proagri zambia 15 januarie 2017 · 2017-06-02 · it never rains but it pours army worms and...

January 2017Nr 15

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ProAgriProAgritechnology for the farmer Z a m b i aZ a m b i a

DALEIN PlaasbouDALEIN PlaasbouPig equipment for ZambiaPig equipment for Zambia

Do I hear Do I hear robots coming?robots coming?

Weigh your Weigh your cattle for profitcattle for profit

3 Handling of beef cattle: Part 5

7 Dalein Plaasbou modernise the Zambian pig industry

13 AG Machinery Services: Equalizer plants for profi t

15 Pivot control becomes remote control

19 SOIL: The farmer’s most important asset Part 11

25 FG Wilson generated many Gigawatts over half a century

27 ETG/Zambian Fertilizers Chemicals: Where the farmer feels at home

29 Robotic Agriculture: The future for farming is here

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ProAgri Zambia

Copyright © 2013. All rights reserved. No material, text or photo graphs may be reproduced, copied or in any other way transmitted without the written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher or of the editor. We recognise all trademarks and logos as the sole property of their respective owners. ProAgri shall not be liable for any errors or for any actions in reliance thereon.

EditorDu Preez de Villiers > +27 [email protected]

General Manager ZambiaQuintus Grobler > +26 (0)[email protected]

ReportersAnnemarie Bremner > +27 [email protected]

Benine Cronjé > +27 [email protected]

MarketingXander Pieterse > +27 [email protected]

Stefan van Wyk > +27 [email protected]

Tiny Smith > +27 [email protected]

Melissa Pols > +27 83-748-3413 [email protected]

DesignEsta van Niekerk

EnquiriesLize du Plooy > +27 [email protected]

Engela Botha > +27 [email protected]

AccountsRonel Keet > +27 [email protected]

DistributionDu Preez de Villiers > +27 [email protected]

Business managerGeorge Grobler

It never rains but it pours army worms and torrential storms.

But this is how we know Africa. Fortunately, the government

ordered the Air Force to spray those deadly critters before they could do too much harm. We should really be thank-ful about that. Apparently about 90 000 hectares have been affected so far and we cringe when we remember what hap-pened in 2012 when army worms took away 11 percent of our maize harvest. In some places, boll worms and stalk borers also took their share this season. Perhaps the government should consider importing genetically modified seed technology which have already been proven to work in other countries… Perhaps the government should also

Offi ce no. 3Fens Investment Building

Lusaka Show Grounds+26 (0)96-216-9801www.proagri.co.za

ProAgriProAgritechnology for the farmer Z a m b i aZ a m b i a

Farm smartly!

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Dalein Plaasbou are specialists in putting smiles on pigs’ faces. Read on page 7 how they can build you a modern piggery or convert your pig-gery into a state-of-the-art facility which will ensure profi ts.

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ProAgri Zambia 15 January 2017 1

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consider the proposal by the visionary school teacher from Kaoma, Mr Lameck Ka-luba, to introduce agriculture as a compulsory subject in secondary schools. Compul-sory might be a bit harsh, since we need doctors and engineers, and many learn-ers in the cities will never have the privilege to visit farms for practical classes amongst the green pastures and animals. But more focus on agriculture in schools will never be a bad idea since we have to shift the country’s focus from the uncertain

mining industry to agriculture, which already contributes almost 10 percent to our economy. This is a new year and we are em-bracing the future with this month’s edi-tion. We take a look at robots and futur-istic technology and how it will impact on our traditional way of farming. We also look at how pivot irrigation can be con-trolled from a distance. Dalein Plaasbou is ready to erect advanced piggeries in Zambia like they did on Wangwa farms (Find the Wangwa story in the previous edition).

Farm smartly!Du Preez de [email protected]

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Founded in 1962, Bonnox is the manufacturer and supplier of 70 top class diff erent varia ons of fully galvanised fencing to suit every farmer's need for either game and /

or livestock. Many heights and pa erns available: from 0,6 m to 2,44 m high. Visit our website www.bonnox.co.za or e-mail our friendly sales team at

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Sufficient, accurate knowledge is the first prerequisite for effective

decision-making. This also holds true for cattle husbandry, may it be stud farming or beef production. Regular weighing of cattle is necessary to tell the farmer whether he is still on the right track and to warn him in time to make rectifications if needed. Great demands are placed on scale operators, and psychological and physical exhaustion give rise to inac-

curate results, rough handling of the animals and mistakes on the informa-tion gained. Special attention must therefore be given to the choice and placement of a scale to ensure easy and effective handling of animals.

There are basically four categories of scales, namely: • Spring balance scale• Hydraulic scale

To measure is to know and therefore you will not be a successful farmer if you don’t weigh your cattle on a regular basis. This is the fi fth part in our beef cattle handling series and this month we look at scales and the importance of weight record keeping. We thank the ARC-Institute for Agricultural Engineering in South Africa who made their manual on handling facilities available to ProAgri Zambia so that our readers can benefi t from their research and knowledge.

• Oil bath scale• Electronic scale

Position of the scale in the handling complex Depending on the specific set-up, a scale can be placed in the working area. This is the cheapest option, as an additional passage is not required for weighing. Ensure that the scale has a locking mechanism, to prevent the scale from being subjected to un-

How to handle How to handle your beef cattleyour beef cattle

Part 5: Scales

Typical mass scale.


Published with acknowledge-ment to the ARC-Institute for Agricultural Engineering for the use of their Beef Cattle Handling Manual. Visit www.arc.agric.za for more information.

necessary shock loads when cattle move over it for other purposes.

General suggestions for the placing of a scale: • Ensure that sufficient shade is pro-

vided for the scale operator. • Ensure that the scale is placed on

a hard, level (preferably a concrete slab) surface. This will prevent inac-curate readings.

