A successful end to growth and maturation of the bulb onion crop. (Image source: Omex)
When thinking about tropical crops, onions (Allium cepa) are not the first things that spring to mind but contrary to such notions, onions are grown throughout the tropics
No less than 10 African producers appear in the the top 40 world producers rankings. In ranked order of production, they are Egypt (3.1 million tonnes (mt); 3rd), Nigeria (2.0mt; 7th), Algeria (1.52mt; 12th), Sudan (1.5mt; 13th), Niger (1.0mt; 22nd), Morocco (0.69mt; 26th), South Africa (0.68mt; 27th), Senegal (0.42mt; 35th); Uganda (0.33mt; 39th) and Ethiopia (0.33mt; 40th).
Wherever onions are grown, irrespective of climate, weather and soil, the crop has exacting nutritional needs and what’s more, onions tend to be grown in the drier areas of the African continent and frequently under irrigation. On both counts this means the logical way to provide onion crops with fertiliser is by foliar feeding using spray applications of completely soluble nutrients.
Who better to speak to on this subject than Omex Agrifluids, a leading designer and manufacturer of soluble nutrient products which are sold for use on a huge range of crops worldwide. Omex Agrifluids have just designed a programme and schedule for foliar feeding bulb onion crops throughout Africa. I travelled to the company’s headquarters at Kings Lynn in the eastern region of the United Kingdom to learn more from Ben Odunlami, technical sales manager, Africa and Oskar Winkler, export sales manager, Africa.
"Our programme," said Odunlami and Winkler, "is based on sequential stages of development for bulb onions and provides growers with product names; Dose/hectare (ha) in 200 litres (l) water; amount of product in a 15-litre capacity, high volume, hydraulic knapsack sprayer; the method of application and the physiological function of the product and its nutrients in the onion plant."
Transplanting is the most precarious time for crops and bulb onion crops are no exception. It is a time when the fledgling plants stripped of the root hair, complement when ‘pulled’ from the nursery bed, require stimulation and a boost to root biomass to ensure rapid plant establishment. Odunlami and Winkler say Omex Bio 20 (a highly concentrated emulsion) does the trick and quickly too, by furnishing newly transplanted onion seedlings with all the essential plant nutrients, macronutrients and micronutrients, and biostimulation from hormonally active components derived from a specific marine alga (seaweed).
This combination promotes root biomass and therefore maximum uptake and utilisation of water and nutrients, as well as a bulwark against physiological stress whether caused by high temperature, drought, disease or any other abiotic or biotic factor. Besides providing a ready nutritional source, it also helps the plant establish its own hormonal mechanisms controlled by auxins and other natural plant growth regulators. At this transplanting stage, Omex Bio 20 is applied as a drench in the irrigation system and at a dose rate of 200 ml/ha in 200 litres of water (equivalent to 15 ml of Omex Bio 20 in a 15L capacity hydraulic, high volume, knapsack sprayer).
Once the seedlings are established after attaining the 2 true-leaf growth stage, they are given a second boost from Omex Bio 20 plus a consolidation and strengthening treatment using one of Omex’s newest and most innovative products. “This novel product is called Omex Zibo”, said Ben. “It is a highly concentrated liquid suspension containing zinc (22.10% w/v) and boron (7.30% w/v), two crucially important micronutrients with many important functions. Zinc is pivotal in the formation and modulation of enzymes which are critical in the early stages of root and shoot development and is also important in the production of proteins from amino acids, and therefore clearly important during periods of rapid plant tissue growth. Zinc also helps to maintain membrane permeability, thus enhancing stress tolerance”, said Odunlami and Winkler.
Zinc deficiency results in the rapid onset of marked deficiency symptoms with a general stunting of plant growth associated with distorted auxin production. During the early stages of zinc deficiency, the younger leaves become yellow (chlorotic) with the development of pitting on the interveinal surfaces of the mature leaves. As the deficiency progresses, early symptoms develop into an intense interveinal necrosis while the main leaf veins stay green.
“Role of Boron is no less important and together with zinc is closely involved with the synthesis of cell wall material and the transport of sugars,” said Odunlami. "And therefore has crucially important tissue strengthening and growth consolidation roles," added Winkler.
