



Announcements
Vacancies
- Sales Representative Substrates Peru
- Head Grower – High Technology Organic Greenhouse
- Import and Export Sales Manager
- Sales Manager - US
- Key Account Manager (f/m/d) - Full-time
- Vice President of Growing Operations
- Account Manager - Canada
- Account Manager - United States
- Procurement Manager Blueberries
- International Fruit Trader
Worms key to soil health
The anatomy of an earthworm is hardly exciting stuff. But, Dr Tim Jenkins, a director at the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Technologies in New Zealand, has a way of making the bodily functions of an earthworm sound kind of interesting.
He told about 80 farmers at a biological farming seminar in Gore recently that earthworms were a key driver of soil fertility.
A good number was 2000 worms per square metre or about 40 worms per spade, but he often found worm populations around 600 to 1000 per square metre because of poor quality soils.
To improve soil biology, Dr Jenkins suggested minimal cultivation, retaining clover, using lime flour and biological fertilisers and avoiding over-grazing.
Worms thrived in soil with a high pH but if it was too high, it would restrict the uptake of trace elements such as copper, zinc and manganese. A pH of 6-6.4 was ideal for a good balance of clover, trace elements and earthworm activity.
Dr Jenkins said the ideal soil texture was "crumbly" as this allowed worms to move freely through the soil which would promote good drainage.
The mucous the worms left behind would also help hold the soil crumbs together in a wet or dry spell.
Source; Stuff.co.nl
He told about 80 farmers at a biological farming seminar in Gore recently that earthworms were a key driver of soil fertility.
A good number was 2000 worms per square metre or about 40 worms per spade, but he often found worm populations around 600 to 1000 per square metre because of poor quality soils.
To improve soil biology, Dr Jenkins suggested minimal cultivation, retaining clover, using lime flour and biological fertilisers and avoiding over-grazing.
Worms thrived in soil with a high pH but if it was too high, it would restrict the uptake of trace elements such as copper, zinc and manganese. A pH of 6-6.4 was ideal for a good balance of clover, trace elements and earthworm activity.
Dr Jenkins said the ideal soil texture was "crumbly" as this allowed worms to move freely through the soil which would promote good drainage.
The mucous the worms left behind would also help hold the soil crumbs together in a wet or dry spell.
Source; Stuff.co.nl
Publication date:
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2023-12-04 Malaysian vanilla farm expects first harvest this year
- 2023-12-04 50 fewer Dutch greenhouse vegetable growers by 2023
- 2023-11-30 Flanders makes a case for local Belgian ginger
- 2023-11-30 Multi-parameter soil sensor selected for integration into Aranet
- 2023-11-30 CAN (BC): Long Creek School will help NFJDWC grow native plants for restoration
- 2023-11-29 New partnership to explore weed species cultivation indoors
- 2023-11-29 “There is still a high demand for additional square meters for cultivation"
- 2023-11-29 Smooth transition for greens to Yuma in 2023
- 2023-11-28 "Delayed bell pepper plantings this season could lead to less watermelon being planted in spring"
- 2023-11-28 Tomato yields decrease in Morocco as the weather gets colder
- 2023-11-28 Fresh Select overcomes challenges to lead innovation in salad and leafy greens industry
- 2023-11-28 First expansion of allotment greenhouse Houten
- 2023-11-27 "Challenging weather conditions for lamb's lettuce sowing"
- 2023-11-27 “Berries are booming in Canada”
- 2023-11-27 "Intensive greenhouse horticulture and extensive organic horticulture are a perfect match"
- 2023-11-27 Webinar: 4 common grower problems solved with digital agronomy