A Guide to Conservation Agriculture in Zimbabwe - Canadian ...

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section THREE Practical Steps in Conservation Agriculture 3.2 Applying manure, fertilizer and lime Both organic and inorganic basal fertilizer can be applied soon after land preparation and before the rains (September to November). • Manure: one to two handfuls of manure or compost should be applied to each basin and mixed with soil. Make sure the same amount of manure or compost is placed in each basin. • Compound fertilizer: if inorganic basal fertilizer is available, put one level beer bottle cap per basin. Compound fertilizer can be placed directly under the seed, making sure that each seed has equal access to the fertilizer. A 1cm layer of soil should be placed over the fertilizer before seeding, to protect the seed from hydroscopic ‘burning’ by the fertilizer. Compound D application • Use slightly more manure and fertilizer in wetter areas. • Wherever possible soil samples should be taken and line applied according to PH. After you have applied the manure, fertilizer and lime, use a hoe to partly fill the basins with clod-free soil from the pile next to the basin. Make sure you leave the surface lower than the ground so that water collects in the basin. Key Principle Avoid waste: use inputs precisely and efficiently to maximise returns to labour and money. Manure application Basal Compound D application 39 Farming for the Future
Practical Steps in Conservation Agriculture section THREE 3.3 Planting It is important to plant at the correct time so that the seeds germinate quickly and evenly. Sowing should be done immediately after the first effective rains that fill the basin and when the basin is still moist. An effective rainfall event is 30mm for sandy soils and 50+mm for heavier soils. • Plant after rainwater has collected in the basin and drained away. • Plant seeds at the population and depth appropriate Basins are ready for manure or fertilizer application to your crop. For example for maize and sorghum seeds plant at a rate of three seeds per basin. • Place the seeds in an evenly spaced line in each basin, one at each end and one in the middle of the basin. • Cover the hole using the remaining heaped soil next to the basin leaving a level surface. • Make sure no stones or heavy clods cover the seeds otherwise they will not be able to push through to the soil surface. • Try to finish planting a field in one day. Leave the mulch cover intact between the basins. Farming for the Future 40
Page 1 and 2: A Guide to Conservation Agriculture
Page 3 and 4: Farming for the Future A Guide to C
Page 5 and 6: Farming for the Future FOREWORD Con
Page 7 and 8: Farming for the Future CONTENTS HIV
Page 9 and 10: Promoting Conservation Agriculture
Page 43 and 44: Practical Steps in Conservation Agr
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Page 53 and 54: Resources for Conservation Agricult
Page 66: Farming for the Future Conservation

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