• Place the scale in such a way that animals that have been weighed can move to either the loading platform or the holding pen.

Access gates Access to the scale can be controlled in different ways:

• Access gate that swings outwards: The disadvantage of this gate is that it is opened into the face of the ap-proaching animal. To prevent this, animals can be held back in the crush with the aid of a crossbeam. If the animals are used to this type of access gate, they will leave sufficient space for the gate to open.

• TrapdoorThis type of gate does not take up much space, but the operation of the gate can be an exhausting exercise because it has to be lifted with a rope. A counter mass can however be affixed to the gate to make it easier to operate.

• Pipe:Instead of using an access gate, a pipe can be affixed in the crate at a point which can be adapted to the size of the animal. This pipe is held in position with hooks in the side beams. The choice of control at the entrance depends largely on the conditions on the farm.

Body clamps and crates Some crates are provided with swinging body clamps that serve two purposes: • To adapt the width of the crate when

calves or smaller animals are handled.

• To keep an anxious, unwilling animal tightly against the side of the crate so that the mass can be determined accurately.

These body clamps work satisfactorily if the locking mechanism is designed in such a way that accidental unlocking is prevented. The body clamp must also run the entire length of the crate to prevent calves from landing up on the wrong side of the clamp. Exit gates There are mainly two types, namely:

• Open-beam type exit gate It enables the animal to see past the beams and be reassured it that it will not enter an enclosed space. The gate swings open to the outside.

• Gate with neck clamp This type of gate, combined with a neck clamp to a scale, can also be used for veterinary purposes. The neck clamp must be designed to control animals safely, and it must be provided with an easy releasing mechanism. It is essential that the mass measuring mechanism of the scale should be dis-connected when the steel crate is used for dosing, branding or dehorning.

Crate floors Most scale crates have hard wooden floors. Cross bars on the floors prevent animals from slipping and getting injured. The bars must remain firmly in position at all times. Some scales have floors made of thick steel. These are durable and are also fitted with cross bars. The farmer must examine the bars beforehand for sharp edges. Anxious animals that stamp about on the steel floors often create a noise that may upset all animals. A thin layer of sawdust can be strewn on the floor to prevent this. Slippery floors must be prevented at all times. If manure or urine collects on the scale, it must continuously be removed during the weighing action. It can be swept away, flushed away or covered with sand. Ensure that the scale is “zeroed” before each mass reading.

Cheap suspended scale

High, solid sides (approximately 450 mm high) on a scale will prevent animals from stepping sideways and hurting themselves. High walls will also make it easier to weigh calves.

Installation of a scale It is essential that the scale is cali-brated at regular intervals. Scales must then be tested with masses of the same size as the average animal to be handled. Bags of cement, fertiliser or grain can be used for this purpose, if their masses have been determined on an accurate platform scale. Re-calibration can be done as follows: • Set the system on nil.• Place the mass on the platform and

get the correct reading. • Remove all dirt from the platform and

make the necessary adjustments. Maintenance The general requirements must be ad-hered to in order to ensure maximum performance from a scale for as long as possible:

• The scale must be kept clean to pre-vent a build-up of dirt and manure, as this can influence the performance of the parts.

• The authenticity of the readings must be examined regularly for re-calibra-tion.

• Use the correct type of oil in the dashpot.

• The spring balance and reading col-umn must be removed after weigh-ing.

• The spring balance must be mounted carefully so that the parts can move freely.

• The wooden floor and scantlings must be examined regularly to ensure that there are no breaks or cracks.

• In the case of an oil bath scale, the oil level in the container must be checked regularly.

• Bearings and hydraulic pressure cells (where applicable) must be exam-ined regularly.

• Ensure that a lightning deflector is coupled to the scale.

• Make provision for wheels on the scale to make it portable (if applica-ble).

• New-born calves can be weighed with a simple, cheap suspended scale, as shown in figure 1.

Next month we shall look at loading platforms, tilting tables, hoof-lifting crates and dipping facilities.



Pig farming is regarded as one of the most fragile agricultural operations

in respect of biosecurity measures. If you decide to tackle such a delicate operation, you have to find the best specialists in the field with many years of expertise behind them to advise you.Dalein Plaasbou celebrates their for-tieth year of supplying the South Afri-can pig industry with high end designs and equipment. Recently they assisted Wangwa farms near Chisamba in creat-ing a unique piggery. The 500 sow unit had to be designed in existing buildings with large tilapia ponds. The manure handling facility had to be constructed to supply the tilapia ponds with either separated slurry or fresh water as needed. This facilitates growth of algae for the tilapia. The dry pig manure from the separa-tion unit is used as organic fertiliser for cost-eff ective crop farming. Dalein Plaas-bou opted for fi breglass silos to reduce the decay of minerals and vitamins in delivered feed due to the lower internal temperature of the silos.

500 sow piggery Due to the importance of biosecurity in modern piggeries, Wangwa is equipped with a state-of-the-art offi ce/shower block, as well as a vehicle sterilisation spray booth. Strict biosecurity measures are vital to prevent the numerous dis-eases which might reduce the effi ciency and profi ts of the piggery.

Weaner and grower facilities make use of Dalein Plaasbou’s wet and dry feeders as well as plastic slatted fl oors to promote growth and reduce stress.

A mechanically ventilated building with an ultramodern labo-ratory eff ects the production of high quality semen. The fl ow orientated lay-out reduce the required number of workers and thus reduce costs and risks.

Farrowing boxes with Rotecna adlib feeding balls allow the sow to perform at her maximum level and simpli-fi es the manage-ment in farrowing houses. Adjustable underfl oor heating creates a favourable environment for the piglets while being economical to the farmer.

