Veld recovery in the Karoo is a long process, driven chiefly by rainfall. Dr George Craven believes radical veld improvement can help to speed it up. "We simply have to think outside the box," he says. In this case inside a strong steel cage, fitted with a 2000 water tank and a drip irrigation timer that he designed and built.
The water is enough to keep the system going for two months. Preferably the bedstead seeder (katelkweker in Afrikaans) should be placed on a spot where there is a bit of water flow during a shower of rain, but not where the seed or young grass can wash away. Seedbed preparation is minimal - just a few scratches with a stick in the ground.
This story is from the 10 May 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
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This story is from the 10 May 2024 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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