The multifunctionality of this phenomenon is evident in its roles in nutrient cycling, biological pest control, and the regulation of water and air availability, which are influenced by a combination of physical, chemical and biological factors.

The multifunctionality of this phenomenon is evident in its roles in nutrient cycling, biological pest control, and the regulation of water and air availability, which are influenced by a combination of physical, chemical and biological factors.

The complex relationship between soil health, water quality, and climate change can involve multiple perspectives, resulting in a complicated theoretical mixture.

This overview focuses on farmers and their soil at grassroots level, with sustainability in mind within our practical reality. What steps can the farmer take to begin improving soil health?

Add organic matter to the soil
In South Africa, the levels of organic matter in soils are very low, with approximately 58% of soils containing less than 0,5% organic carbon. The amount of organic matter varies depending on factors such as climate, vegetation, topography and soil texture.

Increasing the organic matter in the soil will have direct and indirect benefits for soil quality. Microbes break down plant residues in the soil to convert them into carbon.

The availability of inorganic nitrogen, soil water conditions, and temperature all have an impact on the rate of decomposition. Increased cultivation can lead to a faster breakdown and depletion of carbon. Therefore, it is recommended to minimise tillage and promote root growth by using seaweed extracts, adding calcium, magnesium, zinc and boron, as well as using humic acid (liquid carbon).

Micro-organisms in the soil
There are two main approaches that could be followed:

Add microbes to the soil: Adding microbes to the soil can have beneficial effects. This can be achieved by using granular fertiliser that is coated with microbes, applying organic material that contains microbes, or using liquids that contain microbes. Dry products can be spread evenly over the soil or placed in specific areas.

Feed microbes already in the soil: There is a large population of micro-organisms in the soil, estimated to be around 100 billion per gram of soil. When plant roots are in the soil, they come into contact with these microbes. The highest activity of microbes is typically found in the top 20cm of soil. Therefore, it is beneficial to provide carbon sources such as humic acid and fulvic acid to feed these microbes.

Add ‘housing’ for microbes
Carbon, such as biochar, organic roughs, or humic acids, can be utilised as a soil amendment to enhance crop growth by regulating soil conditions. This is due to its distinctive qualities, including a large surface area, a rich pore structure, an abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups, and a high cation exchange capacity.

Spray microbes on plants
Each plant possesses a microbiome that consists of fungi, viruses and bacteria, which play crucial roles in the plant’s functioning and survival. These micro-organisms can be found in various areas, such as the root zone (known as the rhizosphere), the internal environment of the plant (endosphere), and the above-ground surfaces (phyllosphere).

Farmers have the option to introduce microbes to the plant’s above-ground growth through foliar sprays or to the soil through soil drenches.

Irrigation
The practice of wetting soil profiles and subsequently withholding water for an adequate duration to facilitate the re-establishment of oxygen in the soil is considered a beneficial approach, as it effectively mitigates the occurrence of prolonged anaerobic conditions.

Conclusion
Lastly, it is worth noting that crop rotation is a highly effective management strategy that exerts a significant influence on microbial diversity within the soil.

Author: Dr Chris Schmidt

The post Soil health: a multi-perspective conundrum first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Mankind is dependent on the soil for its needs for food and fibre for humans, feed for livestock, and, of late, contributing to our energy supply with crops grown primarily for biofuels. Soil is a dynamic and multifunctional living system that exists as a relatively thin layer on the Earth’s crust. (Singh & Ryan 2015).  Soil is not an inert growing medium – it is a living and life-giving natural resource. It is teaming with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are the foundation of an elegant symbiotic ecosystem (USDA).

Soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans (USDA).

As world population and food production demands rise, keeping our soil healthy and productive is of paramount importance. By farming using soil health principles and systems that include no-till, cover cropping, and diverse rotations, more and more farmers are increasing their soil’s organic matter (SOM) and improving microbial activity. As a result, farmers are sequestering more carbon, increasing water infiltration, improving wildlife and pollinator habitat—all while harvesting better profits and often better yields (USDA).

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) found in the living matter in soils acts as a sink that traps and stores CO₂ – a major contributor to global warming. Soils represent the largest terrestrial pool of carbon: each hectare can store up to 50 – 300 tonnes of carbon (UNCCD 2014).

By increasing crop yields and productivity on available arable land, fertilisers help protect carbon-rich forests, peatlands, wetlands and grasslands by minimizing land use changes. Increased productivity through fertiliser use has spared 1 billion hectares of virgin land from cultivation between 1961 and 2005 and saved the equivalent of 317 – 590 billion tonnes of CO₂ emissions (the same as total global pre-1800 CO₂ emission levels) (Burney et.al. 2010).

With better management, farmland soil could also store up to an extra 1.85 billion tonnes of carbon each year (7 billion tonnes of CO₂): around the same amount of CO₂ emitted every year by the global transport sector (Zomer et. al. 2017).

The best way to capture more carbon on farmland is to use fertilisers to optimize plant growth and yields and leave crop residues in the field after harvest.

For every 2 – 3 tonnes of carbon stored above ground in plants, one (1) or more tonnes of carbon are generally stored below ground in the roots and root exudates.

Applying fertilisers following the 4R nutrient stewardship principles (Right nutrient source at the Right rate, at the Right time and in Right place) enhances nutrient use efficiency, which reduces nutrient losses to the environment, including in the form of greenhouse gases. Effective and efficient fertilization is a vital part of the climate-smart agricultural practices that could reduce global emissions by 5.5 to 6 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year: around the same as removing 1,500 coal-fired power plants from the energy sector (Smith et. al. 2007).

