Using technology to nurture nature

Organic farming in the conventional sense of using natural methods like permaculture and integrated animal husbandry practices have shown that depleted soils can be coaxed back into life. The process is long and slow; for after all nurturing nature cannot be hastened.

Technology has answers; though not in its fullest sense. The primary result of soil analysis does give an accurate picture of the mineral content of the soil. The essential nutrients that these minerals are supposed to give for the plants are also calculated. What is lacking is the delivery mechanism.

In its natural state fertile soil is blessed with micro-organisms; these micro-organisms help the plants to assimilate the minerals (which the micro-organisms convert from dead organic matter) and various nutrients. The accuracy of the nutrients that the plant assimilates is a complex reaction of photosynthesis (the conversion of sunlight or light energy to a chemical energy) that fuels all of the plant's activities. This complexity is the source for essential nutrients for the various parts of the plant. For example polysaccharides (type of carbohydrates like cellulose) are circulated throughout the plant while at the same time a portion of it flows back into the soil through the root system (like a two way highway) for production of fulvic acids. This being complex is also life threatening as this circuitous route is akin to an electric circuit. Any imbalance in the system can cause adverse reactions leading to fatal consequences for the plant.

So two things become very clear for healthy plant growth; accurate nutrition in the quantities specified and essential nutrients delivered at the proper time. A few organizations devoted to organic farming supplements have been quite successful in creating a water soluble mix that contains the desired nutrients both qualitatively and quantitatively. Being water soluble enables the root system of the plant for the correct uptake.

Soil Analysis – Essential for producing high-quality crops

Cultivation of crops is done in a wide variety of soil types and the requirement for fertilizers depends on the type of soil. Cultivating a huge land or even a small garden incurs huge investment and if the soil quality is not good, growing plants and crops becomes difficult as well as very costly. Hence, knowing the nutrient content as well as the pH level in the soil is very essential. Most often people tend to over-use the different plant nutrients, which create an imbalance in the soil, resulting in harming both the plants and the environment.

Soil analysis is the best way to know the quality of soil. By testing the soil quality, you will be able to know about the pH level in the soil as well as the nutrient contents. This will help you to use the right amount of fertilizer that is required for growing a particular crop. This is very essential for organic farming. For soil testing, some samples of the earth are taken to a laboratory and it is tested to find its quality along with the issues that might pose hindrance in the growth of plants. This process helps in maximizing the production by using the accurate amount of fertilizer. Along with soil testing, 1:2 water extract analysis is also important before planting crops. It is a method that is employed to measure the water soluble nutrients present in the soil and deciding on the amount that plants are capable of taking in.

Sulphur being an essential nutrient for plant growth, it is important to test the amount contained in the soil for further application. Since with time the content of sulphur in the soil has declined to a great extent, in most cases it is applied by spraying. In the similar way, amino acid chelate is used in organic farming owing to the various benefits it offers. However, the amount depends on the type of soil, which can be measured by testing the soil. Agrilibrium is a company in South Africa that manufactures as well as promotes a variety of nutrients for plants. They also provide soil testing service along with other such services to promote organic farming in the region.

Agrilibrium: Offering Essential Products for Accurate Crop Nutrition

It takes loads of efforts to make a farm field fertile enough to grow the crops as per your will. You need to test the soil for the availability of crop available nutrients. Depending on the analysis of the results, you are required to provide accurate crop nutrition by applying the desired mineral, organic and biological nutrients for better yield. In addition, you also need to be updated on various methods that could enhance the crop yield. If you wonder where to look for all such facilities to ensure enhanced results on your field, Agrilibrium is there to help you out.

