YOUR SOIL
From page 18
surveys of some of the maize
farmers who are collaborating
on the biological soil management programme.
They are evaluating the
positive effect of SBM on
parasitic nematode infestations. It is suspected that the
nematode problem is also
rampant in sandy agricultural
soils of the Free State where
maize is cultivated.
Infestations in these areas are
severe and have considerable
economic impact.
A possible reason for this is
that the nematodes are too
small to be seen with the
naked eye and thus are not
an obvious cause for poor
crop yields.
One very important reason for
poor soil quality and ensuing
nematode infections in
agricultural regions is the
intensive use of chemical
pesticides and fertilizers
during the last decades. It has
disturbed the soil biology to
such an extent that very low
fractions of beneficial
biological life remain.