Boron deficiency is common in crops growing in soils with a pH of less than 6.5. Boron deficiency in onions results in blue/green coloured leaves with the younger leaves becoming mottled with distorted, shrunken areas. Cracks may appear on the upper surface of the lower leaves, which become stiff and brittle. Root development is poor. Omex Bio 20 and Omex Zibo are applied as foliar sprays at respectively, 1.0 l and 250 ml per ha in 200 l of water, which is equivalent to 75 ml and 18 ml, respectively, in a 15 l capacity knapsack sprayer.
Starting at the 4 to 7 true leaf stage of growth, the onion crop is ready for another twin burst and boost from Omex Bio 20 and Omex Zibo, applied in the same way and at the same rates as previously applied. The twin targets are fast and sustain root growth power and support for a spurt in sustainable above ground vegetative growth. With this achieved, the plant can maintain a fast rate of photosynthesis for the next and perhaps most crucial stage in the bulb onion crop, which is bulb initiation.
Bulb onion growers are recommended to continue using Omex Bio 20 albeit at half the rate used previously in the plant establishment and vegetative growth stages. “And now is the time to introduce a new product”, says Ben and Oskar, “and in the form of Omex CalMaxB which is also applied by foliar spray application”.
Omex CalMaxB contains calcium and boron at concentrations of, respectively, 22.50% w/v and 1.53% w/v, plus micronutrients, nitrogen and magnesium. “This combination continues to provide the growth boost to onions and essential to ensure bulb filling continues unabated,” said Winkler, with Odunlami adding how the calcium/boron combination in CalMaxB complements growth with a tissue strengthening dimension. “This ensures the onion bulb gets off to robust start in its journey through bulb development and into maturity,” they said.
Calcium deficiency in onions is characterised by die back of leaf tips and short lengths of leaf and without any previous yellowing (chlorosis) of the leaf. This causes the top of the leaf to fall over and die. Calcium is a crucially important nutrient for strong tissue growth and good storage quality of onions. Both Omex Bio 20 and Omex CalMaxB are applied as foliar sprays at doses of, respectively, 0.5 l and 1.0 l per ha in 200 l of water. This is equivalent of 37 ml and 75 ml, respectively, in a 15L capacity knapsack sprayer.
The fifth and final stage of bulb development, and ensuring the grower’s previous investments and efforts are not wasted, is reached in approximately 100 days post planting. The strengthening benefits of Omex CalMaxB are continued alongside the application of Omex K41, a highly concentrated, water soluble emulsion containing potassium (41.0% w/v), magnesium (2.50% w/v), sulphur (4.80% w/v) and nitrogen (3.00% w/v). To ensure optimal water relations during the final phase in the onion crop, which is thanks to potassium at the bumper concentration of 41.0% w/v.
“Potassium is called the ‘gatekeeper nutrient’ because it has such deep-seated and far-reaching influence and effects on the onion plant’s water relations, including stomatal movements, and therefore photosynthesis, but also, and crucially, the transport of soluble sugars from the leaves and down into the now fast growing bulb,” said Odunlami and Winkler.
Potassium is very mobile within the plant which means that deficiency symptoms will only develop on young leaves and in the case of extreme deficiency. Tip burn symptoms, leaves turning dark green and erect and promotion of bolting are all symptoms of potassium deficiency in onions.
Omex Bio 20 and Omex K41 are applied as foliar sprays at dose rates of one litre each and equivalent to 75 ml of product in a 15 l capacity knapsack sprayer.
“Overall, this combination of products applied in the fifth and final developmental stage promotes and ensures bulb growth, consistency within the crop and high quality onion bulbs, while maximising the shelf-life of onion bulbs in storage”, they said.
Expected battery cycles required per machine lifetime. (Image source: IDTechEx)
IDTechEx’s new report, ‘Battery Markets in Construction, Agriculture and Mining Machines 2024-2034’, showed that CAM machines require a diverse range of battery solutions to cater to their individual needs
It has taken around 15 years to convince car owners that battery power is a viable alternative to their fossil fuel comfort blanket. In the construction, agriculture, and mining (CAM) industries, electrification is an even steeper uphill battle. In these industries, if a machine runs out of battery, the operators will soon start losing money. Moreover, these industries have a broad spectrum of machines, each with unique use cases. In case of agriculture machines such as tractors, electrification presents some unique challenges.