Quality farming facilities at Agrilibrium  

The reputed company in South Africa holds high credibility in providing apt nutrition for plant roots uptake. It offers numerous products to adhere to this tasks satisfyingly, most of which leverage fulvic acid benefits and comprise amino acid chelate to nurture the crops. Some of its prominent products include:

AminoBoost: It is a nutrient chelated product consisting of acidic Phyto-fulvic acid. It works toward improving soil structure, soil rehabilitation and assists in enhancing the ability of the root to pierce through compacted and brackish soils. The fulvic acid in the product has been extracted from trees. In addition, it possesses appreciable wetter and rewettter properties.

FullMax: It is one of its kind foliar applied product, which actuates the uptake efficiency and mobility of plant ingredients. It performs the best when used in sync with Glyphosate and Foliar nutrition effective concentrations. It owns water loving or hygroscopic property, which comes handy in attracting moisture from air, to further improve the uptake of foliar applied chemicals.

QCM360: This product is highly efficacious in restoring the soil’s life and ecological balance. It comprises sludge, and plant growth stimulating (PGS) micro-organisms among others as the source of food for micro-organisms. It also provides the necessary vitamins and nutrients to maintain the fine balance between the soil and the nature.
 

How Analyses by Agrilibrium Professionals Can Help, Farmers Improve Soil Quality?

Founded in 2001, Agrilibrium is committed to providing products and analysis to farmers that help them yield better crops. The company develops high quality products for organic farming in South Africa, making way for an agriculture boom in the country. It assists in the production of better yields that could prove to be beneficial to the farmers not only in the African country, but also in other parts of the world. The positive efforts of specialists within the company has resulted in magnificent products and analysis techniques, which determine the quality of the soil, the nutrients available and the steps required to make the soil better yielding one.

Some of their major analysis and techniques are discussed below.

Soil Analysis: In simple words, it means chemical analysis of soil minerals carried out to determine crop available nutrients. Alongside, it also helps to find the soil structure, composition and the ratio of harmful compounds in the soil. By conducting this analysis, farmers get a better picture of their soil type; they are able to determine which crops will yield better results and flourish more. Samples from different parts of the field are collected and the analysis is carried out.

The results thus obtained help to determine which products are to be used on the soil to increase its nutrient content. For example, Seed Speed is one such product, which is a fulvic, and amino acid chelated seed treatment that helps in most favourable seedling growth and germination. This product corrects and balances the nutrient levels in the seedling root zone thus removing physiological imbalances.

1:2 Water Extract Analysis: This analysis is a very effective tool in determining the availability of nutrients. The water-soluble nutrients in the soil are measured and after analysis, the number of nutrients available for uptake by plant roots is determined.  The analysis is carried out in a number of places so that farmers are able to understand which parts are fertile with nutrients and which need treatment. They can also plant crops accordingly.

The field experts carry out both the analyses so that they can suggest accurate steps to farmers. These analyses are the first step to increasing the mineral and natural element content in the soil. Once the condition of the soil is determined properly through these methods, it becomes easier to choose the product that could lead to better yield.

To summarize, soil analysis and 1: 2 water extract analysis are the two main analyses that Agrilibrium carry out to determine the quality of soil and suggest products accordingly.

Amino Acid Chelate: The Organic Fertilizer That Replenishes Essential Plant Nutrients

Amino acid chelate, also called as liquid sulphur is the natural input that presents numerous benefits. It facilitates the nutrients reach even to the most complex parts of the plant, and effectively reduces the harmful effects of both the acidity and alkalinity on the metal nutrients.

Chelating agents are extremely secure as they obstruct the metal nutrients from intermingling among each other, as well as stop them from interrelating with the ions present in soil. This effectively signifies that the plant can utilize all the valuable nutrients and minerals introduced in the soil. They are

The chelates of amino acid are natural, and hence act as valuable mediators to offer plant nutrition. They assist the plant in attracting all the essential nutrients for its development, while removing other unnecessary ions. Instead of living at the root, these chelates hold the capability to help nutrients reach even to the tip of the leaves.

Even though chelating is an innate occurrence, not all plants can make best use of this procedure because of numerous reasons, foremost of them being the lack of essential plant nutrients. Hence, fertilizers encrusted with the chelates of amino acid go on to improve the plant’s capability to take in the nutrients present in the soil actively.

