ProAgri technology for the farmer
Z a m b i a
April 2016 Nr 06
Free
How to care for your bulls
Map inside
Silage equipment: This is what you need
AMAZONE PRECISION IMPLEMENTS INNOVATIVE AND LEADING GERMAN TECHNOLOGY
Letter from the Editor
his morning, as I once again beat the birds at the waking up game to go through the final proofs of ProAgri Zambia 06 before it goes to print, I wondered why we do what we do. Why do you farm? Or why do you, as representative of a supplier, drive out this early in the morning to yet another farm to solve yet another problem? Is it simply a matter of survival – that you have to do some kind of job to get some income to be able to buy some stuff? Or are we labouring away for an altruistic goal of improving the state of humanity? I think it is a matter of love. In an old television series the hero used to say: “I love it when a plan comes together”. Well, I love it when I page through the soon to be printed magazine, to see how it all finally comes together after all the hard work to prepare text and visual material, the panic of selling
Special!
Farm smartly! Annemarie Bremner > annemarie@proagri.co.za
Cover
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enough advertising space and the scramble to get everything as perfect as possible in time to be distributed, in this case, before the Agritech Expo. All the little letters and all the little photograph pixels come together to bear the fruit of information. Just as every little maize plant or every little bean plant breaks its head through the soil to end up golden with ripeness this time of the year – ready to be harvested. It brings much more than an income, it brings joy to experience the fulfilment of a season of growth. Watching and listening to a well designed and cared for machine doing its work smoothly and effectively brings another kind of joy, and for a stock farmer, I am sure nothing beats the beauty and joy of a new-born offspring of that prize bull or ram you picked and pampered to improve your stock. In this issue Dr Dave Midgley brings an interesting new perspective to the pampering of that bull which I hope even the non-beer drinkers can relate to! Read the article on p 5 to see what I mean. Please visit us at the Agritech Expo. I hope the Expo and ProAgri Zambia will help you to find even more joy in what you are doing.
For successful precision farming every farmer needs not only precision implements, such as the Amazone range, but also good service and support from a trusted dealer, such as AFGRI. Read more about the range of equipment available in Zambia on p 3.
ProAgri technology for the farmer
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ProAgri Zambia
'JOE ZPVS "HSJUFDI &YQP NBQ GSPN Q UP
Editor Annemarie Bremner > +27 82-320-3642 annemarie@proagri.co.za General Manager Zambia Quintus Grobler > +26 (0)96-216-9801 quintus@vanetechnology.com
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Reporters Du Preez de Villiers > +27 82-598-7329 dupreez@proagri.co.za Benine Cronjé > +27 73-105-6938 benine@proagri.co.za Marketing Xander Pieterse > +27 79-524-0934 xander@proagri.co.za Stefan van Wyk > +27 82-381-7563 stefan@agritrader.co.za
Content
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27
31
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Amazone and AFGRI: A winning combination in Africa
5
Look after your bulls and rams
9
Silage equipment: This is what you need
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martly s m r a F
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Stanbic Bank Zambia offers business solutions
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New project to overcome stress factors in maize farming
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Talk to Livestock Services at the Agritech Expo for solutions
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Soil: The farmer’s most important asset (Part 5.1)
31
RMS: The rise and rise of African agriculture
35
Aquadam: The easiest DIY water storage solution for the farmer
ProAgri Zambia 06
Melissa Pols > +27 83-748-3413 melissa@proagri.co.za
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Design Esta van Niekerk Enquiries Engela Botha > +27 12-803-0667 engela@proagri.co.za Accounts Ronel Keet > +27 861-777-225 accounts@smartpublishing.co.za Distribution Du Preez de Villiers > +27 12-803-0667 dupreez@proagri.co.za.co.za Business manager George Grobler
April 2016
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Amazone ZA-M 3001 ProfiS Hydro Fertiliser Spreader.
Amazone and AFGRI: A winning combination in Africa W
hen your equipment dealer’s representative takes time to sit down with you and discuss your equipment requirements to find out exactly what you need before he recommends something, you know he has your interests at heart. Clint Bruyns, Manager of Kapinga Farms at Mazabuka, says this is the kind of service he receives from his local AFGRI branch. When Kapinga decided to incorporate precision farming on all levels of their operations, Clint turned to PJ Erasmus, Mechanisation Specialist from AFGRI, for advice on equipment to suit their needs. Kapinga grows maize, soy beans, wheat, barley and sugar cane, and all equipment used on the farm must be able to handle a huge workload, apart from fitting into a precision system. The Amazone ZA-M 3001 ProfiS Hydro Fertiliser Spreader was recommended by PJ, and Clint says he is quite impressed with it. “I see a lot of equipment coming into Zambia, but not everything is suited to our conditions. The Amazone equipment is robust and sturdy and I have no complaints. In fact, I am
looking to use other Amazone equipment as well, such as their compact disc harrow.” Clint says the spreader is easy to use and although PJ initially helped him to set it up and calibrate it, it is very easy to calibrate from the comfort of the tractor’s cabin. The ZA-M Profis has a weighing system and a Tronic Pack for accurate forward speed related spread rate control (kg/ha) as standard equipment. The spreader has an integrated serial interface for combination with a GPS terminal or N-sensors, and is equipped with a base hopper of 1 500 litres which can be increased up to 3 000 litres by using extensions. Victor van der Berg, Branch & Sales Manager of AFGRI’s Mazabuka Branch, confirms that the most popular Amazone equipment in Zambia are their spreading, soil tillage and spraying machines, especially the UF 3-point sprayer range, the ZG-B trailed spreader range and the Catros compact disc harrow. Amazone implements are distributed by Falcon Equipment based in South Africa, and they have chosen AFGRI to be the sole authorised Amazone dealer in Zambia.
