Small-scale farming is a vital component of South Africa’s agricultural sector, providing employment, income, and food security for many rural communities. However, small-scale farmers face numerous challenges, including limited resources, poor market access, and climate change. These challenges can hinder their ability to produce high-quality crops, access markets, and generate sufficient income. In this article, we will explore the common challenges faced by small-scale farmers and provide tips and strategies for overcoming them.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Small-scale farmers face several challenges that can hinder their success. These include limited resources and funding, poor market access and infrastructure, climate change and weather variability, limited access to technology and expertise, soil degradation and poor soil health, and limited access to credit and financial services. To overcome these challenges, small-scale farmers can adopt several strategies, including diversifying their crops and income streams, hiring necessary implements or machinery, establishing offtake agreements with local supermarkets, seeking expert advice and support from Kynoch Fertilizer, joining local agricultural associations and cooperatives, and attending farmers’ markets and industry events. By adopting these strategies, small-scale farmers can improve their productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

Financial Management and Access to Funding

Effective financial management is crucial for small-scale farmers. This includes keeping accurate records of income and expenditure, exploring funding options such as government grants, loans, and crowdfunding platforms, developing a comprehensive business plan, accessing credit and financial services, and managing cash flow and debt. Small-scale farmers must also ensure that they have a good credit history, as this will enable them to access funding and credit facilities. Additionally, they must be able to manage their finances effectively, including budgeting, saving, and investing.

Best Practices for Small-Scale Farming

Adopting best practices is essential for small-scale farmers to improve their productivity and efficiency. These include crop rotation and intercropping, mulching and minimum tillage, integrated pest management and conservation agriculture, soil sampling and fertilisation, irrigation management, and livestock management. Small-scale farmers must also ensure that they are using the latest technologies and techniques, such as precision agriculture and digital tools, to improve their farming practices. By adopting best practices, small-scale farmers can improve their yields, reduce their costs, and increase their profitability.

Building Relationships with Local Supermarkets

Establishing strong relationships with local supermarkets can ensure a stable market for produce. This includes attending farmers’ markets and industry events, joining local agricultural associations and cooperatives, engaging with supermarket buyers and managers, meeting quality and safety standards, and providing consistent and reliable supply. Small-scale farmers must also ensure that they are able to meet the demands of local supermarkets, including providing high-quality produce, meeting delivery deadlines, and providing accurate documentation. By building strong relationships with local supermarkets, small-scale farmers can ensure a stable market for their produce.

Soil Health and Fertility

Soil health is critical for small-scale farmers. Kynoch Fertilizer’s soil sampling and recommendations can help improve soil fertility, structure, and overall health. Small-scale farmers must also ensure that they are using the correct fertilisers and soil conditioners, as this will enable them to improve their soil health and fertility. Additionally, they must be able to manage their soil effectively, including conserving soil moisture, reducing soil erosion, and promoting soil biodiversity. By improving their soil health and fertility, small-scale farmers can improve their yields, reduce their costs, and increase their profitability.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Small-scale farmers can adapt to climate change by implementing climate-smart agriculture practices such as conservation agriculture, agroforestry, integrated pest management, irrigation management, and weather insurance. These practices can help small-scale farmers to reduce their vulnerability to climate change, improve their resilience, and increase their profitability. Small-scale farmers must also ensure that they are able to access weather insurance and other climate risk management tools, as this will enable them to manage their climate-related risks effectively.

Accessing Markets and Selling Produce

Small-scale farmers can access markets and sell produce effectively by attending farmers’ markets and industry events, joining local agricultural associations and cooperatives, engaging with supermarket buyers and managers, meeting quality and safety standards, and providing consistent and reliable supply. Small-scale farmers must also ensure that they are able to meet the demands of local supermarkets, including providing high-quality produce, meeting delivery deadlines, and providing accurate documentation. By accessing markets and selling produce effectively, small-scale farmers can increase their income and improve their livelihoods.

Record-Keeping and Data Analysis

Accurate record-keeping and data analysis are essential for small-scale farmers to track their progress, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions. Small-scale farmers must keep records of their income and expenditure, crop yields, soil health, and weather patterns. They must also be able to analyse their data to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities. By keeping accurate records and analysing their data, small-scale farmers can improve their productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

Technology in Small-Scale Farming

Technology can improve efficiency and productivity in small-scale farming. Small-scale farmers can use digital tools such as farm management software, precision agriculture, and mobile apps to improve their farming practices. They can also use technology to access markets, sell produce, and connect with other farmers. By adopting technology, small-scale farmers can improve their yields, reduce their costs, and increase their profitability.

Success Stories and Case Studies

Small-scale farmers who have adopted the tips and strategies outlined in this article have seen significant improvements in their productivity, efficiency, and profitability. One notable example is Sfiso Mbhense from the Umzimkhulu area, who grows maize on his 5ha land. By diversifying his crops, improving his soil health, and accessing markets effectively, Sfiso has increased his yields and improved his livelihood.

