Vegetables & Fruit July/August 2019 by Vegetables & Fruit

SINCE 1988

JULY â&#x20AC;¢ AUGUST 2019

We got you sorted R40,00

(BTW ingesluit) ander lande uitgesluit (Including VAT) other countries excluded

No 190

BESKERM VIR BETER GROEI FMC-Landbou-oplossings Van elke wetenskaplike en landboukundige asook elke man en vrou, by FMC is ons passievol verbind om unieke innoverende oplossings te ontdek om gesonder gewasse te verseker. Die liefde vir die land is wat ons verenig en ons deel dieselfde visie van ‘n wetenskap wat aan die natuur toegewy is. Ons produkte en dienste stel jou in staat om jou gewasse te versorg en uiteindelik volhoubare groei te bereik. Kontak jou plaaslike FMC-verspreider om meer uit te vind oor die volgende appelprodukte: Altacor®, Aurora® 40 WG, Exirel® 100 SE, Fury® 10 EW, Karis® 5 CS, Rugby® 10 ME, Steward®, Steward® 150 EC, Fyfanon™ 440 EW, Vantex® 60 CS, Warrant® 70 WG. Altacor®, bevat chloorantraniliprool (antraniliese diamied) Reg. Nr. L8467 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, versigtig. Aurora® 40 WG, bevat karfentrasoon-etiel (triasolinoon) Reg. Nr. L6794 Wet Nr 36 van 1947, versigtig. Exirel® 100 SE bevat siaantraniliprool (antraniliese diamied) (Cyazypyr®) Reg. Nr. L10447 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, versigtig. Fury® 10 EW, bevat zeta-sipermetrien (piretroïed) Reg. Nr. L6696 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, skadelik. Karis® 5 CS, bevat lambda-sihalotrin (piretroïed) Reg. Nr. L9267 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, skadelik. Rugby® 10 ME bevat kadusafos (organofosfaat) Reg. Nr. L6368 Wet Nr 36 van 1947, skadelik. Rugby® 10 G bevat kadusafos (organofosfaat) Reg. Nr. L4110 Wet Nr 36 van 1947, skadelik. Steward®, bevat indoksakarb (oksadiasien) Reg. Nr. L6332 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, versigtig. Steward®

150 EC, bevat indoksakarb (oksadiasien) Reg. Nr. L8435 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, skadelik. FyfanonTM 440 EW, bevat merkaptotion (organofosfaat) Reg. Nr. L9484 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, versigtig. Vantex® 60 CS, bevat gamma-sihalotrin (piretroïed) Reg. Nr. L7227 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, versigtig. Warrant® 70 WG, bevat imidaklopried (chloro-nikotiniel) Reg. Nr. L8454 Wet Nr. 36 van 1947, versigtig. FMC Chemicals (Pty) Ltd, Posbus 44, Postnet Menlyn, Waterkloof Glen, 0181, Republiek van Suid-Afrika. Tel: +27 12 003 2938. Alle bogenoemde produkte is handelsmerke van FMC Corporation of sy affiliate. Datum: 04/2019. TD 19/082R

GEBRUIK PLANTBESKERMINGSPRODUKTE MET VEILIGHEID EN VERANTWOORDELIKE SORG. VOLG TEN ALLE TYE AANWYSINGS OP ETIKET MET TOEDIENING VAN PLANTBESKERMINGSPRODUKTE.

16 Nr 190

ISSN 1015-85 37

Cover

NEWS

The local berry industry might be small compared to other local fruit industries, total exports currently amount to approximately 6 500 ton, but like the berries, the industry makes up in vibrancy what it lacks in size.

5 Wines make history at trophy show 5 Joint venture good news for the utility tractor market 7 ARC’s Cheeky pear turns 10 7 Corteva Agriscience voltooi skeiding met DowDuPont

EDITORIAL Willie Louw (Group editor)

CHILLIES & PEPPERS 9 Hoë opbrengs met die regte kultivar 11 Rissieverbouing

Carien Daffue (Editor) 018 293 0622 info@mediakom.co.za PO BOX 20250, Noordbrug, 2522

BERRIES 15 16 17 19

Omvattende aanslag op bessiebestuursprogramme Very berry We got you sorted Packaging flexibility

Protect and enhance BASF bied innoverende en volhoubare oplossings teen donsskimmel, witroes en botritis in wingerd Crop inurance: a vital tool

SUBSCRIPTIONS SPECIAL RATES FOR GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE

GENERAL 24 Healthy soil, healthy food... healthy people 26 Meer as net ‘n boerderyvennoot 29 Terug tekenbord toe met bemesting op groentegewasse 32 Share the passion 34 Baanbreker-besproeiingstelsel maak meer met minder moontlik 35 PMA Fresh Connections 2019 36 Researchers catalogue insects pestering SA olives INSECT COLUMN 38

Robber flies (Diptera: Asilidae)

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

DESIGN Roelien vd Westhuizen westhuizenroo@gmail.com 072 930 6721

Bly ingelig en volg ons op Facebook. Keep up to date and follow us on Facebook. - SA Groente en Vrugte/SA Vegetables and Fruit - www.facebook.com/SAGroenteenVrugte/

CROP PROTECTION 20 22 23

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Tindrum 19/112R

SumiPleo

Unieke chemie vir doeltreffende insekplaagbeheer

SumiPleo® word reeds wyd vertrou as effektiewe alternatiewe chemie vir weerstandsbestuur van Lepidoptera plae in S.A. Beheer van Afrika bolwurm, Aartappelmot en Tuta absoluta in aartappels, Afrika bolwurm en Tuta absoluta in tamaties, Ruitrugmot in Crucifereae soos kool, blomkool, broccoli, brusselse spruite asook Afrika bolwurm in blaarslaaisoorte is geregistreer. Registrasie vir die beheer van Herfskommandowurm (Spodoptera frugiperda), ’n indringerplaag op mielies en suikermielies is ook nou verkry. ’n Afname van Amerikaanse- en Ertjie Lyriomyza blaarmyners op aartappels en tamaties, asook vermindering van Tamatievalslandmeterwurms in tamaties kan ook na toedienning verwag word. VERSTANDIGE KEUSE Die kragtige werking van die aktiewe bestanddeel Piradaliel dichloropropeen derivaat bied talle uitstaande voordele: • Lae risiko vir soogdiere en voëls (Toksklas 3: Blouband). • Lae risiko vir operateurs. • Doeltreffend teen groter Lepidoptera larwes met lae risiko vir voordelige plaagvyande, asook bye en erdwurms. • Ideale produk vir gebruik in Geïntegreerde Plaagbeheer Programme (GPB, Eng.: IPM). • Aktief teen chemies weerstandige Lepidoptera spesies, veral as dit afgewissel word met alternatiewe produkte soos DiPel® DF en Florbac® WG met ander werkswyses. • Geen kruisweerstand met ander chemiese groepe is tans bekend nie. • SumiPleo® werk stadiger as peritroïedes maar vreetskade aan bespuite gewasse staak gou na bespuiting deur inhibisie van voeding. Vir meer inligting oor SumiPleo®, gesêls vandag nog met jou naaste Philagro-agent of produkbestuurder, Henk Terblanche - 082 829 4070. RAADPLEEG DIE ONDERSKEIE PRODUKETIKETTE VIR VOLLEDIGE GEBRUIKSAANWYSINGS & -BEPERKINGS SumiPleo® is die geregistreerde handelsmerk van Sumitomo Chemical Company, Japan. (Reg. nr. L8377, Wet nr. 36 van 1947) bevat piradaliel dichloropropeen derivaat, versigtig. DiPel® DF (Reg. nr. L6441, Wet nr. 36 van 1947) bevat Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, en Florbac® WG (Reg. nr. L 5531, Wet nr. 36 van 1947) bevat Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai. DiPel® en Florbac® is die geregistreerde handelsmerke van Valent BioSciences, VSA.

Philagro Suid-Afrika (Edms) Bpk l Reg. Nr.: 98/10658107 PostNet Suite #378, Privaatsak X025, Lynnwoodrif 0040 Pretoria: 012 348 8808 l Somerset Wes: 021 851 4163 www.philagro.co.za

P R O D U K T E W AT W E R K V A N M E N S E W AT O M G E E

NUUS

Wines make history at trophy show Recently the announcement of winners in the annual Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show saw Bonnievale Wines claiming no fewer than two medals and a trophy.

HEY WERE THE ONLY trophy winner from the Robertson wine region among 24 awarded at the competition, and one of only 32 gold medallists. The competition panel assessed 956 wines from 206 producers this year. “This is a tremendous honour for us,” says Bonnievale Wines Production Manager Marthinus Rademeyer. “Doing well at the Trophy Wine Show that makes use of an experienced and international tasting panel, makes it a very significant championship, especially because we’ve put much effort into the global appeal of our wines.” Winning Gold and the Old Mutual Trophy for Discovery of the Show / Best Value was the Bonnievale Barrel Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2015. It achieved a score of 94/100 – classified by the judges as a “superlative, world-class” wine. The Bonnievale “The River Collection” Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2017, received a medal for its “good to very good, fine character”. The Bonnievale Wine Cellar was established in November 2006 after a three-way merger of Bonnievale, Merwespont and Nordale wineries, sparking more than a decade of growth for its member wineries.

Thobile Tshabalala, Head of Brand for Old Mutual with Marthinus Rademeyer of Bonnievale Wines.

Joint venture good news for the utility tractor market In a multi-faceted joint venture, Japan’s leading tractor manufacturer, Kubota, will jointly develop and manufacture utility tractors with Escorts of India. The two companies will both sell the range in India, while Kubota will export to selected export markets globally, including South Africa.

MITH POWER WILL BE adding to its range of Kubota excavators a new utility tractor brand to be jointly developed and manufactured by Kubota and Escorts of India. Escorts Group is one of India’s largest agricultural, construction and railway equipment companies, producing 21-80 horsepower tractors, engines and gensets. Kubota will own 60% of the joint venture, which is said to have an initial capacity of 50 000 units. The venture will enable both partners to optimise their current and future capabilities in the segment globally. “We are excited to announce our partnership with Escorts Group. Escorts has a strong technology legacy and diversified portfolio in agriculture equipment solutions market, while Kubota boasts proven global technology prowess. Together we will cater for India and other growing global economies which require high-end technology and new age tractors for the growing demand for highly-mechanised farming,” says Masatoshi Kimata, president and representative director of Kubota Corp.

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

Nikil Nanda, chairman and MD of Escorts, says the company is evolving to become a global organisation through strategic technology and manufacturing collaborations. “Our global venture with Kubota is aimed at technology-led collaborative growth in our domestic and export markets. With our inherent strengths, distribution and engineering benchmarks, together we will access global opportunity markets and move towards global leadership in utility tractors,” says Nanda.

Japan’s tractor manufacturer, Kubota, will jointly develop 7 manufacture utility tractors with Escorts.

Mikrokapsules maak die verskil: Die swaelpartikels in die formulasie word volgens grootte geselekteer om beide gas- en kontakaksie teen myte en swamsiektes te verseker. Maklike hantering: Vasgevang in kapsules, genereer die formulasie minder stof en is dit veiliger om te hanteer. Dit is ook meer geredelik oplosbaar wat blokkasies beperk. THIOVIT JET®. Die slim manier om myte en swamsiektes weg te blaas.

LEES DIE ETIKET VIR VOLLEDIGE BESONDERHEDE. THIOVIT JET® bevat swael (Reg. nr. L1061, Wet nr. 36 van 1947) THIOVIT JET® is ’n geregistreerde handelsmerk van ’n Syngenta Groep Maatskappy. Syngenta Suid-Afrika (Edms) Beperk, Privaatsak X60, Halfway House, 1685. Tel. (011) 541 4000. www.syngenta.co.za. © Syngenta Ag, 2000. Kopiereg van die dokument is voorbehou. Alle ongemagtigde vermeerdering word verbied.