To help fight climate change we need to use fertilisers globally to grow more crops on existing farmland to protect carbon stored in wild ecosystems and increase the carbon stored in our agricultural soils (IFA 2018).

References:

• Bijay Singh and John Ryan 2015. Managing Fertilisers to Enhance Soil Health. First edition, IFA, Paris, France, May 2015. Copyright 2015 IFA.
• International Fertiliser Association (IFA) 2018. Integrated Plant Nutrient Management
• Jennifer A. Burney, Steven J. Davisc, and David B. Lobella, 2010.  Greenhouse gas mitigation by agricultural intensification.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), June 15, 2010 107 (26) 12052-12057.
• Smith, P., D. Martino, Z. Cai, D. Gwary, H. Janzen, P. Kumar, B. McCarl, S. Ogle, F. O’Mara,  C.  Rice, B. Scholes, O. Sirotenko, 2007: Agriculture. In Climate Change 2007: Mitigation. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [B. Metz, O.R. Davidson, P.R. Bosch, R. Dave, L.A. Meyer (eds)], Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
• UNCCD (2014) The land in numbers: Livelihoods at the tipping point. 2014. Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification ISBN: 978-92-95043-90-9
• United States Department of Agriculture: Natural Resources Conservation Service: Soil Health.
• Zomer, R.J., Bossio, D.A., Sommer, R., & V. Verchot, (2017). Global Sequestration Potential of Increased Organic Carbon in Cropland Soils. Sci Rep 7, 15554.

Author: Graham Peddie from Kynoch Fertilizer

Soil Health in Sustainable Agriculture

The post Soil Health and Fertiliser first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Introduction

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) has a rich history dating back to 9600 BC and is a staple cereal grain cultivated worldwide. It symbolises development, advancement, abundance, and wealth. Wheat is metaphorically associated with growth, hard work, love, and charity and is frequently mentioned in the Bible.

Wheat is grown on more land area than any other food crop (220.7 million ha in 2021) and dominates world trade among crops. In 2021, global wheat production reached 771 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice. The increasing demand for wheat is driven by its unique gluten properties, essential for processed foods. Nutritionally, wheat is a significant source of carbohydrates, vegetable protein, essential nutrients, and dietary fibre, while being low in fat.

Climate change has created global challenges for wheat production, affecting yields in South Africa’s irrigated and dryland areas. To address this, Kynoch has developed strategic management practices to maintain and increase yields under stressful environmental conditions.

Stress Management Practices for Weather-Sensitive Wheat:

Wheat is generally hardy, with a fine root system that efficiently utilises soil. It thrives in cool weather and is adapted to winter conditions during its initial vegetative phase. However, critical life cycle stages, particularly flowering and grain filling, are sensitive to extreme weather. The optimal temperature for wheat flowers during anthesis and pollination is 23°C, with a tolerance of ±1.75°C, while the optimal temperature during grain filling is 26°C, with a tolerance of ±1.53°C. Terminal heat stress, occurring when temperatures exceed 31°C during grain filling, can reduce yields by up to 18.1%. In the Northern Cape, temperatures often surpass 40°C.

Basic agronomical practices such as planting date, cultivar selection, seed depth, seeding rate, soil tillage, seedbed preparation, pest management, soil water scheduling (irrigation), and salinity control are essential for mitigating environmental challenges. Fertility and nutrition come into play after these factors are managed. Technology-driven granular planting and topdressing products, including KynoPlus®, Miracle, CASUMA®, and the ULTRA® Ranges, provide stabilised nitrogen, improved potassium with zinc and silicon, and stress-relieving elements to enhance plant potential. Healthy plants handle stress better, so it is crucial to support the crop from the start.

The intricately beautiful and delicate wheat flower (photo credit) by Jason Brian Sparrow

KYNOCH Stress Solutions:

Heat stress generates reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that damage plant cells, causing leaky cells and impairing photosynthesis. Kynoch offers high-quality products with scientific stress management formulations. Notable products include Kynoch Wheat OEMFF®, KYNOFULVATE YELLOW®, and KYNOKELP®, which enhance photosynthesis and stress tolerance.

Wheat OEMFF® is a foliar product containing a balanced nutrient combination and a specialised enhancer to stimulate photosynthesis. It can be applied early in the vegetative phase and later at the vital flag leaf stage, which is crucial for wheat health. KYNOFULVATE YELLOW® can be combined with Wheat OEMFF® or liquid fertilisers to enhance nutrient uptake and mobilise nutrients within the plant and soil, increasing drought tolerance. KYNOKELP® is a natural product rich in bio-stimulating compounds that promote root development and activate metabolic processes to alleviate stress. These products are part of the KYNO STRESS KIT concept designed to manage crop stress and improve yields and quality.

Conclusion:

Wheat is still the best crop since sliced bread, and an article that was published on the 4th of May 2020 in the Times Now News referred to wheat as an “auspicious grain crop!” Wheat remains a favourable cash crop with the potential to bring prosperity and signal future agricultural success. In an ever-changing climate, Kynoch focuses on mitigating and managing stress on agronomical and plant physiological levels. Kynoch is committed to being solution-driven to keep our farmers successfully farming.

For more information, contact Kynoch: 011 317 2000

KYNOCH: Enhanced efficiency through innovation.

Jason Sparrow Pr.Sci.Nat

SACNASP Nr: 400202/11

KYNOCH Agriculturalist (Northern Cape area)

The post Stress management strategies for wheat first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.