Conclusion

Small-scale farmers play a vital role in driving the South African economy, despite facing numerous challenges. By adopting best practices, seeking expert advice and support, and accessing markets and funding, small-scale farmers can overcome their challenges and thrive. Kynoch Fertilizer is committed to supporting small-scale farmers and helping them to improve their productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

Contact Kynoch Fertilizer for Expert Advice and Support

Credit: Thabani Mvelase, Kynoch Agriculturist in KZN and Eastern Cape region.

For more information and expert advice, contact Kynoch Fertilizer at 011 317 2000 or visit our website for more information www.kynoch.co.za

The post Thriving as a Small-Scale Farmer in South Africa first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Take note that reference is often made regarding soil acidity, without specifying the relevant pool of acidity that is being referred to. Obviously, every pool would require different quantities of calcium carbonate and/or magnesium carbonate to neutralize the acidity. That brings it to the question of what the term soil acidity, really entails? Does it refer to acidity from the plants’ perspective, the soils’ perspective, or both, and also which pools of acidity?

Types of soil acidity

Beginning with soil-pH, individuals tend to speak of soil acidity and liming with a pH-value in mind, not realising that different pools of acidity exist. The pool of acidity reflected by measuring the soil-pH, is called, active acidity, an expression of the concentration of H⁺-ions in the soil solution (Schroeder, 1984). The H⁺-ions as such is not the toxic element towards plant roots, associated with typical visual Mg-deficiency symptoms.  However, a low soil-pH causes increased or decreased solubility of cations, resulting in indirect negative plant reactions.  Also, at a high soil-pH, complexation of nutrients also happens, except for molybdenum.  The impact of soil-pH unto solubility and availability of nutrients in the soil was already illustrated in a diagram by Truog during 1943 (Bedassa, 2020). Solubilized aluminium ions (Al³⁺) are toxic towards plants and suppressing magnesium uptake (Mg²⁺), unfortunately not reflected directly in the soil-pH measurement. Although soil-pH is a useful index commonly measured when testing soil, it is often misunderstood and misused (WPHA, 2002).

Total acidity in acid soils is defined as consisting of two components, as indicated below:

Total acidity =            exchangeable acidity + residual acidity

Total acidity can be determined by the titration of a soil suspension in a salt solution to a reference pH using a strong base or addition of increments of lime.  However, a standard method for the determination of total acidity is to react a soil for several hours or overnight with a solution containing 0.5M BaCl₂ (0.5 moles barium chloride solution), plus a triethanolamine (TEA) buffer adjusted to pH 8.0 or 8.2. Triethanolamine is well buffered at pH 8. The Ba²⁺ is included to displace acidity from soil components. A reference pH of 8.0 or 8.2 was chosen to represent the pH attained when a soil is limed with excess lime; also, the Al³⁺ acidity bound to clays is neutralized (Bloom, 2000).

Exchangeable acidity is the hydrogen (H⁺) and Al⁺ extractable with IM KCI (1 mole potassium chloride salt extractable acidity; Bloom, 2000), in other words, the titratable hydrogen (“and Aluminium”[1]) that can be replaced from the absorption complex by a neutral salt (Van der Watt & Van Rooyen, 1995). In order to interpret the impact of meaning of an exchangeable acidity value expressed in centimol per kilogram of soil (cmol_ckg^-1) as a percentage of acidity, acid saturation need to be calculated.  The following formula is used:

Acid saturation (%) = ((100 x (extractable acidity)) / T-value), where

Extractable acidity is the sum of salt extractable H⁺ and Al³⁺ cations expressed in cmol_ckg^-1 and the T-value of the soil, also in the same unit of measurement (FERTASA, 2016).

Residual acidity is the acidity titrate-able, but not easily exchangeable acidity (non-extractable). Residual acidity is determined by the difference between the total acidity neutralized by raising the pH to a reference level (7.0 or 8.0) and the salt extractable acidity (Bloom, 2000).

Buffer Capacities of soils

Because of the differences in buffer capacity of soils, those of similar pH may require vastly different quantities of lime to yield the same increase in pH (Bloom, 2000). Any decent agricultural lime proposal should keep the buffer capacity of soil in mind.  This suggest that on weak buffered soils (mostly sandy soils), liming could more easily done according to pH, while liming on highly buffered soils (mostly clayish soils) should rather be based on acid saturation.

Soil buffer capacity, influenced by soil texture, organic matter, and mineral composition, determines the soil’s ability to resist pH changes. Liming, the application of calcium and magnesium carbonates, can help neutralize soil acidity and improve fertility. However, the effectiveness of liming depends on the soil’s buffer capacity, with highly buffered soils requiring more lime to achieve the same pH increase.

Conclusion

Accurate interpretation of soil acidity requires understanding the critical definitions of active, exchangeable, and residual acidity. By recognizing the significance of each type and their interrelationships, farmers and soil managers can develop effective strategies to manage soil acidity, optimize soil fertility, and promote healthy plant growth.

References

Bedassa M (2020) Soil acid Management using Biochar: Review. Int J Agric Sc Food Technol 6(2): 211-217. OI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17352/2455-815X.000076 referring to Emil Troug (1943) USDA Year book of Agriculture. 42

Bloom, P.R., 2000.  Soil pH and pH buffering. In: M.E. Sumner (ed.). Handbook of soil science. CRC Press.

