Despite the reality that Southern-Africa has some of the richest and most fertile soils in the world, decades of intensive agricultural practises in pursuit of higher yields has depleted the soil of the essential micro and trace nutrients and killed off bacteria and fungi that are required by crops and trees in an ideal eco-system,
“The quest for ever-increasing crop yields, using fertilisers, pesticides and other chemicals – is damaging the soil and ultimately the long term viability of our farms,” writes Johan Swarts Co-Founder of GuanoBoost, a manufacturer of a 100% organic fertiliser.
All plants need a balance of 17 Macro, Micro and trace elements that the plant absorbs from the ozone, water and from the soil.
The first group of Macroelements can be taken from any of the sources namely Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen.
The remainder of the 14 elements is split into two groups:
– Soil derived Macros
– And soil derived Micros
They are called macro and Microelements because of the amounts that are required by the plants.
Macro Elements include N/P/K and S/Ca/Mg.
Micro Elements include B/Cl/Cu/Fe/Mn/Mo/Ni/Zn
Historically we have bombarded the plants and soils with N/P/K fertilisers and relied on the plant to absorb and pull from the soil the rest of the Macro and trace elements.
This has caused the soil to become completely depleted of these nutrients, killing of fungi and bacteria and essentially the soil only acts as a growth medium. This means that farmers are required to consistently increase the amount of fertilisers they use while consistently experiencing a reduction in yields, compounding the problem of depleted soils. The vicious fertilising cycle.
Over the last 60 years, the organic matter in our soils has been completely eroded and exhausted. We often find that a field on certain farms contains less than 1% organic matter, and a field right next to it can have 5-6% organic matter depending on how long a field has been used to produce a certain crop without implementing any sustainable or regenerative agricultural techniques.
Now, although we have done a mammoth amount of research in the field of soil health and regenerative agriculture internationally we are only at the tip of what we understand about the topic and much more research is required before we can truly understand how the soil operates and regenerates.
These studies have clearly validated the efficacy of No-Till planting practises, the use of cover crops, ploughing less, the use of biological controls on pests and diseases and the use of organic fertilisers as part of an effective long term sustainable fertilising strategy.
In order to sustain life on planet earth – let alone just to have economically viable farms in 20 years – we simply have to start to take care of our soils and ensure that we protect or rebuild the soil for future generations.
However, all is not lost. The good news is that soil can be brought back to life very quickly and simply with the correct fertilising strategy and methods. This is what we help commercial farmers and growers of all sizes do with GuanoBoost. To use organic fertiliser material, which reintroduces organic matter and essential micro and macro elements back into the soil.
We are pursuing the increase of organic matter in our soils in order for the soil to enter a higher state of performance, thereby allowing growers to continue to pursue higher hields, healthier crops, but ensuring that they preserve the soil for future generations.
So why is GuanoBoost so effective?
- It is fully composted and fermented and for this reason, there is no Nitrogen lag period;
- It contains the ideal Carbon and Nitrogen ratio
- It is un-enriched and can be used in 100% organic operations;
- It contains high levels of Nitrogen, Phosphates and Calcium;
- It increases aeration, water-holding, gas exchange and the soil structure.
- It increases cation absorption capability;
- It contains the Macro and microelements in its absorbable state and is immediately available to the plant when applied.
- It promotes microbiological activity in the soil that results in the development of microbes and bacteria
The Microbes in turn assists in the releasing of the inhibited nutrients which becomes available to the plant through composting.
It contains organic acids that play an important role in the translocation of nutrients between the soil solution and roots.
But is organic fertiliser is expensive and ineffective?
Well, traditionally a lot of organic fertilisers have been less potent and therefore less effective than synthetic fertilisers, but this is not the case with GuanoBoost. Because GuanoBoost has already completed the fermentation process, we have managed to stretch the nutrient content of the raw material and make it available to the plant immediately in its absorbable form.
In order to further illustrate why GuanoBoost is so effective, we compare it with other organic fertiliser sources.
However, often, as soon as we start to talk about the introduction of organic matter back into the soil most farmers will just say that organic fertiliser it is too expensive, too labour intensive and the results they get are simply not quick enough, or good enough. But the reality is, due to the high concentration of Nitrogen and Calcium, together with the perfect ratio of microelements,
GuanoBoost provides performance of crops with the protection of soils.
This has been the genesis of the success of GuanoBoost, we want the farmer to enjoy higher yields and healthier crops while still preserving or building up the soil for future generations. To provide the farmer with fertiliser performance to increase yields, while protecting the soil.
How does Guanoboost simplify your farming operations and reduce labour costs?
GuanoBoost is a liquid organic fertiliser that is simply mixed with water and then applied as root or foliar feed through drip irrigation, micro’s and drone dusting, tractor boom spray and even your pivot. It does not react with the elements and has 2 years shelve life. It does not separate or bloat and it can even be used as a basis for applying your systemic herbicides etc. because it contains a natural wetting agent.
GuanoBoost is extremely versatile and it will fit in seamlessly in any new or existing fertilising strategy.
Many of our clients have seen an increase of up to 35% in yields when they include GuanoBoost in their fertilising program.
If you would like these kinds of results in your business, simply send us a WhatsApp message today on 081 838 9382 to schedule a time for one of our technical agents to visit you on the farm.