Understanding the Crop and Soil

A key lesson learnt from experience is the importance of understanding both the crop and the medium it’s anchored in. This knowledge can unlock the full potential of the combination. Fixed recipes for a given crop won’t necessarily yield the same success elsewhere, as the specific soil, location, and crop interact in complex ways. Historically, researchers referred to this combination as a soil-crop ecotope, highlighting the need to avoid one-size-fits-all approaches.

Involving a Kynoch Agriculturalist and Agent

To ensure the best possible outcomes, it’s advisable for producers to involve a Kynoch agriculturalist and agent in their planning and decision-making process. These experts can provide valuable insights and guidance on the most effective fertilisers, soil conditioners, and growth stimulants for each specific crop and soil combination. Various baskets or groups of plant nutrients, bio-stimulants, and even soil conditioners can enhance any crop production system.

Liquid Fertilisers and Hydroponic Systems

Kynoch offers a range of high-quality clear liquid fertilisers, which can be used in conjunction with dry fertiliser options. Liquid alternatives are available for most dry fertiliser options, and specialised crops can be fertigated or fed through hydroponic systems. Nutritional feed for these crops requires specialised knowledge about soil and water quality, as well as the specific types of macro-, secondary-, and micro-elements needed. Managing electrical conductivity and salt indexes in the water, fertiliser solution, and wetting zones in the soil is crucial for optimal growth.

Vegetable Production

Vegetables are typically planted in rows, with fertiliser banding during planting. An Ultra-fertiliser (micro-element coated) banded during planting ensures a complementary array of nutrients within immediate access of roots. KynoKelp seaweed extract can be used as a foliar after emergence (or transplanting) to benefit early root development and growth. After emergence, Veggie Oemff, together with KynoFulvate Yellow (an uptake enhancer) as a foliar, promotes healthy growth. KynoHumate Black can be used as a soil conditioner to benefit roots and nutrient uptake from the soil.

Unlocking Potential

In row crop production, a key insight for unlocking potential is Ultra technology for vegetables. Loads of micro-elements coated onto every fertiliser granule are present and available in the soil after banding and are highly plant absorbable. Ultra can be made for planting blends with KynoPlus stabilised urea. Various Oemff products are available for foliar toppings, in association with KynoKelp seaweed extract and KynoFulvate Yellow. Sulphur-containing KynoPlus top- or side-dressing blends, with or without potassium, are available.

Permanent Crops

Permanent crops like vines, stone and pome fruit, citrus, nuts, avocado, litchi, banana, and dates are grown in South Africa. Each one can be seen as a speciality, requiring specific nutrients and care. In the basket for this group, there are multiple excellent options (dry granule, water-soluble, and liquids). For macadamia, for instance, a KynoMac range of products is available to provide specific nutrients.

Conclusion

Getting ready for a new season requires careful planning and consideration of the unique needs of each crop and soil combination. By involving a Kynoch agriculturalist and agent, and utilising the right fertilisers, soil conditioners, and growth stimulants, producers can unlock the full potential of their crops and achieve optimal growth and yields.

Compiled by Chris Schmidt on 082 885 8134, or email chris.schmidt@kynoch.co.za, and Chris Burbidge on 083 702 0760 or email chris.burbidge@kynoch.co.za.

– KynoKelp® M314 (Act 36 of 1947)
– KynoFulvate Yellow® M261 (Act 36 of 1947)
– KynoHumate Black® M350 (Act 36 of 1947)
– KynoPlus® K8024 (Act 36 of 1947)
– KynoMac® 6:0:10 (30) K11218 (Act 36 of 1947)

Read the full article: 3 minute read

The post Getting Ready for a New Season: Unlocking Crop Potential first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Like all living things, plants require a wide range of chemical nutrients to grow, thrive and reproduce. In the case of plants, these substances may be present in adequate quantities in the soil or might need to be added in the form of natural or synthetic fertilisers. To help fight pests and diseases, spraying crops with pesticides may also be necessary. However, plants are often exposed to other sources of stress, including extreme temperatures, high soil salinity levels and drought. To resist these so-called abiotic stresses, they rely on plant biostimulants.