The first challenge is that the use case of tractors is incredibly energy-intensive. For the most part, the purpose of a tractor is to drag machinery through a field. Sometimes, this work is low intensity, such as mowing grass in large fields. Here, the mower attachment isn’t too heavy and creates little resistance with the ground. On the other hand, plowing a field creates lots of resistance and, therefore, uses lots of energy. Additionally, if a field has soft mud, the tractor will lose energy due to the tires slipping. When we compare a tractor and an excavator for example, although both machines have hard and similar workloads, the excavator is at its peak load only momentarily as it breaks through the ground while a tractor works at a constant near-peak capacity. From a battery standpoint, this means that the tractor needs substantially more storage to give the same run time.
While large construction machines have large chassis to incorporate the battery, tractor chassis are a little more compact. Additionally, large excavators can handle the weight of the battery, with many already having concrete ballasts for balance. Excessive weight however, could be an issue for tractors, especially when operating in wet mud. Tractors are also more sensitive to the location of the weight, preferring an even weight distribution across the wheels for the best stability in the mud. So, not only do tractors need more battery power per hour than other similarly sized CAM machines, but they also have tighter constraints on where that battery can go.
Construction and mining machines tend to be in almost constant use, but many tractors have very seasonal work. They could sit dormant for large portions of the year, but come harvesting time on a large farm, they could be running 24/7 for days at a time. High uptime in peak season means that the battery needs to be capable of rapid charging to minimise downtime. This is typically tough on batteries, as regular fast charging can degrade their cycle life. However, on the positive side, sporadic usage means fewer cycles are needed over a vehicle’s lifetime. Many tractors have life expectancies of around 2,000-5,000 hours, whereas large excavators might operate more than 10,000 hours over their life span. A shorter life expectancy, with fewer cycles required, opens up battery options to more cutting-edge and emerging technologies.
Today’s dominant battery technologies are Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), used almost ubiquitously throughout the automotive industry. NMC offers good energy density but typically recharges slower compared to LFP. LFP has compromised energy density but is cheaper and can be recharged more quickly. Both have plenty of cycle life for agricultural applications, but IDTechEx suggests that other emerging options with higher energy density could offer a better fit.
Solid-state batteries (SSBs) and silicon anode batteries are two emerging technologies that might work well in tractors. Both offer improvements in energy density when compared to NMC and LFP, making it easier to put more kWh of battery capacity onto the tractor. Both offer good to high recharging performance, minimising downtime. Finally, both offer the equivalent or higher safety than LFP and NMC. Unfortunately, both technologies are also very new, still in the early stages of commercialisation, and therefore are very expensive. Solid-state batteries and silicon anode batteries make a good fit for agricultural machines from an engineering perspective, but unfortunately, they don’t quite make the business case, for now.
IDTechEx’s report considers a total of 15 machine types across construction, agriculture, and mining, evaluating the needs of each and matching them up against ten existing and emerging battery technologies. The report forecasts that SSB and silicon anode will have a small market share of battery demand for agricultural vehicles once they are more mature, but demand will still be dominated by NMC and LFP, even in 2034.
The Axial-Flow 260 series offers the new ActiveTrac four-roller hydraulic suspended track system having a larger footprint. (Image source: Case IH)
In May this year, Case IH announced the new Axial-Flow 260 series that offers unparalleled productivity, while also allowing growers to access subscription-free, integrated technology to meet the unique needs of their operations
Equipped with Harvest Command combine automation, the Axial-Flow 260 series automatically optimises settings to boost throughput and grain quality. Operators can also get easy access to real-time machine metrics, field performance and grain quality through high-resolution Pro 1200 Dual Displays.
Moreover, the all new RowGuide Pro and AccuGuide autoguidance systems enable growers to experience improved on-row accuracy, minimised header losses and less operator fatigue. These tech solutions, including AccuSync with in-field data sharing between multiple machines, are all provided with no subscription requirement.
The Axial-Flow 260 series also offers the new ActiveTrac four-roller hydraulic suspended track system which has a larger footprint that reduces compaction and increases flotation by 14% compared to fixed track offerings. Operators are also entitled to additional privileges like luxury seating that includes massage, heating, and new air conditioning technology, along with simple seat controls, to easily optimise the operator's comfort level during long harvest days.