@SyngentaSA

NUUS

ARC’s Cheeky pear turns 10 By nature, Cheeky fruit are large with an attractive blush and ripen during late January to the beginning of February.

The Agricultural Research Council celebrated 10 years of the Cheeky® pear recently. Cheeky, a mid-season beautiful red blushed pear variety, is the brightest star to come out of the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij pear breeding programme in Stellenbosch.

HEEKY ACTS AS BRIDGE between the season-opening blushed pears like ‘Rosemarie’, ‘Flamingo’ and ‘Celina’ and the later ‘Forelle’. It is harvested around week 4 and 5 and due to its characteristic large fruit size and marketability prior to ‘Forelle’ is generally setting good prices for this category. By nature, Cheeky fruit are large with an attractive blush and ripen during late January to the beginning of February. It also has a rich pear flavour, stores well and ripen to a melting texture, but the colour is not as prone to heat bleaching as that of other blush cultivars.

After storage, the background green colour changes to a bright yellow, enhancing the blush colour to a very attractive, striking bright red. The fruit of the tree look stunning and tastes excellent, making it a star amongst pear consumers. Worldwide the breeding of new pear cultivars is extremely difficult, but the Agricultural Research Council is continuing with its good record of generating blush cultivars for the South African fruit industry. For more information on Cheeky, contact Taaibos Human via email: HumanT@arc.agric.za. Cheeky can be ordered directly from our commercialization partner, Culdevco Pty Limited.

Corteva Agriscience voltooi skeiding met DowDuPont Corteva het sy skeiding met DowDuPont suksesvol voltooi. Dit word ‘n wêreldwye landboumaatskappy wat oplossings bied vir maksimale opbrengs en winsgewendheid.

“H

IERDIE BEKENDSTELLING IS van ‘n nuwe soort landboumaatskappy wat geposisioneer is om mee te ding en te wen om boere die volledige oplossing te bied vir volhoubare, langtermyngroei en verbeterde winsgewendheid,” sê Jim Collins, uitvoerende hoof van Corteva Agriscience. Met ‘n teenwoordigheid in meer as 140 lande het Corteva Agriscience $14 miljard in netto verkope in 2018 gegenereer. Die maatskappy het meer as 150 navorsings- en ontwikkelingsgeriewe en meer as 65 aktiewe bestanddele. “As ‘n nuwe, onafhanklike landboumaatskappy is ons doelbewus gefokus op gedissiplineerde belegging in innovering om organiese inkomstegroei te lewer en die opbrengs op geïnvesteerde kapitaal te verbeter,” sê Greg Friedman, uitvoerende vise-president en hoof finansiële beampte van Corteva Agriscience. “Ons is op skedule in ons verbintenis om $1,2 miljard in koste-sinergieë teen 2021 te bereik, en ons is vol vertroue in ons plan om marges uit te brei.”

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

success is in the detail seeds | science | service

SV 6131 PB* • •

• • • •

Suitable for open field production Excellent leaf coverage for protection against sunburn Dark green fruit colour Uniform fruit with good leaf attachment Vigorous plant Excellent disease package

| www.nuvance.co.za |

Amarelo • • • • • • •

Green to yellow at maturity Medium large fruit Excellent quality Strong upright plant Good leaf cover Suitable for open field and nethouse production Good tolerance to PVY

Revelation • • • •

Good shelf life Average fruit size of 10 x 10 cm Blocky sweet pepper Suitable for the fresh market

PS 16351609* • • •

Tolerant to Phytophthora capsici Extended harvest periods Improved marketable yield

BRANDRISSIES & RISSIES

Hoë opbrengs met die regte kultivar Toetse in die afgelope seisoen het gewys dat Nuvance se soetrissie PS16351609 ideaal is vir hoë opbrengs, goeie toleransie teen Phytophthora capsici toon, goeie herstelvermoë het en vrugte van goeie kwaliteit dra. Dit is ‘n groen tot rooi F1 baster- oopveld soetrissie met intermediêre P. capsici-weerstand en uitstekende plantsamestelling.

By sekere boere het PS16351609 gedurende die afgelope seisoen ver oor die 50 t/ha (bemarkbare vrugte) opgelewer.

EELWAT VAN DIE kultivar is in die afgelope seisoen in Brits en Tarlton se omgewing geplant weens die goeie kenmerke. Dit word as die ideale kultivarkeuse beskou. Johan van Staden van Qualigro het PS16351609 weens sy goeie kwaliteit in die afgelope seisoen by sy plantprogram ingesluit. In al die jare wat hulle soetrissies produseer het hulle nog nie so ‘n hoë opbrengs en uitpakpersentasie gehad nie. In landerye waar hulle in die verlede baie met P. capsici gesukkel het, was daar 95% stand en het die kultivar ‘n uitstekende oes opgelewer met goeie opbrengs en vrugkwaliteit. Hy was ook aangenaam verras met hoe lank hulle kon aanhou oes en die soetrissie se goeie vrugkwaliteit selfs in ‘n laat stadium. By sekere boere het PS16351609 gedurende die afgelope seisoen meer as 50 ton/ha bemarkbare vrugte opgelewer. PF Ernst van Rheeders Boerdery was ook baie beïndruk met die kultivar se goeie herstelvermoë nadat erge hael groot skade in hulle aanplantings aangerig het. PS16351609 het verbasend goed herstel, sodat hulle steeds ‘n goeie oes kon afhaal. PS 16351609 word as die beste variëteit beskou waar P. capsici ‘n probleem is. Dit word toenemend in nethuise verbou, soos by Paul Cronjé se aanplanting naby Eiland in Limpopo. Hulle plant reeds twee jaar PS 16351609 in nethuise en is baie tevrede met die vrugkwaliteit en die diep rooi kleur. Nog ‘n voordeel van PS 16351609 is sy baie goeie blaarbedekking wat sonbrand op die vrugte aansienlik verminder. Die kultivar bied weerstand teen die “Pepper mottle virus, Potato virus Y, Tobacco mosaic virus, Bacterial leaf spot” en P. capsici. King Arthur Groot aanplantings van King Arthur steeds in die Bosveld aangetref omdat hy een van die soetrissies is met die hoogste opbrengs per hektaar. Boere in die Bosveld oes tot 14 000 kissies per hektaar van hierdie variëteit. Hoewel dit nie weerstand het teen “tomato spotted wilt” (TSW) het nie, moet blaaspootjiebesmetting beter gemonitor en beheer word. Boere koop King Arthur die afgelope 20 jaar en dit hoef nie terug te staan vir ander nuwer variëteite nie. Vir goeie opbrengs moet dit verkieslik opgelei word.

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

PS16351609 is groen tot rooi F1 baster oopveldblok-soetrissie met intermediêre Phytophthora capsici weerstand en uitstekende plant-argitektuur.

Nuvance se PS 16351609.

CHILLIES & PEPPERS

Rissieverbouing Johan Stronkhorst SAKATA

Die aanvraag na rissies in Suid-Afrika is alreeds groot en dit groei steeds jaar na jaar. Rissies word toenemend in disse gebruik om ander smake te beklemtoon. Die verbruiker word ook al hoe meer blootgestel aan nuwe resepte deur die verskeidenheid van internasionale en nasionale kookprogramme wat op televisie verskyn.

IE GROEI KAN verder ook toegeskryf word aan die verskillende tipes rissies wat beskikbaar is om te verbou, veral in die snoep of “snacking pepper” mark of die Italiaanse lang “Bull horn” tipes. Vir die produsent bied hierdie verskeidenheid baie nuwe geleenthede, vanaf die tradisionele groen, blokvormige rissies tot by die nuwe spesialiteitsmarkte. Die verbouingspraktyke van die nuwe tipes is ook baie dieselfde as die tra-

disionele rissies, so daar wag geen groot verras- sings op die produsent nie. Daar sal egter altyd tye wees wanneer daar ‘n ooraanbod op die mark is en tye wanneer daar tekorte ervaar word. Bestuur die plant Rissies kan op verskeie produksiemetodes verbou word, van oopland, in nethuise en onder plastiekbeskerming. Dit is baie belangrik vir die produsent om die rissieplante goed te

bestuur om die winsgewendheid van die oes te verseker. Effektiewe bestuur van die plante begin deur om te sien na die verskillende dele van die plant self. Hierdie tegniek sal die produsent help om te fokus op die regte strategie vir die winsgewende bestuur om optimale opbrengste en kwaliteit te verkry. Die belangrikste fokus op produksie moet wees om die plant te bestuur na gelang van klimaatsomstandighede, om sodoende die regte balans te verkry tussen

Sakata Kwaliteit saad

Autry*

Cherokee*

Momentum*

Yellow Sparkler*

* Eksperimenteel: Hierdie variëteit is steeds eksperimenteel, maar registrasie is reeds ingedien vir Suid-Afrikaanse kultivar lysting.

Tel: 011 548 2800 www.sakata.co.za e-pos: info.saf@sakata.eu

BRANDRISSIES & RISSIES

wortels, blare, blomvorming, vrugset en bemarkbare vrugte. Vegetatiewe plante het oor die algemeen groter blare, terwyl die generatiewe of reproduktiewe plant oor kleiner blare beskik. Die verskillende strukture van die plant waarna gekyk moet word is die bogrondse dele, naamlik stamme, blare, vrugte en die ondergrondse dele, naamlik die wortels. Groeiwyse Die planttipe, wat basies verwys na die groeiwyse van die plant, moet ook in ag geneem word en word meestal toegeskryf aan die genetiese agtergrond van die plante. Sekere plante is geneig om baie kompak te groei, met ‘n gekonsentreerde vrugset. Plante wat meer regop, of hoër groei, het oor die algemeen nie ‘n gekonsentreerde drag nie en verspei die vrugset oor ‘n langer tydperk. Die produsent moet dus eers sy huiswerk doen en besluit watter tipe plant hy wil produseer, want dit sal nie ‘n baie kort groeier regverdig deur die plant op te lei nie. Die teenoorgestelde is dan ook waar, dat indien die produsent besluit om langer groeiers te produseer moet die plante opgelei word om te verseker dat die plant nie oopval as gevolg van die hoë vrugset later in die seisoen nie. Die lengte van die groeiseisoen is dus ook ‘n belangrike punt wat die produsent moet oorweeg. Die effek van langer en korter internodes kan ook ‘n rol speel by die nethuis- of tonnelvariëteite. Dit is baie arbeidsintensief om plante op te lei en indien daar op arbeid gespaar kan word is dit meer voordelig. Hoe minder die plante hanteer word, hoe minder skade word daar aangerig. Dit dra ook by tot beter higiëne en die voorkoming van siektes, wat veral deur hantering oorgedra kan word. Die rol van die blare Blare is seker die belangrikste aanduiding of ‘n plant optimaal groei of nie. Groot blare is op soveel maniere voordelig vir die plant, vanaf die onderskepping van sonligenergie, tot die opname van water en voedingstowwe. Dit is ‘n aanduiding van grondvog, alhoewel dit noodsaaklik is vir die produsent om te alle tye te weet wat in die grondprofiel aangaan. Versuiptoestande kan lei tot

Oorbesproeiing.

