000 02277nam a22002177a 4500
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022 _a2026-8327
041 _aeng
100 _aZimmermann, I. |
_bMatzopoulus, R. ; Kwaambwa, H.
_iEnglish
222 _aNamibian Journal of Environment, Volume 1, 2017; pages B7-15
245 _aOptions to improve soil fertility with national resources /
_c I. Zimmermann; R. Matzopoulus; H. Kwaambwa
260 _aWindhoek:
_bEnvironmental Information Service,
_c2017
300 _b9 pages, figures, tables,
_c30 cm
500 _aIncludes references
520 _aMost fertilisers applied to Namibian crop fields are imported, yet Namibia has vast resources that could be used to improve soil fertility. Organic fertilisers such as animal manure and compost could be sourced from farms, or grown on the crop fields, such as green manures and fertiliser trees, or harvested from nature, such as kelp and guano, or sourced from abattoirs or other agricultural processing facilities, such as blood, bone, horn, feather, fish and seed meals. Inorganic fertilisers are usually sourced from quarries or mines on land, while others can be extracted from seawater or salt. Some locally-sourced fertiliser materials could be applied directly to the soil, perhaps after simple processing such as crushing or milling, or after more complex processing such as through chemical reactions. Rock salt and brine solution have been analysed to assess their suitability for extraction of nutrients from which to manufacture chemical fertilisers as by-products of purifying the salt for industrial uses. It is important that harvesting of rock salt and brine from pans north of Cape Cross be done without disrupting the natural regeneration through underground connection to the sea, to ensure sustainability of these valuable resources. Labelling of fertilisers should include a breakdown of the major elements contained, so that farmers who test their soils could determine appropriate application rates to balance minerals that will produce crops of good quality.
650 _aApplied sciences
690 _aFertilisers; Soil fertility; Manure; National resources
852 _nNA
_c945
942 _cPER
_6ANNEGRET
999 _c73237
_d73237