“The Axial-Flow 260 series combine represents a significant leap forward in integrated technology throughout the harvesting process for growers,” said Leo Bose, harvesting segment lead at Case IH. “We purposefully bundled precision technologies so there are no subscriptions or activations required to run the machine. The subscription-free connectivity gives customers the ability to remotely view machine and agronomic data via the new Case IH FieldOps platform, which will launch later in 2024. The technology stays for the lifetime of the hardware, boosting resale value.”
Experts verify Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Ghana's poultry industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Scientists at the Veterinary Service Department and the CSIR – Animal Research Institute have confirmed IBV in Ghana’s poultry industry
The IBV impacts the respiratory, reproductive, and renal systems of chickens, leading to severe economic repercussions. Originating in the USA during the 1930s, IBV has since spread globally, including sub-Saharan Africa, with Ghana being notably affected. Despite the significant presence of IBV, vaccination against the virus in Ghana is not practiced, complicating efforts to control its spread.
Samples collected by scientists at the Veterinary Service Department and the CSIR – Animal Research Institute from farms across nine regions revealed the presence of IBV, a coronavirus causing significant economic losses. The virus leads to reduced poultry output, lower egg production, and a 5% mortality rate.
In a Channel One News interview during a stakeholders' workshop in Koforidua, Senior Research Scientists at the Animal Research Institute, Dr Matilda Ayim Akonnor and Dr Theophilus Odoom discussed their findings on IBV's prevalence, serotypes, and pathotypes in Ghana. They highlighted that IB (Infectious Bronchitis) is a major factor behind the closure of many poultry farms in the country.
Dr Akonnor stated, “Indeed, we have confirmed that the virus is present in all nine regions we visited. We have taken samples, analysed some, and confirmed the virus’s presence. We have also identified the serotype that is circulating around the country from outbreak investigations, and we hope to use this information to develop a vaccination schedule for the country’s poultry farmers.”
Feed the Future Innovation Lab team members currently or formerly associated with Iowa State's Department of Animal Science. (Image source: Iowa State University)
Scientists at Iowa State, the University of California-Davis and livestock research institutions in Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania have undertaken a 10-year project to enhance African poulry production
Outbreak of diseases like the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) is seen as a serious threat to production. Despite the availability of vaccines and biosecurity measures, it would be difficult to practically implement these programmes in countries like Africa where chickens are likely to be present in small numbers and scattered around. Warm temperatures also increase the susceptibility of these birds to infection.
In order to effectively address these issues, a large, multidisciplinary initiative was undertaken by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Genomics to Improve Poultry, with their findings summarised in a recent paper published in the World’s Poultry Science Journal.
The project adopted a number of unique approaches which included the development of a series of focus groups to understand the priorities of smallholder poultry farmers and the interventions they would find suitable. Scientists also studied birds exposed to disease in natural situations, rather than in more controlled experimental environments.
Results showed that a regional breed, indigenous to the Fayoum region of Egypt was nore resistant to infection fom pathogens and to heat compared to a commercial Leghorn line derived from chickens in the US. Several genes were also identified as important candidates due to their influence on NDV viral replication. Researchers were also able to learn about the genetics of NDV and the strains prevalent in the various poultry-producing regions studied. This information is likely to help in the development of more effective methods to fight disease in the future.
Spectrim with LUCAi is very easy to operate thanks to the user-friendly interface. (Image source: TOMRA Food)
The Fresh Fruit Company of New Zealand (Freshco) recently implemented the new LUCAi upgrade package on its TOMRA Spectrim grading platform and found it to be a game-changer
This upgrade package for Spectrim includes Deep Learning models, pre-trained by vast datasets captured from TOMRA machines across the world and precisely labelled by TOMRA’s data science team. Thousands of high-resolution, multi-channel fruit images are assessed every second and cross-referenced with these datasets to make grading decisions. The technology enables the precise detection and classification of even the trickiest apple defects, such as splits and punctures across multiple varieties.
“The main defects are around the stem area. The splits are really hard to get around the stem, and you are forever working on the splits and punctures,” explained Robin Mudgway, Technology & Machinery manager at Freshco. “With LUCAi we get a model from TOMRA and then we just put our own severity and confidence into it.”
Moreover, the technology also enables operators to seamlessly switch varieties without slowing down the process, while also allowing customers to easily adjust the severity of grading parameters – something which previously had to be done by experienced operators – to cater to seasonal dynamics and market preferences. For example, a model that is making stem splits and punctures on Gala apples can also be switched to a different variety having the same defect, without making any adjustments.