verwelking. Groot blare verleen die nodige beskutting aan die vrugte en verhoed dat die vrugte sonbrandskade opdoen. Daar moet egter ook gelet word dat, té groot blare wat in gunstige omstandighede vorm, vinnig stremming kan ontwikkel indien die klimaat ongunstig raak. Dit kan lei tot blare wat onnodig afval. Sagte, groot blare is oor die algemeen ook baie meer gevoelig vir siektes, peste en plae. Die vrugte Die vrugte is natuurlik die produsent se bron van inkomste. Die kwaliteit van die vrugte gaan bepaal of die oes winsgewend geproduseer word of teen ‘n verlies. Die vrugte, of die opbrengs van die plant, is direk afhanklik van die stamme, blare en wortels. Indien die plant nie sterk genoeg is om die vrugte te ondersteun nie, breek takke af en lei tot die verlies van die fabriek van die plant. Die vrugvorming begin baie vroeër, tydens blomvorming en bestuiwing, so indien daar nie genoeg blomme gestimuleer word nie, lei dit tot laer opbrengste. Die blomme moet bestuif word en daar moet gelet word op watter tipes insekdoders gebruik word. Te veel chemiese stowwe kan lei tot die abortering van blomme en belemmer bestuiwing of bevrugting, deur die

stuifmeel te beskadig. Suksesvolle vrugvorming is afhanklik van suksesvolle bevrugting. Verwronge of plat vrugte het meestal, wanneer dit oopgesny word, min sade wat bestuif is. Soms is van die vruglobbe onderontwikkel en lei dit tot vrugte wat nie esteties aan die markvereistes voldoen nie - veral wanneer daar ‘n oormaat beskikbaar is op markte. Die houvermoë van die vrugte word ook bepaal deur die voedingstowwe en die effektiewe vervoer daarvan na die vrugte. Die bekendste tekortsimptoom is gewoonlik kalsium wat blom-endverrotting veroorsaak. Dit is egter nie altyd ‘n tekort aan kalsium in die grond of voedingsoplossings wat die probleem is nie. Dikwels is daar ‘n probleem met die translokasie binne-in die plant, na die vrug toe. Vrugte wat ‘n dik vrugwand ontwikkel het met ‘n gladde voorkoms kan gepluk word – die vrug kan gepluk word – die vrug is nou fisiologies ryp. Vrugte wat gepluk word voor die tyd sal oor ‘n korter raklewe beskik. Wortels Wortels is seker die belangrikte struktuur waarop gefokus moet word. Dit is nie net belangrik vir die gehalte van die res van die plant nie, maar word ook die meeste afgeskeep omdat dit nie sigbaar NA BLADSY 12

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

CHILLIES & PEPPERS

Rissieverbouing VANAF BLADSY 11

Rooi soetrissies.

is nie. Rissieplante het oor die algemeen nie baie sterk wortelstelsels nie, so dit is hier waar die plant die meeste hulp nodig het. Sommige produsente oorkom hierdie probleem deur die plante te ent, sodat die plant meer groeikrag kry en ‘n langer groeiseisoen kan weerstaan. Dit kan ook die vruggrootte verhoog later in die seisoen. Siekteweerstand is ‘n verdere rede waarom dit raadsaam is om die plante te ent, veral vir die beheer van veral knopwortel, aalwurm en phytophthora. Dit is ook belangrik om die saailing van die rissieplant te beklemtoon en die moontlike gevolge van swak of ouer saailinge uit te wys. Die rissieplant het ‘n natuurlike penwortelstelsel en dit sou raadsaam wees om te poog om die penwortel geensins te belemmer of te beskadig nie. Wanneer die plante te lank in saailaaie gehou word of wanneer

dit nie versigtig uitgeplant word nie, kan dit die penwortel beskadig. Die groeitempo van die wortelstelsel neem af sodra daar blomme begin vorm, hoe ouer die plantjies dus is tydens uitplant, hoe vinniger begin dit blom, wat wortelgroei strem. Nuwe metodes om saailinge te maak word deesdae gesien wat uitplantskok verminder. Dit is altyd raadsaam om met die saailingkweker te gesels om die beste kwaliteit saailinge te verkry. Grondvoorbereiding Die grondvoorbereiding vir rissies is belangrik en moet oordeelkundig gedoen word. Daar moet verkieslik ‘n grondmonster geneem word en enige beperkende lae moet gebreek of opgehef word. ‘n Volgroeide rissieplant gebruik baie water as dit aktief groei, maar in die meeste gevalle word daar oorbe-

sproei. Dit is ‘n bose kringloop - hoe slegter die wortelsone bestuur word, hoe kleiner is die wortelstelsel wat die bestuur direk bemoeilik. Daar kan vinnig vasgestel word of ‘n wortelstelsel gesond is deur daarna te kyk, selfs net ‘n klein profielgat langs die plant kan baie waardevol wees. Wortels moet gesond lyk in terme van kleur en die hoeveelheid sywortels sowel as die hoeveelheid haarwortels. Dit is die haarwortels wat verantwoordelik is vir die opname van die water en voedingstowwe. Indien daar geen haarwortels sigbaar is nie en die wortels ‘n geel-bruin kleur het, kan dit dui op ‘n moontlike probleem. Dit is belangrik om voldoende fosfaat toe te dien voor plant om wortelontwikkeling te stimuleer. Die fosfaat kan in die bedding ingewerk word tydens grondvoorbereiding. Stikstof is belangrik vir vegetatiewe groei, veral vroeg in die seisoen. Dit verseker dat die plantstruktuur groot genoeg is om die vrugset te hanteer en dat daar voldoende blare gevorm word vir onderskepping van sonlig-energie. Dit is raadsaam om die hoeveelheid ammonium-stikstof te beperk deur die seisoen, tot nie meer as ‘n kwart van die totale stikstoftoediening nie, aangesien hoë vlakke van ammonium-stikstof blom-endverrotting kan vererger. Die kalium vlakke kan gelig word wanneer die plant oorgaan na die reproduktiewe stadium en oor die algemeen is hierdie vlakke amper dubbel díe van stikstof. Dit is egter raadsaam om grondaanbevelings te maak nadat grondontleontledings gedoen is. Die suksesvolle produksie van rissies in Suid-Afrika bly ‘n groot uitdaging, met die eksterne faktore soos uiterste klimaat en siektedruk wat dit nie makliker maak om optimale opbrengste te behaal nie. Die vermoë van die plant om te herstel na uiterstes, maak dit uitdagend vir die produsent, maar met kennis en ervaring kan die plant gemanipuleer word en ‘n groter oes behaal word. Rissies bly ‘n baie bevredigende gewas om mee te boer, veral met die verskillende geleenthede wat dit vir die produsent bied binne die verskeie segmente. Rissies is dus nie net vir ‘n winsgewende boerdery nie, maar ook vervullend.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

BRANDRISSIES & RISSIES

AFWYSENDE KLOUSULE: Hierdie inligting is op ons waarnemings en/of inligting vanaf ander bronne gebaseer. Aangesien gewasprestasie van die interaksie tussen die genetiese potensiaal van die saad, die fisiologiese eienskappe daarvan en die omgewing, bestuurspraktyke ingesluit, afhang, gee ons geen waarborg uitdruklik of deur implikasie, vir die prestasie van gewasse relatief tot die inligting gegee, nog aanvaar ons enige aanspreeklikheid vir enige verlies, direk of as gevolg daarvan, wat tewyte aan enige oorsaak ookal mag ontstaan. Lees eers asb. Sakata Seed Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd se verkoopsvoorwaardes voordat saad bestel word.

KynoPop

Gee jou oes die beste begin. uppe marketing A15886

Met sterk saailinge gee jy jou oes die beste kans op sukses, met laer risiko’s.

KynoPop® bevorder: • Jong, sterk saailinge. • Verhoogde saailingdoeltreffendheid vir optimale groei. • Verbeterde vroeë wortelontwikkeling. • Beter weerstand teen strestoestande, siektes en plae.

Kynoch – verbeterde doeltreffendheid deur innovasie. 011 317 2000 | www.kynoch.co.za

Farmisco (Edms) Bpk h/a Kynoch Fertilizer Reg No. 2009/009254/07 KynoPop® Reg. No. K9101 Wet 36 van 1947

GEÏNTEGREERDE GEWASBESTUURSPROGRAMME VIR VOLHOUBARE GROEI NEXUSAG GEÏNTEGREERDE GEWASBESTUURSPROGRAMME SLUIT DOELGEMAAKTE PLANTVOEDING- EN OESBESKERMINGSPROGRAMME IN WAT GESONDE GROND EN VOLHOUBARE VOEDSELPRODUKSIE BEVORDER!

ONS WIL SAAM MET JOU ‘N LANG PAD LOOP!

Ons wetenskaplike benadering ondersteun ons produsente regdeur die produksiesiklus: VESTIGING & BEPLANNING VOOR TOT MET PLANT

JAAR 1 TOT 1 PRODUKSIE STE

TYDENS HIERDIE FASE IS DIE FOKUS OP VESTIGING IN GESONDE GROND MET TEGNIESE DIENSTE SOOS:

TYDENS HIERDIE FASE IS DIE FOKUS OP DIE BEVORDERING VAN PLANT- EN GRONDGESONDHEID:

GRONDKARTERING • Regstellings-aanbeveling • Blokontwerp en dreinering • Fisiese en chemiese eienskappe

BEMESTING • Vestigingsprogram (bemes vir maksimum wo elontwikkeling) • Grond- en wo elgesondheid • Blaarvoedingsprogramme

BEROKING • NexFUME berook met ‘n unieke produkformulasie WATER- EN KOMPOSONTLEDINGS • Interpretasie en aanbevelings PLANT- EN HORTOLOGIESE ASPEKTE • Unieke plantprogram • Boordvloer bestuur • Besproeiingskedulering

VOOR TOT MET PLANT

PRODUKSIE-OPBOU TOT VOL PRODUKSIE

VESTIGINGSPROGRAM

INSEK- EN PLAAGBEHEERPROGRAMME • Spuitprogramme

JAAR 3 TOT VOL PRODUKSIE

TYDENS HIERDIE FASE IS DIE FOKUS OP VOLHOUBARE EFFEKTIEWE PRODUKSIE: BEMESTING • Bemestingsprogramme vir opbrengs en kwaliteit • Volgehoue grond- en wo elgesondheid • Blaarvoedingsprogramme • Grondontledings- en regstellings • Blaarontledings- en regstellings • Vrugontledings

HORTOLOGIESE ASPEKTE • Optimaliseer groei / vorming / kompleksiteit • Aanwending van plantprogram (PGR’s) / biostimulante

INSEK- EN PLAAGBEHEERPROGRAMME • Spuitprogramme • Gewasbeskermingsriglyne

JAAR 1 TOT 1STE PRODUKSIE

JAAR 3 TOT VOL PRODUKSIE

HORTOLOGIESE ASPEKTE • PGR’s / Biostimulante vir opbrengs en kwaliteit

Kontak gerus u naaste NexusAG Croplife-geakkrediteerde gewasadviseur met navrae oor doelgemaakte bessie-bestuursprogramme, wat u unieke omgewing en spesifieke omstandighede in ag neem, om volhoubare oplossings vir u boerdery te bied.

KONTAK ONS VIR MEER INLIGTING: 021-860 8040

www.nexusag.net

BESSIES

Omvattende aanslag op bessiebestuursprogramme Vennootskappe met kenners en spesialiste, tesame met die tegnologie, is die sleutel tot ’n suksesvolle bessieboerdery. Die ondersteuning van geakkrediteerde gewasadviseurs van NexusAG, wat produsente bystaan met doelgemaakte bessiebestuursprogramme, is deurslaggewend in al die fases van dié produksiesiklus.

