Minimise soil disturbance and build soil health.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Physical soil disturbances are a well-documented and well-understood concept; however, we underestimate the disturbances that result from chemical and biological processes.
Author Archive for: Jason Deschamps
Entries by Jason Deschamps
Could compost tea be part of the solution?
Reading Time: 6 minutes
Compost tea, if used correctly, can help reduce the use of harmful pesticides through the introduction of beneficial microbes and at the same time bring nutrients that are essential for plant growth and soil functions.
Living roots are key
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Soils have become high nutrient input systems resulting in the use of substantial amounts of synthetic fertiliser to grow our crops. There is a simple solution to this problem, we need to feed our “underground herds”
Did you eat today, then thank a farmer!
Reading Time: 3 minutes
South Africa has a population of around 59 million people. Of this population, there are only around 40 thousand commercial farmers. This means that each farming unit provides food for around 1475 people. Now that is a lot of mouths to feed!
Why not compost?
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Nothing should ever be viewed as “waste” on the farm. Organic waste can be converted into compost that helps improve the farms soil life and fertility.
Turning effluent from waste to benefit
Reading Time: 2 minutes
When dairy effluent is viewed as waste water, it is all about getting rid off it. However when it is viewed as beneficial water, it is all about the opportunity costs of the nutrients.
Carbon – the drought survival secret!
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Soil carbon helps with moisture retention and can get you through dry periods. Farm management practices should be wired towards sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere!