Soil Health – Trace and Save

The Rhizosphere: A key player in nutrient accessibility and plant stress resilience

2023-07-19/in Blog/by Lomé Smit

Reading Time: 5 minutes

The rhizosphere represents a fascinating and complex system, which plays a crucial role in the functioning of the soil ecosystem and the health of plants. This zone is characterized by an intricate web of biological, chemical, and physical interactions between the plant, the soil microorganisms, and the soil itself. One of the key functions of the rhizosphere is to facilitate nutrient uptake by plants, by enhancing the availability and accessibility of nutrients in the soil. Another important role of the rhizosphere is to mitigate plant stress, by providing a range of protective and supportive functions. Understanding the mechanisms underlying nutrient cycling and stress response in the rhizosphere can help us to develop more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, which can improve soil fertility and plant productivity, while minimizing environmental impact.

Measuring for irrigation efficiency

2022-09-22/in Article, Producer/by Lorraine Phadu

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The case study was aimed at finding opportunities for pasture-based farmers to use water more efficiently by the installation of water meters on centre pivots, which accurately measured how much was water is used for irrigation.

How healthy are South African pasture-based dairy soils?

2022-03-15/in Article, Producer/by Craig Galloway

Reading Time: 7 minutes

We have a huge database of soil results from many pasture-based dairy farms throughout the coastal region of South Africa. I thought it might be interesting to have a look at some of the trends that can be seen from this database.

Understanding evapotranspiration better

2021-10-18/in Article, Blog, Producer/by Portia Phohlo

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Transpiration depends on evaporation, therefore factors affecting the rate of evaporation also affect the rate of transpiration.

Soil fungi connections

2021-09-28/in Blog, Carbon Farming, Consumer, Producer/by Portia Phohlo

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Soil fungi increase security, awareness, and knowledge for those connected to them. Any soil management action that results in the breakage of these connections, such as tillage and fungicides, destroys the entire nerve system of the soil thus isolating plants and soil organisms from each other.

What is soil that works for you?

2021-04-24/in Blog, Producer/by Craig Galloway

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Attaining soils that are working for you is a process. It starts with figuring out where your soils currently are. This will determine the next steps.

Minimise soil disturbance and build soil health.

2021-04-08/in Blog, Carbon Farming, Producer/by Jason Deschamps

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Physical soil disturbances are a well-documented and well-understood concept; however, we underestimate the disturbances that result from chemical and biological processes.