TimothyBusiness Writer
Mpumalanga Enterprises has launched new organic fertilisers in Zimbabwe in a move meant to boost farm produce output by local farmers.
Launching the product in Harare recently, Mpumalanga Enterprises chief agronomist Lucia Muza, said their products were 100 percent organic and certified by ECOCERT SAF-32600.
“These are organic crumbles, Okavango Eco-organic, Kalahari Eco and Need Eco Organic. They can be used for lawns, field crops such as maize, wheat, sugarcane, soyabeans, and potatoes to fruits and vegetable crop such as cabbage, spinach, green beans and tomatoes.
“This is very ideal for farmer growing crops for the organic certified markets both locally and internationally, said Muza.
Besides the certified pure organic fertilisers, Mpumalanga is also offering organic enhanced fertilisers with the usual chemical composition farmers are used to such as 7:14:7 for cereal crops such as maize and wheat 5:15:12 for tobacco, soyabeans and vegetable crops.
Mpumalanga fertiliser range has 40 percent organic component and carbon in the term of charcoal and gypsum added to enhance the fertility composition of soil.
These fertilisers will feed the crop and soil and increase fertiliser use efficiency, increase water holding capacity drawing toxins out of the soil and promoting beneficial bacteria and fungi. The soil becomes sponge and holds well to water and nutrients and later supply it to plants, said Muza.
Charcoal is a fine-grained porous black carbon and it is generated from plant material making it non-toxic plants. There are many tiny pores in charcoal and once applied to soil, the pores will allow air to diffuse into the soil which allows air to diffuse into the soil which allows the roots to breathe.
The tiny pores will also hold water, nutrients and later supply to the plants. Charcoal is very stable and it will not decompose to carbon dioxide. So once applied it will stay in the soil for hundred to thousand years.
“This is a strategy for soil fertility build up, restoration and sustainability for this current generation and generations to come. Gypsum which is also added to the fertilisers is also an effective conditioner and it is very effective in correcting high soil sodium and increasing the calcium content of the soil without affecting the pH. Gypsum will also add sulphur to your soil and it also help open air pores and moisture channels, improving soil structure, reducing run off and improving water holding capacity and drought tolerance. Some farmers mostly tobacco and horticulture farmers have the practice of adding gypsum as a separate component but in this case gypsum is already added,” he said.
With climate change effects being experienced season after season mid-season droughts and erratic rain pattern, these organic enhanced fertilisers are the most reasonable options for farmers. The fertilisers are ideal for all soil types from sandy degraded soils to heavy clay soils. The good thing is that farmers still need to maintain the usual fertiliser application rates, 300 to 450 kg/ha in maize, 150-200 kg/ha in cotton and soyabeans, 600-1000kg/ha in vegetables.
Bongani Ndlovu