The BEAR (Boar Enticement Area) from PIC (Pig Improve-ment Company) from which Wangwa bought the franchise, is used to facilitate better gilt handling and selection. Newly designed artifi cial insemination crates were specially designed for Wangwa farms.

Dalein Plaasbou modernises the Dalein Plaasbou modernises the Zambian pig industryZambian pig industry

“Combining a modern piggery and tilapia farm on one site presented a unique opportunity and challenge”

For a wide range of equipment go to www.dalein.co.za or contact Collin Nel at +27 (0) 71-936-9311

GTC – Gene Transfer Centre


The Democratic Republic of the Congo is not an easy place to farm.

The roads and other infrastructure are inadequate due to the past conflict and current political instability. But the country is regarded as a farming paradise. The outstanding soil quality and climate make it a place any crop farmer can only dream of. With the food shortage reaching crisis levels, brave farmers will accept the challenge to take their chances in this wilderness. Tresford Mukuka has a farming ca-reer of 31 years behind him. Two years ago he joined Mashamba Enterprises to run their maize production. The farm is 30 km from Lubumbashi, which is 120 km from the Zambian border. They managed to deforest and plant 700 ha of maize the first year and last season they increased it to 1 300 ha. This year they aim to plant a total of 3 600 ha. Initially, they had to use very robust planters to defy the rocks and roots, but last season decided to embrace the precision way. Tresford approached AG Machinery Services who imports Equalizer plant-ers manufactured by Theebo Tech (Pty) Ltd in South Africa. Being very satisfied with what they have to offer, Masham-ba Enterprise bought a brand new 12 row Equalizer planter with a 5 ton granular fertiliser tank, which uses an air and vacuum system to place the seed and fertiliser. Tresford said they can already see the good profits this planter will ensure for them. He worked with many other planters dur-ing his career, but the Equalizer impresses him a lot and despite the harsh conditions, it is made to last. “We still found a lot of surprises beneath the soil, which was a challenge, but the planter works fantastically. Our accuracy today is between 95% and 98% and the skips and doubles became insignificant,” he says.

The planter runs with ease behind a 186 kW tractor and maintains a speed of 12 km per hour.

An Equalizer planter can boast about the fol-lowing:• Extremely tough and

strong planter that can take whatever Africa throws at it.

• It has a hydraulic tyne option.

• Precision Planting seed metering units ensure very accurate seeding, no matter what the speed.

• Huge fertiliser bins ensure you have reduced filling time.

• Fertiliser calibrations are easy and quick.

• Ability to apply different types of fertiliser through three separate bins.

• Able to upgrade to hydraulic/electri-cal drive to meet any farmer’s expec-tations.

• State of the art planter monitor options – Precision planting 20/20 monitor – takes planter monitoring to a new level.

“Andrew Mower from AG Machinery Services is my agent and technical supporter. He is situated in Kabwe. He delivered and calibrated the planter himself and helped us with all the tech-nicalities until it was up and running. When we order spares, AG Machinery Services promptly ships it from Kabwe which is 430 km from here,” Tresford says. “In Zambia we already sold many Equalizer planters. Farmers and farm-ing enterprises like Zambeef, Musiyibi Farms, Amatheon Agri, Montique Farms and Deere Farms are some of our sat-isfied clients,” Marlize Enslin from AG Machinery Services says. “We are very proud to be the importers and distrib-uters of Equalizer planters in Zambia and the prompt and supreme support from Theebo Tech empowers us to as-

sist any farmer, whether he is located in Zambia or under the difficult

circumstances in the DRC.”

AG Machinery Services:AG Machinery Services:Equalizer plants for profitEqualizer plants for profit

Mashamba Enterprises bought a 12 row Equalizer, similar to this 20 row planter, from AG Machinery Services. They already planted 2 000 satisfying hectares under Tresford Mukuka’s management.

Every row unit of the Equalizer planter is designed to place every seed exactly in its place.

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by Du Preez de Villiers

Precision planting with an Equalizer planter is the next level in profi t-able farming. Contact Andrew Mower on +26 (0) 97-393- 6092 or Marlize Enslin at +26 (0) 97-365-7141 or send her an e-mail to [email protected] for more information.

Equalizer designed the tine below every row unit to move back and over obstacles in its way.


will surely find it useful to control all the excellent functions of the many pivots from a smartphone, tablet or laptop. With a user friendly graphics display of all his pivots, a farm manag-er can see the whole operation at a glance to make informed decisions and exercise proper control. However, solutions are also avail-able for the smaller farmer who does not have time to visit his pivot regu-larly.

Senter 360This South African company became renowned for the modular design of their pivots, and this principle is also applied in their remote control sys-tems. They use radio or GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) platforms to send control and feed-back signals between the operator and the pivot. As a farmer acquires more pivots, he can easily and affordably adapt his control box by simply adding the necessary remote control compo-nents. It can either be a plug-in radio transmitter or a cell phone module and an app for his smartphone. The app on the smartphone then communicates with the control panel and can be used for single or multi pivots. The farmer may choose be-tween various communication options, including fault messages, basic set-tings, tamper warnings and extensive provision of information. However, Senter 360 insists that remote control must always be backed up with a manual control system for those isolated instances where bugs invade an electronic system.