EXUSAG ONTWERP gewas-oplossings deur ‘n wetenskaplike benadering en verskaf omvattende ondersteuning aan die landboubedryf. Adviseurs is van die beplannings- en vestigingsfase, tot vol produksie, van hulp. Dit dra by tot volhoubare en winsgewende boerderypraktyke. Voordat ’n nuwe produksie-eenheid uitgelê word, staan die gewasadviseur produsente by met ’n reeks tegniese dienste en kundigheid om gesonde grond te verseker. Dit skep die optimale omstandighede vir nuwe gewas-aanplantings. Dié tegniese dienste sluit onder meer grondkartering in, wat regstellings-aanbevelings maak. In die proses word grondmonsters geneem, die fisiese en chemiese eienskappe van die grond ontleed en dan grafies voorgestel. Hierdie kaarte kan suksesvol gebruik word vir blok-ontwerp en om effektiewe dreinering-beplanning te doen. Voor die gewas geplant word, bied hulle ook grondberokingsdiens aan deur hul berokings-eenheid, NexFUME. Geregistreerde plaagbeheer-operateurs (PCO’s) behartig die toediening van Agrocelone NE. Hierdié produk bevat ’n unieke chemiese formulasie, wat Chloropikrien en 1,3 Dichloropropeen insluit, wat grond onder andere disinfekteer van skadelike patogene en aalwurms. Deur gespesialiseerde toerusting vir toediening te gebruik, word daar verseker dat die hele area, waar wortelvorming plaasvind, behandel word en deur GPS-navigasie word akkuraatheid verseker en ry-uitleg behoorlik beplan. Die produk kan as strook-, voldek- en drupberoking toegedien word. Water- en kompos-ontledings word ook tydens die beplanningsfase gedoen om ’n basis vir die betrokke area vas te stel. Dié data word gebruik om omvattende aanbevelings te maak. Plant- en hortologiese inligting soos ’n unieke plantprogram, boordvloer-bestuur en besproeiingskedulering, kan ook by die beplanning ingesluit word. Nadat die beplanningsfase afgehandel is, volg die vestigingsprogram met doelgerigte aksies om jong gewasse vanaf vestiging tot eerste produksie te beskerm en groei te stimuleer. Tydens hierdie fase is die klem op die bevordering van planten grondgesondheid, wat bemesting, insek- en plaagbeheerprogramme en hortologiese aspekte insluit.

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

Vir effektiewe bemesting word ’n vestigingsprogram opgestel wat maksimum wortel-ontwikkeling bevorder, asook grond- en wortelgesondheid aanhelp. Noukeurige bemestingsbestuur sluit ook blaarvoedingsprogramme in, en verseker ’n volledige en geïntegreerde voedingsprogram. Verder word insek- en plaagbeheer vervat in doelgemaakte gewas-spesifieke spuitprogramme, wat die spesifieke area en omstandighede in ag neem. Dié program se effektiwiteit word deurlopend gemonitor en soos die seisoene verander, word aanpassings dienooreenkomstig gemaak, om optimale produksie te bevorder. Hortologiese aspekte word ook tydens hierdie fase in ag geneem, om groei en vorming te optimaliseer. Die aanwending van plantgroeireguleerders (PGR’s) en biostimulante speel ook ‘n belangrike rol tydens hierdie fase. In die produksie-opbou tot volproduksiefase, is die fokus hoofsaaklik op volhoubare effektiewe produksiemetodes, in ooreenstemming met die projek-doelwitte. As deel van hierdie fase word daar weer eens gekyk na bemesting, plaagbeheer en hortologiese aspekte. In hierdie fase moet bemestingsprogramme pasgemaak word vir optimale opbrengs en vrugkwaliteit. Volgehoue grond- en wortelgesondheid is van kardinale belang en aandag word ook gegee aan blaarvoedingsprogramme. Hier kyk adviseurs in diepte na grond-, blaar- en vrugontledings en maak dan aanbevelings vir regstellings, waar dit van toepassing is. Insek- en plaagbeheer word in omvattende spuitprogramme vervat en ondersteun die gewasbeskermingsriglyne, wat produsente deur die hele seisoen volg, met aanbevelings vir elke groeifase van die gewas. Hortologiese aspekte is ook van belang tydens hierdie periode en fokus op opbrengs en kwaliteit. Spesifieke plantgroeireguleerders en biostimulante, wat optimale opbrengs en kwaliteit ten doel stel, word ingesluit. Kontak ’n NexusAG Croplife-geakkrediteerde gewasadviseur vir doelgemaakte bessie-bestuursprogramme, wat elke produsent se unieke omgewing- en persoonlike omstandighede in ag neem, om volhoubare oplossings te bied. Besoek www. nexusag.net vir meer inligting.

BERRIES

Very berry Established in 1993, BerryWorld South Africa is a joint venture between Trevor McKenzie and BerryWorld. Now the largest blueberry exporter in South Africa with access to circa 1 000 hectares, covering low and high chill sites. BerryWorld South Africa supplies the UK, Ireland, Europe, South Africa, Asia and the Far and Middle East.

SIX33 Berries has been producing berries for four years.

ERRYWORLD SOUTH AFRICA works with an expert grower base and has a dedicated research and development trial site to develop improved production systems as well as a nursery for optimum plant material supply and quality control. Through breeding programmes and licenses, the grower base has access to leading varieties from Mountain Blue Orchards and BerryWorld Plus, as well as access to both exclusive and non-exclusive varieties from the Fall Creek, University of Florida and University of Georgia breeding programmes. Vegetables & Fruit spoke to Johan le Roux, Managing Director for SIX33 Berries, one of BerryWorlds growers in South Africa. The growers are represented from all over the country, but predominantly Western Cape. SIX33 Berries has been producing berries for four years. They consist of two farms of 20 ha each and a packhouse, where the fruit is packed. They aim to grow operations to 60 ha in total. When asked about the challenges they face, Johan says that the biggest challenge is water availability and water quality. He also notes that another challenge is gaining access to markets in the Far East. On a day to day basis their biggest challenges is the coordination and management of people. Johan said that blueberries prefer acidic soil and that they use drip irrigation to make the most of the water they have. They use of poly tunnels and net structures. The poly tunnels are more intensive but produce higher yields and do help speed up die crop production. So what is the secret to successful berry producing in South Africa? According to Johan it is focus, excellent management, high yielding cultivars with great quality and empowering those people who have a willingness to learn and go the extra mile. He adds that production is increasing, the volumes are increasing, markets are opening up and as long as they can keep on producing better varieties, consumption will increase. “It’s a fantastic product,” he concludes.

Blueberries prefer acidic soil and that they use drip irrigation to make the most of the water they have.

Established in 1993, BerryWorld South Africa is a joint venture between Trevor McKenzie and BerryWorld.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

BESSIES

We got you sorted When it comes to the sorting of delicate fruits like berries, vegetables, nuts and seeds, you want your sorting solutions to be fast and efficient.

O REMAIN COMPETITIVE, South African producers are required to constantly increase productivity and quality. Advances in automation are not only necessary to boost yield, but also inevitable as automation and robotics continue to evolve, making the global food manufacturing and processing industries safer, more efficient and able to deliver higher profits. Vegetables & Fruit spoke to Norman Smith, Area Sales Manager (Africa) for TOMRA Food, about some of the solutions that they have available for the South African market. TOMRA Food offers sorting solutions for potatoes, fruit, dried fruit, fresh cut, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds. With their sorting machines they aim to benefit producersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; operations in multiple ways: they maximise yield and recovery while reducing waste; they minimise energy consumption and chemical usage;

Norman Smith, Area Sales Manager (Africa) for TOMRA Food.

TO PAGE 18

TOMRA 5A OPTICAL SORTER The TOMRA 5A classifies your product and maximizes food safety. For more than 40 years, TOMRA Food designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting machines and integrated post-harvest solutions for the food industry, using the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most advanced grading, sorting, peeling and analytical technology. food@tomra.com www.tomra.com/food

BERRIES

We got you sorted FROM PAGE 17

The Blizzard free-fall pulsed LED camera sorting machine.

they increase productivity and throughput with high-capacity sorting; they provide consistent high-quality food assurance and consumer food safety assurance. Norman uses their potato sorting machines as an example to give us an idea of how the correct sorting solutions can improve production. They have a sorting solution for fresh and frozen whole, sliced, diced, cubed and flake potato products. From whole potatoes to French fries, chips, crisps and specialty potato products, they remove discoloration, defects, bruises, rot and all types of foreign material such as stones, plastics, wood and glass. They can sort by defects, biological characteristics, shape and size, structure, colour, density and foreign material. When it comes to new technology, Norman says that the new-generation of Nimbus free-fall sorting solutions combine the efficiency of laser detection of foreign materials with the camera to sort discolorations and shape of products in free-fall. Developed in-house, the unique Biometric Signature Identification (BSI) technology works by detecting the biometric characteristics of objects. Combined the patented Fluo™ technology, it detects the slightest shades of chlorophyll to create an even better contrast between good products and defects. For the berry market, Norman says that TOMRA offers the products of its sister company BBC Technologies. Its KATO 260 precision grading system for blueberries is the most re-fined

solution for optical selection and optimisation of blueberries on the market. It can be combined with the CURO range of industry-defining filling systems, which includes the world’s fastest filling machine, the CURO 16. These two machines, together, offer growers a truly remarkable solution suitable for any size operation, with high-precision selection, full surface inspection, and a sensible footprint. Most recently, BBC Technologies extended its turnkey blueberry line with the new Tray Tipper, which automates delivery of the fruit into the KATO 260 sorter, improving front-of-line loading. The Blizzard free-fall pulsed LED camera sorting machine is the most ideal and cost-effective optical food sorting machine for the IQF (frozen) vegetable and fruit processing industry. It provides continuous food inspection to ensure food safety and customer satisfaction at all times by removing unwanted foreign material, discoloration and misshapen product, with maximum yield. It stands out for its innovative optical setup, compact and sanitary design, and intuitive graphical user interface. Every step of the food supply chain, from farm to table, is under pressure from regulators, retailers and consumers to improve traceability. Brand reputations can depend on the producers’ capacity to prevent food scandals. While it is widely understood that traceability is important for food safety, it is less well known that it can also help food producers and processors improve profitability. At this stage in the supply chain, sorting machines – important for ensuring traceability, food quality, and food safety – can not only help producers safeguard their reputation, but also reduce food waste, analyse yield, and optimise operating efficiencies. TOMRA has earned the trust of many South Africa-based companies in different market sectors. For example, more than 90% of South Africa’s raisin industry uses TOMRA Food´s sorting solutions with companies such as Carpe Diem or Fruits Du Sud, just to mention a few. They also have big customers in the fresh and frozen vegetables industry, such as Natures Garden and, among other applications they can highlight the nuts industry, with references such as Golden Macadamia.

Helius Redberries.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

BESSIES

Packaging fIexibility BBC Technologies, part of TOMRA Food, has extended its industry-defining CURO filling system range with the new CURO-2 compact system for fruits under 40 mm diameter, primarily focusing on the blueberry, cherry and snacking tomato markets. It enables customers to pack small volumes of different grades of fruit simultaneously to supply the produce divided in multiple tiers for supermarkets, or supplement existing capacity.

