Ngige & Son's Consultancy and Agricultural Services

24/06/2025

The biological aspect of soil health refers to the abundance, diversity, and activity of living organisms within the soil. These organisms drive essential processes that support plant growth, nutrient cycling, and soil structure. Here's a breakdown of the key components:

🌱 1. Soil Microorganisms

Bacteria: Decompose organic matter, fix nitrogen (e.g., Rhizobium), and suppress diseases.

Fungi: Break down tough organic materials like cellulose and lignin; mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots to enhance water and nutrient uptake.

Actinomycetes: Specialized bacteria important for decomposing complex organic compounds; they give soil its earthy smell.

🐛 2. Soil Fauna

Earthworms: Aerate the soil, mix organic material, and improve water infiltration.

Nematodes: Some are beneficial (feeding on bacteria/fungi), others are pests (feeding on plant roots).

Arthropods (ants, beetles, mites): Break down organic residues, regulate microbial populations, and contribute to soil porosity.

🌿 3. Plant Roots & Rhizosphere Interactions

Root exudates: Sugars and amino acids secreted by roots feed beneficial microbes.

Symbiosis: Roots form associations with mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enhancing nutrient availability.

Root turnover: Dead roots add organic matter and feed decomposer organisms.

🔄 4. Biological Processes Supporting Soil Health

Nutrient cycling: Decomposition of organic matter releases nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur in plant-available forms.

Disease suppression: Healthy soils contain diverse organisms that outcompete or inhibit plant pathogens.

Organic matter formation: Microbes and fauna help transform plant and animal residues into stable humus.

🧬 Indicators of Good Biological Soil Health

High microbial biomass
Rich biodiversity (micro to macro organisms)
High rates of respiration and enzymatic activity
Abundant earthworms and visible fungal threads (hyphae)

Maintaining biological soil health involves minimizing chemical disturbance, adding organic matter, practicing crop rotation, reducing tillage, and encouraging plant diversity. These practices promote a self-sustaining, fertile, and resilient soil ecosystem.

24/06/2025

16/05/2025

20/04/2025

Without healthy soil, human, animal, plant and environmental health are at risk!

🤎 Soil health
+
🫀Human health
+
🌿 Environmental health
+
🐮 🌳Animal & plant health

= 1️⃣ One health!



The Global Soil Partnership

04/03/2025

ASHS webinars

Mar 4 - 4 pm EST - Biostimulants Can Improve Organic Vegetable Seedling Growth

Mar 5 - 11 am EST - Non-destructive Techniques for Product Quality of Fruit & Vegetables

Mar 11 - 2 pm EST - Grafting & Budding Perennial Tree Fruits

Register at https://ashs.org/page/ASHSWebinars

22/11/2024

Are Moles/Fuko/Huko bothering you in your farm here is a natural repellant and can be used as a fertiliser too.
Fish bean herb drives away mole rats slaying crops, and fertilises too

Tephrosia, a herb more commonly referred to as ‘fish bean’, delivers a double blessing of repelling moles that clear out sweet potato farmers in Western Kenya and increasing crop yields in low fertility soils by almost the same amount as when using chemical fertilisers.

Mole rats are mainly found in East Africa and Central Africa with Tanzanian researchers finding that they cause damage to 79 per cent of bananas growing in highlands and 70 of maize in lowland areas. They also cost farmers hours controlling them and limited the time they had working on their farms. Tephrosia, a wild-growing shrub, which earns its name ‘fish bean’ or ‘fish-poison bean’ because it is used to poison fish making them easy to catch has been used by Maasai pastoralists to kill livestock ticks with researchers arguing, “There is not much of a difference between triatix dip– a store-bought acaricide that is most commonly used to fight ticks– and tephrosia in their effectiveness.” Tephrosia is not just a great pesticide, when grown in coffee fields, the nitrogen-fixing shrub increased yields by 23–36 per cent over two years making it nearly as effective as NPK fertilizer in delivering nutrients to the soil. The legume is also recommended by KALRO as a mole repellant.

Before being introduced to what she now describes as her miracle plant, Ruth Wanga had suffered repeated attacks by moles on her eighth-acre sweet potato plot throughout 2021. “I’d tried everything, pouring pig and cow urine into their holes, cleaning my fields, trapping them with baits, hiring trappers to get rid of them but nothing worked. They would nibble on my still-growing sweet potatoes and leave me with nothing after each growing season,” the Kakamega-based mixed farmer said.

09/11/2024

Climate change effects on agriculture

1. **Increased Temperature**: Higher global temperatures can stress crops, reduce yields, and alter growing seasons, particularly for heat-sensitive crops.

2. **Shifts in Growing Seasons**: Warmer climates can shift growing seasons, leading to earlier planting and harvest times, but also potentially reducing the time for some crops to mature.

3. **Droughts and Water Scarcity**: More frequent droughts reduce water availability for irrigation, threatening crop yields, particularly in regions reliant on rain-fed agriculture.