LindsayIn April last year, the American com-pany, Lindsay, who manufactures

Zimmatic pivots, in-troduced the Fieldnet pivot control system. The main benefit of this system is that it can be used with any other pivot as well. Simply connect the Fieldnet control box next to the existing control box to gain

Better management, improved time utilisation and better use of

technology are imperative for meeting the escalating challenges of modern farming. One of the means that can help the farmer to extend his attention to more areas on the farm and to manage the whole operation more accurately, is remote data communication. This technology is being improved and developed almost daily to serve the farmer even better. Pivot manufacturers fully realise the value of this technology for the farmer, therefore a data communication engi-neer or two are included in the devel-opment team of every pivot company. ProAgri Zambia asked each of the four main pivot companies in South-ern Africa what they offer the pivot irrigation farmer to save effort, time and trips to the pivots. In addition to these companies, there is a separate company specialising in providing the most basic pivot control functions at a very reasonable price. One fact that needs no debate, is that a farmer who operates only one or two pivots, needn’t acquire the latest and most advanced control technology. First, it is too expensive and second, it is superfluous. On the other hand, farmers or com-pany farms operating scores of pivots

remote control of the pivot. With Fieldnet a farmer can fully operate, control and monitor his pivot by means of remote control with his smartphone or tablet. It works equally well on an Apple or Android platform. The farmer himself can lay out the simple interface to suit his taste by using the pull and place functions with his fingertips. The display panel immediately pro-vides a review of your whole system, and by touching a function on the screen with his finger, the farmer can activate his pivot. The control system permits a farm-er to monitor a thermometer, water flow meter and rain gauge that records the precipitation in real time. Further-more, the farmer can start or stop a pivot or pump, change its direction of rotation and the water application by simply touching an icon on the touch screen. To see exactly how the pivot moves in the field, a GPS is placed on the end of the pivot. It works in tandem with the control box at the centre of the pivot circle to depict the position of the pivot very accurately. All the data gathered by the system is saved for possible later perusal.

AgricoThe Agrico system is called Advanced RAIN, and it offers two choices for remote control of pivots: First, a farmer can use the cell phone text message control function to start or stop a pivot, to change direc-tion, to alter the precipitation and to run dry to allow movement of imple-ments during planting, crop spraying or harvesting.

Pivot control becomes remote controlPivot control becomes remote controlby Du Preez de Villiers

Senter 360

Agrico

16 January 2017 ProAgri Zambia 15

Irrigation Sales and Design: Ross O’Donoghue 0978 125 2016 [email protected] (Director)Spares Sales: Gibson Phiri: 0978 772 550 [email protected]

Technical and service: Brett Pearman: 0977 791389 [email protected]

Sole Valley Irrigation agents for Zambia

Lindsay

Valley

SecucellAgrico can also send the status of certain functions, such as the position of the pivot in the land and the water pressure in the pivot, to the farmer by means of a cell phone text message. Important notifications can be sent to the farmer in the same way. Second, an Agrico pivot can be con-trolled through the internet. A farmer can gain prompt access to the control choices of one or more of his pivots with his smartphone, tablet of comput-er, and with the tablet or computer a map presentation of all the pivots can be seen. Other choices are scheduling irrigation programmes and the graphic presentation of statistics. Agrico’s latest addition is pump control though the internet control system. Now, the farmer can change the system pressure with a VSD (variable speed driver) that switches the pump on or off. This means a meaningful saving of electricity. Presently, Agrico grants two years’ free access to the internet control

system with any new Advanced RAIN device.

ValleyAgSense is the collective name for Valley’s remote control management products that give a farmer access to WagNet (Wireless Agricultural Net-work), a world-wide network created especially for agriculture. This network collects data, pro-cesses it and sends it back to the farmer in a usable format. The best known control system in die AgSense fold is the Field Com-mander that can help a farmer to control up to a hundred pivots. A GPS determines the position of every pivot and sends real time information and alarms to your cell phone. The base station and its antenna are installed in the farm office, and it then communi-cates with an antenna on every pivot. The computer in the office is con-nected to the internet, which in turn communicates with Valley’s special app on a smartphone or tablet. Valley’s latest remote communica-tion technology is called BaseStation 3. It enables the farmer to exercise com-plete pivot control from any spot on earth. The farmer can choose whether he wants to use a cellular signal, data radio or the internet, according to the various cost implications.

With BaseStation 3 a farmer can look at his farm through Google Maps or read the moisture levels of his soil. More than one person can use the system at the same time, and a farmer can now share his irrigation data with a third party, such as his agronomist, irrigation scheduler or seed or fertiliser representative. BaseStation 3 can also be inte-grated with other farm management programmes to obtain a better overall view of the whole farming operation.

SecucellSecucell, a company from Vereeniging in South Africa, offers a solution for the farmer who needs a very inexpen-sive remote control system. Their sim-ple control box contains the necessary electronics and a veteran cell phone, enabling the farmer to start or stop all his pivots one by one by simply giving each of them a missed call.



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Contact our Zambian offi ce: Quintus Grobler: +26 (0)[email protected]

Or our representatives in SA: Xander Pieterse: +27 [email protected]

Stefan van Wyk: +27 [email protected]

Melissa Pols: +26 (0)[email protected]

Tiny Smith: +27 [email protected]

Advertise your product, company or

service in ProAgri Zambia

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farmers and the agricultural community every month.

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Water potential distribution around a rootThe plant’s leaves exist in relatively dry air and water is constantly evapo-rating from the leaf via the stomata. The water that evaporates from the leaf has to be replenished immediately to ensure the leaf does not dry out. This water shortage causes a suc-tion tension lower down in the plant, as far as the furthermost plant roots. As a result, there is also a potential difference between the root and soil surrounding the root, with water mov-ing from the wetter soil into the root. The root then transports the water to those parts above the ground. In fact, the leaves actually “suck” the water upwards.