Even after initiating metal elements and important plant nutrients to the soil, they are not automatically soaked up by the plants due to some complex chemical and physical difficulties. Often, these nutrients reside on the roots and lower stem, from where they are drained away during runoff. In order to avoid arrested plant growth, adding fertilizers to the soil in higher quantity is a common practice. However, without proper soil analysis, it is hard to find out what is missing in the soil and at what pace are the plants absorbing the nutrients.

Hence, it doesn’t matter if you are running an agribusiness, work as an agriculturist or have the hobby of gardening, in almost any case, you need to perform proper analysis of soil and have to come up with an effective soil management plan. The idea has been catching ground more effectively than ever owing to the productive results it offers.

Soil analysis, correct composition of soil, and deciphering the essential plant nutrients are important to ensure good health of plants. The use of fertilizers like amino acid chelates or liquid sulphur in the right quantity is recommended in this context, to get appreciable results.

Organic Farming without the Quackery

There are a lot of benefits to organic farming South Africa, however small the scale –from the smallest kitchen gardens to the most complex of industrial farms. One of the odd things about it as an industry, though, is the sheer quantity of bad advice it can sometimes attract; you’ll find yourself being told to do all manner of things that don’t necessarily make much sense! The way to get around this is to spend some time educating you about the truth of the matter, to keep from being suckered in by bold claims and unverifiable assertions.

Why to Perform a Home Soil Test Analysis

It’s not actually true that a home soil test can tell you everything about the chemical makeup of the soil in your garden – you’ll hear people claim that occasionally, but in truth all they do is tell you the pH level of the sample you’ve selected. This is often a great deal of use in its own right, but it’s not quite the panacea that some would make it out to be!

Rather than investing in fancy kits that purport to change the way you garden, either buy a simple pH monitor that will do the job just as well or test the soil yourself using vinegar and baking soda. There’s no call to spend more money than that.

Why You Should Consider Liquid Sulphur

Without sulphur, plants can’t produce much in the way of proteins, amino acids, enzymes or vitamins – meaning that they won’t grow well and, once harvested, won’t be as healthy for people to eat. If your soil isn’t too rich in sulphur, adding liquid sulphur to it through a process of foliar feeding will help a great deal.

Why There’s a Point to Amino Acid Chelates

You’d probably need a degree in chemistry to properly understand the workings of chelates, but suffice it to say they’re a great help to many gardeners – but, like everything else, they’re not the kind of magic bullet that some unscrupulous salespeople would have you believe. So why would you need an amino acid chelate at all?

The layperson’s explanation draws on some popular over the counter painkillers. You’ll sometimes find painkillers sold in liquid form: little plastic blobs of pill that, if burst, would have liquid inside the gel-like coating. This makes them quicker for us to absorb, and means that they get to work faster. On a microscopic level, chelates do the same thing to fertiliser – meaning that the plant can better absorb the nutrients inside.

Organic Farming and the Significance of Foliar Feeding

Pesticides and insecticides like Chlordane, Diazanon and Sevin may seem to work well on plants but in reality are extremely harmful. One of the ideal alternatives to chemical fertilizers and pesticides is organic farming. For the most part, it is the art and science of gardening keeping in mind the health of the soil, its structure and texture.  The main objective of organic gardening is to grow plants without the use of chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides.

Types of Organic Farming

Organic farming is easy to manage and isn’t expensive as well. Many of the raw materials like plant waste, foliage, vegetable waste and compost heaps are easily accessible. There are several types of organic farming. Pure organic farming includes the use of organic manures and bio-pesticides while integrated farming involves integrated nutrient management and pest management. The natural farming method is based on building soil with regular surface applications of organic matter that is allowed to slowly decompose on the surface.

