YOUR SOIL
From page 17
propagated in high concentrations and applied to the soil to
quickly and effectively break
down organic material, thus
ensuring optimal harvests in
the short term and healthy
and fertile soil in the long
term. Soil becomes biologically active once
chemical
fertilisers and
pesticides are
discontinued.
Such soil is
particularly
effective in
containing
eelworm
problems faced
by maize
farmers. This is
Custom-designed combination SBM and manure
applicator. The SBM is piped deep behind the ripper. an often
Muti (SBM).
Organic material is any sort of
manure, harvest residue,
growing plants such as babala
grass or leaves.
SBM is made up of soil microorganisms which have been
underestimated issue
affecting maize yields,
particularly in drought
years when the plants
lose their ability to
combat the pest
naturally due to stress
and compaction of the SBM being applied by a sprayer mounted in
front of a disc harrow.
soil.
Nico Snyman, a
to suspect that plant parasitic
retired agronomist from
nematodes were the main
Rustenburg, started a
culprits that caused a 10-15%
biological soil management
decline of a potential 10 ton
programme in partnership
plus crop yield in the
with 15 maize farmers last
Ventersdorp area. According
year. The programme's
to Snyman these symptoms
emphasis was on maize
are similar to stubby root
farmers of Grootpan and
nematode (Paratrichodorus or
Ventersdorp who irrigate their Nanidorus species) previously
lands.
encountered in South African
agricultural soil. They damage
During the previous growing
season he had already begun fine lateral roots and root
hairs and thus limit the
uptake of water and nutrients
by the plant. Stubby root
nematode infections differ
from the more common and
economically important
Meloidogyne species or root
knot nematodes that may
attack a number of different
crops and the damage they
inflict as identified as knots
and galls on roots.
Research on the effect of
SBM on nematodes was
initiated by the late Prof Alex
Mc Donald whose research is
being continued by Prof
Driekie Fourie and an MSc
student of the Northwestern
University at Potchefstroom.
The nematologists at NWU
are currently doing practical
Continued on page 20
18
www.sasmallholder.co.za