DI Farm Systems FAQ
Crop growth in Africa
Community farms in Africa
The circular area cropped is 1.5 M diameter, 1.77 M2 per bag. Any vegetable can be grown. For example, in this small area, 180 butter lettuce was planted.
Farms can be as small as 4 DI bags for a micro household farm. Bags can be filled by gerry can. The optimal is 1 acre with 1,700 DI bags in a circular pattern.
1 acre of land cropped at 75% with 1700 DI bag systems will yield 119,000 kg over 3 to 4 months.
Community farms in Kenya
DI farming systems are being taught to children in schools sponsored by government and church groups.
The children receive the nutrition from crops they grow themselves. They participate in the farming, then teach their families and the community to become food self sufficient. In the image, each DI bag is planted with 35 tomato plants and will produce a crop of 70 kg from 1.77 M2.
In this image, the headmistress and the local governor are participating with the local community.
DI -The highest yield. The highest ranking performer in water savings
In this image, cherry tomatoes are grown around the DI bag. 35 plants reached a height of 3 meters. Each plant is yielding 2 kg of tomatoes over 90 to 120 days. The water is concentrated in the 1.77 M2 area to nourish the crops. Every water drop is efficiently absorbed.
DI -Food security
DI farms in the Jordan Valley welcomed ministerial delegations from Africa, India and the Middle East.
In a world focused on plastics, electronics, algorithms and spare parts, DI provides the simplest technological solution by infusing fibres with proprietary waxes and oils mixed at high temperature and pressure before the weaving. The farmer only needs to add water.
DI has achieved the highest yield per M2 compared to any irrigation system suitable for semi-arid climates.
FAQ
Why is there a food crisis? Half of the world has only ground water (wells and aquifers) and does not have the infrastructure of filtration and pressurised water. Semi-arid climates do not have an effective way to irrigate. Irrigation equals crop growth.
Why is reforestation not succeeding? Trees must have a water supply to survive until their roots are deep enough to tap sub ground moisture. There are no effective methods. DI achieves survival of planted trees.
How long does the DI bag last? 2 years.
How many litres of water are in one DI bag? 7 litres. DI can make larger capacity bags to order if needed.
How long does it take the bag to drip empty? Between 1 to 24 hours. If the DI bag is initially moistened or submerged prior to filling, the canvas swells. Approximately 10 minutes of soaking will provide a 2-hour drip. 30 minutes of soaking a 12-hour drip. 2 hours of soaking a 24-hour drip. Once the bag has been filled and is moist, the drip rate will follow the previous filling and dripping rate. This is essential for seasonal changes. DI bags can be dried for 24 hours, and then the fibres of the canvas will contract and water will drip faster.
How high above the ground should the DI bag be suspended? 10 to 20 cm. for two reasons. The bag allows surface evaporative cooling of the water. As the drips fall to the ground through the air, they collect oxygen. Plants thrive on cool oxygenated drops, similar to rain.
How is the DI bag suspended? A bamboo, wood or steel stake or a sapling.
Why is DI made from natural canvas? DI canvas will decompose naturally if buried in the ground. With DI there is no pollution. Plastic introduces toxic chemicals and microplastics into the food and water supply.
What is the area that can be cropped? The DI bag will irrigate a circular area of 1.5 meters diameter. 1.77 M2. The centre of the circle is raised 10 inches to facilitate water to radiate through the top soil.
What is the yield of vegetables from one DI bag? If the 1.77 M2 growing circle is cropped with cherry tomato plants. 35 plants can be grown producing a harvest of 70 kg. If the area is cropped with lettuce (butterhead/loose leaf), 184 plants can be harvested.
Can any vegetable be grown? Yes
How is the top soil enriched? Because only 1.77 M2 of earth needs to be enriched, natural dry manure from sheep, goats, cattle and chickens can be mixed effectively with only hand tools. The depth of the top soil is 50 cm. The most effective mixing method is 60% top soil, 40% manure and water, similar to mixing cement.