Foliar Feeding for Healthy Plant Growth

Foliar feeding is one of the popular methods of feeding pants and is widely used technique in organic farming to supply plants with their nutritional needs. It involves spraying nutrients directly on the leaves to correct any deficiencies in the soil. In foliar nutrition, effective concentrations of the deficient nutrients are sprayed, which are absorbed directly by the plant tissue. It helps overcome soil fertilization limitations like leaching, antagonism between certain nutrients and absorption reactions. The technique has proved to be the fastest way of curing nutrient deficiencies and boosting plant performance.

The Importance of Soil Analysis and Testing

Prior to using any technique such as foliar feeding it is essential to conduct a soil analysis. This is especially true in the case of glasshouse management where rapid changes occur in the amount of salt and nutrients. The soil must have a proper pH value and contain the right composition of mineral nutrients, which includes macronutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, and micronutrients such as iron, chloride and zinc.

Restore Nature’s Balance with Products from Agrilibrium

Farmers and gardeners have a choice of options when it comes to plant nutrition. This includes organic fertilizers, foliar applied mineral nutrients and amino acid chelate products that contain fluvic acid extracts.  When it comes to organic farming South Africa, Agrilibrium is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of high quality organic products that include soil ameliorants, biological soil micro-organisms and foliar plant nutrients for the local and export market. 

Advantages of 1:2 Water Extract Analysis

The use of 1:2 water extract analysis has been proven to be an effective method compared to the conventional 1:5 weight extract. The latter presents some difficulty in determining conductivity to evaluate the salt status, particularly for soils that contain a good volume of gypsum. Using the 1:2 extract method, which entails adding moist soil to two parts of water, the results were very accurate for chloride, phosphate, nitrogen, magnesium, potassium and conductivity when compared to the saturation extract. Perhaps one of the drawbacks using the 1:2 method is it's quite laborious. It's important to note, however, that the ratio of water will depend on the content of organic matter in your soil.

Is Knowing Your Soil Enough?

Essential soil analysis will give you a good idea of the mineral and nutrient content of your farm. The idea of course is that you can program an accurate crop nutrient cycle using the information you get from the results of the tests. But knowing the amount of salinity or alkalinity in your soil, for example, wouldn't be sufficient without knowing plant physiology. Just because your soil is rich in potassium and magnesium doesn't mean that the plant is going to absorb most of these minerals for its need. The water extract analysis allows you to determine the nutrients that are water soluble and what can be absorbed by the plant.

Benefits of Water Extract Analysis

Through the water extraction method, you will identity the types and amount of nutrients in the soil and the amount available for the plant. It will also give you an idea of how to program your inputs and fertilizer or amount of liquid sulphur for a healthier crop. Water extract is also the more cost-saving approach because you apply less nutrients after determining exactly how much portion of each of the minerals and nutrients is absorbed by the plant. It's also ecologically friendly because you can identify the imbalances in the soil and make the necessary actions to rectify the imbalance.

Chelation for Improved Nutrient Absorption

While in the subject of being environmentally conscious, the introduction of organic amino acid chelate fertilizer will help minerals and nutrients penetrate even the tippest point of the plant's leaf instead of staying at the roots. Technical description aside, think of the process of chelation as coating a mineral with a clear film which allows it to travel anywhere in the plant without dissolving or leaching.

Essential Plant Nutrients for a Healthy Crop

Plants need a number of nutrients that promotes healthy growth. There are as many as 16 essential plant nutrients that include the nine major elements; hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and sulfur. Other elements include micronutrients like copper, boron, manganese, iron, zinc, chlorine, and molybdenum.  Hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon combine to result in the process of photosynthesis.

The Importance of Testing

A soil analysis is essential to determine how much of the nutrients are present in the soil. Samples can be lab tested especially if you want to know more other than the soil’s alkalinity and salinity. However, there are several DIY kits to test the pH and identify the basic nutrients of the soil. These kits do not offer recommended the input of specific nutrients in case of any deficiency so that the correct pH balance can be maintained. This type of an analysis is a valuable tool in determining the inputs required for cost effective and efficient plant production. A proper soil test ensures the precise application of fertilizer to meet the requirements of the crop while taking advantage of nutrients already present in the soil. However, it is important to use the correct soil sampling technique for accurate results.