As a result, the water directly sur-rounding the root has been absorbed and the layer of soil surrounding the root has dried out. A bit further away (about 1 mm from the root), there is still water in the soil and, as a result, a potential gradient develops: a lower matrix potential surrounding the root (greater suction or tension) and a higher potential somewhat further away. Soil water therefore moves from a higher potential (lower suction) to a lower potential (greater suction). There is now a difference in the levels of energy and this difference in energy levels results in energy becoming available to move the water from the wetter areas to the drier areas. The plant now has (new) water that it may absorb. Thus a chain reaction takes place here, as the water at 2 mm now moves to 1 mm and later into the root. It is therefore wetter further away from the root and drier close to the root. The water constantly moves from the wetter parts to the roots. If less water moves towards the roots than the atmospheric demand via the leaves, the plant is placed under stress.

Movement of water to the root• Saturated flowWhen a significant shower of rain occurs or when irrigation is applied, there is a surplus of water in the up-per regions of the soil and this water moves downwards due to gravita-tion. The water potential is high and is easily absorbed by the roots, the rate of movement and replenishment is rapid and far greater than the rate of absorption by the plant roots. The water thus flows to the roots and also past them. In the case of a water table within

Soil is the most fundamental resource for the farmer, without which food and natural fi bre cannot be produced. This article forms part of a series to highlight this resource and will take a closer look at the interaction of soil water and the plant roots.

At any given moment, there is very little soil water directly in contact with the plant root, ready for absorption. In order to adequately satisfy the plant’s needs for water, there are two mechanisms in action: Firstly, the water moves towards the root and secondly the root grows into the moist soil.

PART 12: SOIL WATER (IV) reach of the root zone, the upward saturated flow within the capillary zone is also very rapid and the water is replenished as quickly as the plant roots can absorb it. The lower en-ergy free water thus moves upwards against gravitation due to the potential difference between the uppermost dry soil and the free water deeper down the profile. This capillary rise can be about about 700 mm to 800 mm up-wards in the profile in sandy soils. Water flow can also be lateral, as is applied in the case of drip irriga-tion, where the water is applied in one place but, moves rapidly sideways as well.

Unsaturated flowAfter the soil profile has finished drain-ing under gravitation (uppermost limit of available water), unsaturated flow becomes the most important form of water movement to the root. Under dryland conditions it is responsible for the main water movement to plant roots. If one keeps in mind that maize roots are only in direct contact with less than one percent of the volume of soil, the water has to move towards the roots to be absorbed. What is of major importance here, is that this rate of movement is very slow. Under conditions of unsaturated flow, water only moves over a distance of 1 to 2 mm a day. The drier the soil, the slower the progress, until the rate of water movement is almost at a stand-still. In the about three to four months that a maize plant absorbs the major-ity of the water, the water can barely flow 100 mm due to unsaturated flow (while the maize plant roots can grow about 20 mm a day). This means that there must be a root about every 100 mm to get the profile dry within a growth season. The better the root density, the less water needs to move. During night time the transpiration rate of plants is very slow. However, the redistribution process of water, during which the water moves from the wetter parts to the drier parts, continues and hereby the plant roots once again have “new” water available near the roots in the morning.

• Soil types differ greatlySoil texture plays a major role in the rate of water movement. In a wet sandy soil the rate of water provision is initially rapid and decreases rapidly to a matrix potential of about -1 000

Martiens du Plessis, Soil Scientist, NWK Limited & Prof Cornie van Huyssteen, Lecturer: Soil Science, University of the Free State

For further information, please contact:Martiens du Plessis:[email protected] van Huyssteen: [email protected]

Figure 1: Maize roots that exploit the soil profi le to a depth of 2 metres.


ProAgri Zambia acknowledges Grain SA for the use of this series which originally appeared in Afrikaans in SA Graan/Grain.

kPa next to the root, after which the water provision rate remains almost constant. The soil will then provide water at a constant rate until the soil dries out, after which the plant will wilt within a few days. In a clayey soil, the rate of water provision will decrease gradually within a decrease in moisture content (matrix potential) and rapidly reaches a point where it moves the water too slowly to make it available to the plant. For that reason, the plant begins to wilt more rapidly in a clayey soil, but gets water bit by bit over a longer period, which keeps the plant alive, albeit under stress.

Root distribution through the soil profileBecause water flows so slowly under unsaturated conditions, and moves over a short distance within the grow-ing period of the crop, it is important that the plant roots spread through the soil profile as good as possible. The growth of roots in wetter parts is of course an important facet of the sustained provision of water to the plant. However, an important principle is that when the plant is under stress and grows more slowly under drought conditions, the roots also grow more slowly. When the plant growth above ground stops, root development also comes to a standstill. For that reason, the standpoint that stress “forces” the plant to “search” for water is simply not true. Maize roots lengthen about 27 mm per day under optimal conditions, which results in them penetrating about two metres deep into the profile during the plant’s vegetative period, up to just before it flowers (at which stage growth drastically decreases) (FIGURE 1). It has already been

observed in the Northwest Province of South Africa that maize roots can dry out a profile to a depth of 2,4 metres. Wheat roots grow even deeper into the soil profile and a moisture with-drawal of deeper than three metres has already been observed. Keeping these facts in mind, it is therefore important that the producer should give the plant the opportunity, and stimulate it to penetrate the soil pro-file as good as possible, to exploit the water. The principle of optimal rooting density is a direct objective of the producer. Under water table conditions maize roots only grow to a few centimetres above the water table (the level at which the water stands in the profile) and therefore deep within the capillary zone, a zone which to a large degree is saturated with water. It is therefore possible for a maize plant to lower the water table to a depth of 2,7 metres (taking into consideration capillary rise of 800 mm), after which the water table is too deep. Some sub-soil layers with “signs of moisture” (grey soil colours) are deep-ly penetrated by maize roots. It has already been observed in the North-west Province and the Free State that maize roots have penetrated about 1,2 metres into “soft plinthite” and the underlying “unspecified material with signs of wetness” and dried them out.

