Oasis Agri

10/03/2026

Soil Compaction

Soil compaction is a common issue in agricultural lands across the globe.
It is typically caused by management practices such as traffic lines from heavy farm machinery, driving on wet soil, livestock trampling (pugging), and tillage practices.

Causes:
Soil compaction can occur at various depths. Surface compaction is commonly caused by hoof action from livestock and from vehicle traffic. Deeper compaction layers typically develop from tillage practices causing plough pans at various depths.

Effects:
Soil compaction results in reduced plant growth due to restricted root pe*******on, which leads to stunted crops, reduced nutrient uptake, and lower yields.
Poor drainage and aeration, compacted soils become waterlogged or suffer from lack of oxygen, which is critical for root health.
Increased erosion through decreased infiltration, which causes higher surface water runoff.
Drought vulnerability, as compacted soil has a lower capacity to store water, increasing stress during dry periods.

Detection:
Soil compaction can be detected visually by indicators which include waterlogged surface areas, slow water infiltration and indicator w**d species. It is measured by high bulk density in a laboratory or using a soil penetrometer as a field measurement tool.

Management and Prevention:
There are various preventative and management practices to address soil compaction.

•Avoid operating heavy machinery on wet soils and use controlled traffic when driving through fields.

•Modify tillage practices where possible. Soil type will also play a large role with management practices.

•Cover crops and fodder crop selection, using different rooting structures to reduce compaction and improve water infiltration. Increased organic matter and soil carbon levels will further assist.

•Aeration using mechanical aerators to create macropores for aeration and water infiltration.

•Oasis™88 to improve water infiltration and decrease compaction.

Contact the Oasis Agri team for more detailed management solutions. www.oasis-agri.com

26/01/2026

Planting For Profit

Last week the Oasis Agri team joined a group of farmers in the Eastern Cape to discuss factors influencing farming decision making and practical tests that farmers can conduct in their fields.

A variety of topics were covered, including mapping, soil sampling, understanding soil and leaf analysis results, fertiliser choices, crop and farm decision-making, grazing strategies, irrigation management and farm monitoring.

10/12/2025

Trace Element Focus: Zinc

race elements can be found in various parts of plant tissue and play critical roles in plant growth and development, flower and fruit production, defence and stress resistance and crop quality. Some trace elements are even required for the soil biology that assists with nitrogen fixation.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system. Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-10-zinc/

ZINC (Zn) Functions in Plants and Soil: Enzyme Activation: Zinc acts as a co-factor for various enzymes. It can assist with enzyme structure, enzyme activati...

03/12/2025

Trace Element Focus: Selenium

Trace elements can be found in various parts of plant tissue and play critical roles in plant growth and development, flower and fruit production, defence and stress resistance and crop quality. Some trace elements are even required for the soil biology that assists with nitrogen fixation.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system. Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-9-selenium/

SELENIUM (Se) Functions in Plants and Soil: Antioxidant Defense: Selenium increases the production of antioxidant enzymes and molecules, which scavenge damag...

28/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Silica

Trace elements can be found in various parts of plant tissue and play critical roles in plant growth and development, flower and fruit production, defence and stress resistance and crop quality. Some trace elements are even required for the soil biology that assists with nitrogen fixation.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system. Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-8-silica/

SILICA (SiO4) Functions in Plants and Soil: Physical Defense: Silica integrates with cellulose and lignin in cell walls, making them more rigid and resilient...

26/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Nickel

Micronutrients are essential for plant, soil, and animal health, and are equally as important as macronutrients.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system.

Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-7-nickel/

NICKEL (Ni) Functions in Plants and Soil: Nitrogen Metabolism: Nickel is essential for activating the enzyme urease, which is necessary to convert urea into ...

24/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Molybdenum

Trace elements, also known as micronutrients, are essential for plant health, even though plants need them in small amounts. They act as catalysts in various biochemical reactions, including enzyme activation, chlorophyll formation and protein synthesis.

Trace elements can be found in various parts of plant tissue and play critical roles in plant growth and development, flower and fruit production, defence and stress resistance and crop quality. Some trace elements are even required for the soil biology that assists with nitrogen fixation.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system. Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-6-molybdenum/

MOLYBDENUM (Mo) Functions in Plants and Soil: Nitrogen Metabolism: Molybdenum is essential for the enzyme nitrate reductase break down nitrates absorbed from...

18/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Manganese

Trace elements, also known as micronutrients, are essential for plant health, even though plants need them in small amounts. They act as catalysts in various biochemical reactions, including enzyme activation, chlorophyll formation and protein synthesis.

Trace elements can be found in various parts of plant tissue and play critical roles in plant growth and development, flower and fruit production, defence and stress resistance and crop quality. Some trace elements are even required for the soil biology that assists with nitrogen fixation.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system. Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-5-manganese/

MANGANESE (Mn) Functions in Plants and Soil: Photosynthesis: Manganese is essential for energy production during photosynthesis; it is crucial for converting...

14/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Iodine

Iodine is one of the less well-known trace elements. Much of the research regarding its function in plants has only occurred in the past decade.

Iodine deficiency is not as clear as other nutrient deficiencies. Typically, symptoms are more related to crop growth and development. Symptoms are not usually noticeable, but when iodine is applied at adequate quantities there is a noticeable difference in the crop.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system.

Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

Follow the link to read more:
https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-4-iodine/

IODINE (I) Functions in Plants and Soil: Promotes Growth: Iodine has been shown to increase both leaf and root biomass. Which in turn improves nutrient and w...

12/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Copper

Micronutrients are essential for plant, soil, and animal health, and are equally as important as macronutrients.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system.

Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

Follow the link to read more:
https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-3-copper/

COPPER (Cu) Functions in Plants and Soil: Photosynthesis and Respiration: Copper is necessary for electron transport within a plant, this is necessary for ph...

07/11/2025

Trace Element Focus: Cobalt

Trace elements, also known as micronutrients, are essential for plant health, even though plants need them in small amounts. They act as catalysts in various biochemical reactions, including enzyme activation, chlorophyll formation and protein synthesis.

Trace elements can be found in various parts of plant tissue and play critical roles in plant growth and development, flower and fruit production, defence and stress resistance and crop quality. Some trace elements are even required for the soil biology that assists with nitrogen fixation.

Every trace element incorporated into our uniquely formulated prescription blends serve a distinct role within the plant system. Our prescription blends feature a range of trace elements, including boron, cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silica, selenium, and zinc.

https://oasis-agri.com/oasis-agri-prescription-blended-trace-elements-nutrients-and-functions-part-2-cobalt/

COBALT (Co) Functions in Plants and Soil: Nitrogen fixation: In legumes, cobalt is essential in assisting rhizobia bacteria in converting atmospheric nitroge...