HE SYSTEM PROVIDES a solution for packing small volumes of different grades of fruit simultaneously – useful for premium products – or complementing bigger platforms to supplement capacity if required. It has the ability to switch between different sized packing options such as clamshells, punnets and boxes. It also shares the benefits of excellent accuracy, gentle handling, and simple and intuitive user interface of the larger system. “We developed CURO-2 because we wanted to increase further the flexibility and granularity of the CURO platform,” explains Geoff Furniss, BBC Technologies CEO. “We are seeing a significant shift in the market, with our customers being increasingly required to divide their fruit into multiple tiers and needing to pack different grades of product simultaneously.” The system was developed to meet the requirements of customers such as South Africa based Blue Mountain Berries. The company farms 143 hectares of blueberries, which it distributes through global group BerryWorld to markets across the world including Europe, South East Asia and Russia. Two years ago, it also started a frozen berry line, which it markets to South African retailers for the time being. As a BBC Technologies customer since 2012, Blue Mountain Berries recently upgraded the automatisation of its packing plant with the addition of a full turnkey KATO 260 precision grading line and a CURO-2 filling system. Chrisleo Botha, Managing Director at Blue Mountain Berries explains the setup: “We worked out a KATO 260 configuration with 7 exits: one with a CURO-12, which processes the majority of our product; one with the CURO-2, which we use to pack a grade that is about 20% of our product; two exits with hand fillers for our smaller fruit and local product; on two exits we split our frozen fruit into two categories, small and large; and finally we have one waste exit. The whole configuration fits our business well and we can do everything we want to do on one run. The CURO-2 allowed us to utilise Fill-by-Weight functionality on smaller niche volumes of fruit that we previously had to pack by hand.” After two months of operation, Chrisleo confirmed that they have found that the upgrade with the addition of the KATO 260 precision grading line and the CURO-2 filling system has raised the company’s productivity, improved quality by reducing human handling and errors, and increased accuracy by reducing the fruit give-away. Versatility is a key benefit says Chrisleo, sizing has increasingly become a selling tool, and with these systems they are able to offer premium lines of fruit in a definite size or quality

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

Chrisleo Botha, Managing Director at Blue Mountain Berries.

band. They can sort narrower size bands, for example diameters less than 14 mm, 14 to 16 mm, and 16 mm plus, which give a much better appearance for some of their clients. The new system has increased their capacity to do a final pack in different sizes and it’s been working very well for them. Also, the premium lines attract better payment, which benefits their profitability.” Chrisleo is also impressed with the systems gentle handling of the berries: “Part of our quality control process is to measure firmness, and I’d like to say we’ve got really consistent firmness. We don’t lose product integrity. In terms of quality and how we are perceived in the market, the machine has already paid a lot towards its purchase price in just half a season.” The system packs up to 700 kg/h and is extremely gentle on the produce throughout the process, ensuring consistently high quality of the packed fruit. Minimal transitions between hopper and conveyor, together with the anti-bruise surfaces, ensure the product surface is kept intact during sorting and packing. Precision controls across filling, denesting and clamshell delivery result in extremely accurate weighing.

CROP PROTECTION

Knittex shade net can be used to manipulate plant growth, for example to get stem length, use a net that allows far-red wavelengths through.

Protect and enhance The future of shade net in the agricultural sector is growing at an exciting pace. Many farmers have already made the choice to erect large-scale shade net structures and are reaping the benefits from it. Growth and yield performance is directly related to a plant’s environment and food source. In the short-term, shade net structures boost farmers’ profits, by cutting costs and increasing their quantity and quality of yields. Over the longer term, it may even contribute to the solution of feeding the world’s growing population.

WELL-CONSTRUCTED SHADE house can provide the grower with a protected microclimate, ideal for seedlings, vegetables, cut flowers and pot plants. In hot climates, vegetables and cut flowers are grown under shade cloth to reduce heat and light intensity. With the help of science, innovative light manipulation and UV management, photo-selective colour netting creates an environment that can be manipulated into optimal growing conditions for crops to flourish in. Shade netting can also help benefit water efficiency as it reduces the amount of evaporation from free water surfaces. Knittex commenced trading in 1964 and has since grown to be an industry-leading manufacturer of high quality knitted fabric that is durable and 100% recyclable. The SpectraNet range gives producers the highest results and best return on their investment. This is backed by years of research and development to ensure that nets have a guaranteed lifespan of 10 years or more. Some other advantages of their nets is that our fabric does not unravel when cut. If the material is damaged, repair work can easily be done. Due to the flexibility, durability and lightweight of the fabric, it is easy to erect and it is a very economical cover and it breathes, due to the open mesh configuration. By using the correct mesh size to manipulate air movement through the shade house the user can control the humidity and therefore also the transpiration rate. Knittex shade net can be used to manipulate plant growth, for example to get stem length, use a net that allows farred wavelengths through. This will force the plant to stretch to the light. White shadenet or Black/White combination shadenet has been used very successfully on various vegetables, especially when grown hydroponically. Light spectrums can help us to choose the right colour and percentage for your crops. It is very important to note that there is no universal shade net to manipulate light. Each plant has its own unique

requirement, and each region and crop has its own challenges. Knittex shade netting not only covers for protection, but covers to enhance production. A well-constructed shade net structure will provide protection against adverse weather conditions. It is imperative that some components relating to the structural elements be taken into consideration when planning its design. Tensioning of net The net should always be tensioned in the length first, then the width. It must be neatly and tightly stretched, but not too rigidly. If the net is not tensioned tight enough, abrasion may occur on the cross cables and the net could be torn by wind. However, if the net is too rigid it may be mechanically damaged and even possibly tear. Knittex recommends that nets be tensioned mechanically with a chain and block and tackle. As this is a complex procedure, they suggest that customers contact their sales staff for an in-depth explanation. It is important to remember that the bigger the surface area between the poles, the riskier the ratio becomes between the surface area in relation to the circumference around each pole. The poles should therefore not be planted too far apart. The most appropriate time to erect nets is at the coolest time of day. Net not tied securely may shrink up to 10% when exposed to heat for a short period. Anchors The anchors are the most important component of the structure. Anchor failure will cause the structure to collapse. In 95% of structures with storm damage, it is the anchors that break, pull out or move. The anchors should preferably be installed at an angle of 45° or less with the horizon. At 45° a force of 3,5 ton is exerted on the anchor when the tension on the top stay wire

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

GEWASBESKERMING

The net should always be tensioned in the length first, then the width. It must be neatly and tightly stretched, but not too rigidly.

Due to the flexibility, durability and lightweight of the fabric, it is easy to erect and it is a very economical cover and it breathes.

is 2,5 ton. Should the anchor be planted at 60°, the force on the anchor increases to 5 ton with the same 2,5 ton tension on the top stay wire. Anchors should be planted at least 1,5 m deep. It must be able to handle a force of ± 7 ton in order to carry the weight of the structure and withstand the strength of the wind against the sides of the structure. The wind force against the sides is determined by the density of the net and height of the structure. The soil around the anchor must be compacted layer for layer using rock or stone for optimal compaction. Where necessary, the anchor should be buried under the wall (undisturbed ground) so as to prevent it lifting against the wall in wet conditions. Knittex will be at Nampo Cape 4-6 September this year at stand 4 in the Total Hall.

PROTECTS YOUR CROP AGAINST DAMAGE CAUSED BY SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS

WE’VE GOT THEM COVERED!

wind, sunburn, hail damage, birds & larger insects

ALSO ASSISTS IN WATER CONSUMPTION EFFICIENCY BY REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF EVAPORATION FROM FREE WATER SURFACES Contact us on: +27 (0)11 692 1658 | www.knittex.co.za | clientliaison@knittex.co.za

™

By BASF loop boer sterk deur ons are en word ons gedryf deur ’n passie vir wat ons die beste doen: boer! Ons ken die land en verstaan die klimaat ... daarom is volhoubare plaasbestuursoplossings vír Suid-Afrikaners, déúr Suid-Afrikaners, nodig. Met die oog op die toekoms is dit nóú die tyd om verantwoordelik om te gaan met hulpbronne, doeltreffend te produseer en voortdurend na volhoubaarheid te strewe. Waarvoor wag jy? Skakel vandag nog jou BASF-verteenwoordiger en word deel van die oplossing.

uppe marketing A19894/KF

Saam boer is beter boer.

BASF Suid-Afrika (Edms) Bpk • Sestiende Straat 852, Midrand, 1685 • Posbus 2801, Halfway House, 1685 • Tel: +27 11 203 2400 Faks: +27 11 203 2461 • Webblad: www.agro.basf.co.za • Mobielewebblad: m.agro.basf.co.za

GEWASBESKERMING

Crop insurance: a vital tool The attitude of South African farmers towards crop insurance is changing as they realise that purchasing insurance is one of the most accessible ways in which they can manage risk in an occupation that is fraught with challenges and obstacles, says Old Mutual Insure.

ITH LIMITED AREAS OF arable land available for crop production, limited water resources and the constant risk of drought looming over the horizon, farmers have had to take more notice of the various types of risk that they face than ever before, says Phillip du Preez, Head of Agriculture at Old Mutual Insure. “Crop insurance, very much a ‘grudge purchase’ a few years ago, is now being regarded as one of the primary ways of reducing agricultural risk in a business where climate change is having a dramatic impact on the environment. Farmers are also conscious that although the drought that gripped the Western Cape recently has loosened its hold the possibility of future droughts and other weather-related damage to crops is always a reality. “The risk for farmers also does not end once a crop has

been harvested. Many farmers assume responsibility for moving crops from their farms and on to receiving depots. The possibility of losses occurring through vehicle accidents has encouraged many to cover themselves for this additional contingency by insuring crops that are in transit. With insurance cover in place, they can concentrate on their prime objective of ensuring food security for South Africans. “South African agriculture is a major contributor to the economy as it employs about 6,5% of the labour force and contributes about 2,5% to national GDP. As a leading provider of comprehensive crop insurance in the South African market, Old Mutual Insure is committed to supporting the farming community and assisting them to continue farming by minimising the risks associated with agriculture,” says Du Preez.

Koringfokus / Wheat Focus: Die spesialistydskrif vir kleingraan in Suid-Afrika Vegetables & Fruit / Groente & Vrugte: Ontgin alternatiewe moontlikhede in nismarkte Subtrop Journal: Joernaal vir avokado-, mango- en lietsjiekwekers Navorsingsjoernale: SA Avokadokwekersvereniging, SA Mangokwekersvereniging, SA Makadamiakwekersvereniging en SA Lietsjiekwekersvereniging

POTCHEFSTROOM: F 018 293 0622 NORTHCLIFF: F 011 476 3702 • Faks: 011 476 2038 E-pos: info@mediakom.co.za • www.mediacomcc.co.za

GENERAL

Healthy soil, healthy food ... healthy people In a shrinking world, with increasing demands on the natural resources, it is important to maximise these to ensure a sustainable supply of safe and nutritious food.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

uppe marketing A17693/SAGV

Fertasa is verbind tot die bevordering van volhoubare grondvrugbaarheid en verbeterde plantvoeding. Fertasa-lede is verbind tot: • ’n Gedragskode. • Standaarde deur ’n onafhanklike nakomingsbestuursliggaam geouditeer. • Gehalte produkte. • Toepaslike wetenskaplik-gebaseerde aanbevelings. • Voortgesette onderrig en verbetering. • Die nakoming van wetlike vereistes.

Fertasa – beskerm die volhoubare gebruik van kunsmis. Fertilizer Association of Southern Africa Reg. Nr. 1971/000012/08 • VAT Reg. Nr. 4830104164 Tel: +27 (0)12 349 1450 • Faks: +27 (0)12 349 1463 E-pos: general@fertasa.co.za • Webtuiste: www.fertasa.co.za

Code of Con d

CIATION OF SO

pli

ERN AF UTH RI SO

Fertasa – gesertifiseerde geloofwaardigheid .

Soil: A living system Healthy soils contain adequate organic matter, promoting structure, air and water exchange and a habitat for micro-organisms. The intricate way in which the essential nutrients are accommodated and cycled in the complex soil system is one of the wonders of nature. Under natural, undisturbed systems efficient nutrient cycling occurs, making external interventions largely unnecessary. A natural, self-sustaining equilibrium becomes established. However, with increasing intervention of man and managed agriculture, the natural equilibrium is often rudely disturbed, and artificial external modifications and in-puts become necessary to ensure adequate production and to maintain soil fertility. This is where different forms of nutrients, additives and ameliorants come into play. There are many different forms of these, such as inorganic chemicals, organic substances, minerals, biofertilisers and many more. The main purpose of these is to ensure that the background conditions for optimal production are maintained, and that different elements, necessary for specific functions, are present in sufficient amounts. Of particular importance is the pH (or acidity / alkalinity) of the soil, achieved through the application of neutralising agents such as lime (calcitic or dolomitic). For a variety of reasons, soils tend to acidify under cultivation, and this has a number of spin-off effects. Iron, aluminium and manganese become increasingly soluble and, if present in sufficient amounts, can cause nutrient imbalances resulting in poor plant performance. Copper and zinc, normally present in

relatively small amounts, also become increasingly soluble and can leach out of the soil. Boron and molybdenum, because of their unique chemical properties, become insoluble and unavailable to plants under acid conditions. With cultivation the organic reserves are oxidized and increasingly depleted, with extremely negative effects. With remedial liming, the Ca and Mg requirements

TILIZER A FER S

NDERPINNING THIS IS the complex and highly important soil system, the basis of food production and of life itself. Soils, contrary to much common perception, are a complex, dynamic living system with many dimensions: physical, chemical and biological. It provides a habitat for plants and macro- and micro-fauna and flora, partitions water and air, buffering temperature extremes and supplying the some 13 elements essential for plant growth, and animal and human sustenance.

ant C ertified

ALGEMEEN

N, P or K or any combination thereof or any other recognised plant nutrient(s) in acceptable amounts as indicated in Tables 1 – 9 and 13 – 15 of the fertiliser regulations relating to the Act. • Group 3 fertilisers are natural or synthetic substances or organisms that improve the growth or yield of plants or the physical, chemical or biological condition of the soil and do not qualify for registration as Group 1 or Group 2 products.

