HOW DO SOIL MICROBES INFLUENCE NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY?

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Soil is rich with biological diversity and complexity that is not immediately apparent to the un-aided eye. Without a strong microscope, you wouldn’t know that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of organisms in a handful of soil. Bacteria, Archean, algae, and fungi play critical roles in the growth and well-being of plants. I like to think about these millions of microbes under our feet as workers at recycling plants, mining operations, and refineries. They all have specific jobs helping make nutrients available for plants.

lichen in soil
This fruticose lichen is a mixture of fungi and algae living in harmonious symbiosis. They are part of the soil life structure that recycles, mines and refines soils. Credit: Barret Wessel
Most soil microorganisms work in the “recycler” role. These are the decomposers that take dead plant and animal matter and break it down. If these recyclers didn’t do their job, the world would be a heap of unusable trash! Instead, recyclers use the organic matter to release the fundamental components that are used as food by plants.

The microbes that work in the recycling role use the organic carbon in the organic matter as an energy source (food). Recycling frees up nutrients like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus that are important to plant health. The importance of these recycling microbes cannot be overstated; they turn the world’s refuse into the building blocks of life. The maintenance of plant-life would be nearly impossible without these hard-working organisms.

Grey and Tan colored soil
Microorganisms are the work horses of nutrient cycling in soils; they decompose organic matter, form mutualistic relationships with plants, and contribute to soil structure. Here, iron reduction and re-oxidation features are evidence of hard working bacteria!  The soil microorganisms that fill the “miner” role work on nearby rocks and minerals, not organic matter like the recyclers. Miner microbes make a kind of “bacterial goo” – scientifically called an “exudate”. The goo has a special pH and other key characteristics specially formulated to bind and extract nutrients like phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. All of these minerals are needed for healthy plants and good crop yields.

A specific group of these “mining” microorganisms is called mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhizal fungi form special symbiotic relationships with plant roots. They connect with plant roots to provide access to the freshly-released nutrients. In return, the plant roots provide the fungi with tasty, energy-rich carbon that the fungi use for growth in an otherwise desolate area of the soil environment.

The final type of microbes are the “refiners.” Refiner microbes, a class of bacteria called Rhizobia, are able to take nitrogen from the air and process it into a form usable by the plant. These “nitrogen-fixing” bacteria take inert nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (N2

gas) and convert it to the plant-available ammonia and other nitrogen-rich organic compounds.

Generally, refiners only live in special root formations called “nodules” of legume plants. Peanuts, alfalfa, clover, beans, and lentils, are all legumes. They can all form this symbiotic relationships with Rhizobia. The legumes house the Rhizobia and provide them with energy-rich compounds for food. Due to this special symbiotic relationship, legumes make for great cover-crops in agricultural settings. The dead tissues of legumes (re-introduced to the soil for future plant use by the recyclers!) are nitrogen-rich. This nitrogen-rich plant material can provide nitrogen to the next planted crop. This means that the farmer is not required to spend as much time, money, and energy applying nitrogen fertilizers.

So how do you make your soil hospitable to these microbes that have the potential to enrich your farm or garden? In simple terms, you must “feed” the microbial communities in your soil. Recyclers use organic carbon in dead matter as an energy source. Cover crop residue, compost, or mulch are good sources of organic matter. To help the nitrogen-fixing “refiners”, plant some legumes, like clover or alfalfa,1 as a cover-crop. The Rhizobia will make the legume and surrounding soil nitrogen rich. Leave this cover crop on the soil after it dies to provide nitrogen-rich organic material, and start the cycle over!

Soil microbes play a vital role in the sustained growth of plants. They decompose and recycling nutrients bound in organic materials. They help access minerals in rocks large and small. And, they can even refine nitrogen from the air into a useful form for plants!

Answered by Caitlin Hodges, Pennsylvania State University

WATER SCARCITY AND AGRICULTURE

Water scarcity has a huge impact on food production. Without water people do not have a means of watering their crops and, therefore, to provide food for the fast growing population. According to the International Water Management Institute , agriculture, which accounts for about 70% of global water withdrawals, is constantly competing with domestic, industrial and environmental uses for a scarce water supply. In attempts to fix this ever growing problem, many have tried to form more effective methods of water management.