Soil-root contactWhen the plant root grows, the tip of the root grows between the soil parti-cles, after which the root thickens and fits tightly against the soil particles. Soil water can now readily move into the root due to a potential difference in the root. For this process to func-tion effectively, very good soil-root

contact is essential. When the soil is very loose as a result of tilling, good soil-root contact is difficult to achieve. That is why a number of authors who write about seed beds, refer to a “fine, firm seed bed”. When a plant is subjected to drought stress, plant cells are not full of water (not turgid) and the plant wilts. The same thing occurs with the plant roots, causing the root to shrink and lose contact with the soil (FIGURE 2). This worsens the problem, as wa-ter intake virtually comes to a stand-still, which causes the plant to wilt further and the roots to shrink further – a vicious circle. Under these circum-stances, plant roots can shrink by as much as 30 – 50 percent in diameter. The effect of the soil-root contact was clearly demonstrated recently where a shallow, compacted zone oc-curred in a maize field. The plants only grew to a height of about 30 cm and, during a warm dry period were “wet-ripped” with a ripper on one side of the row. Within minutes of the plants being tilled, they wilted severely as a result of the broken soil-root contact. The other side of the row was initially not tilled in order to retain soil-root contact, and was also tilled a week later.

SummaryThe provision of soil water to plant roots is a complicated process, which is based upon a number of physical and biological principles. These pro-cesses are the fundamental basis on which all plant production methods are based. Water moves from wetter parts in the soil profile towards the drier parts. In turn, plant roots crisscross the profile to exploit the maximum volume of soil for water and plant nutrients. If the producer understands these processes and adapts his or her methods in such a way as to benefit these processes, it will directly benefit the growth of the crop.

In the next article in this series, soil-air interactions will be discussed.

ReferencesBennie, ATP. 1981 Soil Science 354. Soil and water management. Unpublished class notes for GKD354. University of the Free State, Bloemfontein.Brady, NC. 1990. The nature and properties of soils. 10th ed. Macmillan publishing company, New York.Marshall, TJ. & Holmes, JW. 1979. Soil Physics. Cambridge University Press. New York.

Figure 2: A diagrammatic representation of a transverse cross-section of a maize root surrounded by soil: (a) during adequate water provision the plant and roots are turgid and the plant root fi lls the entire root canal in the soil; and (b) when the plant suff ers under drought stress, the root shrinks with the result that there is poor soil-root contact (Brady, NC. 1990).

a) b)



played a big part in the way a lot of our people look at product design. The weather environment here can be really harsh and when we’re designing products, that’s always in the back of our minds.” In its simplest form, a diesel gene-rator set has a diesel engine driving an AC generator/alternator which produc-es an AC electrical output. The engine and alternator are fixed to a rigid steel chassis which usually contains an 8 to 10 hour fuel tank. That’s been the basic principle for a long time, and for several decades FG Wilson has been at the forefront in driving that concept to new levels. Designers of generator sets face a constant battle to control noise and heat. For FG Wilson, that means generator sets are designed to operate effectively in up to 50°C temperatures. That kind of sweeping statement is much easier make than to achieve. Ann says: “This needs a really de-tailed understanding of airflow through enclosures, and over decades we have developed the expertise to the point where we can count on a vast library of documented test data to support

all of our design work. This is really important in high ambient temperature environments. It’s not difficult to put an en-closure around a generator set. It is much more challeng-ing to make it work in a high ambient temperature.” A range of enclosures

Diesel generator sets have been a feature of many farms and food

processing facilities for a long time and it’s not difficult to see why: they are still probably the most flexible and cost-effective way to insure against interruptions in the mains electricity supply. One generator set brand, FG Wil-son, has just marked 50 years in busi-ness, and this month, we interviewed Managing Director, Ann Brown. FG Wilson hails from Northern Ireland, a part of the world where farming and agriculture are built into the core fabric of the community, a place where it is almost impossible to travel for 20 minutes without passing green fields and farming activities. Ann says that this farming backdrop has played a big role in the develop-ment of FG Wilson products. “There is a long engineering tradi-tion in Northern Ireland. Many of our engineers grew up around machinery and it’s been a big part of their lives. It’s always been quite common for many of our people to work with us and at the same time own and ope-rate farms. That life experience has

protects generator sets from weather and also reduces noise to comfortable working levels. Enclosures are made of high grade or galvanised steel protect-ed by powder coat paint which gives them automotive industry levels of finish. Their design is based on modu-lar principles, which means they have interchangeable components for easy on-site repair. Lift-off doors and access panels mean they also offer easy access for service and maintenance. Control panels are where most interaction with generator sets occurs and these are designed to be compact and intuitive. Panels include traditional key-start analogue control panels and digital control panels with advanced metering, protection and diagnostics; and the next generation of advanced synchronising panels with integrated load management capability, able to synchronise up to 32 generator sets. “In Africa, we’ve installed over 130 000 units with a total capacity of over 12 GW, double the total installed mains electricity capacity of Nige-ria. With that number of machines operating across the world, we take no risks with quality or performance. We don't accept engine performance data without validating it ourselves in the environmental conditions which our products will see. When someone buys one of our products, we can safely say that wherever it will be operating, it will have been tested for that environ-ment,” she says. Also important to Ann is the way a generator set is sold. She says: “We've worked tirelessly to grow and develop a global network of distributors who offer automotive industry levels of service, starting with product selection through to installation and a lifetime of support. They're trained by us and supported by our parts system which stocks over 11 500 parts and deli-vers three million parts a year, not only for our current products but also for legacy products.” For Ann, product quality, design and customer support are the three guiding principles for FG Wilson: “The genera-tor set industry isn't living on an island all on its own. More and more we’re feeling influence and behaviours from other industries. We all expect more from what we buy. And that means constantly challenging ourselves to improve.”