While utilising natural processes as far as possible, it is mostly necessary to add external sources of nutrients to ensure sustained productivity.

are normally met, leaving S, N, P and K to be catered for. Increasingly, using natural processes such as rhizobia supplying N and mychorrhizal associations supplying P, a much more natural, ecological approach is followed. While utilizing natural processes as far as possible, it is mostly necessary to add external sources of nutrients to ensure sustained productivity. As with most things, a balanced and informed approach is required. Basically, what to use, when? There is, unfortunately, often polarization between the chemical, inorganic approach on the one hand, and the more natural, organic ecological approach. Adopting extreme approaches is unfortunate, potentially divisive and basically unnecessary. There is place for compromise of both extremes and for many approaches in-between. The emphasis discussed above has been in managing soil as a growth medium for plants, the so-called edaphological approach. There are many alternative systems in which plants can be grown – some established, others extremely innovative. These include hydroponics in many forms, nutrient towers and aeroponics. Common to all systems, however, is the need to supply the nutrients essential for plant growth. Regulation of agricultural inputs In most countries of the world, the manufacture, quality and use of fertilisers is regulated to a greater or lesser extent. This is also the case in South Africa. According to Act 36 of 1947, all fertiliser products must be registered. In South Africa fertilisers are currently controlled under the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947). A draft Fertiliser Bill, to replace the above Act, is out for general comment. The main purpose of this legislation is to: • Protect the consumers and users of fertiliser; • Disseminate an efficient and effective traceability system; • Ensure compliance with food safety, human and environmental requirements

Fertiliser Association of Southern Africa (Fertasa) Fertasa is a recognised and preferred body aimed at promoting the image of the fertilizer industry through: • Promoting the integrity of its members and building preferential trust for their products and services • Enhancing and promoting the interests of its members through effective engagement with government and organized agriculture. Among several other services, Fertasa provides a registration application service to both its members and non-members at a nominal fee. The requirements for registration for fertilisers, including the following are provided: • Application form • Label • Product analysis • Potentially harmful element • Source of raw materials • Proof of efficacy and non-phytotoxicity for certain products

Soils, contrary to much common perception, are a complex, dynamic living system with many dimensions: physical, chemical and biological.

In South Africa, fertilisers are grouped under three different categories, depending on their properties and concentrations. • Group 1 fertilisers contain a total equal to, or greater than, 100 g/kg of N, P or K or any combination thereof • Group 2 fertilisers contain a total of less than 100 g/kg of

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

GENERAL

Meer as net ‘n boerderyvennoot Jan Greyling MEDEWERKER

Integriteit teenoor die boer en die landbousektor is die ononderhandelbare sleutel tot ‘n volhoubare sakeverhouding. “Die klant is die rolspeler wat verseker dat ons ‘n besigheid het. Kundigheid oor ons klante se unieke behoeftes en uitdagings is deurslaggewend,” sê Phillip Venter, die bemarkingsbestuurder: plantvoeding en presisieboedery van Laeveld Agrochem.

M KLANTE SE VERWAGTINGE te bestuur word Laeveld Agrochem se landwye netwerk van agente deurlopend opgelei en voltyds ondersteun deur tegniese personeel en landboukundiges. Histories was Laeveld Agrochem bekend vir familiewaardes, maar deesdae is die beste moontlike gebruik van tegnologiese oplossings die kern van hul aanbevelings, sonder dat tradisionele waardes ingeboet word. Gevra waarom intergriteit nou so belangrik is en hoe dit uitgeleef word, skroom Phillip nie om te sê dat daar “werklik net ‘n beperkte aantal kommersiële boere in Suid-Afrika oor is nie. Wanneer klante oopmaak en hartsake met ons agente deel, wil hulle met alle sekerheid weet dat hul persoonlike en besigheidsinligting veilig is en dat ons programme kostedoeltreffende, volhoubare oplossings bied vir hulle unieke omstandighede.” Deur sy vennote en uitgesoekte verskaffers lewer Laeveld Agrochem volhoubare tegniese steun aan gebruikers van hul dienste en produkte. “Hier kom kundiges in elke unieke spesialisveld byeen en as voorbeeld sal grondkundiges, nematoloë en gewasbeskermingspesialiste gesamentlik ‘n geïntegreerde program met versoenbare besproeiings-, bemesting- plaag- en pesbeheerkomponente aanbeveel.” Volhoubaarheid het vyf pilare Volhoubaarheid van verhoudings, besigheid, produksie en probleemoplossing staan op vyf bene, sê Phillip. “Eerstens moet ons boere kan help om hulle natuurlike hulpbronne ten beste te benut. Grond, water en sonlig beïnvloed produksie direk. Dan moet ons die boer se risiko verminder deur die regte aanbevelings en besluite vir sukses. Laeveld Agrochem gebruik presisieboerdery-tegnologie om tekortkominge te identifiseer. Te midde van die behoefte

Phillip Venter, bemarkingsbestuurder: plantvoeding en presisieboerdery van Laeveld Agrochem. Foto: Jan Greyling, Seil Safari 2019

aan die regte oplossings om produksie te handhaaf of te verbeter, moet ons seker maak daar word winsgewend geboer. Die boerdery moet geld maak, wat vir verbetering en ontwikkeling gebruik kan word. Volhoubaarheid vereis dat alle boerderypraktyke in die landbousektor sosiaal aanvaarbaar is. Om die pilare van volhoubaarheid bestuurbaar te maak,

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

ALGEMEEN

beskik Laeveld Agrochem oor een sentrale, veilige tegnologieplatform. Hier word die beskikbare data oor elke stukkie grond op elke plaas wat die maatskappy se dienste gebruik versamel vir ontleding, interpretasie, aanbevelings en implementering. Phillip sê die MyFarmWebTM -platform is onder meer in vennootskap met Agri Technovation, wat dienste eksklusief aan Laeveld Agrochem verskaf. “Wat belangrik is, is dat boere in ‘n sakeverhouding met ons moet wees, voordat hulle beheerde toegang tot geselekteerde en toepaslike inhoud op MyFarmWebTM kry.” Die data op MyFarmWebTM is presisiebesluitneming en - boerdery-inligting wat volgens GPS-koördinate oor verloop van tyd van die boer en sy diensverskaffers versamel word. “Grondinligting, wat by grondklassifikasie (grondfisiese eienskappe) begin, is dalk die belangrikste. Dan is daar die grondchemiese status, wat onder meer fosfaatvlakke, kaliumvlakke en pH-vlakke insluit. Data oor elke spesifieke stuk grond se mikrobiologiese status kan ook versamel word. Data sluit ook blaarontledings, waterontledings en presisie plaagmonitering (PPM) in wat alles gebruik word om aanbevelings te ondersteun. “Opbrengskaarte per presisiepunt word vergelyk met die koste van die insetmiddele om te bevestig hoe winsgewend die boer op daardie spesifieke punt en tydstip op die plaas was. Só bepaal ons onder meer of aanbevole insette in die boerdery regverdigbaar is en beslis bygedra het of sal bydra tot meer winsgewende boedery,” verduidelik Phillip. Aanbevelings moet verseker dat die boer sy beperkte kapitaal so winsgewend as moontlik in die boerdery belê. “Só kan ons gefokus tot volhoubare winsgewendheid en groei bydra.”

en geloofwaardige verskaffers sal wees wat hulle produkte rugsteun.” Die maatskappy kyk nougeset na die waardebelegging wat moontlike nuwe verskaffers tafel toe bring. “Is dit iets uniek wat ons nog nie in ons portefeulje het nie? Indien wel, sal ons voortgaan om ‘n moontlike verhouding te ondersoek. ‘n Nuwe verskaffer moet aan alle wetgewing en vereistes van produkregistrasie voldoen. Die belangrikste is voldoende kundige, tegniese ondersteuning vir produkte. Beskikbare voorraad by ons depots is nodig vir flinke diens en lewering.” Meer as net vennote Phillip beaam dat Laeveld Agrochem deur landbougerigte gemeenskapsprojekte soos die Seil Safari, Afrikaans is Groot en die televisiereeks Nisboere hul verbintenis met boere beklemtoon. “Ons neem verantwoordelikheid vir ons oplossinggerigte aanbevelings op die plaas. Ons kan, want ons landboukundiges is gekwalifiseer en geakkrediteer by onder meer AVCASA om aanbevelings te formuleer. Indien enige probleem hiermee opduik, neem ons dit terug na ons verskaffers en vennote wat saam na hantering en regstellings omsien. “Laeveld Agrochem verbind hom graag met visionêre boere ... diegene met ‘n langtermynvisie vir ‘n nalatenskap aan hul kinders. Met só soort boer vereenselwig ons graag,” sê hy.

Keuring en verskaffers Laeveld Agrochem volg streng keuringsvereistes voordat hulle instem om ‘n vervaardiger se produkte te versprei. “Ons stigter, Nick Liebenberg, doen reeds dekades lank sake en ons glo ook dat belangstellendes eers direk in die oë gekyk moet word om namens klante seker te maak dat hulle betroubare

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

Change your into

green

gold

uppe marketing A17886/MY

with GreenGold® 30

Spesifieke verhoudings van

GreenGold® 30 is a dry fertilizer applied as top makro-, sekondêre en gecheleerde mikro-elemente in die OEMFF®-winning combination dressing with the three-in-one produkreeks kan lei tot: of nitrogen, calcium and boron. GreenGold® 30: • Comprises a combination of nitrogen, water-soluble calcium and water-soluble boron for rapid uptake and quick plant reaction – all in one application. • The nitrogen is partially in the faster available nitrate form and partially in the slower available amide form (KynoPlus®). • Enhanced efficiency can result in higher yield and profitability. • Is highly suitable for macadamias, but also suitable for vegetables, fruit, grain crops, sunflower and pastures.

GreenGold® 30 is a must for macadamia growers. Kynoch – enhanced efficiency through innovation. 011 317 2000 | info@kynoch.co.za | www.kynoch.co.za GreenGold® 30 K9750, KynoPlus® K8024, Act 36 of 1947.

Farmisco (Pty) Ltd t/a Kynoch Fertilizer Reg No. 2009/0092541/07

ALGEMEEN

Terug tekenbord toe met bemesting op groentegewasse Chris Burbidge KYNOCH KUNSMIS

‘n Groenteprodusent in die Limpopo-streek het onlangs weer gewys dat produksie en kwaliteit hand aan hand gaan, sodat die boerdery volhoubaar van jaar tot jaar kan produseer. Die produsent het koolgewasse verbou en beklemtoon dat groente se raklewe oor die algemeen belangriker geword het in ‘n hoogs mededingende plaaslike asook ‘n internasionale nismark omgewing.