At a recent demonstration near Mazabuka the farmers were very impressed with the Amazone Catros compact disc harrow. ProAgri Zambia 06
Victor says: “We supply parts and service for the Amazone range of equipment in Zambia. We have dedicated field technicians who service and support ALL the equipment we offer as a dealership, regardless of a farm’s location.” He says they are very excited about the Amazone range of equipment now on offer at their branches in Lusaka, Mkushi and Mazabuka. “We have sold several Amazone implements and have had nothing but great feedback from our clients.” Victor says that Amazone equipment is exceptionally well suited for Zambia’s tough farming conditions. “The equipment is of high quality, well manufactured and extremely reliable.” The complete range of spreaders include the ZAX, ZAM, ZA-TS and ZG-TS with capacities ranging from 500 to 8 200 litres with spreading widths of 10 to 54 metres. Sprayers include the UF 3-point with tank sizes ranging from 900 to 2 800 litres and spray booms from 12 to 28 metres. Trailed sprayers include the UG-series with tank sizes of 2 200 and 3 000 litres and booms from 15 to 28 metres and the UX-series of 3 200 to 11 200 litres with booms from 24 to 40 metres. Amongst the compact discs, the Catros with its work speed of 12 to 18 km/h and working width of 3 to 12 metres is the undisputed leader in Zambia. But, as Clint says, good equipment is just the beginning. “I appreciate the fact that the representatives from AFGRI are actively involved in field operations. We learn together and grow together.” For more information, contact Victor van der Berg at vdb@afgri.com.za or 00260-96 385-3388, or visit the Amazone stand at Agritech Expo. April 2016
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Breeding Impuls Zambia specializes in reproductive services and products for dairy and beef cattle. We specialize in AI, synchronization, pregnancy diagnosis by sonograph, semen and AI equipment sales. Based on our international experiences we created a “breeding manual” to help farmers to choose the right breed to achieve their goals. Semen is imported from different countries over the world, to provide the best genetics for a reasonable price. Our Services: • Artificial Insemination • Pregnancy diagnosis (palpitation, sonograph) • Synchronization Our Products: • Liquid Nitrogen • Bull semen: - Dairy semen: Fleckvieh, Holstein-Friesian, Jersey - Beef semen: Fleckvieh, Simental, Aberdeen Angus (red, black), Brahman, Boran, Brangus, Bonsmara, Tuli • Synchronization hormones (Syntex) • AI equipment: Liquid Nitrogen flasks, AI kits, AI guns universal, minicutters, tweezers, sheaths, thaw units, thaw monitors, gloves, lubricants, disinfectants
“Liquid Nitrogen For Sale
Our contact details: www.breedingimpulszambia.com breedingimpulszambia@gmail.com Cell: +26 096 849 3432
Look after your bulls and rams by Dr Dave Midgley, Private Consultant
Sperm development and maturation takes more or less 2 months. In other words, sperms that are produced today will only be utilised in two months’ time. This process is also known as spermatogenesis and sperm maturation. This is a good time to have bulls tested for breeding soundness, so that, if problems are detected, they can be treated or replaced well before breeding commences.
Sperm cells under a microscope. Do the “3T – test” in bulls: Check the Teeth, “Toes” and Testes.
