Building soil takes decades, but it should be a goal of farmers.
That was one of the key messages delivered by Yasir M. Syed of Biofert Manufacturing Inc. when he spoke to a SOCA Organic Producers Association event in Yorkton Friday.
In terms of soil heath, Syed said, “it starts with organic matter,” which if what “is left over residue of a once living body.”
Without organic matter soil loses its ability to grow plants.
“Yields increase with organic matter … If your organic matter is depleted you’ve turned the soil into a non-living medium,” said Syed.
Syed said farmers need to work toward increasing organic matter by a bit each year.
“If not … you’re digging a hole for the future,” he said.
In addition to being involved with Biofert, Syed, who immigrated to Canada 13-years ago, purchased a ranch near Alameda, SK., which was known for having saline and alkaline soils.
“Nobody wanted to touch hit. That was a perfect opportunity for me,” he said, adding it was a chance “to practically demonstrate what can be done.”
Syed said in terms of what can be done with organic practice “wisdom is good,” suggesting passing on practical knowledge is important, but to have a broader impact more is needed to convince people of the benefits.
“You have to top it all off with the science,” he said.
Building organic matter content in the soil can take decades, but has to be a goal, said Syed, adding in the interim farmers have to “trick’ plants into thinking soil conditions are better than they are, and when needed farmers must be ready to supplement a plant’s needs.
“The whole game of farming is how to direct energy to the right place,” said Syed.
For a plant, it finds the energy it needs most effectively when it can hgrow without stress. When stress from nutrient deficiencies, insects and weeds occur “you have to take the stress away,” he said.
In the case of a lack of a particular nutrient, Syed said topdressing a foliar with accessible nutrients is usually the best way to address problems seen in a field.
“I am a big fan of foliar feeding,” he said.
Syed said such application can help “overcome limitations of the soil, and its ability to transfer nutrients into the plant,” by making those nutrients available in another way.