Y KYNOCH KUNSMIS WORD dus deurgaans na wetenskaplike oplossings vir sy klante gestrewe om sodoende die risiko te beperk en inkomste op die plaas te verhoog. Dit kan bereik word deur Kynoch Kunsmis se opbrengsverbeteringstelsels te implementeer. Kortliks word gefokus op: • gewasspesifieke bemesting; • groeistadiumspesiﬁeke bemesting; en • plekspesiﬁeke bemesting gebaseer op grond- en/of blaarontledings.

Die gebruik van ‘n kombinasie van produkte binne ‘n spesifieke bemestingsvoorstel volgens die klimaat, grond en kultivareienskappe lewer deurgaans uitstekende resultate. Die spesifieke produsent het sy bemestingsprogram aangevul met Kynoplus® -produkte in kombinasie met tradisionele laekoste bemesting. Groeistadiumspesifieke bemesting. ‘n Bemestingvoorstel is vir kool (Brassica oleracea) opgestel volgens die jongste grondontledings en die skedulering van plantvoedingstowwe volgens die gewas se groeistadiums. Die benadering gaan wetenskaplik gegrond wees met die doel die opbrengs en kwaliteit te verbeter. Die volgende punte word deurgaans in ag geneem: • saailingspesifiek (saadlobbe volledig ontvou); • kop-inisiasie; • kop-set; • vinnige kopgroei; en • volwassenheid. Saalingvestiging en groei Aangesien die saadwortel nie ‘n voldoende volume grond deurdring nie, is dit nodig om plantvoedingstowwe aan die ontwikkelende saailing te voorsien. Dit lewer ‘n sterker plant wat beter teen siektes en ongunstige klimaatstoestande bestand is. By kopvormende gewasse soos kool is die voedingsvereistes hoog, veral met stikstof en kalium.

Kopinisiasie en kop-set Met ‘n sterk saailing kan die plant sy “potensiaal” ontwikkel NA BLADSY 31

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

ALGEMEEN

Terug tekenbord toe met bemesting op groentegewasse VANAF BLADSY 29

om ‘n kop te inisieer wat uiteindelik in ‘n bemarkbare kop kan ontwikkel. Vinnige kopgroei Net ná kop-set vind ‘n fase plaas van vinnige seldeling en waarin selgroei begin. Kwaliteit en opbrengs word nou bepaal, tot by volwassenheid en oes. Plekspesifieke bemesting Hierdie term verwys eerstens na spesifieke dele in die land of blok wat vooraf deur grondontleding geïdentifiseer is en anders behandel word met kunsmis en produkte wat gronde kan verbeter. Tweedens fokus Kynoch se opbrengsverbeteringstelsel op die bestuur van die rhisosfeer. Hiermee word verseker dat die regte plantvoedingstof op die regte groeistadium teen optimale konsentrasie beskikbaar is vir die gewas se aktiewe wortelstel in die grondoplossing. Bemestingsprodukte Die produkte wat op die kool toegedien is, kom hoofsaaklik uit Kynoch se Optimizer-reeks, soos GreengoldTM, KynoPlus® en Achilles. Om die gewas pro-aktief teen stremmingstoestande te beskerm, soos droogte, hitte, versuiping en siekte, is blaarbespuitings ook volgens groeistadia gedoen. Kynoch se “foliar enhancers” is geformuleer om aan die gewas se voedingsbehoefte te voorsien op ‘n saailingstadium, aktiewe groeistadium en volwassenheidstadium. Die onderskeie blaarbespuitingsprodukte staan bekend as Veggie Oemff Start, -Gro en -Fruit. Kynoch se uitgangspunt met bemesting is om die gewas (groen fabriek) op so ‘n wyse te onderhou dat genoeg koolhidrate deur fotosintese geproduseer word om maksimale produksie en kwaliteit te bereik. Dit kan deur die volgende gedoen word: • Deur die gebruik van die KynoPlus® -produkreeks sodat die stikstofbron doetreffender deur die gewas benut word. Op dié wyse is die soort N-bron gevolglik meer volhoubaar onder wisselende klimaatstoestande. • Deur die konsentrasie plantvoedingstowwe binne die rhisosfeer op gewenste vlakke te bestuur. Dit word vergemaklik deur produkte te gebruik met multi-plantvoedingstowwe, soos Kynoch se Miracle-reeks. Die Miracle-reeks se produkte bevat ook kalsium, magnesium, swael, sink en silika saam met stikstof (N), fosfaat (P) en kalium (K) en is gevolglik doeltreffender as enkele NPK-kunsmis. Samevatting By veral kopvormende gewasse soos kool is die voedingsvereistes hoog, veral stikstof en kalium. Die ander plantvoedingstowwe is net so belangrik wanneer na hoë produksie met gepaardgaande kwaliteit gestrewe word. Die fabriek (groen gewas) kan bestuur word deur die regte plantvoedingkonsentrasie in die rhisosfeer, die korrekte plantdigtheid, goeie onkruid- en siektebeheer toe te pas en goeie besproeiingskedulering toe te pas.

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

‘n Bemestingsvoorstel is vir kool (Brassica oleracea) opgestel volgens die jongste grondontledings en die skedulering van plantvoedingstowwe volgens die gewas se groeistadiums.

Die gewas moet op so ‘n wyse onderhou word dat genoeg koolhidrate deur fotosintese geproduseer word om maksimale produksie en kwaliteit bereik word.

Die produkte wat op die kool toegedien is, is hoofsaaklik produkte uit Kynoch se Optimizerreeks

GENERAL

Share the passion The tomato has to be the most utilised vegetable throughout the world. This produce has a myriad of uses, including salad, soup or as a fresh snack.

HERE ARE SEVERAL interesting facts about tomatoes, like tomatoes originally came from Peru, where their Aztec name translated to plump thing with a navel. Tomatoes increase in weight as they ripen, even after harvesting. They first appeared in Europe in the mid 1500s. The first tomatoes in Europe were yellow varieties and the Italian for tomato is Pomodoro and translates to golden apple. There are over 10 000 varieties of tomato, these come in a variety of colours including pink, purple, black, yellow and white. In South Africa, a rich variety of tomatoes exists with availability ranging from determinate round with a growing market for the saladette type; to indeterminate round, mini-cluster and specialties. Due to this rich diversity of the tomato portfolio in South Africa, Syngenta has invested in activities to trial and introduce various suitable varieties into the market in order to serve the market needs. Continuous efforts are being made to invest in an even more vibrant portfolio in order to adequately serve the South African market. Through its distribution partner, Inteliseed, Syngenta plans to make these available to the growers in the near future. To paraphrase the quote by Lewis Grizzard, ”It’s difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a tomato”.

Tomatoes increase in weight as they ripen, even after harvesting.

The first tomatoes in Europe were yellow varieties.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

ALGEMEEN

Variety

Staffie

Jimbo

Rifle

Type

Indeterminate round

Indeterminate

Indeterminate round

Maturity period

75 - 85 days from transplanting

Fruit shape

Disease resistance

Round

HR: Fol: 0-1 (US1-2) / V / Va: 0, Vd: 0 / ToMV: 0-2 IR: For / Ma, Mi, Mj / TYLCV

Flattened globe

HR: Ff: A-E / Fol: 0-1 (US12) / V / Va: 0, Vd: 0, Ma, Mi, Mj / ToMV: 0-2 / TSWV IR: For / TYLCV

Round

HR TMV 0, ToMV:0, ToMV:1, ToMV:1.2, ToMV:2, Va:0, Vd:0, Fol:0 (US1), Fol:1 (US2) , Fol:2 (US3), Ff(A-E), TSWV IR: TYLCV, Ma Mi Mj

Globe

HR: Ff: A-E / Fol: 0-1 (US12) / S / Ss / V / Va, Vd / ToMV: 0-2 IR: For

Newton

Indeterminate globe

75 - 85 days from transplanting

Chibli

Determinate blocky round

120 days from Blocky round sowing

HR: V, Va, Vd, Fol 0-1 IR: Ma, Mi, Mj

75 days after transplant

Square

HR: ToMV: 0-2 / V / TMV: 0 / Fol: 0-1 (US1-2) / Va: 0 / Vd: 0 IR: Pst / TYLCV / Mi / Ma / Mj

Elongated

HR: Fol: 0-1 (US1-2) / S / V / Va, Vd, Ma, Mi, Mj / TMV: 0 / ToMV: 0-2 IR: TYLCV

Momtaz

Kilele

Determinate

75 days after transplant

*Fol = Fusarium Wilt; S, Ss = Stemphylium; Va, Vd = Verticillium wilt; TMV = Tobacco mosaic virus; ToMV = Tomato Mosaic Virus; TSWV = Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus; Ma, Mi, Mj = Root-knot nematode; TYLCV = Tomato yellow leaf curl virus; Ff = Leaf mold; Pst = Bacterial speck.

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE â&#x20AC;¢ AUGUSTUS 2019

GENERAL

Baanbreker-besproeiingstelsel maak meer met minder moontlik Wat as jy jou plaas se volle potensiaal deur monitering, ontleding en beheer kon ontgin? Wat as jy dit uit die palm van jou hand kon doen?

ET DIE TOENEMENDE gebruik van digitale bestuurstegnologie in landbou is soortgelyke beloftes oor menige produk en diens gemaak. NetBeat is Netafim se alles-in-een-platform, dit integreer dinamiese gewasmodelle, gebruik ‘n gebruikersvriendelike koppelvlak, is wolkgebaseer en kan aangepas word volgens die behoeftes van boerderye van elke grootte en soort. NetBeat laat die gebruiker toe om data in te span om die plaas se ware potensiaal te ontgin. Die platform maak dit terselfdertyd moontlik om waterverbruik en ander hulpbronne te beperk. Die sagteware volg die plant se ontwikkelingsfases met die hulp van plantfisiologiese modelle en herkalibreer homself volgens regstreekse en voorspelde omgewingsdata uit verskillende bronne. Hoewel dit die eerste platform wat hierdie funksies kombineer, kan dit maklik deur mededingers nagedoen word. Iets moes NetBeat gevolglik kon onderskei. Dié werk word gedoen deur die dinamiese gewasmodelle as ondersteuningsdiens vir besluitnemings. Die integrasie van dié modelle maak belangrike kunsmatige intelligensie-vermoëns moontlik. Netafim se landboukundige kennis, wat oor 50 jaar versamel is, word sodoende met regstreekse data gekombineer om aanbevelings vir besproeiing en kunsmistoediening te maak. Die gebruiker kan dié pasgemaakte aanbevelings aanvaar, verwerp of aanpas. Dit alles vergemaklik die beplanning, programmering en uitvoering van alle besproeiings- en kunsmistoedienings. Aktiwiteite is gebaseer op voorafgeprogrammeerde skedules, pasgemaakte skedules of die identifisering van, en reaksie op teenstrydighede. Die platform se berekeningsvermoë word moontlik gemaak omat dit wolkgebaseerd is. Dit beteken egter nie dat die stelsel ‘n voltydse internetverbinding nodig het nie. NetBeat bestaan hoofsaaklik uit twee hardewarekomponente – die (Main Control Unit (MCU) en die (Remote Control Field Unit (RTU). Albei is met die jongste tegnologie toegerus en kan alle huidige en moontlike toekomstige toestelle ondersteun. Die MCU koppel via verskeie verbindingsmetodes aan ‘n wolkbediener, terwyl die RTUs met die MCU koppel deur middel van ‘n tweerigting- Lora-radio. NetBeat kan, sonder om aan die wolkbediener gekoppel te wees, normaal funksioneer met geringe verminderde funksie.

NetBeat se beheereenheid.

