Dear Zim farmers, by this time you should be having your soil test results to enable you to procure the CORRECT AMOUNTS and TYPES of fertiliser for the crops you intend to grow this coming season. Your gateful to achieve the highest yield.

Achieving more than 10 tonnes per ha Maize is no longer an exception but a must in order to increase profitability. With irrigation higher than 20 tonnes per ha is feasible.

The type of lime to use depends on the ratio of soil Calcium (Ca) to Magnesium (Soil test). Normal soils contain more Ca than Mg. Where Ca:Mg is more than 2:1, Mg-rich lime (Dolomitic lime) should be used. Where Ca:Mg is less than 2, Ca-rich lime (Calcitic lime) should be used.

Most soil tests in Zimbabwe use Calcium Chloride method to measure pH, this is normally indicated on the soil test report. If your soil pH done using other methods, e.g. Water or KCl, then seek advice from a Soil Chemist, directly or through your Extension Officer or Agronomist.

After pH, the important nutrients to consider are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) & potassium (K). Their ratio in soil determines which compound fertiliser or blend to use. A generally up to a third of N and all of P and K should be applied at planting. Ca & Mg applied as lime.

On sands and loamy sands, exchangeable potassium (K) less than 0.1 m.e.% implies a serious deficiency that will reduce crop yield. On higher clay content soils the equivalent figure is 0.2 m.e.%.

Having a soil test done and getting a wrong interpretation of the results can cause serious losses or depress profits through use of wrong types and amounts of lime and fertiliser. Farmer take note, get advice from a Soil Chemist or Soils Agronomist.

Dear Farmers, this season fertiliser is pricy, so to increase/maintain high crop yields buy the RIGHT Source/Type of fertiliser, apply the RIGHT Amount and RIGHT Placement of the fertiliser and apply at the RIGHT Time of application.... the 4Rs of Good fertiliser management.

Today l hosted one of Zimbabwe and Africa's finest Agricultural Economists, Professor Mandivamba Rukuni, at Marondera University. We brainstormed on how agricultural innovations developed at universities can be seamlessly transferred to smallholder farmers. Thank you Prof.

With the current incessant rains farmers are advised to delay top dressing with N fertiliser until the rains stop. Topdressing while soil is water soaked will result in loss of the fertiliser through leaching or emissions to the atmosphere.

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Was chatting with a group of postgraduate students I am supervising a few moments ago.

My message was that if you adopt the "pull him/her down" syndrome before you know it you are attempting to pull down so many people...

.......and ultimately you are the biggest loser. Development demands cooperative effort!

Looks like El Nino is back again. For most of southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, this may mean a drought.

Farmers out there its advisable to go for drought tolerant crops and/or short season varieties, and stocking up livestock feed.

Such a shame when poor smallholder farmers, who struggle to earn every dollar, are sold fertilizer mixed with salt, river sand and cement.