Articles
Practical guides on crops, soil, water, fertilizer and storage for farms in hot climates.
A Simple Way to Schedule Irrigation
Water when the crop needs it, not by habit. Track weather and root-zone depth to decide how much and how often.
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Watermelon and Melon: Where Sweetness Comes From
Sweetness is made in the last weeks: healthy leaves, potassium, and less water before harvest give a better fruit.
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Warehouse Layout and Hygiene for Bagged Grain
A good layout cuts losses: pallets, aisles, ventilation and a first-in first-out system keep grain sound and easy to inspect.
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Wheat: Sowing Date and Seed Rate That Pay
Late sowing and heat at grain filling are wheat's main yield thieves. Plan the sowing date backwards from the heat.
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Plant Viruses in Vegetables: Control the Vector
Viruses cannot be sprayed away. Control the insects that carry them, use clean seedlings and remove infected plants early.
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Rent or Buy Farm Machinery? A Simple Test
Compare yearly hours of use with purchase and running cost. Machines used little are cheaper to hire.
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How to Read a Fertilizer Label Before You Buy
The label tells you nutrients, form and solubility. Check them against your crop and method to avoid paying for what you cannot use.
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Stored-Grain Insects: Weevils, Borers and Beetles
Insects start small and double every few weeks in warm stores. Clean stores, dry grain and regular checks keep them out.
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Beneficial Insects and Pollinators: Protect Your Free Workers
Bees pollinate and ladybirds eat aphids. Spray carefully, grow flowering margins and you get more yield for less cost.
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Sandy Soil: Make It Hold Water and Food
Sandy soil drains fast and loses nutrients. Organic matter, small frequent doses and drip irrigation make it productive.
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Grafting Vegetables Onto Resistant Rootstock
Grafting tomato, eggplant or cucumber onto strong rootstock protects against soil diseases and nematodes and can raise yield.
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NPK on the Bag: What the Three Numbers Mean
The three numbers are the percentage of nitrogen, phosphate and potash. Knowing them lets you compare price per nutrient.
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