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areful palpation of the testes must be done before each breeding season. Testes should be mobile, symmetrical, firm and elastic, with no palpable irregularities. Slight rotation and slightly uneven height is acceptable unless specified by the breed society. The epididymi should be symmetrical, of even consistency with a normal size throughout. Extra care in the two months prior to mating leads to higher fertility. More calves and lambs mean more money in your pocket, but also lead to a better utilisation of the male animal’s genetic potential. Bulls and rams are the most expensive “units” on most farms and yet, despite of this, they are often neglected. Various articles have been written on the care and nutrition of male animals. Emphasis is placed on fitness, and yet very few farmers exercise their bulls or rams before the mating season in order to enhance their fitness. Walking at a gentle pace with the herd looking for food and water, resting in the shade during the hot hours of the day, is not going to get an animal “fit”! Like in humans, you should start slowly by taking a brisk walk initially ProAgri Zambia 06
and increasing the workload by either walking faster or by getting them to run, thereby increasing the speed of exercise. We can also increase the distance or the intensity. The latter is done by walking up hills and/ or through a ploughed land or river bed where the sand is soft. The same principles which apply to humans, also apply here. Pro-active or preventative medicine requires certain management procedures to be done in advance to ensure that the animals are healthy and in a good “working” condition when peak performance is required. In a bull and ram this is at mating time, or during the breeding season. It is important to understand the physiological processes taking place in a male animal's body, in order to realise why it is important to do certain procedures well in time. As was mentioned earlier, spermatogenesis and the maturation of sperm cells in the testes and epididymi, is a process that takes roughly 60 days (2 months) to complete. Sperms are stored in the testes at 32° to 34°C – more or less 6°C lower than body temperature. The warm blood coming from the body is first cooled down by a very
intricate mechanism, where the warm blood runs in arteries in close proximity to the veins with cooler blood coming from the testicles. The cooler blood is then cooled down further in small blood vessels called capillaries, running close to the external surface of the scrotum, before moving into the testes to deliver the necessary oxygen and nutrients necessary for spermatogenesis. Furthermore, there are 2 muscles, the cremaster muscles, which play an intricate role in this temperature regulating process – on a cold day they would draw the testes closer to the body to pick up some body heat and during hot weather the testes are “dropped” further away from the body in order to prevent them from “overheating”. Disease and subsequent fever reactions, as well as even the slight fever encountered after vaccinating with live vaccines, can cause the semen to “overheat”, leading to temporary infertility. Conditions like blowfly strike or foot rot might cause a slight fever reaction. The sperm are not totally killed then, but can undergo certain changes that effect fertility. A proper semen analysis, in which special attention is given to sperm morphology, is necessary to identify the presence or absence of these “abnormalities”. Well in advance, before the breeding season starts, a farmer should ask himself the following question: “Am I doing everything possible to ensure that these bulls and rams are going to deposit the best possible sperm cells into my females?” What does preventative medicine in male animals entail? - Ensure a good spread of young and old males by replacing 25% of the bull and ram herd/flock yearly. In this way you will always have a good balance between younger, virile April 2016
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animals with a high libido, and older ones with lots of experience. Check their teeth. Animals are culled when their teeth are worn and they cannot use them properly for feeding anymore. Do proper hoof care. Trim hooves before the mating season and treat cases of foot rot as early as possible. Cull animals with chronic foot lesions. Give a balanced ration – especially in the two month period prior to mating when sperm cells are formed. Get bulls and rams fit by walking them briskly for a minimum of half an hour to an hour early in the morning or during the late afternoon. Supply adequate shade, especially in the warmer parts of the country. Give the broadest possible protection against diseases by vaccinating with multicomponent vaccines. Pay special attention to the following diseases: Bulls – bovine viral diarrhea, respiratory infections like pasteurella, tick borne diseases (redwater, gall sickness and buffalo disease) and of course clostridial diseases. In areas where botulism occurs, vaccination against this disease is required. Rams – pulpy kidney and other clostridial diseases, blue tongue and pasteurellosis. The best option is to consult with your nearest vet, who knows the area and the prevailing diseases, and to decide on the best possible “schedule” in collaboration with him/her. Dose or deworm preventatively against internal parasites. A sick or parasite infested male cannot produce top quality semen. In rams
it might also be necessary to treat preventatively before the mating season against nasal worm, as scent plays an important role in feed intake as well as in the detection of the ewes that are on heat. - Bulls and rams should be tested for breeding soundness. This entails a proper clinical checkup to certify the animals as healthy and free of disease. It should also include a detailed examination of the genital organs, a semen analyses which includes sperm morphology as well as certifying the semen free of infection (the absence of bacteria and white blood cells). - Breeding soundness should also include a mating dexterity test,
although in small herds and flocks this can and should be observed in the kraal and while the animals are grazing. It does not help if a bull or ram has good semen and good genetics, but is unable to carry it on to its progeny because it cannot serve properly! Libido, or mating willingness, should also be observed. Testicular size does matter! Give special attention to testicular size – height and circumference, testes conformation, body condition score and semen quality. Two “beer or cool drink cans” have a circumference of 35 cm and a height of 11cm – this is used as a guideline for acceptable “average” testes size in mature bulls and rams.