One such method is irrigation management. Irrigation is a method of transporting water to crops in order to maximize the amount of crops produced. Many of the irrigation systems in place do not use the water in the most efficient way. This causes more water then necessary to be used or for there not to be enough water to ensure healthy crops. According to the World Bank, irrigation management works to upgrade and maintain irrigation systems, such as groundwater irrigation, that are already in place and expands the areas of irrigation to increase the amount of crops being produced.

Another method is water management for rain fed agriculture. Rain fed agriculture is the most common method of agriculture in developing nations. According to the book, Rain fed Agriculture: Unlocking the Potential, 80% of the land farmed around the world is rainfed and it "contributes about 58% to the global food basket" (xiii). Some techniques in water management for rainfed agriculture include the use of supplemental irrigation and water harvesting techniques, such as rain catchment systems and weirs or sand dams. These techniques help provide much needed water to areas where rainfall is inconsistent. Having this water helps to increase the number and quality of the crops grown.

The Water Project works to combat this issue by helping to build water collection systems, such as weirs or sand dams . Not only do these water collection systems provide clean water for people's everyday needs, they can be used for simple irrigation and "can actually benefit crop production by raising the ground water levels… Water is collected and stored for drinking and the rest seeps into the ground and creates more fertile fields" (The Water Project).
 
Using these different methods of water management and mostly Drip irrigation technology is essential for agriculture, as the increasing population calls for an increase in food production.

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Youths in Agriculture

The number of young people between ages 15 and 24 is growing rapidly. The youth bulge is particularly pronounced in Africa and south Asia, where the youth population is expected to double in the next 30 years. As of 2012, 10 million young people in sub-Saharan Africa were entering the job market every year.

As the world population continues to grow, food production will need to increase by 60 percent to meet rising demand. Yet considering that the current global average age of farmers is over 60, the question is:  who will feed the world in the future? Hunger and undernutrition also persist, and thus the need to accelerate progress—the central goal of Compact2025, for which I serve as a Leadership Council member—is ever more critical.
There is great potential for a demographic dividend, as the young generation can serve as a powerful resource for economic development and social progress, especially in Africa. Young people hold tremendous energy and creativity to not only contribute to agriculture, but also in addressing the major challenges facing humanity – hunger, poverty, and climate change. International institutions are highlighting the issue, bringing youth to the forefront of efforts toward sustainable development.
In my latest book, A Bucket of Water, I discuss the critical role youth will play in Africa’s future. There are great opportunities for entrepreneurship along the whole agri-food value chain to meet future needs in food security and nutrition. There will be need for workers in production, storage, conservation, processing, packaging, marketing, technology innovation, and transport among many others.

Yet young people face particular barriers that often lead to skepticism about farming as a viable future. Youth and other marginalized groups do not see farming as a business, as an economic enterprise. They also lack access to financial resources or collateral that are necessary to start a business. Many also lack access to modern communication technologies that would enable the exchange of important information. Without adequate education or opportunities in rural areas, many young men and women decide to leave to urban areas or foreign countries.

How can we, the current generation, help remove the barriers youth face and help them reach their —and thereby our world’s—full potential?
The key will be to develop rural areas to encourage young men and women to remain in their communities and pursue opportunities to improve their livelihoods and obtain decent work for greater prosperity. It is essential that the rural space is provided with basic infrastructure and social services, namely roads, electricity, running water, schools, health services, and more. Building vibrant rural economies can also contribute to addressing poverty and inequality associated with rapid urbanization and relieving pressure from cities with limited capacity for migration.
In order to support youth to prosper in rural areas, we need to work on a few key aspects. First, addressing the education deficit for young people, particularly those in rural areas, is necessary to better prepare youth for future labor market demands. Vocational training and apprenticeships are needed for youth to build relevant knowledge and skills for work or create jobs for themselves. The International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for example, has helped identify and train young farmers by facilitating mentorships with agricultural entrepreneurs, or agripreneurs. Secondly, supporting access to credit and financial services for youth farmers will address a major obstacle for young farmers. Banks often do not provide credit to potential farmers due to young age and perception of farming as non-viable businesses, or the lack of collateral held by the farmer. Providing financial services as well as financial literacy training can be important tools for youth farming and businesses.

