Lubango - The Brazilian specialist in soil fertility and plant nutrition, Silvano Moreira, admitted in Lubango that Angola has the conditions to implement, on a big scale, the No-till Farming System, which will help to increase production and reduce production costs in the agricultural sector.
The No-till Farming System is an agricultural technique using special seeders. It is a different soil management process and reduces the impact of agriculture and agricultural machinery on it.
It is the most conservationist method of working the land for farming purposes. It is defined by the continous search for the profitability of the productive agricultural system through the maximum expression of genetic and environmental potential.
In this method, straw and other plant remains from other crops are kept on the surface of the soil, ensuring coverage and protection against harmful processes, such as erosion. In it, the soil is only manipulated at the time of planting, when a furrow is opened where seeds and fertilizers are dropped.
The system protects against wind and water erosion, creates a favorable micro-flora in the soil, reduces fuel consumption, labor costs, time required for technical processes, increases soil fertility, stability the physical structure of the soil, the biological activity of the soil and also agricultural productivity.
The expert was speaking as part of the training course on “Soil profile construction, fertility and plant nutrition”, promoted by the Mandume ya Ndemufayo University, Jardins da Yoba, Federal Planting University (UFLA) of Brazil, and partners, given last October.
He stated that this experience was introduced in Brazil back in the 70s, but it began with poor results because the correct soil correction had not been carried out, so it had to start over and today it is a success.
“We don’t want Angola to go throuthg the same bad experience we did. When the soil is corrected, we improve the efficiency of nutrient use and after installing the no-till system over the years a very resilient and productive system is built and it is something that we intend to bring to work together with all interested parties”, he expressed.
He declared that Angola soils, like those of Brazil, are “poor” in organic matter and direct planting comes to improve the use of water, increase the organic matter of the soil, in the sense that when the producer adds fertilizer, it is not lost in the ground.
Silvano Moreira reiterated that from the moment the soil is good to go, with limestone or gypsum, it is already possible implement the system, entering with the cover crop and then with the plant to do the No-till planting system, without other preparation.
For the small producer, according to the source, there is a need to show the importance of the system, in order to improve the efficiency of water use among other benefits of the process, a technique that only needs to be adapted to Angolan conditions.
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