Die wolkgebaseerde sagteware maak dit verder moontlik dat veelvuldige gebruikers op die platform kan werk. Dit beteken die plaasbestuurder, besproeiingsbestuurder, veldbeampte, landboukundige en tegniese ondersteuningsdienste kan volgens dieselfde inligting besluite neem. Die wolkgebaseerde sagteware maak ook afstandsbeheer, die rugsteuning van data asook die integrasie van derdeparty-data moontlik. NetBeat is ontwerp om die bestuur van besproeiing en kunsmistoediening eenvoudig te maak, selfs in ingewikkelde boerderystelsels. Dit is hoekom beide die koppelvlak en die toepassing maklik is om te gebruik en alles bied wat die boer moontlik kan nodig hê. Nuwe tegnologie word deesdae selde met ‘n breedvoerige gebruikershandleiding vrygestel. Dit is omdat dié tegnologie intuïtief is en die gebruiker vertroud maak met sy funksies deur hom daardeur te lei. Dieselfde geld ook vir NetBeat. Op beide die MCU-koppelvlak en die NetBeat-toepassing word die gebruiker stap vir stap deur die platform se funksies gelei. Die behoefte van outomatisering en besluitnemingsondersteuning, selfs by kleinskaalse boere, het dit vir Netafim nodig gemaak om NetBeat One te ontwikkel. Dié eenheid ondersteun slegs een hooflyn en beperkte insette en uitsette, maar bied volledige monitering, ontledig en besluitnemingsondersteuning.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

PMA FRESH CONNECTIONS

Bringing together the fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain The Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA’s) Fresh Connections: Southern Africa Conference and Trade Show is the only annual event in Southern Africa connecting the entire fresh produce supply chain. This year, it will be taking place from 30 to 31 July in Cape Town at the Century City Conference Centre.

OW IN ITS 9TH year, Fresh Connections: Southern Africa has proven itself as a key connecting point for global and regional decision makers from across the entire fresh fruit and vegetable supply chain, including retailers, producers, importers/exporters, distributors, wholesalers, service and input suppliers, associations and government officials. The event is a successful combination of conference, exhibition and new connections roundtable. “I believe that the challenges and opportunities facing the fresh produce industry worldwide are much too promising, or too challenging, for any one organisation to think that it’s capable of making progress alone,” says Anouk Sijmonsma, PMA Regional Vice President. “Building partnerships matters, as does creating global connections, driving produce consumption, and contemplating the sustainability of our business. It is essential for retailers to know and show the end consumer what produce is available. For them to do so, it is imperative that they have direct connections to growers. “In addition, a big part of our industry is international and international trade can only be accomplished if the correct interpersonal relationships are in place,” says Sijmonsma. “Fresh Connections brings people together and enable them to connect - something that is essential in an industry in which success is based on personal connections that cross borders.”

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

Key topics that will be addressed at the conference include • Insights into challenges impacting the global produce supply chain; • Consumer demands and sustainable business practices; • Impact of technological disruptions on how we interact and engage in the near future; • What does the promising economic landscape in Southern Africa mean to the produce industry?; • Rethinking business strategies for strengthening existing relationships, penetrating new markets and understanding potential markets. The speaker line-up • Tatjana von Bormann, Programmes and Innovation Lead, WWF South Africa • Jack Vera, Agricultural Counsellor, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa • James Lonsdale, Group Sustainability Manager, SPAR Group • Siglinda Lösch, Group Environmental Manager, Food Lover’s Market • Johan van Deventer, Managing Director, Freshmark • Anouk Sijmonsma, Regional Vice President for Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia/New Zealand, PMA • Rutendo Hwindingwi, Associate Director at Deloitte, South Africa • Joel Stransky, Springbok rugby legend and business speaker Siv Ngesi, South African actor-comedian will step up to the podium as master of ceremonies. For more information on the programme and registration visit www.pma.com/FCSouthernAfrica or contact: Lindie Stroebel, General Manager PMA Southern Africa on e-mail Lstroebel@pma.com.

GENERAL

Researchers catalogue insects pestering SA olives FACULTY OF AGRISCIENCE, STELLENBOSCH UNIVERSITY

A genetic catalogue of the insect pests found on wild and cultivated olive tree species in South Africa is being compiled by a small team of geneticists in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) and their South African and overseas collaborators. The team has completed their efforts on olive flies and wasps, and now also hope to extend their work to olive lace bugs and flea beetles.

HE WORK IS BEING led by Dr Barbara van Asch of the US Department of Genetics. It is linked to research projects she was involved in at the University of Porto in Portugal, before moving to South Africa and US in 2015. “Knowing which insect species there are, and how to definitively identify one from another, is of value to both the agricultural and environmental sectors,” says Dr Van Asch. “It helps the industry keep tabs on the introduction of potentially harmful or invasive species into local orchards.” To identify insect species purely on specific visual cues, generally requires great skill and the dedication of a specialised taxonomist. In recent years, this process has been made easier thanks to molecular and genetic research tools which allow

Researcher Dr Barbara van Asch of the Department of Genetics at Stellenbosch University, with one of her postgraduate students, Chante Powell, who is conducting studies on olive pests. Photo: Supplied.

Eupelmus spermophilus, a known olive seed wasp. Photo: Chante Powell

researchers to distinguish between different species based on each one’s definitive DNA barcodes. “We no longer need to wait until a suspect insect reaches adulthood before making a positive identification, but can already do so using the DNA contained in its eggs or larvae,” she explains. “This is noteworthy, as it means that, if need, control measures for a particular area could be put into place sooner rather than later.” Commercial olive farming in South Africa started in 1925 with the establishment of the first orchard in the Paarl region. According to Dr Van Asch, South African commercial olive

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT

ALGEMEEN

farmers have so far been lucky because their trees do not suffer the same level of insect infestation as that experienced in olive producing areas of the Mediterranean and California. Wild and cultivated olives often harbour and share a diversity of insects, which is particularly rich in the Western Cape, compared to all other world regions. Some are considered agricultural pests, such as the olive fruit fly. In South Africa, wild olives tend to have higher infestation rates of seed wasps, parasitoids and olive fruit fly species than cultivated olives. Dr Van Asch hopes to receive further funding from industry or funding agencies to be able to extend the work being done in her laboratory to other olive tree pest species of importance, such as olive lace bugs and flea beetles. These species also cause damage to cultivated olives but have been poorly studied as an agricultural pest.

Ormyrus striatus, a putative parasitoid of olive seed wasps. Photo: Chante Powell

The Africa olive fruit fly (Bactrocera biguttula) that only attacks wild olives. Photo: Chante Powell

GROENTE & VRUGTE | JULIE • AUGUSTUS 2019

Wasps associated with olives Her team recently published journal articles highlighting their efforts. An MSc student in the SU Department of Genetics, Chante Powell, was the lead author of a paper published in Genome on the ten types of wasp species known to be found around wild and cultivated olive trees in the Western and Eastern Cape. It is the first comprehensive study of olive wasp species in the region since the advent of molecular studies. The paper not only contains extreme close-up photographs (taken at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town) of the four species of Braconidae and six species of Chalcidoidea, but also their detailed DNA barcodes and information about how the species relate to each other. The work was done in collaboration with researchers from the University of Palermo and University of Naples in Italy, the Iziko South African Museum and the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa. For the purposes of her study, Powell picked more than 83 000 olive fruits off wild and cultivated trees in 16 regions of the Western Cape and one in the Eastern Cape. She then waited for the larvae to hatch and the wasps to reach adulthood to be able to identify and barcode each species. She found that wild olives seem to suffer more from seed infestation and parasitism by, for example, Eupelmus spermophilus and Utetes africanus wasps than cultivated olives. “This is probably because the insects have co-evolved with the wild olive over a long time in this region before the recent arrival of the cultivated olive,” she explains. Some wasp species develop inside the seeds themselves (and are called seed wasps), while others lay their eggs within the olive fruit. Other wasps are so-called hyperparasitoids, in that they lay their eggs within the developing larvae of other wasp species. “We are not yet sure which wasps are parasitoid, hyperparasitoids or seed wasps,” explains Dr Van Asch. “Further research is needed in this regard.” The study of the wasps associated with olive trees is of value, as it might serve as a way to control the infestation of olive fruit flies that can be a pest.” Studies on olive fruit flies The Stellenbosch University research group of Dr Van Asch also collaborated with Dr Luis Teixeira da Costa of the Oslo University Hospital in Norway, lead author of a genetic study about the African olive fruit fly (Bactrocera biguttula). This olive fly is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. It does not attack cultivated olives but rather develops in the fruits of wild olive species. The paper compares the genetics of the African olive fruit fly with that of a widespread sister species, Bactrocera oleae. This agricultural pest attacks both cultivated and wild olives. The two species of olive fruit flies were found to share a common ancestor more than 10 million years ago.

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Robber fIies (Diptera: Asilidae)

The species belonging to the family Asilidae are notoriously aggressive predatory insects. They wait in ambush and often attack their prey in mid-flight – earning them (most suitably) the monikers of robber or assassin flies. Andri Visser IPM-PROGRAMME NORTH-WEST UNIVERSITY POTCHEFSTROOM

e-mail: visseran3@gmail.com

Robber fIy classification: Class: Insecta (Insects) Order: Diptera Suborder: Brachycera Family: Asilidae

HE FAMILY ASILIDAE comprises of more than 7 500 species in more than 500 genera and can be found in nearly all ecological regions of the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Although some species of robber flies have adapted to the most inhospitable conditions (including the tundra regions), the great majority of these species prefer warm climates, whether tropical or arid. Robber fly adults have an average body width of 1 cm, and a length of 3 – 6 cm, making them medium to large in size. Most species of robber flies have long tapering abdomens and stout, spiny legs, although some species are fuller bodied, masquerading as bumblebees. In fact, many robber flies imitate the appearance of Hymenoptera (bees and ants) species, with the aim of deterring other predators that might take an interest in them. Thick hairs cover their integument and they often sport bold colour markings, combining shades of brown, black and grey with red and yellow. The adults have five eyes in total (three simple and two large, compound eyes) and short antennae. A “moustache” of dense, stiff bristles can be found on the face, which is thought to provide some protection against struggling prey. The mouthparts of adults are short and robust, and modified for piercing-sucking actions. Although not much is known about the life histories of robber fly species, it has been established that the larval and pupal stages of most species remain in the soil or rotting plant material until the adult stage. Predatory behaviour can already be observed in the larval stages of some species, however, it is thought that the larvae of the majority of

A robber fly with a captured house fly. Photo: S.B. Harris.

In 2016, JGH Londt and T Dikow described this new species of robber fly (Trichura pardeos sp.) from the arid Karoo in South Africa. Photo: T. Dikow.

A robber fly with a captured house fly. Photo: S.B. Harris

species are detrivores. Adult robber flies are highly effective predators. Once they’ve captured their quarry (often in mid-air) the robber fly will pierce its prey with its strong proboscis (part of the modified mouthpiece), with which it then injects the prey with a neurotoxin and proteolytic enzyme. These two chemicals serve to rapidly paralyse the victim and digest the insides, allowing the robber fly to then suck the liquefied material through the proboscis. A grisly affair, to be sure. Robber flies are known to have an expansive range of prey, including beetles, butterflies and moths, bees, dragonflies, damselflies, grasshoppers, other flies, and even on occasion spiders. They are not easily deterred by the size of their quarry, nor any physical or chemical defense mechanisms that they might employ. Although they do not hold any real threat to humans, they are aggressive by nature and will protect themselves with a painful bite if handled carelessly. The high biodiversity and predatory activity of the Asilidae family means that robber flies play a critical role in the stability of ecosystems, including agroecosystems in cultivated areas. Robber flies can be considered beneficial when they prey on insect pests, and like assassin bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), pilot studies have investigated the potential to mass rear these insects for use in biological control programmes. However, since they are also known to take beneficial insects (such as bees and other pollinators) as prey, their use in pest management strategies have not enjoyed much attention.

JULY • AUGUST 2019 | VEGETABLES & FRUIT