Conservation agriculture

Extremely drought-tolerant, this amazing legume might be a great way of growing your own nitrogen in areas where dryland winter wheat can grow, saving you money in the process, writes John Fair.

Strict laws governing the cultivation of virgin soil have angered many farmers. But that’s because there’ve been few explanations of why these laws are necessary. Odette Curtis, project manager of the Renosterveld Management Conservation Project in Overberg in the Western Cape, helps farmers understand what’s at stake.

Farmers can cut nitrogen costs if they know how much nitrogen their soil already has, and how much it still needs to maximise yields. This week, John Fair discusses how to take soil samples to measure soil nitrogen status.

This reserve, established by Philip Erasmus on the Bosberg, is an excellent example of a private initiative in biodiversity conservation, writes Cameron McMaster.

Historically the preserve of state conservation efforts and wealthy white game ranchers, black rhino conservation in South Africa has moved to the next level. Black communities are now taking on the shared responsibility for keeping this endangered icon from extinction. Lloyd Phillips reports.

Sub-Saharan African agriculture is in a crisis. Declining yields, impoverished soils and massive soil erosion are common problems in rural areas. Peter Hittersay attended the FAO Emergency Operations and Rehabilitation Division's recent two-day regional conservation agriculture (CA) workshop, and reports on the urgent change in agricultural practices required and the CA solutions mooted.

If you believe natural is best, then inoculate your soil with the right mix of root fungi or mycorrhizae, says habitat planner Ben Breedlove. They can help in crop production, land-use applications such as roadside management, and also veld rehabilitation. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Issue Date: 30 March 2007

In the second part of our habitat planning series, habitat designer Ben Breedlove explains how to return the pre-European topsoil to the farm and re-establish the soil tilth necessary for land use optimisation. Roelof Bezudenhout reports. Issue Date: 9 February 2007