April 2010
“
. . . . considering we have suffered 3 droughts in a row and this time last year we were almost down to bare earth . . . . The response has been amazing and our stock are way above any level they have ever been before . . . .” Susie Percy, Makarika Station, Ruatoria 18
th Dec 2009
We have always promoted the concept thatsoil health, plant, animal, and human health, are in the same basket, interdependent, and the health of any farm is only as good as its weakest component.
Any company advocating only a single component, and not interested in or capable of putting together all the pieces are simply not selling soil fertility regardless of the label applied.
There are some excellent and robust measures that can be used and with a little time and effort you can identify the aspects where improvements can be made that will steadily enhance total farm performance.
Soil tests through any reputable laboratory provide useful information. All results need interpretation, which is why the history of nutrient applied particularly over the last five years is important. Well-taken soil tests usually reflect fertiliser history.
Leaf testing is another important measure and can be conducted at any time however there are seasonal changes that need to be taken into consideration when interpreting.
The Visual Soil Assessment (VSA) developed by Graham Shepherd is an internationally accepted method of assessing and monitoring soil quality as well as pasture and crop performance.
The VSA includes as one of its measures an earthworm count, a major component of soil biology. The areas where worms are or have recently worked (worms are not uniformly spread throughout the soil) are areas suited to other beneficial soil microbes and macrobes.
Smell is a recently added measure. Healthy soils have a distinct rich, earthy, sweet, wholesome or fresh smell.
Part of this highly informative assessment are the visual pasture indicators. There are ten separate indicators and when the score from both the plant and soil indicators are compared an accurate assessment of the health of the property can be made.
Animal health and production is closely aligned to soil and pasture health. Where soil and pasture health are less than ideal animal health and performance is similarly compromised. Conversely where there are ongoing animal health issues on a property there are likely be soil and plant indicators that measure lower than ideal.
Measure! Measure! Measure!
Properties with truly healthy soils are soft under foot and feel good to walk on. They smell good, pastures look good and should you wish to chew on a grass stalk the taste is also good.
There is no static state for health. Health is either improving or deteriorating and when improving
all aspects of health improve.
Collect as much information as possible and keep asking questions. The answers are available and when they start to become apparent the solutions are straightforward, uncomplicated and the return on investment is outstanding.
Observant thinking farmers know what is good for their soil just as people know what food promotes their own health and that which does not.
Observe! Observe! Observe!
Soil compaction.
Soil compresses under stock feet and the pressure applied to the soil particularly when animals are confined during winter is very high.
Compaction occurs when soils do not ‘spring’ back after grazing. Healthy soils are like a sponge or piece of foam rubber steadily regaining ideal structure after pressure has been applied.
Sometimes compacted layers develop at 3 – 4 inches (7.5 – 10cm), with the bulk of plant roots confined to that area. Hard layers or pans may develop at deeper levels.
The application of DoloZest or CalciZest has the ability over time to break up pans, even very hard pans. Hard iron pans below half a metre deep have steadily become permeable allowing excess moisture to drain. We have similar experience with pipe clay. It has taken up to two years for drainage to become significantly better however there is a steady improvement soon after the first application.
The use of a soil aerator will alleviate the problems associated with compaction however they do not necessarily correct the reason for soils compacting. Soils compact because they are in a condition to compact. DoloZest and CalciZest were developed as soil improvers. Their ability to break up deep hard pans has surprised, as has the speed at which that occurs.
Even when soils become too dry for rapid growth, as has been the case over recent months in many areas, well-structured soils do not become really hard. We’ve received comments recently from clients mentioning that electric fence standards have been surprisingly easy to push into the ground over summer.
Moisture retention
Well-structured high VSA scoring soils retain more moisture than compacted soils. DoloZest and CalciZest markedly improve the moisture holding capacity of soil. The pasture cuts at the Berryman property near Edgecumbe help provide a measure of the ability of grasses and clovers growing in well structured soils to grow strongly into a dry spell and recover rapidly afterwards with minimal loss of plants.
While doing the latest pasture cuts (9
th April) we took the opportunity to put the spade in the ground and check for moisture. What we observed was excellent black crumb structure that was uniformly moist. Plant roots were well down into the subsoil, loss of plants appears negligible, with few bare patches and all the signs of rapid recovery. Approx. 80 mm of rain fell on the 6
th of April.
With the soil temperature at 17.1ºC the next rain should provide rapid growth and if daytime temperatures remain mild there is still the opportunity to build pasture covers prior to winter.
Robust human health begins with the soil
Just as the human body tends to wellness so do all natural systems including pastoral soils. The human body has the ability to recover from illness and damage and healthy soil likewise has the ability to recover from some of the rugged treatment necessarily received under intensive management with the healthiest soils recovering most rapidly.
Although it does take some time and effort to develop and maintain a vege garden, the same DoloZest/CalciZest mixes as provided for the pasture provide an excellent base for the home vegetable garden. A little more phosphorus is required for vegetables so digging in animal dung at the same time works a treat.
Those wishing to follow the link between soil health and human health may like to view on-line or obtain the thought provoking FOODMATTERS "let thy Food be thy Medicine"
DVD available via www.foodmatters.tv
Re-inoculating soils after a prolonged dry spell ensures dung and dead grass on the soil surface is rapidly broken down providing food for soil organisms and when digested, nutrient including nitrogen becomes available for rapid plant growth.
Some years ago after a long summer dry spell in the Manawatu I was asked to address a discussion group. Their concern was that although grass was growing strongly animals were only eating sufficient for survival. In short there was a plentiful supply of strongly growing grass and hungry animals.
Excess nitrate was the problem and this autumn, particularly if there are long periods of cloudy weather with little direct sunlight, the same may occur.
An immediate solution is to feed hay if it is available. Hay is high in fibre and carbohydrate, a useful balance for nitrate/protein rich rapidly growing grass.
An application of DoloZest where magnesium is required or CalciZest where magnesium is not required will quickly increase plant energy and help with the conversion of nitrates to full protein.
SeaZest, our fish based foliar will also rapidly improve feed quality with best results
after the application of DoloZest or CalciZest.
Obviously the application of nitrogen fertiliser is likely to further increase plant nitrate levels. For those concerned that soil temperatures may drop rapidly soon after rain and therefore contemplating applying a small quantity of fertiliser nitrogen, applying soon after an application of DoloZest/CalciZest the negative effect of increased nitrates will largely be negated.
On low ASC soils where sulphur is likely to leach rapidly under heavy rain the application of SOA and Base Mix is highly effective.
NB DoloZest and CalciZest do not provide magnesium and calcium at the
lowest cost per unit of nutrient.
It is not possible to pay a little and get a lot. When purchasing anything there is an expectation that there will be a benefit. The benefits delivered by DoloZest applied this autumn followed by CalciZest in spring are as follows:-
Pasture
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More rapid recovery of pasture after the dry
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More total pasture grown over the next twelve months
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A more even spread of pasture throughout the year
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Improved animal weight gain and general performance
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Marked reduction in animal calcium/magnesium related metabolic disorders
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Increased clover growth
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Reduction in the requirement for fertiliser nitrogen
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Significant reduction in the need for pasture renewal.
Horticulture
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Heavier yield
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Earlier maturity
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Less pressure from pests or disease.