Testicular size does matter! Table 4. Bull testicular size and heifer age at puberty Breed
Scrotal circumference of yearling bulls (cm)
Gelbvieh
Heifer age at puberty (days)
34,8
341
Braunvieh
34,3
347
Red Poll
33,5
352
Angus
32,8
372
Simmentaller
32,8
372
Hereford
30,7
390
Charolais
30,5
398
Limousin
30,2
398
AVERAGE
32,4
368
Table 5. Correlation of female reproductive traits with scrotal circumference. Trait
“Care for your males, so that they can care for you!!” For more information on the subject, Dr Dave Midgley can be reached at dave.midgley@vodamail.co.za ProAgri Zambia 06
Correlation with scrotal circumference
Age at first conception as yearling heifers
0,69
Heifer pregnancy rate
0,64
Calving interval
0,12
Selection for bull scrotal circumference may improve a number of female reproductive traits. In bulls, mating dexterity is normally observed during the mating season. Fever-causing diseases may lead to temporary infertility lasting for about 2 months after the “incident” – this is the time it takes for the new healthy sperm which are formed after recovery to develop and mature. April 2016
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Silage equipment:
This is what you need Last month we discussed the “Secrets of silage”. This is a follow-up article on the equipment needed to make good silage.
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ilage must be made at the stage when plant material has exactly the right moisture content. This allows the farmer a short window period during which the process of ensilaging must be completed. Therefore, it is essential that equipment used for silage making must be efficient and reliable. Forage harvester Maize or forage sorghum is cut with a forage harvester, chopped and blown into a wagon. There are silage harvesters available for cutting one or more rows row by row, and others that are row independent to cut irrigated maize from any side of the field. Some silage harvesters chop material with blades that are mounted in a circular form on a disc, while others are designed with blades mounted on a drum. The straighter the path that material follows through the shredder, the less tractor power is required; and the heavier the flywheel effect of the shredder, the smoother the load on the transmission system. It is essential that a silage harvester must cut the material cleanly and tidily and that the length of the chopped material must be adjustable according to the farmer’s needs. It should be easy to sharpen the cutter blades, and the harvester’s chute must be adjustable from the tractor cab to blow material accurately into the silage wagon. Most silage harvesters are drawn ProAgri Zambia 06
behind, but to one side of the tractor, but for large fields there are huge selfpropelled silage harvesters. There are few farmers who make enough silage to justify the cost of acquiring such a self-propelled harvester, so they are mostly used by silage contractors. A more affordable option than the self-propelled harvesters, is the large, row-independent harvester mounted to special tractors that can run equally well forward and backward because their seats can turn around to control the tractor with a full set of reverse controls. The advantage of this option is that the farmer has a formidable self-propelled silage harvester during the silage season, and the rest of the year he has a useful, fully-fledged tractor to use for any other work. Silage wagon It is important that cut silage must be transported quickly and promptly to the silage bunker or ditch so that the whole process can run smoothly. Various types of silage wagons are available, but a suitable silage wagon should satisfy the following requirements: • It should be spacious and able to carry a good load at a time so that unnecessary trips can be avoided. • The silage trailer’s tires have to be tough enough so maize stalks cannot puncture them, and wide enough to avoid getting stuck in soft
ground or compact the soil unnecessarily. • The sides should be high enough to maintain a good volume and the side towards which the silage is blown, should be raised to eliminate waste. • The silage wagon should download the material quickly and easily, without wasting labour or time in the silage pit. Some types of silage wagons are high lifting tippers so that the moist material can easily slide down its smooth belly, while others have chain drives to push the material out. • It must be well balanced so that it can drive over the silage pile without toppling over. A useful development is a manure spreader which can also double as a silage wagon by removing the manure spreading mechanism during the silage season. This means that the farmer can acquire two useful implements for the price of one. Silage remover Where animals are extensively fed with a ration that includes silage, a useful tool is a feed mixer capable of taking silage out of that silage bunker. This is a self-propelled feed mixer with an arm equipped with grabbers and a conveyor belt for collecting silage from the pit to be weighed and mixed with the other feed components. Such a silage remover saves time and eliminates waste by preventing silage from falling on the ground or deteriorati due to unnecessary exposure. April 2016
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Stanbic Bank Zambia Agri Business Solutions
Stanbic Bank is amongst the leading financiers of agriculture in Zambia, directly supporting Government’s focus on the growth of the sector. We are committed to the development of agri businesses across the value chain with tailored solutions that cater for all players along the value chain, including input suppliers, agro dealers, farmers/ outgrowers, off-takers and traders, processing units, distributors, wholesalers and retailers.