In addition, access to information is crucial for farmers in the globalized era. Farmers will need better information about markets, weather, as well as opportunities to enhance their business. Platforms to disseminate information are also key for farmers to reach out to potential customers. Global Youth Innovation Network in Senegal utilizes information communication technologies (ICTs) to support rural women working in agriculture.
By supporting youth in these areas, farming can become an appealing future for young people, and developing county agriculture can become a viable business. It is vital to create an environment for future food producers to thrive and accelerate progress toward ending hunger and under nutrition.

There is a saying in Nigeria that when you go to the stream to fetch water, your bucket will be filled with water that is yours. No one can take the water that is meant for you, but first you must walk to the stream. However, walking to the stream is not always easy. African youth will need to fill their own buckets, but it is our imperative to remove the barriers that hold back the future farmers of our world.
Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze is the Fifth President (Rtd) of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Special Goodwill Ambassador on Zero Hunger, Africa Region, and CGIAR System Management Board’s First Global Ambassador. He is a Leadership Council member for Compact2025. This piece also appears on the Compact2025 site and the IFPRI blog

It is with this vision that we establish the Facility for Youth Development (FAYODE) Foundation to support the development of young Africans, particularly rural youth, through mentoring, capacity building, and investment in entrepreneurial skills in a wide range of productive activities.

Importance of a healthy soil

There is a growing recognition that in order to reduce high levels of atmospheric carbon we need not just to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also sequester atmospheric carbon in the soil. Soils are a huge asset, as they can sequester vast amounts of carbon. How to maximize the levels of carbon sequestration within the soil, while at the same time maintaining productivity and protecting environmental resources is one of the greatest challenges facing agriculture today.

Developing solutions that have practical worth on-farm and make sense to farmers, as well as being scientifically robust will require different groups to work together on solutions.

Soil carbon and building soil health was one of our major parts, a whirlwind of new experiences, adventures, and discussions with outstanding farmers, and others involved in promoting sustainable agriculture. The study, titled 'Communicating carbon reduction schemes to farmers, busting preconceptions, driving efficiency and profit' was aiming to understand in more detail the opportunities for farmers to reduce emissions from their businesses. This included trying to understand where the gaps were in knowledge, metrics and payments that might help and also find examples of good practice that could be used to inspire more farmers to engage.

Although soil wasn’t initially the main focus, it quickly became clear that soil management was a central theme throughout many mitigation and drip irrigation projects strategies that are recommended for cutting emissions as well as the opportunities to build carbon levels. Through visiting different farms, in very different climatic conditions, it was clear that building soil health was a key priority at the center of resilient farm businesses.

Soil health is a key solution to combating climate change as by building soil health, we achieve multiple objectives. These include improved water quality, natural flood management, increased water holding capacity, improved plant and animal health, reduced disease and pest pressures and improved income in a sustainable manner.

Soil health can be used as an integrative concept that helps farmers think holistically about their farm management and the environmental (and climate) impacts of its management. The interesting aspect of the Dripsol Company is that by framing messages around soil health, farmers understand the practical relevance and engage.

I concluded that although the issue is complex, emissions associated with agriculture must be reduced. This is intrinsically linked with driving efficiency and realizing economic savings. This requires consistent use of metrics that link the emission reduction potential with economic savings and make sense for farmers.

The potential around improving soil health and sequestering carbon within farm soils should not be hampered by lack of replicated science. Agriculture is unique in its ability to achieve this, and there is an urgent need to connect research with the farmer innovators to develop the baseline data that is required to shape policy. Action is required on emissions reductions and soil carbon to achieve targets.

There is a need to stand up and communicate the positive activities that are taking place within the industry, including the rising soil health movement and those farmers who are managing landscapes, producing food and reducing emissions. By encouraging positive stories there is an opportunity to inspire other farmers and celebrate achievements with policy makers and consumers.

