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INTERVIEW ▶▶▶ Thomas Strydom


"Gather good info and respect nature"


Independent Soil & Crop Consultant, Thomas Strydom, answers a few questions about the current state of the soil in various regions of South Africa.


BY ARTHUR GRAY


During the past few years, many parts of the interior areas have experienced droughts, especially in the western parts. Droughts have a negative impact on the land, but may also be positive, what is your opinion about this? Droughts can have certain positive as well as negative impacts, as they affect the soil’s chemical, physical and biological environ- ment in various ways. A positive may be that it is one of nature’s ways of replenishing the soil, because of less chemical degrada- tion of nutrients due to smaller crop yields and less nutrient ex- traction, as well as physical protection of soil with less natural wa- ter compaction in sandy soils and lower compaction by tractors and implements, in effect, putting the soil in “a resting period”. During these periods there is also less leaching of important ele- ments such as nitrogen, potassium and sulphur. It is almost im- possible for a farmer to see or experience any drought as a positive; unfortunately, they remain part of nature’s cycle. With excessive heat, organic materials on top of the soil can burn to “ash” rather than create humus in the top 200mm. In such cas- es, nitrogen in the soil will also be used by organisms at the ex- pense of plants. Damage after hard rain, which occurs sporadical- ly, followed by strong winds, is another major problem. Wind erosion is common in times of drought. Certain types of sandy soils in the Western parts also tend to harden in drier years, when fine sand particles become firmly pressed into each other. Natural soil compaction occurs that has a negative impact on root devel- opment and distribution of roots through the soil profile. It is also essential to look at the chemical composition of the soil through lab analysis and make the necessary corrections. Soils do not al- ways have effective depth for root development and for this rea- son, chemical balances must be optimal to ensure better plant


growth. By utilising grid sampling, chemical variations can be corrected and eventually eliminated.


What is the overall condition of the soil in the summer production area – e.g. What is the impact of fertiliser and other chemicals over decades? Due to various problematic cultivation practices there are unfor- tunately big areas that show compacted layers at depths from 250 to 400mm. This has a huge impact on root development and also the ability of the soil to utilise the nutritional elements that are available. Farmers should focus on detailed grid soil analysis to ensure that the soils are managed efficiently as they can be- come very difficult to fix. Soils only have the capacity to handle a certain amount of lime and if the need is higher, due to acidity, pH and calcium/magnesium levels, it can be very difficult to overcome the problems in a short period of time. Inclusion of other elements can also be adversely affected, as the ability of plants to capture nutrients decreases drastically at lower pH le- vels. Adequate calcium levels and more alkaline soil gives plants the ability to handle stress and dry periods better, and up to two weeks longer.


What are the most important problems with production soils and how should they be corrected and managed? There are many variations and problems with regard to soil; pro- ducers do not always know and understand the variations and characteristics, and generally deal with them in the same way as their neighbours or predecessors. In many cases, they fail to make sure what is best for their specific farming and environmental conditions. By gathering good information and judiciously re- specting nature, the correct steps can be taken, with less mistakes and not so many school fees to be paid.


▶ FUTURE FARMING | 1 November 2018 11


PHOTO: THOMAS STRYDOM


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