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o support our agri business customers, we have a team of dedicated agricultural specialists on the ground, who have real-life and relevant insights into the agric industry. They fully understand the end-to-end experiences faced by farmers and are able to add value over and above ordinary banking solutions. They are located in the major farming blocks like Mkushi, Lusaka, Mazabuka, Kabwe and Choma, while extending our agric
business finance proposition to other prominent and developing farming areas like Mpongwe, Kitwe, Livingstone, Ndola, Chisamba and Serenje. In addition, we provide comprehensive Global Markets solutions to support cross border trade, forex trading and hedging needs. Payment and collection solutions with POS ensure a safe and secure cashless means of transacting for our customers. Apart from this, our Business on Line (BOL)
internet banking services makes it easy and convenient for our clients to transact from remote locations. In addition, we offer a wide range of investment options with attractive returns on fixed deposit accounts and off shore banking solutions. To further our commitment to agriculture we are currently collaborating with a number of key industry players to provide cheaper and structured working capital and equipment finance solutions tailored to fit our customers’ needs. Our presence and sponsorship of the AgriTech Expo demonstrates our support and commitment to Agri Business in Zambia, enabling us to engage with key stakeholders in the market. We believe the Expo will accord us a prime platform to affirm our commitment and to exhibit our services and solutions which should help to build a sustainable agriculture sector in Zambia through valuable partnerships. Zambia is our home and we drive her growth.
Visit our stand at the Agritech Expo in Chisamba to find out more from the leading Agri Business specialists. Stanbic Bank Zambia Head Office Addis Ababa Drive Plot 2375 Lusaka 0211-370000 – 18
www.stanbicbank.co.zm ProAgri Zambia 06
April 2016
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New project helps African farmers overcome stress factors in maize farming
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) and its partners have unveiled a new project named Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa (STMA). The goal of this project is to diminish devastating environmental effects in maize production that occur simultaneously across many regions in sub-Saharan Africa. New technology, such as drought resistant maize cultivars, can help small-scale farmers to limit their risks and improve their yields.
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he Stress Tolerant Maize for Africa (STMA) project will develop new improved varieties and hybrids with resistance and tolerance to drought, low soil fertility, heat, diseases such as maize lethal necrosis (MLN) and pests affecting a large part of maize production areas in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Reducing crop failure “STMA will use modern breeding technologies that will confer the desired resistance to pests and diseases and tolerance to climatic stresses like drought and heat to benefit farmers within their socio-economic capabilities, that often dictate their access to important farm inputs like fertilizers and improved seed,� said Tsedeke Abate, Project Leader of STMA. Over 35 million hectares of cultivated maize in SSA is rain fed. Climate change is heightening the intensity and frequency of drought in farmers’ fields. At the same time, maize productivity is further reduced by low fertility soils prevalent in most parts of SSA, yet the majority of smallholder farmers cannot afford the recommended amounts of nitrogen fertilizers. These, in addition to other stresses, increase the risk of crop failure that negatively affects income, food security and nourishment of millions of smallholder farmers and their families. STMA will draw from successes and lessons of the recently concluded Drought Tolerant Maize for Africa ProAgri Zambia 06
(DTMA) and Improved Maize for African Soils (IMAS) projects, which successfully developed and deployed over 250 improved drought-tolerant and nitrogen-use efficient maize varieties benefiting more than 43 million people in the region. The new stress tolerant varieties and hybrids will increase maize productivity by 30 to 50% for smallholders in 12 countries in eastern (Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), southern (Zambia, Malawi, South Af-
rica, Zimbabwe) and western (Benin, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria) Africa. Improved maize varieties STMA is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The four-year project will put improved maize varieties in the hands of nearly five and a half million smallholder households by end of 2019. The project will also ensure participation of women across the maize value chain from production to retail. STMA will link up with national and regional initiatives to develop strategies that bridge the yield gap and dramatically increase maize productivity at smallholder farm levels. This continued collaboration with partners will enhance sustainable maize research and development systems in target countries through sustained variety release, deployment and adoption, which has thus far been insufficient in many SSA countries. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture is a key partner in the STMA project alongside very important national research organisations within the target countries, international institutions, small and medium seed companies and other private and public institutions. ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Bizcommunity and Africa Green Media for the use of this article. April 2016
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Talk to Livestock Services for solutions at the Agritech Expo L
ivestock Services Cooperative Society is the leading supplier of inputs for both livestock and crop farming in Zambia. Their objective is to provide essential services and products to assist in cost effective production to both large and small scale farmers. Advisory services are available for dairy, aquaculture, crop protection, fencing, animal health, and animal nutrition (for all species). All Livestock’s services are free of charge, and in addition Livestock Services organises weekly one day practical farmer training sessions. Livestock Services distributes products for a number of international companies, some of whom will exhibit in the Livestock Services Stand at the Agritech Expo. Companies exhibiting in the Livestock stand: Dopharma is the largest manufacturer of veterinary pharmaceuticals in the Netherlands. Big Dutchman is the world’s leading supplier of housing and feeding equipment for modern pig and poultry production. Mega Pak Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd is an innovative, forward thinking organisation, using leading edge technology to provide innovative plastic packaging solutions that cater for customer needs. Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech polymer materials. Bayer HealthCare Animal Health is one of the world’s leading research-based veterinary medicine companies. Provimi, a brand of Cargill, is a world leader in Animal Nutrition. The Provimi-brand reflects effective nutritional solutions with a strong emphasis on assisting customers in balancing their feeds and optimising feeding management. TAL-TEC is South Africa’s leading manufacturer of innovative livestock handling equipment.