FERTASA, 2016. Bemestingshandleiding. Agste hersiene uitgawe. Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa. Pretoria.

Schroeder, D., 1984. Soils – Facts and concepts. International Potash Institute, Bern, Switzerland.

Van Der Watt, H.v.H. & Van Rooyen, T.H., 1995.  A Glossary of Soi8l Science.  The Soil Science Society of South Africa, Pretoria.

WPHA, 2002. Western Fertilizer Handbook. 9^th edition. Western Plant Health Association.

Compiled by Chris Schmidt, Senior Agriculturalist Kynoch Fertilizer. Contact us on 011 317 2000.

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As a wheat farmer in South Africa, you understand the importance of optimal soil preparation and fertilisation for a successful harvest. Soil testing and targeted fertilisers are crucial components of this process, helping you identify and address nutrient deficiencies to ensure healthy plant growth. In this article, we’ll delve deeper into the world of soil testing, nutrient deficiencies, and targeted fertilisers, providing you with the knowledge and resources you need to optimise your wheat farming operations.

Soil Testing: The First Step

Soil testing is the foundation of optimal “nutritional” soil preparation that should be done well in advance. It helps you determine the soil’s fertility status (including pH, cations, and phosphorus content, sulphur content, acidity, and silt and clay content, aka texture; as well as all trace elements), enabling you to make informed decisions about correctional fertiliser applications prior to planting, as well as the best suitable fertiliser to apply during planting. The latter will be determined by the soil status, as well as the crop demand, linked to expected yield potential. In the winter rainfall area of South Africa (Western Cape), it is also very important to measure the rock and coarse fragments in the soil sample. According to the Agricultural Research Council, soil testing every 3-5 years is recommended to monitor changes in soil health and adjust your management strategies accordingly (Agricultural Research Council, 2022). Kynoch advises testing every 3 years.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies in Wheat Farming

Wheat crops require a balanced mix of nutrients to thrive. In general, some of the most common nutrient deficiencies in wheat farming include:

1. Nitrogen (N): Essential for plant growth and development, nitrogen deficiency can lead to stunted plants, reduced yields, and poor grain quality.
2. Phosphorus (P): Crucial for root development, phosphorus deficiency can result in reduced plant growth, poor water uptake, and decreased yields.
3. Potassium (K): Important for plant water balance and disease resistance, potassium deficiency can lead to weakened plants, reduced yields, and increased susceptibility to disease.
4. Trace elements: Depending on soil conditions, deficiencies of micro-elements could be expected. If the soil is acidic, elements like molybdenum could be deficient; if the soil is sandy, elements like copper, zinc, boron, iron, and manganese could be deficient. If the soil is alkaline, basically all trace elements, except molybdenum, could be deficient.
5. Soil acidity: Wheat is very sensitive to soil acidity (expressed as acid saturation). It is imperative for wheat production to try and keep acid saturation at less than 1%. The only way to neutralise acidity is by applying agricultural lime, whether dolomitic or calcitic (depending on the soil’s calcium-to-magnesium ratio). Lime could be obtained from dedicated lime supplying companies.

Targeted Fertilisers: Addressing Nutrient Deficiencies

Targeted fertilisers are designed to address specific nutrient deficiencies, providing your wheat crop with the necessary nutrients for optimal growth and development. Mostly, some serious elemental deficiencies identified through the soil analysis done prior to planting could be rectified before planting by targeted fertilisers containing phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, and magnesium. An element like nitrogen will always be applied during planting, with the remaining portion applied just before planting (pre-plant application), or as a top dressing 4 to 6 weeks after emergence. The planting blend, consisting primarily of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, will be made up of different ratios according to crop preference and soil conditions. For instance, in the Vaalharts-irrigation scheme, a 7:3:3 or 2:3:2 N:P:K-ratio fertiliser is popular. In the dry-land summer rainfall areas, a 4.1.0 or 8.2.1 N:P:K-ratio fertiliser could be used. In the winter rainfall area, MAP is a popular option.

Reputable Resources for South African Wheat Farmers

For further guidance on soil testing, nutrient deficiencies, and targeted fertilisers, consult the following reputable resources:

1. Agricultural Research Council – Small Grain Institute (ARC-Small Grain Institute)
2. Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa (FERTASA)
3. NviroTek Laboratories ((link unavailable))

You can find more information on these resources through online searches or by consulting with local Kynoch agricultural experts and extension services. Other laboratories in South Africa could also be found online.

Conclusion

Optimising soil preparation and fertilisation is critical for successful wheat farming in South Africa. By understanding the importance of soil testing, identifying common nutrient deficiencies, and applying targeted fertilisers, you can ensure healthy plant growth, improved yields, and enhanced grain quality. Remember to consult reputable resources for guidance and support, helping you make informed decisions for your wheat farming operations.

Note:

1. The article is written in a clear and concise manner, making it easy to understand, and is based on reputable sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or technical guide, but rather a helpful resource for South African wheat farmers and producers.
2. Wheat production and practices for the summer and winter rainfall areas differ from one another. Please note the differences in reference sources.

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