Why is dry manure the best? Dry manure is easily stored and ammonia emissions are reduced. The weight is reduced substantially so transport costs are lower and the manure is more valuable as a fertilizer. As manure dries, the nutrients concentrate on a weight basis.
What happens after a harvest? There are two options. The objective is to stop bacteria and fungus from decomposing roots left over from the previous crop. Option 1 is to sieve and extract the left over roots. Option 2: Move the DI bag 1.5 meters. In both options more manure can be added between crops. This ensures the top soil is full with nutrients to maximise organic growth.
Is synthetic fertiliser needed? No. Natural manure only is used and enriches the soil after each harvest, because only 1.77 M2 at a depth of 50 cm is needed using a ratio of 40% manure. This is affordable; manure is plentiful and easily worked into the soil. Natural manure is earthworm friendly. Earthworms are extremely effective to oxygenate the soil. Synthetic fertilisers are toxic to earth worms.
Why is DI yield so high? Natural manure enriches the top soil. The top soil is fresh to ensure it is free from previous decomposing crop roots that spread fungus. The DI bag drips and radiates the water supply. Soil is constantly moist. Water dripped is cool and oxygenated. Crops thrive.
Pest control. Snails and slugs will not infest because they need a moist area to slide over. Moisture is confined to 1.77 M2 area. The surrounding earth is dry. Flying pests can be controlled using pungent tasting herbs, i.e. garlic, coffee, rosemary, lavender which can be boiled and the concentrate can be sprayed onto the crops. This is achievable because the area is so concentrated.
Weed control. There are few or no weeds because the crops are so intensively planted no sunlight can penetrate for weeds to grow. Water is confined to a 1.5 M diameter circle, so there is no water run off to the surrounding soil. No weed control chemicals are needed. No toxic glyphosate is needed that has been banned in many western countries.
Are tractors needed? No. All DI farming systems are easily achievable with hand tools.
Is diesel fuel needed? No. There is no need.
Can DI bags have automated water filling? Yes. DI bags are spaced concentrically around a small central water tank elevated 1.2 meters above ground. This is enough to gravity feed rubber hoses to each DI bag. Filling can be controlled by one tap. The tank can be filled using a solar-powered pump or a wind mill.
Does water have to be filtered? No. DI bags can be easily washed out, or allowed to dry, and dust will blow out in the wind. DI bags are suitable for unfiltered water raised from wells.
Can I clean the DI bag? Yes. It can be sprayed with water and rinsed out, or let it dry, and dust and dirt will fall away.
Does the DI bag use less water than other irrigation methods? DI uses less than half the water used for drip irrigation and 85% less than furrow irrigation per M2.
How much more do DI farming methods yield over others? DI yields are 5 times higher per M2 than drip irrigation and 10 times higher than furrow irrigation.
Are DI farming systems considered organic? Yes, definitely. There is no need for synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and toxic chemicals for weed control.
Why is the DI wax oil coating so unique? DI wax and oil infusion is unique because the secret wax and oil mixture is natural and also anti-microbial. DI synthesised the mixture for infusion using high temperature high pressure techniques adopted from laboratory carbon growth.
What happens to the DI bag after 2 years? There is every reason the DI bag will continue working for longer. DI bags have been in the field constantly for 2 years. The bags will decompose if buried in the earth. During the winter months or wet season, DI bags can be dried out and stored.
Reforestation. A sapling can be planted. The 1.77 M2 circular area of the base of the tree can be planted with crops. This is an effective way to establish tree growth with a food or cash crop for the farmer.
We love our planet
DI systems empower all people, whether it’s a kitchen farm, a village or a capital city, with food growth on a yield scale never before achieved. DI achieves this by saving every drop of water, and using natural dry manure for soil enrichment.
DI systems do not need tractors ploughing large fields. DI stops the pollution of diesel farm machinery. DI does not need toxic chemicals for weed control, aka glyphosate, because there is no excess run off. DI does not use chemical pesticides. DI farmers are trained to use boiled natural herb concentrate sprays. DI farms do not need synthetic fertiliser that produce water-swollen vegetables with little nutrition. DI replenishes the land.