ProAgri Zambia 06
Virbac is a multinational animal health company focussed exclusively on animal health. They have an extensive range of top quality products, including in-feed, injectable and water soluble antibiotics as well as a wide range of dips, oral drenches and nutritional products. Bimeda Zambia Ltd (BZL) is the local branch of Bimeda which is a global animal health pharmaceutical Company. Ndlovu Fencing (Pty) Ltd, trading as Stafix Electric Fence and Security Centres, is a major player in the electric fencing industry. The company is expanding and broadening its product base so that it now not only markets electric fence energisers and accessories to the agricultural, wildlife, and security markets, but also provides a wide range of related security products to both rural and urban consumers. POLTEK® CUSTOM MOULDERS® manufactures POLTEK® poultry products for the farming industry and continues to develop innovative ideas that improve the process of poultry farming. Laboratorios Catalysis S.L. is a private and independent Spanish laboratory with an exclusive technology: Molecular Activation. Their main activity is research, development and manufacture of nutritional supplements. CRV is an international enterprise in the field of cattle improvement. Annually CRV sells around 12 million doses of semen across the globe. Our breeding goal is: ‘a healthy and long lasting dairy cow that will give the optimum contribution to farm profit’. Red Dane Farming is a leading brand in Africa, providing the dairy industry with products, systems and models. Jørgen KRUUSE A/S is one of the
major players in the field of veterinary supplies on the world market. A range of more than 6 000 items, consumables and equipment for veterinarians is distributed to over 100 countries under well established brands such as KRUUSE, BOVIVET, KRUTEX and BUSTER. Bupo Animal Health is importing, producing and exporting pharmaceuticals and feed additives. They pride themselves on service, value and price. Breeding Impuls Zambia is a supplier of reproductive products and services, with a link to Breeding Cooperative Impuls, an AI station in the Czech Republic hosting 100 stud bulls and producing 200 000 straws per year. Agriserve Zambia is a distributor of a comprehensive range of agricultural products and services in Zambia. Agriserve Zambia will provide customers with the best value for money products, while providing our suppliers with a dependable stream of business. Agriserve Zambia provides an integrated support service for both farmers and animal healthcare retailers to establish sustainable economic enterprises and promote the agricultural industry in Africa. Zoetis, formerly a business unit of Pfizer, is a leading global animal health company dedicated to discovering, developing, manufacturing and commercialising a diverse portfolio of animal medicines and vaccines to meet the needs of veterinarians and livestock farmers.
Your Reliable Partner in Poultry Health We look forward to meeting you at the Livestock Services stand to discuss your needs. Lusaka Showgrounds Tel: 0211-254497/254024, e-mail: admin@livestock.co.zm. April 2016
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m PART 5: Physical properties of soil (1) Martiens du Plessis, Soil Scientist, NWK Limited & Prof Cornie van Huyssteen, Lecturer: Soil Science, University of the Free State
Soil is the most fundamental resource for the farmer, without which food and natural fibre cannot be produced. This article forms part of a series to highlight this resource. In the next three articles in the series, the most important physical properties of soil will be discussed. However, the interaction of soil and water, which also falls under soil physics, will be dealt with later. Particle size distribution (texture) The texture of the soil refers to the ratio between the various particle size fractions, viz. sand, silt and clay, as they occur in the soil. A soil that mainly comprises sandy material, has a coarse texture, while a soil that is dominated by clay, has a fine texture. Soil is classified into texture classes according to the specific combination of sand, silt and clay. The texture triangle (FIGURE 1) is used to subdivide a specific soil sample into a specific texture class, for example, clayey loam, silty loam, silty clay, sandy loam, loam, clay and sandy clay loam. The diameter of sand is between 2 mm and 0,02 mm, that of silt is between 0,02 mm and 0,002 mm, while particles smaller than 0,002 in diameter are classified as clay and other colloidal material. The relative sizes of these particles to each other are indicated in FIGURE 2. Soil texture has a major influence on the usability of soils for crop cultivation, specific activities such as tilling practices, irrigation, plant fertilisation, water retention capability and engineering aspects. Texture is a
FIGURE 1: The texture triangle ProAgri Zambia 06
very stable characteristic and changes with great difficulty, if at all. For that reason, a sandy soil remains a sandy soil and clay remains clay. Texture is therefore the normal starting point in investigating soil problems. Clay normally has a high water retention capability, is aerated poorly, has poor drainage (as little as <1 mm/ hour), has a higher organic material content than sand, it warms slowly during spring, offers resistance to underground compaction, offers resistance to wind erosion, is a good provider of nutritional substances, is a good buffer against pH changes, has delayed leaching of water, is hard when dry, but sticky when wet, has a changeable swelling/shrinkage ability, is chemically and physically active and has a high cation exchange capacity (depending on the clay mineralogy). Specific surface The specific surface of soil refers to the total surface of all the soil particles per mass. The standard unit in which it is expressed, is m2/gram of soil. Fine sand usually has a relatively small specific surface of about 0,1 m2/ gram, that of fine silt is about 1m2/ gram and the specific surface area of clay usually varies between 10 and 1000 m2/gram, depending on the clay mineralogy. Adsorption of water, various plant fertilizers and attraction forces between soil particles, are all dependent on the surface area of the soil. For that reason, the surface area has a major influence on the various soil properties. Gross density The gross density refers to the mass of a specific volume of undisturbed dry