4. **Increased Pest and Disease Pressure**: Warmer and more humid conditions favor the spread of pests and diseases, increasing crop losses and the need for pesticides.

5. **Changes in Rainfall Patterns**: Irregular and extreme rainfall events can cause flooding, soil erosion, and nutrient leaching, damaging crops and soil fertility.

6. **Reduced Crop Productivity**: Climate stressors such as heat waves, water stress, and soil degradation can significantly reduce crop productivity in many regions.

7. **Decreased Livestock Productivity**: Higher temperatures can affect livestock health, reproduction, and productivity, while water shortages limit fodder availability.

8. **Soil Degradation**: Increased erosion, desertification, and loss of organic matter due to changing climates reduce soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

9. **Increased CO2 Levels**: Elevated atmospheric CO2 can boost plant growth for some crops, but excessive CO2 can reduce the nutritional value of staple crops like wheat and rice.

10. **Shift in Crop Zones**: Regions that were once unsuitable for certain crops may become viable, while others may no longer support traditional crops due to shifting climates.

11. **Increased Frequency of Extreme Weather Events**: More frequent hurricanes, storms, and floods can destroy crops, infrastructure, and livelihoods, affecting food security.

12. **Food Security Threats**: Disruptions

05/11/2024

Agroforestry

Soil fertility is a critical component of Agroforestry.

Agroforestry plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing soil fertility. Agroforestry involves integrating trees into agricultural landscapes, promoting ecological interactions and synergies between trees, crops and livestock.
In agroforestry systems, soil fertility is enhanced through:

1. Tree litter and mulch: Trees provide organic matter, which acts as a natural fertilizer, improving soil structure and fertility.

2. Nitrogen fixation: Leguminous trees fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available to crops and other plants.

3. Soil shading: Tree canopies reduce soil temperature, retain moisture and prevent soil erosion.

4. Root interactions: Tree roots stabilize soil, improve soil biota and facilitate nutrient uptake.

5. Biodiversity: Agroforestry systems promote biodiversity, which enhances soil biota, decomposition and nutrient cycling.

6. Minimum tillage: Agroforestry often involves reduced tillage, preserving soil organic matter and structure.

7. Organic matter accumulation: Agroforestry systems accumulate organic matter, increasing soil carbon and supporting soil biota.

8. Improved water cycling: Trees regulate water cycles, reducing soil erosion and improving soil moisture.

Agroforestry supports Agroecology's principles of ecological sustainability, social equity and economic viability.
Between your agroforestry trees, do not leave the land bare. Plant some crops like nitrogen fixation crops and Flower producing crops to attract the bees in your plantation.

22/10/2024

Agroforestry

Soil fertility is a critical component of Agroforestry.

Agroforestry plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing soil fertility. Agroforestry involves integrating trees into agricultural landscapes, promoting ecological interactions and synergies between trees, crops and livestock.
In agroforestry systems, soil fertility is enhanced through:

1. Tree litter and mulch: Trees provide organic matter, which acts as a natural fertilizer, improving soil structure and fertility.

2. Nitrogen fixation: Leguminous trees fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it available to crops and other plants.

3. Soil shading: Tree canopies reduce soil temperature, retain moisture and prevent soil erosion.

4. Root interactions: Tree roots stabilize soil, improve soil biota and facilitate nutrient uptake.

5. Biodiversity: Agroforestry systems promote biodiversity, which enhances soil biota, decomposition and nutrient cycling.

6. Minimum tillage: Agroforestry often involves reduced tillage, preserving soil organic matter and structure.

7. Organic matter accumulation: Agroforestry systems accumulate organic matter, increasing soil carbon and supporting soil biota.

8. Improved water cycling: Trees regulate water cycles, reducing soil erosion and improving soil moisture.

Agroforestry supports Agroecology's principles of ecological sustainability, social equity and economic viability.
Between your agroforestry trees, do not leave the land bare. Plant some crops like nitrogen fixation crops and Flower producing crops to attract the bees in your plantation.

22/10/2024

BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE.

Agriculture has several branches, each focusing on different aspects of farming, food production, and related activities. Key branches include:

1. Crop Production: Involves growing and harvesting crops for food, fiber, and other uses.

2. Horticulture: Focuses on the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants.

3. Animal Husbandry: Concerned with breeding and raising livestock for meat, milk, wool, and other products.

4. Agronomy: Studies soil management and crop production techniques to improve yields.

5. Agricultural Engineering: Applies engineering principles to design equipment and structures for farming.

6. Soil Science: Examines soil properties and management to enhance fertility and sustainability.

7. Entomology: Studies insects and their impact on crops and livestock, including pest management.

8. Plant Pathology: Focuses on plant diseases and their management to ensure healthy crops.

9. Aquaculture: Involves farming fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants for food and other products.

10. Forestry: The management and cultivation of forests for timber, wildlife, and conservation.

11. Agricultural Economics: Analyzes economic aspects of agriculture, including market trends and resource allocation.

These branches work together to enhance agricultural productivity, sustainability, and food security.