FG WilsonFG Wilson generated many generated many Gigawatts over Gigawatts over half a centuryhalf a century

“Since 1990 we've installed over 600 000 generator sets with a total capacity of almost 90 GW - more than the total installed mains electricity capacity of a country like the UK.” – Ann Brown, Managing Director, FG Wilson

A technician going through the technical testing ropes.

The sound output of every genera-tor design is tested in an anechoic chamber.

For quality and reliable power supply, contact Aaron Gooding at +44 (0) 28-9049-5165 with inter-nal tie line 7-540-5165, or send him an e-mail to [email protected]. You may also visit their helpful website at www.fgwilson.com.


cides and fungicides to foliar fertilisers. Each of these products serve a specific purpose in a farmer’s field and at a particular stage during growth of the farmer’s crops. To attain the best qual-ity of produce and the desired yields as indicated by seed breeders, farmers need to apply different inputs and in the right amounts. Herbicides are the most widely used class of chemicals accounting for more

Once a farmer walks through our premises he feels at home, as all

that a farmer needs from fertilisers, seeds and chemicals are available under one roof. With a supply chain that keeps growing significantly, our country-wide presence makes it very easy for farmers to access our pro-ducts and services at their doorstep. Our store houses a number of pro-ducts, ranging from herbicides, insecti-

than 60% of all chemicals applied in the agriculture. Herbicide injury is caused by interrupting or stopping some important plant processes. In the category of pre-emergence her-bicides, ETG offers Meto-clean, Chlor, Falcon, Blazer, Atra, and the BASF products Optil, Stomp Aqua and Fron-tier Optima. In addition BASF post-emergence products include Quick-zalafop, Sweep, Parasuper, Stellar Star, Basagran, and Focus Ultra. Insecticides are the second most used class of chemicals in agricul-ture. These chemicals cause death to insect pests such as aphids, white-flies, semi-looper, weevils, stinkbugs, Tuta, moths, stalk borers, cutworms, and leaf miners. They kill pests by means of stomach poisoning, respira-tory poiso-ning, and nervous system poisoning. ETG chemicals in stock are Supra, Lambdex, Vos, Vita, Mectin, Supathion, Thunderplus, and Benzo Extra. BASF products in this category are Fastac and Regent. Fungicides are a group of chemicals designed for disease prevention and control purposes in all crops. Their active ingredients determine the type of action they deliver and once the plant takes up the chemical either through the leaves or root system, the chemical begins to do its work inter-nally. Fungicides can either arrest the disease-causing pathogen within the affected plant tissues or eradicate the pathogen completely. ETG chemicals in stock are Rova, Protect, Warrior, Twin, and Manco while BASF’s Opera is also available. Understanding the mode of ac-tion of agro chemicals has been the essence of research to improve ap-plication methods in various agricul-tural practices, to overcome resist-

ance problems and to explore toxicological properties. It also al-lows us to understand how it will affect plants in the case of accidental application or misuse. Come to ETG/Zam-bian Fertilizers for all your field needs and concerns as our team of agronomist/crop con-sultants will be more than able to provide you with the best products and advice.

When farmers grow, we grow.

ETG/Zambian Fertilizers Chemicals:Where the farmer feels at home

White fl yPlant lice Aphids


Robotics in Robotics in Agriculture:Agriculture:

The future for The future for farming is herefarming is here

by Benine Cronjé


The term, robotic agriculture, may sound very unreal and people may

have different views about it. However, it is a reality and soon it is going to be on every farmer’s lips. In a decade’s time, most young farmers would want a machine like this. Robotic agriculture is a new way for farmers to use their implements with-out any labour and where the tractor operates on its own. Robotic agricul-ture is not restricted to tractors, but can be applied for any farming need you have – even down to a machine that can herd your cows. The world population is expanding, and we need a 70% increase in food production by 2050, says Profes-sor Peter Corke from the Queensland University of Technology. In order to achieve this, farming equipment need to evolve. A few existing ideas about agricul-tural robotics are about to change. No drivers will be needed to run robotic tractors. The tractors will operate by themselves. Robotic tractors will change the way that farming is per-formed within our lifetime. It is the beginning of a new future for agricul-ture. IDTechEx’s research says that ag-ricultural robots and drones will reach $21 billion mark by 2026. Agricultural implements are going to use more and more navigational technology. “Hundreds of mobile agricultural robots are in existence already,” say Dr Khasha Ghaffarzadeh, Dr Jon Harrop and Dr Harry Zervos from IDTechEx. “There are 50 or so small-sized ones, but most of them are still in the re-search or semi-commercial trial stage.” They predicted that 320 000 tractors equipped with tractor guidance tech-nology will be sold in 2016, and that this number will rise by 660 000 per

year to 2026. “These tractors use RTK GPS technology to autonomously fol-low predetermined paths with cm-level accuracy.” Major tractor companies like John Deere, Case and more, have already demonstrated autonomous tractor pro-totypes for the future. These tractors are ideally suited for large-scale crop farming, and will definitely increase yields. The technology costs of these trac-tors will be high, but the main benefit will be that the tractor will do exactly what the farmer expects from it. By programming it correctly, the farmer himself will remain in charge of the tractor. This will improve the agricul-tural industry around the world, and famers will save large amounts of money on labour.