soil. It is usually expressed as gram/ cm3 or as kg/m3. The typical gross density of a fine sandy soil under natural conditions is about 1,5 gram/ cm3 or 1 500 kg/m3. A fine and wellstructured clay has a typical gross density of 1,3 gram/cm3 or 1 300 kg/ m3. Compacted sub-soils can have a gross density of more than 2,0 g/cm3. The growth of most plant roots is handicapped when the gross density is greater than 1,6 g/cm3. The structural units of certain clayey soils can have a very high gross density, for example 2,2 g/cm3 in prismatic B-horizons. When soil is tilled, the gross density is reduced and the porosity is increased. This promotes water infiltration, air movement and root penetration. The main problem of compaction due to tractor and land vehicle traffic, the so-called plough soles or plough compactions, is precisely an increase in the gross density to levels higher than those plant roots can deal with. The presence of more organic material usually lowers the gross density of soils. When soils are tilled, the organic material of the soil also decreases over about 10 to 20 years to levels of about 40% to 50% of the original levels. The result is that the gross density also degrades together with the organic material levels.
, FIGURE 2: The relative sizes of fine sand, silt and clay April 2016
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FIGURE 3: Stains and the movement of iron indicate “waterlogged conditions” Porosity or pore volume The pores in the soil are of great importance for water retention capability, water movement, air movement, aeration, microbe life, biochemical reactivity and root development. Almost all the chemical and biological processes take place in the water in the pores. Oxygen is also usually needed, and therefore the right amount of pores is important for optimal plant growth. When soil is irrigated or wetted during a rain shower, almost all the pores are filled with water immediately thereafter. As the water moves deeper into the profile, the largest pores are emptied first and are once again filled with air. Later, the smaller pores are emptied and are filled with air. As the plant roots withdraw the water, the increasingly smaller pores are drained and filled with air. In this way, the soil becomes drier, but also more aerated. Porosity refers to the percentage of the soil volume which comprises pores. An undisturbed soil under natural conditions will have a typical porosity of about 50%. This means the soil comprises 50% pores and 50% soil particles. When soil is compacted, the porosity decreases. The porosity of deeper soil layers is usually lower than that of the surface soils. The lower the porosity, the fewer the pores that can be filled with water. Soils with a low porosity also tend to become waterlogged, as there is less space for air. Another interesting characteristic of pores is pore size. Sandy soils usually have more large (macro) pores than clay, while clay therefore has more smaller (micro) pores. The total pore volume of well-structured clay is usually in the region of 50% to 60%, while that of sandy soil is often less than 45%. Compacted sub-soils can have a porosity of as little as 25%, which leads to poor aeration and high resistance to root penetration. Water and air move more readily through macro-pores. In contrast, the microProAgri Zambia 06
pores in a damp soil are largely filled with water, which restricts air flow in and out of the soil. Aeration Aeration of the uppermost portion of the soil profile is necessary for the growth of the majority of plants. It is specifically oxygen that is used during respiration to release energy, while carbon dioxide is released. Bacteria, fungi and other soil microbes in the soil also use oxygen. The microbes that break down plant residue in the presence of oxygen, are the greatest users of oxygen in soil, regardless of whether there is plant growth or not! These respiration processes lower
the oxygen levels in the soil to levels lower than those in the atmosphere and raise carbon dioxide levels to higher levels than those in the atmosphere. This tendency increases with depth in the soil profile. The existence of the difference in oxygen levels between the atmosphere and the soil air, is known as a gradient, and causes oxygen to move into the soil and carbon dioxide to move out of the soil. This process is the core of gaseous exchange between the soil and the atmosphere. If the soil is “collapsed”, the gas exchange is negatively affected and the growth of seedlings in particular is hampered by this. The cultivation of such a piece of soil restores the gas exchange. When the oxygen levels decrease to a very low level during wet conditions, the microbes use sources other than oxygen, e.g. nitrate and iron, during respiration. Substances that are toxic for plants, may be formed in the process. These soil layers usually develop a speckled appearance, which may be used as an indication of water saturation. Under these oxygen-lacking conditions, iron moves from the parts without oxygen to the richer oxygenated areas, where it precipitates as red and yellow stains (FIGURE 3). As a result of the poor water movement, such soils should preferably not be irrigated. In contrast, well-aerated soils are red in colour (FIGURE 4) as a result of the presence of oxidised iron (red rusted iron). Such soils should preferably be chosen for crop cultivation and especially for irrigation. REFERENCES The following sources have been used extensively during the compilation of this article: Brady, NC 1990. The nature and properties of soils. 10th ed. Macmillan publishing company, New York. Du T Burger, R. 1979. Soil Science 115. Unpublished class notes for GKD115. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Marshall, TJ & Holmes, JW 1979. Soil Physics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Van Huyssteen, CW 2009. Soil Ecology. Unpublished class notes for GKD214. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain.
