Kynoch Fertilizer: Partnering with Farmers for a More Sustainable Tomorrow – Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative Agriculture from a fertiliser company’s perspective.

Regenerative agriculture is no new concept. Farmers, agriculturists, agricultural companies, laboratories—everyone in the agricultural sector is regularly confronted with this way of farming. Its benefits are numerous. According to the FAO, not only does it save the farmer time, labour and costs, but it also improves nutrient use efficiency, soil stability and organic matter. The environment also benefits. Soil erosion is reduced, water as well as air quality is improved and there is an increase in biodiversity.[1]

Regenerative agriculture (RA) is a way of farm management focusing on ensuring food security, environmental stability and a future in agriculture. It’s no silver bullet with no recipe to follow. It requires time, trials, learning from mistakes, evaluation, adjustment, and learning. Still, South Africa took no backseat when it comes to RA. According to the database of Asset Research, by 2021, 25% of South Africa adopted Conservation agricultural practices, while 60% are practicing some form of conservation tillage.[2]

Farmers are forced by soil erosion, water runoff, and loss of organic matter or nutrients to train themselves and learn hard lessons to adopt regenerative agriculture. They learned that in order to manage your farm to ensure a future, food security and sustainability, the focus lies on soil quality, crop quality, nutritional value and environmental impact. It is of utmost importance that you know YOUR farm. The soil and climate with which you have to deal, and the outcomes you work towards.

Kynoch takes no step back from the journey farmers are on. We offer services which complement the farmers’ goals. Not only do we offer sound agronomic advice, but your precision farming needs are also looked after. Kynoch offer services where we determine the soil texture, soil chemistry and heterogeneity of the farm. We are able to determine the impact of soil properties, crop rotation, climate and management systems on soil quality (soil health) and with our knowledgeable agriculturists, your crops’ health, nutritional value and quality are tested frequently to ensure good quality crops as well as soil all throughout the season.

Not only do Kynoch’s agriculturists assist farmers in obtaining knowledge based on their farms’ soil type, soil form, and chemical characteristics through sampling and analysis, but they are also able to take biological factors into account when making decisions. Through the help of Sporatec, Kynoch’s agriculturists are equipped with the necessary tools to ensure that the biodiversity on your farm isn’t neglected. We offer products to ensure that the local beneficial microbes on your farm are happy and do what they do best.

No matter your farm management system, your crop rotation system—whether it consists of cash crops, cover crops or the presence of livestock—your objectives or your means to the end: Kynoch’s agriculturists live our slogan, enhanced efficiency through innovation, and are ready to take your hand and support your goals. We don’t just supply fertiliser to farmers’; we work together to ensure a sustainable future for South Africa’s agriculture.

[1] Benefits of Conservation Agriculture (CA), FAO

[2] Asset research, 2021

Figure 1: Cover crops as part of the crop rotation system after soyas, before maize

Figure 2: No-till intercropping on maize to achieve permanent soil coverage

Figure 3: Maize stubble on no-till soybean fields which form part of a maize, soybean, and cover crop farming system

Figure 4: A macadamia orchard in the Western Cape uses Elephant grass as a windbreak and to provide mulch, and the inter-row cover crop is mainly kikuyu and clovers.

Article compiled by: Graham Peddie, Chris Burbidge and Lunay de Kock—Kynoch Agriculturists

Kynoch:  Enhanced efficiency through innovation

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