These stress-resisting agents can be any material containing chemicals or microorganisms able to stimulate some natural process essential for plant growth and health. These abilities are independent of any nutrient properties they may also possess. As well as providing increased resistance to abiotic stress, these materials may enhance nutrient uptake or improve utilisation. They are typically required in relatively small quantities, contribute little or no direct nutrient value and consist of two main classes, microbial or non-microbial. Natural or synthetic organic compounds are the primary ingredients of non-microbial plant biostimulants.

The natural compounds are typically obtained from seaweed extracts, algae, animal protein hydrolysates, amino acids and chitin. The active compounds in these materials mimic the physiological actions of various plant hormones, including cytokinins, auxins and gibberellins. For example, cytokinins aid cell division, vascular development and nutrient mobilisation. Gibberellic acid stimulates germination, and auxins regulate the chemical processes involved in every stage of a plant’s growth. Other commonly used substances in the non-microbial category include humic and fulvic acids, ascorbic acid and other vitamins.

By contrast, microbial plant biostimulants consist of living organisms. These include bacteria, non-pathogenic fungi, protozoa and nematodes. The class also includes arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which can form a symbiotic association with a plant’s root system. In this case, the benefits to plants are derived from the products of the natural physiological processes that enable these various soil microorganisms to thrive. In practice, much of the evidence for the efficacy of these products is empirical, and the precise mechanisms involved remain uncertain. Nevertheless, the increased resistance to physical stresses and disease, vigorous growth and high yields experienced by farmers who choose to apply plant biostimulants to their crops speak for themselves.

Kynoch has conducted extensive research in this field. Based on our findings, we have developed two world-class products – KynoHumate – Black and KynoFulvate – Yellow. The former is a humic acid-based soil amendment that reduces leaching and increases nutrient availability and tolerance to salinity stress. The latter contains fulvic acid to promote germination, nutrient uptake, and improved growth. We invite you to download more information about these proven effective plant biostimulants.

The post Plant Biostimulants and Their Function first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Following centuries of practical farming and agricultural research, we have amassed a wealth of knowledge regarding the nutritional requirements for sustainable, healthy plant growth. For example, we are now aware of the many advantages of applying commercial fertilizers with a well-balanced nutrient content rather than depending on the random composition of compost and animal manure. However, we sometimes forget that soil composition is frequently just as inconsistent. In practice, an accurate soil analysis should be the starting point when attempting to optimise plant nutrition.

What Your Plant Needs

The requirements for photosynthesis extend far beyond water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. For example, green plants require nitrogen and magnesium to synthesise chlorophyll. These crucial nutrients can become exhausted by a crop or leached away by heavy rainfall. Consequently, these elements will need to be replaced before the next planting. But how much of each will be required? Too much nitrogen can cause iron deficiency characterised by a yellowing of the leaves. It can also leave plants more susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases. Performing a soil analysis before you select your fertilizer will eliminate these and other adverse effects due to nutrient deficiency or excess.

How a Soil Analysis is Conducted

The first step in this two-step process is sampling. The sample you submit for testing is small compared with the area of your field, so it needs to be as representative as possible. In practice, you need to collect multiple samples from randomly-chosen locations. You will then need to air-dry them for two or three days or keep them refrigerated before delivering them to the laboratory. Once there, a technician will perform the necessary tests. Those conducted during a soil analysis may vary between labs but typically include texture, electrical conductivity as a measure of salinity, pH plus nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentration. In addition, calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulphur levels are customarily measured. Secondary studies such as the cation exchange capacity of the metallic elements can indicate the soil’s ability to retain nutrients. Armed with the details of your soil’s composition, you can now determine the necessary steps to create a balanced nutrient environment suitable for your proposed crop.

Despite its undeniable value, conducting a soil analysis is a time-consuming and exacting process. Furthermore, interpreting the results to compile a suitably balanced fertilizer requires an in-depth knowledge of plant nutrition. Consequently, many busy farmers prefer to outsource the entire process to an expert.

Kynoch is a leader in the field of plant nutrition management. We can compile a customised programme to cover each phase of plant growth and the related nutrient requirements ensuring healthy crops and maximum yields. Please click here to learn more about our farm visits and comprehensive soil analysis service.

