An agronomist based in Kiambu Town has urged farmers to reduce relentless digging which reduces the soil nutrients when weeding their farms.
Speaking on Tuesday during a farmer’s field day in Githunguri Sub-County, Simon Gachagua noted that persistent ploughing and weeding of farms has fatigued the lands and contributes to low yields.
The agronomist said the persistent disturbance of the soil through ploughing, digging and weeding has a negative impact on the soil since it is not allowed enough time to build more nutrients.
He gave an example of forests which are never dug and yet plants thrive better than in the constantly exposed soils on the farms.
Gachagua urged farmers to avoid weeding and instead spray their farms before planting to prevent weeds from growing.
"Even in the Bible farms used to be left farrow for some time and that was a way of allowing them to produce more nutrients," said Gachagua.
He said nowadays immediately after harvesting the land is dug and other crops or similar crops are replanted adding that there is real danger if farms are not treated for acidity and left farrow for some time to build nutrients as crops may start failing to germinate.