agriculture,theAfricaBiomass
Company(ABC)hastwogoals:- Removinghighwater-usage
encroacherandalientreessuch
asbluegumandblackwattle,
enablingwatertobereleased
backintotheecosystem. - Improvingsoilhealth,which
involvesphysicalprotectionof
thesoilwhileitschemicaland
biologicalcapacity,including
itsabilitytoholdwaterand
nutrients,increases.Thisprocess
almostinevitablybuildsup
micro-organismpopulations.
ABCalsodeploysa parallel
strategywherewastebiomassis
usedasanenergyresourceforthe
generationofheatandelectricity.
Woodchips
Withthesestrategiesinmind,
ABCestablisheda laboratory
ontheoutskirtsofWorcesterin
theWesternCapetoadvance
thescienceofsoilhealth.The
workofthelaboratoryextends
toalllocationsinSouthAfrica
wheresoilhealthis a priority.
ABCis alreadyinvolvedin
thelarge-scaleharvestingof
superfluousandunwanted
trees,whereafterthebiomassis
convertedtowoodchips.These
arethenappliedasa mulch
asthefirststepintheprocess
ofachievingsoilhealth.Greenmanureorcovercrops
canalsobeusedasmulch,
butwoodchipsenablea
deeperlayerofmulchtobe
laidmoreeasily.Moreover,
thelongevityofthemulchcan
readilybeextendedsimplyby
addingmorechips.(Theuseof
plasticstripsinvineyardsand
orchardsis likelytobecomeless
popularasa resultofpublic
resistancetoplasticpollution.)
Otherbenefitsofchips
andmulchinclude:- Retentionofsoilmoisture;
- Preventionofsoilerosion;
- Managingtemperatureand
moistureinteractioninthesoil; - Suppressionofweeds,providing
analternativetoherbicides; - Enhancingsoil
microbiology(theexistenceof
beneficialmicro-organismsinthe
soil).Thepresenceofearthworms,
whichthriveincarbon-rich
soil,hasalwaysbeenregarded
asa measureofsoilhealth; - Reducingtheneedto
applychemicalfertilisers; - Increasingyieldandthe
nutritionalvalueofcrops; - Stimulatingrootgrowth.
informationsharing
Theincreasinginvolvementof
ABCinthedevelopmentofthe
scienceofsoilhealthwillincrease
therolethatchipsandmulches
playinsoilhealth.Thecompany
is committedtodisseminating
theresultsofitsresearch
anditsin-fieldexperience
tosoil-healthpractitioners
andallinterestedparties.
Theinformationwillbe
communicatedthrough
specialistpublications,theABC
website, presentations and
site visits, where soil health,
based on the ABC approach,
is already delivering results.- Visit abc.co.za.
promotional article
AfricaBiomassCompany(ABC) usesa two-phaseapproach:it removeswater-guzzlingalien
trees,andthereafterprotectsthesoil whileits chemicalandbiologicalcapacityincreases.
DrLouis de Lange, responsible for soil health and biomass energy at ABC, explains the process.Making soil health a priority
W
orldwide, enormous
effort and cost is
expended, both in
terms of research and practical
solutions, to overcome today’s
most pressing environmental
problems. In particular, the
focus is on climate change,
water shortages and various
types of pollution.
Despite its crucial importance
to human well-being and life
in general, soil degradation
and loss have not received the
same attention. Yet recognition
is growing that these are two
of the most serious challenges
we face, and now require
our urgent attention.the essence of
soil he alth
Soil consists of four basic
components: solid minerals,
water, air and organic materials.
Soil health, in turn, is determined
by chemical, biological and
physical factors, and all three
need to be considered together.
In the past, strong emphasis
was placed on the chemical
capability of the soil. This
found expression as ‘soil
fertility’, and was regarded as
an indication of productivity.
Later, the biological capacity
of the soil was regarded as
more important. Today, soil
structure is seen as the main
determinant of soil health.
Yet, as noted, these three
factors will increasingly be
approached as an integrated
system, where each influences
theother,forgoodorbad.removing alien trees
and improving the soil
What actions are necessary to
ensure soil health? Bearing in
mind that no-till and minimum-
till are already applied in52 farmer’sweekly 9 august 2019applying mulch
is the first
ste p towards
ach ieving
healthy soil