Try GOLD - Free
How To Fertilise A Crop Correctly
Farmer's Weekly
|26 May 2017
Readers frequently ask me for specific fertiliser programmes for their crops. I would happily oblige if all crops were the same! Unfortunately, each crop is different because each land is unique. ‘One-size-fits-all’ programmes are always risky.
-
Each land has its own reserve of nutrients and this must be taken into account when determining a crop’s fertiliser requirement. This is why it’s necessary to have the soil analysed. Only once you have these results can you determine how to fertilise according to the specific needs of the crop.
The nutrients in the soil are bound in clay colloids and may not be readily available to the plants due to the soil pH or the action of certain minerals. As a result, the nutrients must first be ‘altered’ chemically or biologically before the plants can use them.
This story is from the 26 May 2017 edition of Farmer's Weekly.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Farmer's Weekly
Farmer's Weekly
South Africa's unique coral trees
Every year in late winter, South Africa's eastern coastal belt is set ablaze with the scarlet and orange flowers of certain coral tree species from the genus Erythrina. Mike Burgess investigates the diversity of this special category of highly adaptive deciduous trees that includes the peculiar ploughbreaker.
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Jaecoo J5 is ready to make waves
Chinese carmakers have been growing their local market share at the rate of knots over the last few years. The introduction of the Jaecoo J5 will further ensure the upward curve
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Farm watches take charge of rural safety
With rural crime on the rise and police resources stretched thin, farm watches across South Africa are stepping up to protect farming communities. These volunteer-led safety networks are preventing millions in losses, deterring criminal activity and helping police solve major crimes, proving that when farmers unite, the benefits ripple far beyond the farm gate.
8 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
How to start a farm watch in your area
Rural safety initiatives like farm watch systems are guided by the framework laid out in the national Rural Safety Strategy. Dr Jane Buys, safety risk analyst for Free State Agriculture, talks Sabrina Dean through the concept of a farm watch and how to establish one
9 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
'Farm attacks are a national crisis'
The rural safety crisis in South Africa remains dire, with farm attacks and murders continuing at alarming rates. This calls for rural crimes to be declared priority crimes as a matter of urgency, according to
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Advancing real-time data collection in South African agriculture
Dr Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle, Research Coordination Manager at Grain South Africa, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Information Hub at Innovation Africa, University of Pretoria, is transforming agricultural research through real-time data integration and collaboration across disciplines.
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Stellenbosch in November: a seasonal gem and the perfect time to visit
Brian Berkman suggests you clear your diary to spend more time in November in the beautiful Eikestad.
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Adapting to the Climate Change Act: how agro-processing SMEs can build resilience
Wynand Deyzel, commercial sales manager at Solenco, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about how the Act is shaping the operational durability of small to medium-sized agricultural enterprises and the role of indoor air management in adapting to climate impacts.
3 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
KWV shines at Veritas Awards with top accolades
KWV made history at the 35th Veritas Awards when it clinched the prestigious Duimpie Bayly Vertex Trophy – the award for the best wine in the show, excluding Museum Class Wine – for the second year in a row and third time overall.
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Farmer's Weekly
Co-operation needed to build a resilient food system
From governments and international organisations to farmers, researchers, businesses, and consumers, including the youth, everyone has a role to play in shaping the transformation of agrifood systems of the world
2 mins
November 7-14, 2025
Translate
Change font size