Soil sampling has a long history of improving crop productivity. As early as the 1800s, farmers and scientists began testing for certain nutrients in soils. Research, largely led by US universities, brought us the scientific sampling and analysis we know today.
With this information from the land, farmers could start supplementing fertility based on nutrients available in the soil. The equipment currently used in sampling is effective and has not changed much since the 1940s. The hand auger comes in various designs, each with its own modification and benefits.
Challenges mainly relate to the use of the equipment, not the equipment itself.
SAMPLING
When taking samples, it’s important to know where the sample was taken and that the final test sample is the best representation of the area. You also need to know that all samples are taken at a consistent depth.
The results guide capital-intensive corrections or fertility management plans. Over- or under-application has a detrimental effect on the programme’s efficiency and costs time and money.
It has become increasingly more important to optimise and improve profitability. Farmers will be familiar with the benefits that scale brings to a grain farming operation. Efficiency, risk spreading and, ultimately, sustainability are the main benefits. The same applies to agronomic services, which are a cost item on the farm.
Denne historien er fra September 25, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra September 25, 2020-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