Agricultural implements have been transformedThe arrival of mobile agricultural ro-bots will replace heavy, fast and large tractors with light (no soil compac-tion), slow (more attention to a plant)

and small (less costly) unmanned robots. “If ma-chines are too large, they compact the soil and plants don’t like soil compaction. This problem was allevi-ated with controlled GPS machines,” says Professor Corke, “but now there is an even better solution.” IDTechEx’s research shows that costs always play an important role. These agricultural robots will need to cost as much as 24 times less to make economic sense, because they are smaller and lighter. The costs are so high because mobile robots require expensive com-ponents such as multiple sensors. Presently, farmers still believe in big machines, and they still do not trust robotic equipment, therefore they are not yet

prepared to pay for the technology. However, as the benefits become clear, they are expected to adapt their way of thinking.

Young farmers will use robotic machineryThe younger famers are expected to invest in more technology with more ardour than the older ones, and new technology should be introduced gradually as it evolves. Farmers and their robots should take time to get used to one another, and it must be kept in mind that robots work at their best in well in constructed environ-ments where they can get used to the way that farms are laid out. “Most farmers are old population. Some figures say in a decade half of the farmers will retire in Australia. Then there will be no knowledge or skills to produce food. Then, there is a labour problem in agriculture. Input costs of farming are constantly rising, and the cost of food production is go-ing up year after year,” says Professor

This robotic Case tractor, which was unveiled last year, is called the Autonomous Concept Vehicle, and can be programmed using a tablet computer.

Images from drone cameras can be used to collect precise visual informa-tion for future planning.

From planning to harvest, only John Deere seamlessly connects machines, people, technology, and insights to give you an advantage. And while other manufacturers bolt-on equipment that may or may not work throughout your production cycle, John Deere develops precision technology specifi cally for the tractors, combines, sprayers, planters, hay, and tillage products you own…all supported by a single trusted source: your John Deere dealer.

Start with automatic guidance. AutoTrac™ unlocks more effi ciency and more profi ts throughout the year. In fact, studies show that AutoTrac™ guidance can pay for itself in two years or less, thanks to reduced input use.

Next, vary the application rate of seed, fertilizer, and fungicides/herbicides where they’re most effective, reducing waste – doing it automatically, based on a prescription that you or your trusted advisors create and send wirelessly to your machines. Contact yourdealer for more information.

The premise behind our plan is simple – to help you make more money, year after year. It's easy. It's profi table. And it's all from John Deere.

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Corke. “Thus we need better technol-ogy to still produce good food.” Robotic agriculture on dairy farms, in agrochemicals and fresh fruitAlready there are thousands of robotic milking parlours installed worldwide. “This industry will grow to $8 billion by 2023,” claim the experts from IDTechEx. Also there are robots that can follow the crop rows and identify the weeds - this is the next generation. These robots will locate weeds and take the correct action to eliminate them. This will affect suppliers of crop protection chemicals. According to IDTechEx’s research, farmers will start making use of ultra-precision farming where the farm will be managed on an individual plant basis. Then every plant will get the exact dose of chemicals it needs. Fresh fruit picking is mostly some-thing that needs to be done by people (labour). This robot really needs to have an arm like a real person to economically and gently pick the fruit without damaging it. It also needs to detect all the fruits. Nothing must be missed.

Drones are here already There is a vast market for drones (remote controlled helicopters) due to their usefulness in various branches of agriculture. The drone industry will reach $480 million in 2026 accord-ing to IDTechEx. The main function of drones is the composition of detailed aerial maps of farms. IDTech data says drones can be loaded with multi-spec-tral sensors that measure key indica-tors about plant health, yields, water stress levels and nitrogen deficiencies. This forms part of precision farming.

If you are ready for investing in robotic agriculture, read more about it at: http://www.idtechex.com/research/reports/agricultural-robots-and-drones-2016-2026-technologies-markets-forecasts-000491.asp or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q69RVHy-Xbw to see a video on robotic agriculture.

Strawberries can already be harvested by machine, and a lot of work is being done to develop automotive pickers for fruit such as apples and citrus.

John Deere, with its well known satel-lite guiding system, Green Star, has also developed automo-tive products, from a lawnmower to atractor.

Aerial surveillance is advancing rapidly with even military standard technology becoming available and even aff ordable.

Torktek is one of the most advanced workshops in Zambia. We specialise in vehicle service, fleet maintenance, suspensions, diagnostics, auto electrics, dyno tuning and brake skimming.

The winner of the Elephant Charge 2016 a Toy-ota Surf from Sausage Tree was sponsored by Torktek.

Our aim is to maintain our high quality of workmanship and to widen our services in the automotive industry. At the moment we sell good second hand Toyota vehicles.

Not only does Torktek already offers services to customers that never exist in the automotive industry of Zambia, but also ensures custom-er satisfaction and ensures the quickest turn around time possible.We specialise in engine, gearboxes and differ-ential overhauls for diesel and petrol fuel injec-tion vehicles.

We also offer:• Reconditioning of 1KD and 2KD Toyota en-

gine fuel injectors, unit injectors and unit pumps.

• A Toyota Land Cruiser V8, 2015 model with 82’000 km for $ 58 000 Vat included, neg.

Plot 7250 Mukatasha Road, Lusaka, Zambia

+260 972 141 685 [email protected]


Livestock feed and handling equipment

For all your farm requisites since 1968

• Moveable ca le pens• Bale loaders and forks• Scales and neck clamps• Hay ring feeders• Calf l ng devices

• Self feeders• Spray races• Land rollers• Drinking troughs• Loading ramps

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GSI Zambia is looking for self-motivated dynamic salespersons:• Agricultural back ground • Able to meet sales target, and work under pressure• Must be able to travel within Zambia• Willing to work away from home• Good administrative skills• Own transport will be an advantage

Any qualified candidates can mail Any qualified candidates can mail there CV to [email protected] CV to [email protected]

proagri zambia 15 januarie 2017 · 2017-06-02 · it never rains but it pours army worms and...

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