FIGURE 4: A profile with a red colour indicates good aeration
For further information, please contact: Martiens du Plessis: martiens@nwk.co.za Cornie van Huyssteen: vanhuysteencw@ufs.ac.za April 2016
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The rise and rise of African agriculture S
outh African based agricultural equipment manufacturer, RMS Manufacturing & Supply, has recently launched an aggressive Pan African marketing drive. “We see the broader African agricultural industry as a vibrant emerging powerhouse, expanding exponentially each year,” said a spokesman for the Durban based company. “We also see ourselves as being ideally placed to offer a broad range of services to this market.” RMS currently offer a broad range of tractor trailed agricultural trailers, locally manufactured as well as imported tillage implements and trailed agricultural road making equipment. The company also provides a turnkey procurement service for African continent based customers. According to the spokesman, ever increasing challenges on the Southern tip of the continent, including drought, labour issues and political concerns, have proved to be a positive influence to its northern neighbours with the greatest agricultural developments taking place far north of the Limpopo River. “Nevertheless, for Southern and Central Africa, South Africa remains a critical portal for trade and supply from Europe and the Far East, as well
ProAgri Zambia 06
as a gateway to South African manufacturing muscle.” “In this regard RMS Manufacturing & Supply offer its Southern and Central African based customers a number of different services. “To complement our locally based agri equipment design and manufacturing capability, we have also forged solid partnerships with many European and Eastern manufacturers of agricultural equipment, including world brand leaders such as DONDI, Badelli, Nardi and many others. “This allows us to offer our customers in Africa a wide range of imported product lines at highly competitive prices, as well as to provide a complete door to door logistic package incorporating procurement, delivery and support,” he said. RMS Equipment designs are manufactured by independent manufacturers under licence at various centres in South Africa, and supplied exclusively by RMS Manufacturing and Supply. RMS is a fully owned division of Roadking Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd. For more information on RMS Manufacturing & Supply, visit their website at www.roadkingsa.co.za or contact them at info@roadkingsa.co.za.
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Aquadam: The easiest DIY water storage solution for the farmer
By Benine Cronjé
The Smart Tank Express from Aquadam is the quickest and easiest DIY water storage solution for the farmer. This is the only tank manufactured to the highest international quality standards and packaged for easy transport.
A
quadam has a wide range of available capacities to suit all the needs the farmer may have. The Smart Tank is an invaluable addition to any farm or agricultural endeavor. The most popular Smart Tank sizes and capacities have been branded under the Smart Tank Express name. It is only available to order from your nearest cooperative or distributor. The Smart Tank Express is focused on providing everyone in local and smaller communities with the opportunity to acquire a cost-effective water storage tank. It will save the farmer costs and time in comparison to waiting for an installation team to erect a dam or tank. The Smart Tank is a high quality corrugated steel tank that is modular, flexible and transportable on a one-ton pick-up. It is versatile and maintenance-free to suit every need, and it features outstanding protection against UV radiation and dirt. There is no need for the farmer to worry about deterioration or contamination of the water within. Each unit is supplied with a liner certified for potability, which will ensure that the contents remain drinkable for humans and animals. The Smart Tank is ideal for many different agricultural applications, including; • Slurry tanks in the process of producing natural fertilizer, • storage tanks of drinking water for human and animal consumption, • rain water harvesting tanks for irrigation and sprinkler purposes for crops and vegetation, • nursery tanks for commercial fish farming and for other forms of aquaculture, • as well as emergency storage tanks for holding a supply of borehole or rain water in times of water shortages or droughts. Farmers can experience the ease, speed and cost-effectiveness of constructing an Aquadam reservoir on their farm. Aquadam is looking for distributors in Zambia. Contact Willem Noordman at Aquadam, +2712-810-0940, or sales3@aquadam.co.za to get listed and be the first to have a market advantage for the Smart Tank Express in Zambia.
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