Bulk density is an indicator of soil compaction and soil health. It is the weight of soil for a given volume. In general, the greater the density, the less pore space for water movement, root growth and penetration, and seedling germination. If your soil is too compacted, it will also affect plant nutrient availability and […] More
Article supplied by United Fertilizers Unlike nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), the majority of soils in Africa are historically considered to be rich in potassium (K). However, farmers should keep in mind that not all K existing in the soil is available for root uptake and plant assimilation. Scientists distinguish four forms of K contained […] More
Tobacco farmers in Zimbabwe are preparing for the coming planting season. Part of this process is raising the seedlings that will be transplanted onto the fields later in the year. To ensure the best possible outcome, the conditions in which the seedlings are planted need to be perfect. This includes having healthy soil that contains […] More
One cannot harvest where no seed was planted! This is logic. But what do you do when the heavy implements used to till the lands is actually the cause of a smaller harvest; when the combined weight of tractors and implements is the cause of the soil being compressed and thus having a negative influence […] More
by Frikkie Koegelenberg, Pr Eng and Hendrik Jordaan In the last edition of this series, we take a quick look at the calibration of instruments and the importance thereof. We thank the ARC Agricultural Engineering in South Africa for making their manual on soil water sensors available to the readers of ProAgri Zambia. Calibration is […] More
by Frikkie Koegelenberg, Pr Eng and Hendrik Jordaan Frequency delay measurement is based on the measurement of the dielectrical constant of soil or materials. The frequency delay measurement is also called the radio frequency (RF) capacitance technique. We thank the ARC Agricultural Engineering in South Africa for making their manual on soil water sensors available […] More
Opinion piece by Dr Ben Ngwene, AGCO While the Southern African region endures a persisting drought that started back in October 2018, planting season 2019 is fast approaching. Farmers have to make crucial decisions on how to recover from last season’s double-digit decline in crop harvests. Land preparation is where everything begins. This is the […] More
Part 1: The feel method, gravitational soil water determination and electric resistance by Frikkie Koegelenberg, Pr Eng and Hendrik Jordaan Every farmer knows: If you apply too little water, your crops suffer; if you apply too much water, your bank account suffers. The decision depends on accurate knowledge of your soil water status. Fortunately, there […] More
ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain. Martiens du Plessis, Soil Scientist, NWK Limited & Prof Cornie van Huyssteen, Lecturer: Soil Science, University of the Free State In the series ”Soil: The producer’s most important asset” the most important soil properties that influence […] More
ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain. Martiens du Plessis, Soil Scientist, NWK Limited & Prof Cornie van Huyssteen, Lecturer: Soil Science, University of the Free State In the previous two articles of this series, we discussed the first nine soil groups according […] More
By Martiens du Plessis, Soil Scientist, NWK Limited & Prof Cornie van Huyssteen, Lecturer: Soil Science, University of the Free State ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain. When a specific body of soil is classified, the properties thereof may be easily communicated. […] More
ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain. In the previous two articles in this series, the soil formation factors and processes were discussed. With these factors and processes in action, it gives rise to a variety of chemical, physical and morphological characteristics. These […] More
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