“We deal with a lot of Royal Gala and Breeze apples, and they tend to have a lot of splits. LUCAi made it really easy to control that,” stated TOMRA Food senior application engineer, Glen Kaunds. “Production was not slowed down at all like it would have in the past. This means that throughput stays at a good pace within the shed.”
Spectrim with LUCAi also has a user-friendly interface, making it very easy to operate and track grades. More data, for instance, is visible on the platform with the percentage also being displayed upon making a change.
Since its introduction in 2018, the Hubbard Efficiency Plus has been confirmed as the breed of choice for the Kenyan market. (Image source: Hubbard)
The first edition of the Hubbard Efficiency Plus Poultry School was organised by the Hubbard Customer Support team from 19-20 June this year
The progarmme offered in-depth on key topics and a workshop session that also allowed for numerous exchanges and testimonies of field experiences. The event was graced by the presence of John Dantier, who is the sales and technical representative for AVIPRO EAST Africa Ltd. and Hubbard's distributor of the Hubbard Efficiency Plus breeders in the region. He provided a clear insight into how AVIPRO East Africa Ltd. works hard to always serve their customers better with many continuous positive actions.
Since its introduction in 2018, the Hubbard Efficiency Plus has been confirmed as the breed of choice for the Kenyan market thanks to its impressive performance at both breeder and broiler levels.
Hubbard thanked all participants for their commitment, motivation and great participation during the training session and expressed his gratitude for having such valued customers.
The AFRICA Awards selection process is overseen by an Independent Awards Selection Committee composed of globally recognised experts. (Image source: Afreximbank)
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) recently announced winners of the inaugural Afreximbank-FARA Research, Innovation and Competence in Agriculture (AFRICA) Awards in Nassau, Bahamas
These prestigious awards honour individuals, groups, or established organisations that have made outstanding contributions towards improving food and nutritional security, income generation, resilience and natural resource management in Africa through research, innovation, agripreneurship and policy advocacy in the food and agriculture domain.
The awards were presented on the margins of the 2024 Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2024) and AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF). The AFRICA Awards selection process is overseen by an Independent Awards Selection Committee composed of globally recognised experts and encompasses three categories which include, the Africa Research Excellence Award, the Innovation-based Entrepreneurship Award, and the Impactful and Evidence-based Policies Award.
Following a highly competitive selection process, the two laureates of the 2024 AFRICA Awards were announced:
1. Umezuruike Linus Opara: Recipient of the Africa Research Excellence Award in recognition of his contribution to developing and validating a novel integrated value-chain approach to post-harvest research and innovation, one crop at a time.
2. Professor Richard Mkandawire: Recipient of the Impactful and Evidence-based Policies Award for his foundational role in conceptualising Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and catalysing its domestication in African countries at NEPAD.
“Africa’s vulnerability to climate shocks exacerbate its food insecurity concerns and heighten the urgency of structural transformation of its agricultural sector," said president and chairman of Board of Directors, Afreximbank, professor Benedict Oramah. "It needs to boost efficiency and productivity, modernise its agriculture, and reclaim its rightful position as a net exporter of agricultural products I applaud the winners of the Inaugural AFRICA Awards for the demonstrable and innovative impact they are delivering for agriculture.”
This year’s event will feature not only the latest advancements in poultry but also innovations in dairy and agricultural sectors, providing a holistic view of the industry. (Image source: VNU)
NOVUS will present four abstracts across production topics. (Image source: NOVUS)
Experts verify Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Ghana's poultry industry. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Scientists at the Veterinary Service Department and the CSIR – Animal Research Institute have confirmed IBV in Ghana’s poultry industry
The IBV impacts the respiratory, reproductive, and renal systems of chickens, leading to severe economic repercussions. Originating in the USA during the 1930s, IBV has since spread globally, including sub-Saharan Africa, with Ghana being notably affected. Despite the significant presence of IBV, vaccination against the virus in Ghana is not practiced, complicating efforts to control its spread.
Samples collected by scientists at the Veterinary Service Department and the CSIR – Animal Research Institute from farms across nine regions revealed the presence of IBV, a coronavirus causing significant economic losses. The virus leads to reduced poultry output, lower egg production, and a 5% mortality rate.
