With global concerns over the environmental impact of chemical fertilisers mounting, farmers and researchers are turning towards alternative solutions rooted in nature. One such solution gaining traction is kelp, a marine plant with a long history of use in various cultures around the world. Kelp fertiliser shows promise and potential in South Africa and around the world. The cons of chemical …
In agriculture, where every gram of yield matters, farmers are constantly on the lookout for innovative solutions to enhance productivity and crop quality. One such solution that has garnered attention in recent years is triacontanol, a natural plant growth regulator. Here’s how to use triacontanol on plants and the benefits of doing so. What is triacontanol? Triacontanol, a long-chain fatty alcohol, …
Diseases and pests are among the major constraints to agricultural production worldwide. These problems have been further exacerbated by mono-cropping production systems in response to the increased food demands of an ever-expanding population. As a result, most commercial farmers have resorted to excessive chemical use to manage diseases and pests. The indiscriminate use of synthetic pesticides not only poses risks …
It’s responsible for giving brown sugar its flavour and colour; it adds aroma, colour, and wonderful chew to cookie batters and provides thickness to baked beans, marinades and sauces. You may be aware that molasses has many uses in the culinary world, but did you know that fermented molasses has myriad benefits in farming for both crops and soil health? …
An article by agronomic consultant Jim Pingrey printed in the July 2023 issue of the Acres U.S.A. magazine proposes that “soil health is essential for a resilient plant, but we can also ramp up plant resilience and aid in building soil health by applying timely foliar sprays”. In recent times, foliar feeding has become accepted as an essential aspect of …
As a grower or farmer, you may constantly be dosing your system with extra nutrients in the hopes that your plants will thrive. But each nutrient has a specific role to play, and you need to understand how the seven micronutrients work to optimise crop production, promote sustainable agriculture, and achieve economic benefits. What are micronutrients? Nutrients can be macronutrients …
These three awe-inspiring soil health documentaries on Netflix showcase the current state of our planet, but also provide us with the simple solutions we need to change our future. 1. Kiss the Ground Produced in 2020, this full-length documentary speaks about the healing power of soil. It argues that the soil’s capacity to sequester carbon could be the key to …
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup®. This product enjoys widespread usage on core food crops. Genetically engineered corn, soy, canola, cotton, alfalfa and other crops are “Roundup®-Ready”, which means that they aren’t killed by the herbicide. It doesn’t, however, mean that they are completely safe, nor completely healthy. Let’s first talk about the effect of glyphosate on plants. Experiments …
A choking blanket of smoke, thousands of dead fish and marine creatures washing up on the shores North of Durban—these are just some of the visible impacts after firefighters attempted to put out a blaze at agrochemical giant UPL. The facility was set alight on 12 July during civil unrest, and residents, wetlands, rivers and beaches have paid the price. …
Modern industrial agriculture heavily depletes soil nutrient resources, including potassium (K). This declining soil fertility is the main cause of year-to-year variability of harvested yields. If we are to farm sustainably and produce food for future generations, we need to improve potassium management and potassium availability in soil. So, how do you fix potassium deficiency in plants and soil? In …