‘FIJI SOIL IS SICK, LIMING CAN HELP’

SHRATIKA NAIDU

The soil in Fiji is sick, says Sugar Research Institute of Fiji (SRIF) chief executive officer Professor and soil scientist, Santiago Mahimairaja.

Speaking during the world soil day celebration at the Friendly North Inn, Labasa last week, he said this was the simple and strong message to share. “When I say the soil in Fiji is sick, I mean in terms of its chemical, physical and biological properties,” Professor Mahimairaja said.

“Based on our 2021 analytic data about 83 percent of soil in Viti Levu’s sugarcane farms is acidic while 100 percent of soil is acidic in Vanua Levu.”

He said they received about 650 samples from various sugarcane farms across Vanua Levu and all were acidic.

He further explained about the result gathered from the samples on soil fertility statues.

“The nitrogen is low, potassium is relatively high, and propherous is about medium level in content,” he said.

“Due to the high level of acidity, whatever chemical had to be used to re-soil, it may not be used by the plant.”

He said that the entire agriculture system very much depends on soil health.

“Not only soil is very important for sustaining all the life support systems on the earth, it plays a major role particularly for agriculture and crop production,” he said. “Considering the importance of soil we decided to observe the world soil day with an objective to educate our farmers, public, policy makers.”

Unfortunately, he said the awareness of soil health was very much limited in Fiji.

One of his recommendations based on scientific findings is liming the soil to improve the soil and improve fertility.

Liming is the application of calcium- and magnesium-rich materials in various forms, including marl, chalk, limestone, burnt lime or hydrated lime. In acid soils, these materials react as a base and neutralize soil acidity.