adminWHY are small-scale farmers experiencing steadily declining yields yearly regardless of adequate fertiliser application? Crop yields among small-scale farmers in Manicaland – a tobacco and maize growing province – have of late been on a precarious recession. Some maize farmers harvest as little as three bags per acre.
This disastrous farming state demands examination and the questions we need to ask are: What works and will continue to work in the future and what has not worked in the past and is not working today?
If research has shown that fertiliser nutrients are essential to meet crop yields and quality goals, why has the modern day agriculture for small-scale farmers failed to scale?
To attain the best, farmers must apply fertilisers responsibly.
Our soils are tired, overworked and depleted by synthetic chemicals, making it imperative for farmers to conduct soil tests to establish the nutrient content and pH of their soils before blindly applying fertilisers.
This winter break is the precise period for one to collect soil samples for testing.
A soil analysis is a valuable tool as it unmasks nutrient deficiencies in their soils and simultaneously determines inputs required for efficient and economic production.
The problem has been of farmers being accustomed to the common fertilisers on the market even when it is not needed.
This led to the trio-evils of depletion of soil, soil acidity and reduced crop yields.
Farmers must not scramble for fertilisers without knowing what nutrients are lacking in their soils. It is imprudent for a farmer to apply any fertiliser without prior knowledge of what the soil requires.
A farmer needs to establish what is missing in a specific piece of land before remedial fertiliser application. Different soil types have alternative fertiliser requirements and if one over-applies wrong nutrients, it results in imbalances in the soil and has harmful effects on the environment. Thus, small-scale farmers need to adopt a paradigm shift and regard soil testing as one of the best management practices.
Soil testing has been proven in research and tested through farmer implementation to give optimum production potential, input efficiency and environmental protection.
A proper soil test helps a farmer to ensure the application of fertiliser sufficient to meet the requirement of the crop.
It allows the farmer to also determine lime requirements.
All a farmer needs to care about is ensuring that their sampling method is correct.
A soil’s pH is the measure of its alkalinity or acidity based on a scale from 0 to 14.
Zero represents harsh acidity, fourteen is extreme alkalinity, while seven is neutral.
Most healthy soils range between a pH of 5,5 and 7,5, and this is the level at which most nutrients in the soil are taken up by plants.
If the soil pH becomes imbalanced, it directly affects the availability of nutrients in the soil.
Lime is applied to soils that are acidic or sour, while soils that are alkaline or sweet can be remedied through the application of sulphate products.
Soil testing can be done once in two years and adjusting the pH of your soil may take several years.
It remains crucial for proper nutrient uptake and plant health.
Manicaland can be divided into dry and moist regions and soils in most areas that fall under the former alkaline while those in the moist areas tend to be acidic.
The period spanning June to August is the most ideal time for farmers to take their soil samples for laboratory tests to know the pH levels, including the nutrients needed, before buying any fertilizer for use in their farms.
A soil test costs between $20 to $25 and this can save farmers a lot of money used to buy chemical fertilizers, which their soils may not require in the first place.
Farmers can have soil tests done either at Africa University (Mutare) for $25, Windmill and Omnia in Harare for $20 or Zimbabwe Fertiliser Company (ZFC), for free.
Tests results are usually out in at least two weeks.
It is easy to take a soil sample.
A farmer is required to:
Mark different parts of your field using sticks; ensure every part of your farm has been marked.
Dig a hole in each part of the farm that you have marked and take a sample in both the topsoil and the subsoil (top at 20cm depth and subsoil at 50cm depth)
Mix the soil samples collected, break crumbs to make sure the soil is fine in texture.
Dry the soil on a clean plastic sheet.
? Put about 1kg of the soil sample into a clean plastic bag.
Label the soil sample clearly with your name and address. If you have taken soil from different blocks of land on your farm, this should be clearly shown in the label.
Indicate the type of crop you intend to grow to get advice on what nutrients are needed for the crop.
Online Reporter