Neutral

Soil fertility is one of the most critical factors needs to be maintained so farmers can continue to grow productive and nutritious crops, especially in southern Africa where soils are often fragile and lacking in plant nutrients. Soils are often quickly depleted if mismanaged, further exacerbated by natural biophysical processes such as rain, wind and/or heat. The use of organic fertiliser can help farmers to improve soil fertility, as they improve absorption of water and add nutrients into the soil, drastically improving crop production. Organic fertilisers are plant (crop residues) or animal-based materials, such as green manure, worm mouldings, compost, animal waste, and sewage residues, many of which may be readily available on the farm, or within a farming community. These products are potential counters to inorganic fertilisers - artificially manufactured chemicals (synthetic) mined from mineral deposits comprising minerals such as nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium - which are often costly when few farmers can access credit needed to sustainably access such materials. Organic fertilisers are considered climate smart as they utilise (recycle) readily available organic materials to feed soil and crops simultaneously as they add nutrients into the soil and condition it, and thus increase productivity and resilience, while inorganic fertilisers add nutrients to the soil only, and are often expensive.

Biochar refers to a fine-grained charcoal, rich in organic carbon compounds, used to improve soil quality through enhanced nutrient and water holding capacity of soil, reducing total fertiliser needs. Biochar is a stable solid produced from the controlled burning of plant and waste feedstock, including wood chips and pellets, tree bark, crop residues (straw, maize stovers, nut shells and rice hulls), grain, sugarcane bagasse, chicken litter, diary manure, sewage and paper sludge. Biochar is used as a soil conditioner as part of soil amendment strategies, improving the workability of soil, particularly those with heavy clay components.. The application of biochar to soil is a strategy to minimise the climate and environmental impact of cropland systems, such as the application of synthetic fertilisers, and improve soil quality through enhancing its physical-chemical characteristics. This agricultural practice improves soil structure, nutrient cycling and water retention, and the high stability of biochar carbon compounds contributes to the reduction of green-house gas emissions by increasing carbon sequestering in soils. Biochar is shown to be effective in improving soil conditions in acidic, sandy and clay-rich soils, improving the physical characteristics, and is classified by the FAO classifies as an adaptation strategy and contributes to mitigation of climate change as the processes captures and stores carbon in soils create other secondary socio-economic benefits, through additional fuel sources, and economic opportunities for production. Biochar can either be purchased or produced on-farm on a small or large scale. Collective action may benefit communities, so discussion with neighbours and community leadership may be necessary, especially if a biochar.

Compost is a biological process where micro-organisms recycle decaying or decomposing organic matter to produce a soil conditioner that can be applied as an additive to improve soil conditions. Composting takes place in the presence of oxygen (aerobic conditions), and with adequate temperature and moisture, transforming organic matter into plant-available nutrients. Compost can comprise organic plant and/or animal matter, and/or residues including leaves, dead roots, manure, urine, bones, and nematodes, amongst other organic materials. As it is generally rich in nutrients, the application of compost can naturally fortify soils, acting as a fertiliser, with soil humus or natural pesticide increasing the resistance of plants to diseases, foreign species and insects. The amount of organic matter in different soils depends on the soil type, vegetation species, and other environmental conditions, such as moisture and temperature. Thus, the application of compost may add important nutrients to soils that can benefit vegetation growth. Rainfall, temperature changes and other biophysical factors may result in a diminishing return of compost benefits to soil health. Therefore, the application of compost to soils should be a continuous practice, in order to increase physical, chemical and biological benefits. There are two main composting systems: Open Systems (compost piles or pits) or Contained Composting – see technical application below. This is a climate smart approach as it recycles readily available organic materials from a farm for use within the farming system, plus it avoids the use of chemical fertilisers. Composting is a climate smart approach as it reduces the need for chemical fertilisers, contributes to soil amendments that support adaptation to climate change, and helps retain soil fertility, which in turn aids agricultural productivity.