PROJECT 11

MICROBES, NURSERY & RESTORATION

Soil conditioning and restoration products: cultivation and application of microbes, compost tea, organic pesticides and biochar

Project objectives and aims

The project aims to cultivate various natural soil conditioning and restoration products to be applied in veld and donga restoration. 

Currently, various microbial mixes are being cultivated in conjunction with AfrEco Organics and these mixes are being analysed by the Centre for Mineral Biogeochemistry at the University of the Free State and applied to veld restoration. Initial experiments have already been concluded to determine the most efficient method of producing fermented plant extracts. Those extract will then be used as organic pesticides and soil conditioners. Fermented plant extracts are currently being made from Tagetes minuta, but might be expanded to include other plants such as tobacco or paper thorns, either to be used as pesticide or as soil conditioner.

Continuous project