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SOIL MANAGEMENT

Soil is the primary means of producing food and the basis of human life. The way in which soil is managed has a direct influence on the quality of the food produced, the efficiency with which we use the finite resources involved and the environmental consequences. We are currently faced with a spectrum of related problems in the Kenya including: static crop yields, declining soil organic matter levels, inefficient and costly fertilizer usage, nitrate, phosphate and pesticide contamination of water courses, excessive flood water run off and soil erosion. Underlying these is the critical importance of soil management.

Related issues include the need to build soil organic matter as a carbon sink to help address climate change, the fact that many of the resources used in food production are finite - water, oil and phosphorus being the most pressing and the ongoing decline in farmland birds and insects, which are often directly or indirectly related to the soil. Soil and farm management will in the future have to deliver multiple “public goods”, including environmental and social impacts, as well as sustainable food production.

The management of soil generally and soil fertility in particular is a poorly developed science. The principle of supplying adequate nutrients to more than meet the particular crop’s off take, as recommended by the Defra Fertilizer Manual RB209, has been followed for the last 30 years. Conventional farmers follow fertilizer recommendations which have been made without reference to soil structure, soil life, soil organic matter or the need to minimize finite resources, particularly of oil, which is used in nitrogen fertilizer manufacture and mined phosphate. Cheap fertilizer, excess application rates and poor crop utilization result in only 45% of nitrogen fertilizer being used by the crop. Government legislation has had to be introduced to control farm practices including nitrate fertilizer and manure restrictions, particularly in sensitive areas and incentives to encourage winter ground cover and the use of legumes. Organic farmers have sought to address the use of finite resources and to reduce pollution by routine use of legumes and recycling nutrients within the farm and the avoidance of synthetic fertilizers. However they operate with very limited soil analysis information to aid the biological management of soils.

There is now renewed interest amongst all farmers in soil structure, use of green manures and encouraging soil life, particularly in parts of the country where serious and growing problems are experienced.

There are new laboratory analysis services offered in the Kenya, including Soil Respiration (NRM Laboratories), Albrecht type Base Cation Exchange Capacity analysis (e.g. Kingshay and Glenside) and Soil Life analysis (Laverstock). However there is no medium term, let alone long term monitoring of the use of such alternative analysis and associated management recommendations in the Kenya.

To date, the long-term evidence for the use of alternative and biological soil analysis techniques is inconclusive, despite enthusiastic use by some farmers and advisers, particularly in the East Africa. In the UK there is an urgent need to bring such international experience, research, and farmer knowledge to the forefront in the development of improved food and farming systems.

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GOING DRIP 2018 IN A MODERN WAY

#Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is a controlled ,slow application of water to soil over a long period of time, usually lasting for several hours . The water flows under low pressure through plastic pipes /tubing laid along each row of plants. It reduces water loss by u[to 60%.Flow rates needs to be adjusted so that there's no run off or flooding.

•  Apply enough water to water the soil in depth of 4 - 6 inches 
• Avoid frequent light application of water 
• water in early day light hours

#Planning a drip system

• Source of a clear water that flows at a rate of at least 2-5 gallons per minute with at least 30 - 40 pounds of pressure ,if using a rain barrel , raise or elevate it to increase water pressure 
• Locate the area to be irrigated to be close to water source 
• Dripsol company will help you determine and sketch design for the area you want to irrigate on a site visit 
• Have a plan when you shop and take it with you to our office in limuru town
• When buying irrigation equipment , avoid mixing brands of fittings, hoses and emitters unless they are compatible 
• Emitter selection and performance are keys to the success of all drip irrigation system .  Some emitters perform satisfactory underground , while other tube is used only above the ground .Emitter clogging  is a major problem in drip irrigation . They clog easily 

#Operating drip system 

operating drip system is a matter of deciding when to on and how long to leave it on. The object is to maintain adequate soil moisture without wasting water 

