Applying Simple Logic can Provide Answers.

Applying Simple Logic Can Provide Answers.

Peter Burton
7th November 2010


The logic is sound but could the premise be wrong?  Nitrogen is an essential growth element as are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, and a number of other elements.
 
The absence of one or more will limit growth, however does simply applying more of any single element necessarily increase total growth over a twelve-month period?
 
Most intensively farmed pastoral properties at the start of November were “on top of the feed”.  Were fertiliser nitrogen the cure to the lack of surplus then the farms applying most fertiliser nitrogen would have the most grass.  Observation strongly suggests this is not the case.
 
The logic behind applying nitrogen fertiliser by air to water logged pastures is also worth questioning.  Lack of oxygen in the soil is the problem with water logged soils and fertiliser nitrogen is not a cure for that.
 
As farmers we need to accept that climatic conditions have the greatest impact on our ability to grow pasture and crops and there are times when there is little if anything we are able to do except wait for better growing conditions and in the interim look after, as best we are able, the immediate health of plants and animals.
 
Attempting to overcome the issues caused by excess cold and moisture by applying any fertiliser product is both futile and expensive.
 
Creating the soil conditions that favour the pasture species we require and letting mother nature play her part is the very best we can do.  Management of pasture plays a major part in how well the resources at our disposal are used however that’s another article in its own right.
 
Over the coming summer clover is the key to top pastoral farming performance.  Rye grasses go to seed the first week in November every year regardless of locality.  This means the major influence is climatic, particularly soil temperature, and sunshine hours, with the effect of fertiliser inconsequential.
 
Clovers are higher in calcium than rye grasses and logic therefore dictates that increased levels of plant available soil calcium will favour clover growth during summer. Experience, measurements, and observation over many years suggest the logic is sound.
 
It is interesting to note the recent development of the dicalcic market.  For many years the major fertiliser manufacturing companies have expounded two arguments; firstly that our soils are young and therefore rich in calcium, and secondly that all nutrient should be applied at the lowest possible cost.
 
Farmer experience has backed the logic that increased calcium applied to the soil provides increased total farm performance, and there is sound trial work to support.  The cheapest per kilogram of nutrient argument means that there has been insufficient focus on outcomes.
 
Having made this major shift in position, the next step is to accept that the application of beneficial soil microbes, fungi and bacteria, can also have a major impact on soil health, which then flows through to plant and animal performance, and ultimately human health.
 
There are scientists who accept the logic and work with plots and pots support the argument.  It is through ongoing observation and measurement of performance in broad acre that the acceptance of these inputs will become widespread.
 
DoloZest and CalciZest made by Eco-Logic Soil Improvement are now into their tenth year of manufacture and sale.
 

	Clover % in pasture
	properties (6) with DoloZest & CalciZest	properties (6) without DoloZest & CalciZest
September	20%	11%
October	24%	12%
November	31%	12%
December	35%	18%