topsoil is lost, this function, among many others, is drastically reduced.
Mlondozi LandCare project
The Agricultural Research Council’s Institute for Soil, Climate and Water (ARCISCW) initiated the Mlondozi LandCare project with the goal of demonstrating sound land management practices by involving local communities who would contribute to sustainable and profitable agricultural production in the Mlondozi district. The district is situated in the eastern Highveld of Mpumalanga, bordering Swaziland (Figure 1).
LandCare is a community-based programme with the overall goal of optimising productivity through the sustainable use of natural resources, resulting in greater food security, job creation and better quality of life for all. This is achieved through the community taking ownership of the project.
Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av FarmBiz.
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Denne historien er fra June 2020-utgaven av FarmBiz.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Hauling In A Full Net: Reaping The Benefits Of Processed Fish
As local and global governments deal with the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, producers are now more than ever searching for new options for expanding their businesses. That said, farming and value addition to produce does not have to be limited to landlocked food sources.
Grow Produce Year-round With Tunnels And Greenhouses
Climate change is an inescapable reality and can wreak havoc in open-field production systems that rely on the right weather patterns to produce good yields. For this reason, many producers worldwide have turned to growing crops in tunnels or greenhouses. These production systems offer protection from changing weather patterns, allowing them to grow crops throughout the year.
Saving Soil: Harnessing The Microbiome
We live in unprecedented times.
Summer Grain Production: A Producer's Perspective
The 2020 planting season for producers in the summer rainfall areas is here and most of them are looking forward to the first summer rains so that they can plant their crops. FarmBiz spoke to Jaco Minnaar from the farm Uitsny near Henneman about the new season. Jaco is vice-chairperson of Agri SA and currently serves on the Senwes board.
Electronic Auctions: The New Normal?
The South African livestock industry has suffered a tremendous setback with challenges posed to physical auctions. However, the industry is nothing if not resilient. The first ban on livestock auctions was imposed during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2019.
Oxygen Types That Damage Crops In Extreme Weather Conditions
Oxygen is best known as a life-giving gas without which life as we know it, would not be possible.
Asia's Maize Imports Likely To Grow
In 2019, the Asian maize market was finally on the rise to reach US$204,4 billion after two years of decline. The total consumption indicated buoyant growth from 2009 to 2019. Its value increased at an average annual rate of 5,1% over the last decade.
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.
Industry Giants Comment On Special Adjustment Budget
Prof Johan Willemse, an independent agricultural economist, says the supplementary budget delivered by the minister of finance on 24 June was a real shocker. According to him, the government is spending an additional R145 billion on the COVID-19 issue. The real issue, however, is a record budget shortfall due to the economic meltdown, with wrong policy choices and corruption on the cards.
Rethinking The Conversion Process Of Poultry Litter To Biogas
The poultry industry is generally comprised of broiler chicken production, egg production, day-old chick suppliers and other poultry. While micro-enterprise businesses are gaining prominence as a means to address the challenges of job creation, economic growth and equity, the industry has future challenges concerning poultry litter management.