Bring the moisture level in the root zone to a satisfactory level 

#BASIC PARTS OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM 

• Valves  - Turn on and off the water flow through the drip lines
•  Pressure regulator  - Reduces the water pressure and keeps it at a constant level.
• Filter - Cleans the water, 
• Emitter - controls how fast the water drops onto the soil , common emitters emits 4ltrs/hours of water 
• Drip lines - it's laid on the ground surface  between or along side the plants 
• Drip line fittings - Fittings (Tees, coupling and adapters) are the plastic connectors used to attache  the drip tube 

Contact dripsol company at +254746300055 / +254738690937 or through email at sales@dripsol.com / info@dripsol.com

#HappyFarming
#Mordernfarming2018

10 tips for soil conservation

let's have a look at the major component of Farming either small scale or large scale farming, In order to have fertile and productive soils and to contribute to a sustainable environment, it is necessary to prevent erosion, taking care of our fields. How does that work? Well, here are simple best practices you can adopt to prepare and preserve the land.

•  No-till farming

This farming technique provides that at the end of the season (after harvest) each plot of land is left “resting”. This allows natural herbaceous plants to grow without direct intervention on the field by agricultural vehicles. So, the soil can recover the organic substances needed for fertility. On the other hand, spontaneous herbaceous plants maintain the stability of the soil and protect it from the effects of erosion by water and wind.

• Terracing

This technique takes advantage of the natural inclination of the ground to slow the flow of water through a series of “grades”. This allows for a better management of soil and water, facilitating agricultural operations.

• Contour farming

This technique provides for crop sowing not in vertical and parallel lines, but rather following the natural contours and shapes of the plot. Contour farming slows the flow of water along the land and prevents the effects of erosion.

• Eliminating impermeable surfaces

Surfaces impermeable to water such as driveways, roads or asphalted areas allow the rain to flow and drain too quickly. This leads to rapid erosion of banks and ditches, streams and ponds. In order to eliminate this risk, you may choose to pave these areas with natural porous stone, instead of cement, so that the water can easily penetrate the underlying soil instead of flowing away.

• Creating a rain garden

What’s that? A rain garden is none other than a ground that is slightly lower and ridged in relation to the rest of the area. The water tends to accumulate in these lots of depression with two positive effects: it does not flow away and, therefore, does not erode the soil it crosses. It also provides the ability to grow plants that require plenty of water or that grow in marshy areas.

•  Collecting rainwater 

You can arrange a cistern to collect rainwater, for example at the edge of roofs. If left to flow freely, water can damage the soil and, therefore, collecting and storing it not only protects the soil but is also good for the environment: you can even use it for irrigation, reducing consumption and waste.

• Planting windbreaks

Not only water, but also wind represents a serious menace that contributes to soil erosion. To prevent its effects you can plant some types of windbreak plants around the edges of your plot that reduce its speed, protecting the crops. Some examples? Try hedges with laurel, cypress, oak and poplars.

• Restoring ponds and marshes

Small ponds and marshes form naturally in certain depressed areas of the ground, and many farmers tend to remove them and improve the areas in order to have more arable land. However, these areas can limit soil erosion; we have already seen that water accumulates in these areas and cannot erode the soil. In addition, these small ponds are the perfect habitat for small animal species, contributing to the biodiversity of the ecosystem.

• Buffer strips

Buffer strips are certain types of plants, natural herbs and small bushes that enrich the banks of ditches. Their roots dig deep into the soil subject to erosion and the continuous action of flowing water, and they help to keep it compact and solid even in the event of large water flows or small floods.

• Maintaining natural flora

The presence of large trees on the grounds is crucial to fight soil erosion. Plant roots create a dense network that form a sort of skeleton for the underlying soil making it less prone to erosion of possible landslides.

Each of these tips contribute a little to maintain the soil and its resources intact over time, providing an answer to one of the most crucial problems in agriculture. In addition, when it is time to work the soil, don’t stop protecting it. Choose tires that are the least aggressive as possible in order to reduce compaction of the soil and preserve its integrity and productivity, #SoilConservation #DripsolCompany #HappyFarmer #ModernFarmer