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, 鈥渋t starts with organic matter,鈥� which if what 鈥渋s left over residue of a once living body.鈥�
Without organic matter soil loses its ability to grow plants.
鈥淵ields increase with organic matter 鈥� If your organic matter is depleted you鈥檝e turned the soil into a non-living medium,鈥� said Syed.
Syed said farmers need to work toward increasing organic matter by a bit each year.
鈥淚f not 鈥� you鈥檙e digging a hole for the future,鈥� 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.
鈥淣obody wanted to touch hit. That was a perfect opportunity for me,鈥� he said, adding it was a chance 鈥渢o practically demonstrate what can be done.鈥�
Syed said in terms of what can be done with organic practice 鈥渨isdom is good,鈥� suggesting passing on practical knowledge is important, but to have a broader impact more is needed to convince people of the benefits.
鈥淵ou have to top it all off with the science,鈥� 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 鈥渢rick鈥� plants into thinking soil conditions are better than they are, and when needed farmers must be ready to supplement a plant鈥檚 needs.
鈥淭he whole game of farming is how to direct energy to the right place,鈥� 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 鈥測ou have to take the stress away,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 am a big fan of foliar feeding,鈥� he said.
Syed said such application can help 鈥渙vercome limitations of the soil, and its ability to transfer nutrients into the plant,鈥� by making those nutrients available in another way.
