Fert facts part three

Better soils
with Brett Petersen
Kiwi Fertiliser & Golden Bay Dolomite

 Over the coming months, Brett will share 40 facts about fertiliser that will help optimise your soil. Here is the third instalment.

21 Dr Linus Pauling, winner of two Nobel Prizes, stated: "In my opinion, one can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to mineral deficiency”.

If you accept this statement, then: Stock health problems are caused by poor fertiliser practices; insect problems are a symptom of poor fertiliser programmes; fungal and bacterial diseases are symptoms of poor fertiliser programmes; fruit and vegetables that do not store have been grown with incorrect fertilisers; if you are dipping, dagging, and drenching; your fertiliser programme is not working; if you must constantly re-grass areas of your farm; your fertiliser is failing you; and if there is a crust on the effluent pond, the fertiliser programme is the cause.


22 Most people confuse symptoms with causes. This is deeply ingrained in our lives. The disease itself is not the cause; it is a symptom of an already failing and deficient system. Once you accept that, you will have control over whether you and your property will be as susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses (for example, drought) or not.

 

23 Replacing the nutrients removed on an annual basis will not keep your soils in top efficient working order when you do that from a deficient or excess platform.


24 Organic matter is the single most important factor determining profit, yet just one kilogram of excess nitrogen will account for a loss of 100kg of soil carbon. Organic matter will decline slowly but surely.

25 Most farm soils being ‘fed’ chemical fertilisers are losing organic matter and the ability to hold nutrients and moisture. They are becoming more drought-prone, and pasture growth rates are decreasing, especially with very soluble nitrogen products.

26 Over time, correct fertiliser policies substantially drought-proof the soil, build organic matter and improve plant and animal health.

27 If soil with one per cent humus can hold 24,000 litres of water, or the equivalent of 24mm rain before the water runs off, then five per cent humus soil can hold 144mm of rain. More than 144mm of rain falling on soil with five per cent humus will be lost to runoff, (depending on intensity). If soil has low levels of humus, it will not store enough water to feed rivers over summer, which is why summer river flows have been decreasing for many years.

28 On average, 73 per cent of acid phosphate products complex (tie up) with aluminium, calcium, manganese, and iron within six weeks of application. Alkaline phosphate products cost more, but are better value, as they do not tie up and become fully available for plant use.

29 Phosphorus, along with nitrogen is responsible for eutrophication of our water supplies. Eutrophication is increased algal growth and decreased oxygen levels of drains, rivers, and lakes, owing to chemical phosphorus and nitrogen reaching waterways. One kilogram of phosphorus can grow 350-700kg of algae.

30 Available phosphorus translates into better stock growth rates and weight gain. Replacing acid phosphorus with alkaline fertilisers and increasing calcium levels will cause elevated aluminium and iron levels to fall as the soil comes into balance. Weed pressure will also reduce.

Brett Petersen says a correct fertiliser programme means the pond will never have a crust.

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