In a Channel One News interview during a stakeholders' workshop in Koforidua, Senior Research Scientists at the Animal Research Institute, Dr Matilda Ayim Akonnor and Dr Theophilus Odoom discussed their findings on IBV's prevalence, serotypes, and pathotypes in Ghana. They highlighted that IB (Infectious Bronchitis) is a major factor behind the closure of many poultry farms in the country.
Dr Akonnor stated, “Indeed, we have confirmed that the virus is present in all nine regions we visited. We have taken samples, analysed some, and confirmed the virus’s presence. We have also identified the serotype that is circulating around the country from outbreak investigations, and we hope to use this information to develop a vaccination schedule for the country’s poultry farmers.”
Feed the Future Innovation Lab team members currently or formerly associated with Iowa State's Department of Animal Science. (Image source: Iowa State University)
Since its introduction in 2018, the Hubbard Efficiency Plus has been confirmed as the breed of choice for the Kenyan market. (Image source: Hubbard)
A successful end to growth and maturation of the bulb onion crop. (Image source: Omex)
When thinking about tropical crops, onions (Allium cepa) are not the first things that spring to mind but contrary to such notions, onions are grown throughout the tropics
No less than 10 African producers appear in the the top 40 world producers rankings. In ranked order of production, they are Egypt (3.1 million tonnes (mt); 3rd), Nigeria (2.0mt; 7th), Algeria (1.52mt; 12th), Sudan (1.5mt; 13th), Niger (1.0mt; 22nd), Morocco (0.69mt; 26th), South Africa (0.68mt; 27th), Senegal (0.42mt; 35th); Uganda (0.33mt; 39th) and Ethiopia (0.33mt; 40th).
Wherever onions are grown, irrespective of climate, weather and soil, the crop has exacting nutritional needs and what’s more, onions tend to be grown in the drier areas of the African continent and frequently under irrigation. On both counts this means the logical way to provide onion crops with fertiliser is by foliar feeding using spray applications of completely soluble nutrients.
Who better to speak to on this subject than Omex Agrifluids, a leading designer and manufacturer of soluble nutrient products which are sold for use on a huge range of crops worldwide. Omex Agrifluids have just designed a programme and schedule for foliar feeding bulb onion crops throughout Africa. I travelled to the company’s headquarters at Kings Lynn in the eastern region of the United Kingdom to learn more from Ben Odunlami, technical sales manager, Africa and Oskar Winkler, export sales manager, Africa.
"Our programme," said Odunlami and Winkler, "is based on sequential stages of development for bulb onions and provides growers with product names; Dose/hectare (ha) in 200 litres (l) water; amount of product in a 15-litre capacity, high volume, hydraulic knapsack sprayer; the method of application and the physiological function of the product and its nutrients in the onion plant."
Transplanting is the most precarious time for crops and bulb onion crops are no exception. It is a time when the fledgling plants stripped of the root hair, complement when ‘pulled’ from the nursery bed, require stimulation and a boost to root biomass to ensure rapid plant establishment. Odunlami and Winkler say Omex Bio 20 (a highly concentrated emulsion) does the trick and quickly too, by furnishing newly transplanted onion seedlings with all the essential plant nutrients, macronutrients and micronutrients, and biostimulation from hormonally active components derived from a specific marine alga (seaweed).
This combination promotes root biomass and therefore maximum uptake and utilisation of water and nutrients, as well as a bulwark against physiological stress whether caused by high temperature, drought, disease or any other abiotic or biotic factor. Besides providing a ready nutritional source, it also helps the plant establish its own hormonal mechanisms controlled by auxins and other natural plant growth regulators. At this transplanting stage, Omex Bio 20 is applied as a drench in the irrigation system and at a dose rate of 200 ml/ha in 200 litres of water (equivalent to 15 ml of Omex Bio 20 in a 15L capacity hydraulic, high volume, knapsack sprayer).
Once the seedlings are established after attaining the 2 true-leaf growth stage, they are given a second boost from Omex Bio 20 plus a consolidation and strengthening treatment using one of Omex’s newest and most innovative products. “This novel product is called Omex Zibo”, said Ben. “It is a highly concentrated liquid suspension containing zinc (22.10% w/v) and boron (7.30% w/v), two crucially important micronutrients with many important functions. Zinc is pivotal in the formation and modulation of enzymes which are critical in the early stages of root and shoot development and is also important in the production of proteins from amino acids, and therefore clearly important during periods of rapid plant tissue growth. Zinc also helps to maintain membrane permeability, thus enhancing stress tolerance”, said Odunlami and Winkler.
