By Rebecca Chimjeka Matemba:
Research by Mwapata Institute has suggested an organic fertiliser (manyowa) revolution for all the soils in the country to address the problem of high soil acidity.
Mwapata Institute Director of Research Levison Chiwaula said soil acidity can be managed by applying agricultural lime while organic fertilisers can help increase soil organic matter.
“Poor soil health, high acidity and low soil organic matter have reduced fertiliser use efficiency,” Chiwaula said.
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Director of the Land Resources Conservation Department in the Ministry of Agriculture Gertrude Kambauwa said the research is important for Malawi, as the country’s soils are degraded.
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“High acidity and low organic matter are affecting yield, hence lower levels of maize production,” Kambauwa said.
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources soil scientist Patson Nalivata said one of the big limitations to the country’s maize production is organic matter.
“We have very low organic matter content in the soils because of the practices that we have been using.
“Burning the maize fields after harvesting has left our soils with very low organic matter,” Nalivata said.
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The research has suggested that just like there are farm inputs, the inorganic fertilisers can be packaged, for example, in bags, which can be easily procured by our farmers.
According to the research, organic fertiliser is one of the easier methods that can be taken up by farmers because the organic sources of soil fertility nutrients are readily available.