The post Soil Analysis Role in Plant Nutrition Management first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

The Purpose of Plant Biostimulants

Unlike the essential botanical macronutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, contained in commercial fertilizers, only comparatively small quantities of these materials are required. Although some may have nutrient properties, these are secondary to their intended role. In practice, their primary purpose is to enhance or expedite a plant’s nutritional processes rather than acting as an additional source of nutrients. However, like animals, plants are frequently exposed to various forms of stress. It is termed ‘abiotic stress’ when its origin is physical rather than biological. Applying suitable plant biostimulants can also help them cope when exposed to stressful conditions.

Types of Plant Biostimulants

Abiotic stress can take various forms. For example, drought is becoming increasingly frequent in South Africa. Also, in coastal regions, soil salinity is often high. Other physical factors that can impede a crop’s development include extreme temperatures, excessive dampness, insect pest and a long list of crippling crop diseases.

So, what sort of materials can alleviate these problems and enhance crop growth? In practice, many materials display these valuable properties. However, agriculturists generally divide these into two main categories when classifying plant biostimulants. They are either organic substances or microorganisms.

Regardless of the type, their actions closely parallel those of the vitamins and dietary supplements favoured by many health-conscious humans. As a matter of fact, ascorbic acid or vitamin C extracted from citrus fruits is a common ingredient used in these products. Other sources of suitable organic compounds include algae, animal tissues and fruit and vegetable waste. The raw materials undergo enzymatic hydrolysis during the manufacturing process to form protein hydrolysates. These contain amino acids, peptides and other compounds, the active ingredients of commercial plant biostimulants.

The second group of materials comprises various bacteria, non-pathogenic fungi and nematodes. The latter are tiny multicellular insects with non-segmented bodies that act as natural pesticides, avoiding the need to apply toxic chemicals. As biological entities, it is the by-products of their metabolism that benefit plant growth and health.

Choose Kynoch to Enhance Plant Nutrition

Kynoch, an acknowledged leader in plant nutrition and welfare, has developed two products to combat abiotic stress and boost plant physiology. You are welcome to download more information about our world-class KynoHumate Black and KynoFulvate Yellow.

The post Difference between Plant Biostimulants and Plant Nutrients? first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Like animals, plants require many factors to ensure they grow strong and remain healthy. Animal physiology involves extracting the chemicals for building tissues and generating the energy to achieve this by consuming other animals and plants. By contrast, a plant’s nutritional requirements must be drawn from the soil and the atmosphere. Nature provides the sunlight, carbon dioxide and much of the water required for photosynthesis, and soil is the source of other essential plant nutrients. However, it is an unreliable source, often requiring a growth fertiliser to provide any missing or deficient contents.

Primary Macronutrients Needed by Plants

Plant nutrients fall into three groups depending on the quantities required. Their greatest need is for a group of substances classified as primary macronutrients comprising nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. However, the need for each element varies between species and at different stages in the growth cycle. Consequently, it is essential to ensure the correct concentrations and relative proportions of these macronutrients when attempting to correct imbalances or deficiencies in the growing environment. Manufacturers take these factors into account when preparing growth fertiliser products.

Nitrogen plays an essential role in protein synthesis and energy production by photosynthesis. Without it, growth is slowed, and plants become discoloured and lose their leaves. Phosphorus is vital for root formation and some aspects of general development, especially during the flowering stage. Potassium regulates water uptake and transport, strengthens cellular tissues, boosts photosynthesis and is necessary for nitrate absorption. If potassium levels in the soil are inadequate, this can reduce resistance to drought, frost and fungal infections. Consequently, it is crucial to include appropriate amounts of these three elements when compiling a growth fertiliser.

Secondary Macronutrients and Micronutrients

By contrast, plants require only moderate amounts of the three secondary macronutrients – the elements calcium, magnesium and sulphur. The first of these has multiple roles ranging from cell wall formation and root formation to mineral retention by the soil, neutralisation of toxins and seed formation. Without magnesium, plants could not produce chlorophyll, and the element is also necessary to activate numerous enzyme reactions. Sulphur is also an all-rounder, having roles in chlorophyll formation, photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolisation and protein synthesis. All three are commonly included in growth fertiliser.

The list of micronutrients required in trace quantities is somewhat longer. It features boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. Suffice it to say that each element is necessary for some aspect of a plant’s health and welfare. In many cases, generic products can be highly effective. However, Kynoch favours soil-testing to compile bespoke mixtures based on its results for maximum crop yields. If healthy crops and high yields are important to you, why not view more details of our farm visits and our world-class growth fertiliser products.