Zinc deficiency results in the rapid onset of marked deficiency symptoms with a general stunting of plant growth associated with distorted auxin production. During the early stages of zinc deficiency, the younger leaves become yellow (chlorotic) with the development of pitting on the interveinal surfaces of the mature leaves. As the deficiency progresses, early symptoms develop into an intense interveinal necrosis while the main leaf veins stay green.
“Role of Boron is no less important and together with zinc is closely involved with the synthesis of cell wall material and the transport of sugars,” said Odunlami. "And therefore has crucially important tissue strengthening and growth consolidation roles," added Winkler.
Boron deficiency is common in crops growing in soils with a pH of less than 6.5. Boron deficiency in onions results in blue/green coloured leaves with the younger leaves becoming mottled with distorted, shrunken areas. Cracks may appear on the upper surface of the lower leaves, which become stiff and brittle. Root development is poor. Omex Bio 20 and Omex Zibo are applied as foliar sprays at respectively, 1.0 l and 250 ml per ha in 200 l of water, which is equivalent to 75 ml and 18 ml, respectively, in a 15 l capacity knapsack sprayer.
Starting at the 4 to 7 true leaf stage of growth, the onion crop is ready for another twin burst and boost from Omex Bio 20 and Omex Zibo, applied in the same way and at the same rates as previously applied. The twin targets are fast and sustain root growth power and support for a spurt in sustainable above ground vegetative growth. With this achieved, the plant can maintain a fast rate of photosynthesis for the next and perhaps most crucial stage in the bulb onion crop, which is bulb initiation.
Bulb onion growers are recommended to continue using Omex Bio 20 albeit at half the rate used previously in the plant establishment and vegetative growth stages. “And now is the time to introduce a new product”, says Ben and Oskar, “and in the form of Omex CalMaxB which is also applied by foliar spray application”.
Omex CalMaxB contains calcium and boron at concentrations of, respectively, 22.50% w/v and 1.53% w/v, plus micronutrients, nitrogen and magnesium. “This combination continues to provide the growth boost to onions and essential to ensure bulb filling continues unabated,” said Winkler, with Odunlami adding how the calcium/boron combination in CalMaxB complements growth with a tissue strengthening dimension. “This ensures the onion bulb gets off to robust start in its journey through bulb development and into maturity,” they said.
Calcium deficiency in onions is characterised by die back of leaf tips and short lengths of leaf and without any previous yellowing (chlorosis) of the leaf. This causes the top of the leaf to fall over and die. Calcium is a crucially important nutrient for strong tissue growth and good storage quality of onions. Both Omex Bio 20 and Omex CalMaxB are applied as foliar sprays at doses of, respectively, 0.5 l and 1.0 l per ha in 200 l of water. This is equivalent of 37 ml and 75 ml, respectively, in a 15L capacity knapsack sprayer.
The fifth and final stage of bulb development, and ensuring the grower’s previous investments and efforts are not wasted, is reached in approximately 100 days post planting. The strengthening benefits of Omex CalMaxB are continued alongside the application of Omex K41, a highly concentrated, water soluble emulsion containing potassium (41.0% w/v), magnesium (2.50% w/v), sulphur (4.80% w/v) and nitrogen (3.00% w/v). To ensure optimal water relations during the final phase in the onion crop, which is thanks to potassium at the bumper concentration of 41.0% w/v.
“Potassium is called the ‘gatekeeper nutrient’ because it has such deep-seated and far-reaching influence and effects on the onion plant’s water relations, including stomatal movements, and therefore photosynthesis, but also, and crucially, the transport of soluble sugars from the leaves and down into the now fast growing bulb,” said Odunlami and Winkler.
Potassium is very mobile within the plant which means that deficiency symptoms will only develop on young leaves and in the case of extreme deficiency. Tip burn symptoms, leaves turning dark green and erect and promotion of bolting are all symptoms of potassium deficiency in onions.
Omex Bio 20 and Omex K41 are applied as foliar sprays at dose rates of one litre each and equivalent to 75 ml of product in a 15 l capacity knapsack sprayer.