The Role of Nutrients

There are many reasons why soil could be low in nutrients. This could occur naturally while the removal of crops without replenishment may lead to a nutrient deficiency. Some high yielding crops also have higher nutrient requirements. It is important to understand the two main types of nutrients. Macronutrients are those like nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium that are required by the plant in large quantities.  On the other hand, micronutrients are required in very small amounts but are essential for healthy plant growth. They must be added to the soil in small amounts whenever there is a deficiency.  This includes iron, cobalt, chromium, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc and molybdenum, and also includes vitamins.

Role of Individual Nutrients

Nitrogen is what drives plant growth. It is involved in all the major processes of plant development. On the other hand, phosphorus plays a key role in photosynthesis and the transfer of energy. It is also responsible for the development of the tissues that result in healthy growth. Many natural and agricultural soils are deficient in phosphorus. Potassium is responsible for activating more than 60 enzymes that induce protein synthesis and improves a plant’s capacity to hold water, thereby increasing its tolerance to drought, salinity, and frost. Another essential nutrient is sulphur, a constituent of protein that is involved in the formation of cholorphyll along with magnesium. Calcium promotes healthy root growth and is also a constituent for cell wall materials. It helps reduce soil acidity.

The Benefits of Fulvic Acid

Science and medicine have both discovered fulvic acid benefits for plants as well as humans. It occurs naturally in organic plants and soil, and is considered a crucial ingredient to a healthy and productive farm or garden. Fulvic acid can be purchased commercially along with amino acid chelate products, and is most useful in foliar feeding. The nutrients are directly absorbed to restore the plant’s natural balance. It is a great detoxifier and helps boost drought tolerance in plants.

Use Liquid Sulphur and Amino Acid Chelate Products for Root Growth

Recent studies in the South Africa have shown that roots play a more important role than first thought. The roots do not only ensure a healthy plant but it also acts as a communication system alerting the plant of the presence of toxic chemicals or harmful pests. Did you know that for every 10 problems encountered by plants, eight are related to unhealthy root? But why aren’t they given much attention than they deserve? That’s probably because they are buried underground and not seen as much. Liquid sulphur can help promote a healthy root which in turn results in a healthy plant.

The Danger of Human Intervention

Throughout evolutionary history, nature has been happily trudging along. Then the humans arrived. Modern practices in agriculture introduced by human beings have damaged in just a few decades what took nature millions of years to create. Human intervention such as toxic synthetic chemicals, mono-crop agriculture and GMOs all destroyed biodiversity.

This is why it’s important to go back to the basics. It’s amazing how some farmers use extensively chemical inputs and then they wonder why their plants are not growing as much as they should. It’s better than you don’t go against what nature has intended and instead maximize the potentials of the soil. The soil test analysis will offer a better picture of what you need to introduce into the soil to achieve equilibrium.

1:2 Water Extract Method

The 1:2 water extract analysis, or one part air dry soil and two parts water, is a bit of departure from the typical 1:5 water extract. The latter method poses some disadvantages particularly by determining accurately the amount of phosphate in the soil as well as the amount of salt especially in soils where there’s high ratio of gypsum.  The 1:2 water extraction method, meanwhile, was developed by Japanese workers and used soil in field-moist conditions instead of the air dry soil. This method shows a much more accurate correlation of nutrients and minerals existing in the soil.

Binding Minerals

Amino acid chelate products help in improving the structure of the root and its ability to pierce dense or brackish soils. Most commercially available products are soluble by water which makes it very easy to apply (you can even introduce it through your sprinkler system). It’s best combined with the use of agricultural sulphur to lower the pH level of alkaline soils and encourage plant growth.