Zambia Agribusiness Society

Tomato damaged by Tuta absoluta Tuta absoluta’s threat to Solanaceous crops originated from South America before spreading to other parts of the world. The common name for Tuta absoluta is the tomato leaf miner , named so because of the pest’s preference for tomato. This dangerous pest favours tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and sometimes potato (S. tuberosum). Tomato leaf moth has a life cycle of 29 to 38 days depending on the temperature. The pest prefers higher temperatures meaning the higher the temperature, the faster it will reproduce and the more damage it will inflict on the plants. This is not to imply that it is not there during the cold season, in my experience, this is an ever present enemy of progress. Female leaf moths can lay up to 260 eggs for their entire lifetime, a hell lot of eggs right? The life cycle is such that when fertilized eggs are laid, they hatch into Larva (caterpillar form) which transforms into a pupa which later becomes an adult insect (moth).

General Requirements Chinese does well in warm seasons of the year. Optimum temperatures for growing are 20ºC to 25ºC, with minimum temperatures of 18ºC and maximum 30ºC. A well-managed chinese crop should yield 5 tons per Lima with a leaf cutting period of 40 to 50 days. First leaves can be harvested 21 days after transplanting. Land Preparation/Soil Type Deep well-drained loamy soils with a pH range from 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal for Chinese cabbage. Effective rooting depth is 60cm. Plough and disc to a 60cm fine tilth seedbed. Avoid planting Chinese cabbage on land previously planted to other brassicas for at least one season. Planting and Transplanting Sow directly by drilling in the farrows 1 to 2cm deep or raise seedlings in nursery beds and transplant 4 to 5 weeks later. Transplant during the cool part of the day (early morning or late afternoon) to avoid wilting of the plants. Space the plants at 20cm between plants and 60cm between rows to give a plant population

Winter is upon us! What can you do then, to keep your trees safe this year? You probably take great pride in your lawn and trees, just like the majority of homeowners. They improve the aesthetics and monetary worth of your house. However, it can be difficult to keep tree nutrition up and make them look their best during the winter. For trees, winter can be a difficult season. Between the colder temperatures and the drying winds, the majority of trees begin to exhibit stress signs. Additionally, the growth of new leaves and flowers is slowed down by the cold. To prepare trees for spring blooms and warmer weather, pruning can still be done during the winter. Additionally, you can be proactive about safeguarding your investment this season because the cold air slows down some fungal diseases that can establish themselves in wet conditions during other seasons. Before the season starts hampering tree nutrition, take a look at these best winter tree care tips. Tree Nutrition Tips to

Study the Pests, Diseases and Weeds Regular monitoring of pests, diseases and weeds is the basis for effective management. To be able to manage pests, diseases and weeds, information is needed on the specific pests, diseases and weeds present in the region, village or crop fields and the associated damage they cause. Typical signs of pest attacks on crop plants Most crop pests belong to the insects, mites and nematodes. Pest damage is obvious and easy to identify. Insect damage can be categorized by biting and chewing (e.g. caterpillars, weevils), piercing and sucking (e.g. aphids, psyllids) and boring (e.g. borer, leaf miner) species. Some are slow moving (e.g. caterpillars), fast moving (e.g. fruit flies), hidden (e.g. stem borer), or easy to observe (e.g. caterpillars, weevils). Pest damage is often species-specific: leaves with holes or missing parts is an indication of caterpillar or weevil damage; curled leaves is an indication of aphids; damaged or rotten fruits are of

General Requirements Sugar beans do well in warm seasons of the year. Optimum temperatures for growing are 15ºC to 27ºC. A well-managed sugar beans crop should yield 750kg to 1 ton per Lima. Land Preparation/Soil Type Deep well-drained loamy soils will a pH range from 5.5 to 6 is ideal. Effective rooting depth is 60cm. Plough and harrow to a 60cm fine tilth seedbed. Planting and Transplanting Sow directly 3 to 4cm deep at seed rates of 15 to 25kgs seed per Lima with 1 seed/ station. Space the plants at 5cm between plants and 60cm between rows to give a plant population of 330,000 plants/ hectare. Fertilizer Programme At planting apply Veg Mix A 30gm/m 2 (19 kg/lima) - broadcasted. 21 days from planting top-dress using Veg Top 24 10gm/m 2 (19 kg/Lima) - broadcasted. 35 days from planting top-dress using Veg Top 24 10gm/m 2 (19 kg/Lima) - broadcasted. 49 days from planting top-dress using Veg Top 24 10gm/m 2 (19 kg/Lima) - broadcasted. 63 days from planting top-

Did you know that weeds pose the biggest threat to our crops’ progress, causing unnecessary competition, stress, diseases, and serving as breeding grounds for pests? Therefore, it is wise for farmers to ensure early weed control to maximize crop yield potential. Many farmers ask Agronomist H. Kanyimbo, "How can we control weeds in our maize fields?" Well, here is a simple guide for maintaining a weed-free field, thanks to Agricrop for providing these high-quality products. Pre-Planting : Before planting, farmers can spray a non-selective herbicide to eliminate weeds. A recommended option for this stage is Roar Extra. If the land has been ploughed, this step can be skipped, moving directly to the next stage. Pre-Emergence Stage : Herbicides are applied at planting, within three days before crop germination. This includes a combination of Roar Extra (if weeds are present, if not present don’t add this product) plus Claw plus Atrazine. This combination prevents the germi

  Like any other crop, soybeans require the right fertilizer so that they can produce a good yield and have a healthy appearance. The feeding of soybeans begins with inoculation. Before planting, it is important to dress the soybeans with an excellent inoculant. An inoculant such as Bioma Brady, supplied by Agricrop, is one of the best options for farmers to consider using to treat their seeds before planting. It is a self-sticking inoculant containing live bacteria called Bradyrhizobium Japonicum, which is housed on the roots where nodules form. The bacteria are responsible for initiating nitrogen fixation on the soybean roots, providing the nitrogen necessary for soybean growth and giving them a vibrant dark green colour as well as retaining nutrients to benefit the next crop. After inoculation, it is essential to plant the soybeans within 24 hours; otherwise, re-inoculation will be required if not planted in the stated time. Manure can be incorporated into the program if it is read