December 2013
VIEWPOINT
with John Barnes, Managing Director – December 2013
As we finish another year we can look back and reflect on the seasons as they unfolded. Early in the year we had a New Zealand wide drought. It would be the worst in living memory, especially as most dry spells are regional, unlike this one.
As we reflect on this, it has brought to attention some aspects of farming which will help in future dry periods. First is the organic matter in the soil which needs to have as much carbon as possible. While there is no such thing as a typical soil, for the sake of this article I will make some general assumptions.
Soil organic matter has been dropping. This means the amount of carbon in the soil is below what it was when the measurements began. There are a range of reasons for this, which include tilling and the misuse of chemical fertilisers. Our droughts will become greater in impact, simply because our water holding capacity in the soil is less than it was. This means there is a need to increase the carbon in the soil and increase the soils water holding capacity. This will have an impact on other areas such as irrigation.
Turning around organic depletion is one of the corner stones of Fertilizer New Zealand. Our VitaLife range bears testament to this as it contains a range of microbes and fungi that are known to break down the thatch, stubble and animal residues on the surface of the soil and turn it in to humus.
Other microbes such as Rhizobia help the clovers fix nitrogen which then will add to the soils natural nitrogen levels, which becomes part of the soil structure and so will not leach. Soil should have +/- 40% parent material, 20% air 20% water[moisture] 5% carbon. If a visual soil assessment is made, and the soil being assessed is one solid block, then it doesn’t have air, which will be the limiting factor.
The Nutrient status of the soil is critical to how the plants will grow. First to look at is Calcium. We believe that calcium is King. A low calcium soil will not produce much if anything. After calcium comes phosphate then sulphur and potash. ALL very important elements. The goldilocks theory comes into play here. Some would call it the Albrecht theory. While we totally agree with his principles, they are only theory and as there is no such thing as a typical soil, there cannot be a cut and dried rule for all soils.
The bit that connects the soil and plant is what is called the root system, with many people thinking it is what stops the plant from being blown away. It is far more than that. The interaction of the hair roots of the plants are a topic for another day but it is a fascinating subject. In short, it is the biological activity that surrounds the root system that feeds the plant. Without this biological activity in the soil we have moon dust. A dead inert medium, this is what happens with over cropping and soil mismanagement. Unfortunately parts of our own country are heading in this direction.
Here again VitaLife comes into its own. There are a range of microbes and fungi which are known to establish stronger root systems and exchange elements for proteins providing a synergetic effect. Once the soil has the right range of matter, air, water, and carbon, and has a balanced diet of elements, a plant with a good root system will automatically do well. This is what we call our biological programme. It isn’t extreme, it takes the best from the solid fertiliser industry, and applies a biological section which enhances and creates an environment for everything to work in harmony.
There are times when a plant isn’t getting all it needs from the soil for whatever reason – this is where a foliar application fits in. Over the years that I have been involved in the fertiliser industry these types of products have been given very bad press. Some of it has been justified. There are some products out there that just don’t measure up.
As 2013 draws to a close, we would like to wish you all a very happy festive season. Don’t allow the commercial aspect of this time of the year get in the way of the real reason for Christmas. Enjoy your time with family and friends. May the New Year bring true your dreams and aspirations.
Here is a quote from Ayn Rand.
The question isn’t who is going to let me; It’s who is going to stop me.