“Overall, this combination of products applied in the fifth and final developmental stage promotes and ensures bulb growth, consistency within the crop and high quality onion bulbs, while maximising the shelf-life of onion bulbs in storage”, they said.
Staff of the CVL, Zimbabwe training in Namibia through a triangular project arrangement between Namibia and Zimbabwe. (Image source: B Jackson/CVL, Zimbabwe)
Professor Mark Blaskovich, CEAStAR centre director, Professor Darren Trott, CEAStAR centre deputy director, and Dr Bicheng Yang, director of MGI Australia (from L to R) (Image source: MGI Tech)
Expected battery cycles required per machine lifetime. (Image source: IDTechEx)
IDTechEx’s new report, ‘Battery Markets in Construction, Agriculture and Mining Machines 2024-2034’, showed that CAM machines require a diverse range of battery solutions to cater to their individual needs
It has taken around 15 years to convince car owners that battery power is a viable alternative to their fossil fuel comfort blanket. In the construction, agriculture, and mining (CAM) industries, electrification is an even steeper uphill battle. In these industries, if a machine runs out of battery, the operators will soon start losing money. Moreover, these industries have a broad spectrum of machines, each with unique use cases. In case of agriculture machines such as tractors, electrification presents some unique challenges.
The first challenge is that the use case of tractors is incredibly energy-intensive. For the most part, the purpose of a tractor is to drag machinery through a field. Sometimes, this work is low intensity, such as mowing grass in large fields. Here, the mower attachment isn’t too heavy and creates little resistance with the ground. On the other hand, plowing a field creates lots of resistance and, therefore, uses lots of energy. Additionally, if a field has soft mud, the tractor will lose energy due to the tires slipping. When we compare a tractor and an excavator for example, although both machines have hard and similar workloads, the excavator is at its peak load only momentarily as it breaks through the ground while a tractor works at a constant near-peak capacity. From a battery standpoint, this means that the tractor needs substantially more storage to give the same run time.
While large construction machines have large chassis to incorporate the battery, tractor chassis are a little more compact. Additionally, large excavators can handle the weight of the battery, with many already having concrete ballasts for balance. Excessive weight however, could be an issue for tractors, especially when operating in wet mud. Tractors are also more sensitive to the location of the weight, preferring an even weight distribution across the wheels for the best stability in the mud. So, not only do tractors need more battery power per hour than other similarly sized CAM machines, but they also have tighter constraints on where that battery can go.
Construction and mining machines tend to be in almost constant use, but many tractors have very seasonal work. They could sit dormant for large portions of the year, but come harvesting time on a large farm, they could be running 24/7 for days at a time. High uptime in peak season means that the battery needs to be capable of rapid charging to minimise downtime. This is typically tough on batteries, as regular fast charging can degrade their cycle life. However, on the positive side, sporadic usage means fewer cycles are needed over a vehicle’s lifetime. Many tractors have life expectancies of around 2,000-5,000 hours, whereas large excavators might operate more than 10,000 hours over their life span. A shorter life expectancy, with fewer cycles required, opens up battery options to more cutting-edge and emerging technologies.
Today’s dominant battery technologies are Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), used almost ubiquitously throughout the automotive industry. NMC offers good energy density but typically recharges slower compared to LFP. LFP has compromised energy density but is cheaper and can be recharged more quickly. Both have plenty of cycle life for agricultural applications, but IDTechEx suggests that other emerging options with higher energy density could offer a better fit.
Solid-state batteries (SSBs) and silicon anode batteries are two emerging technologies that might work well in tractors. Both offer improvements in energy density when compared to NMC and LFP, making it easier to put more kWh of battery capacity onto the tractor. Both offer good to high recharging performance, minimising downtime. Finally, both offer the equivalent or higher safety than LFP and NMC. Unfortunately, both technologies are also very new, still in the early stages of commercialisation, and therefore are very expensive. Solid-state batteries and silicon anode batteries make a good fit for agricultural machines from an engineering perspective, but unfortunately, they don’t quite make the business case, for now.
IDTechEx’s report considers a total of 15 machine types across construction, agriculture, and mining, evaluating the needs of each and matching them up against ten existing and emerging battery technologies. The report forecasts that SSB and silicon anode will have a small market share of battery demand for agricultural vehicles once they are more mature, but demand will still be dominated by NMC and LFP, even in 2034.
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