The post Why Do You Need Growth Fertiliser? first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

Gedurende die nasionale staat van inperking het die Kynoch span NDVI beelde gebruik om die koring op ‘n plaas in Rundu, Namibië te help bestuur. Deur middel van aanlynvergaderings, video’s en die satellietbeelde,  kon die bestuurder en sy span verandering en vordering van die koring op sy sirkels dophou en bestuurspraktyke aanpas.

Tydens die virtuele vergaderings het die NDVI beelde as die basis van besprekings gedien want die  beelde verander soos wat die gewas vorder. Die voorbeeld wys ‘n duidelike verandering in NDVI indeks oor die bestek van ‘n paar dae, asook die gedeelte wat vroeg geplant is teenoor die gedeelte wat ongeveer 3 weke later geplant was (helfte naaste aan die pad).

In vergelyking van hierdie twee beelde (Figuur 1 & 2), was die bestuurder aanvanklik bekommerd oor die “agteruitgang” in groen materiaal wat op suidelike gedeelte van die beeld (regs) aangedui word. Met nadere ondersoek het ons agtergekom dat die are begin verskyn het en dat dit die rede vir die verandering was. Wat dus na ‘n probleem gelyk het, was eintlik goeie nuus.

Tegnologie in die vorm van die KynoPrecise Toep is ‘n handige hulpmiddel in die boer se hande wat hom kan help om sy gewas te bestuur al is hy meer as 2000 km daarvandaan. Hierdie voorbeeld het weereens bevestig dat kundige interpretasie van die inligting, asook verifikasie van die situasie op grondvlak, ‘n kritiese rol speel om beskikbare tegnologie ten beste te benut.

NDVI (Near Differential Vegetation Index) beelde op ‘n sirkel koring in die Kaprivistrook.

Die sirkel word met ‘n Kynoch Program  bemes en landboukundig ondersteun. Die gedeelte Suid (verste weg van die pad) is ongeveer 3 weke voor die noordelike gedeelte geplant. Die NDVI Index dui hierdie verandering in groeistadium (aarveskyning) duidelik aan met meer prominente rooi en geel kleure.

Vir meer inligting oor die KynoPrecise Toepassing en Landboukundige dienste kontak

PJ Fryer

pj.fryer@kynoch.co.za

(+27) 0764028445

The post Bestuur jou gewas al sit jy 2000km daarvandaan! first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.

The eye in the sky

Precision farming is a term so widely used and includes anything from chemical soil maps to farming equipment. The more you work towards precision farming the more information you need to store or work through. There is generally a map for every action taken on a field, but the challenge is to store all this information and to be able to compare it with each other or to use it for recommendations. To overcome this challenge there is now KynoPrecise^TM

KynoPrecise^TM is an application that is available to Kynoch customers on the Apple iStore (Android version to be released soon). Fields on the application can be registered to receive NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index) images from two different satellite sources to ensure more timeous images. These NDVI images help to show changes in the crop growth in a short amount of time and if necessary, recommendations can be done accordingly. The KynoPrecise^TM application receives at least one NDVI image every two weeks and therefore can also be handy during field trails. On irrigated fields, a lower NDVI reading can indicate areas of the centre pivot that received too much or too little water.

KynoPrecise^TM also has the ability to compare different types of maps with each other to see if there is a correlation between them.  Figure 1 and Figure 2 compare different types of maps using the application. Figure 1 is a yield map of maize harvested in 2019. The red colour indicates a lower yield while the green colour indicates a high yield. Figure 2 is a potassium precision chemical map taken from a grid sample. Red indicates low potassium levels while the green indicates high potassium levels. A good correlation can be seen between the potassium and yield maps in Figure 1 and Figure 2.

NDVI images generated from KynoPrecise

KynoPrecise^TM is an application that gives you the ability to see how your crop grows during the growing season. Grain marketing decisions can also be made by using the many NDVI images received throughout the growing season.  KynoPrecise^TM is definitely an asset for any producer.

To find out more about KynoPrecise contact:

PJ Fryer

pj.fryer@kynoch.co.za
+27 (0) 76 402 8445

The post KynoPrecise – The eye in the sky first appeared on Kynoch Fertilizer.