AgricBuzz with she agronomist Bie

18/01/2026

Maize streak virus (MSV) is a plant virus that affects maize and other grasses. It is transmitted by leafhoppers and can cause significant yield losses in maize .

Symptoms
Ealy signs:Infection usually starts as very small, round, scattered pale spots on the youngest leaves.

Progression: Over time, these spots elongate and connect, forming narrow, broken or continuous Streaks.

The white or yellow streaks run parallel to the leaf veins and contrast sharply against the dark green of the healthy leaf tissue.

Stunted growth and bunchy top

Impacts on Yields
1. Infected plants often produce very small cobs or cobs with widely spaced, missing kernels
2. Sometimes barrenness.
3. Affected crops do not recover

Prevention and Control
1. Early planting at the onset of rains
2. Plant resistant maize varieties
3. Rogue and destroy infected plants.
4. Remove volunteer maize and grassy weeds.
5. Controlling leafhoppers populations by applying insecticides like FD Lambda-cyhalothrin, FD Imidachloprid, FD Muroti, FD Dichlorvos, FD Carbaryl and Thiamethoxam.
6. Seed dressing using Gaucho is recommended
7. Practising good agronomic practices

26/12/2025

🎄🌱 Merry Christmas from she_Agronomistbie 🌟

Wishing you a season as full of growth, joy, and harvest as a well-tended garden 🌿. May your roots be strong, your spirit be nourished, and your life bloom with love and blessings 🌸. Happy Holidays! 🎁✨

20/11/2025

Heat Units (HUs)

Heat units, also known as growing degree units (GDUs), measure the amount of thermal energy available for crop growth and development. It's a way to quantify the amount of heat that contributes to plant growth.

Heat units are calculated based on the daily temperature range, typically using the formula:

HU = (Daily Max Temp + Daily Min Temp) / 2 - Base Temperature

The base temperature is the minimum temperature below which growth stops for a particular crop.

These are one of the most important environmental factors affecting the growth of the maize plant. Maize cannot develop from one stage to the next advanced stage without receiving the necessary heat units.

Maize is a short day crop which means that as the days shorten (as we approach winter) the less heat units available per day and the quicker grain filling comes to an end.

This results in low yields and poor grain quality. Symptoms seen in late planted crop are purpling of leaves indicating the reduced rate of sugar translocation from the leaves to the cob.

This is why the late planted maize mostly gives poor yields.

Importance of Heat Units

Heat units are useful for:
1. Predicting plant growth stages and maturity
2. Determining crop suitability for specific regions
3. Scheduling irrigation and fertilization
4. Managing crop stress and potential damage

Applications

Heat units are widely used in agriculture, particularly in:
1. Crop modeling and simulation
2. Irrigation management
3. Crop insurance and risk assessment
4. Precision agriculture


Bie

20/11/2025

20/11/2025

07/10/2025

Soil testing helps determine nutrient levels, allowing for targeted fertilizer application and reducing waste.


Bie

04/10/2025

Using wheat straw as mulch is a great way to protect your garden soil and suppress weeds year-round. It's a versatile and effective option that can be applied at any time. The benefits of wheat straw mulch include retaining moisture, regulating soil temperature, shielding against harsh weather, and acting as a natural compost. Plus, it's often budget-friendly. To get the most out of wheat straw mulch, master gardeners recommend shaking it out to remove any seeds and prevent unwanted wheat growth. By using wheat straw mulch, you're supporting sustainable gardening practices and appreciating the value of wheat farmers' hard work. The wheat plant is a valuable resource, and its straw is just one of the many useful products it provides.

02/10/2025

With 2025-26 season upon us, preparations are in full swing. Some parts of the country have already received early showers.

These early rains are encouraging farmers to intensify land preparation ahead of the expected onset of normal rainfall.

These rains are not for planting, this is what we call in shona bumharutsva