May 2011

Until the unreasonably large dollops of rain (for some) this autumn has, from a grass growing and market return perspective, been a “good un”.  We have certainly enjoyed working with clients that feel that their efforts are at last being fairly rewarded, and long may it continue!
 
Nitrate leaching data
 
Following are the interim results from the two properties at Reporoa, one using an ESI based programme on the area where the drainage pipes are sited and the other using a conventional fertiliser N driven programme. Hopefully by the time the next Newsletter goes to print the figures from the two sites near Edgecumbe will be available to put with the grass growth data from the site using the ESI programme.
 
It is important to remember that field experiments “need the co-operation of several disciplines for periods up to 15 years, and certainly an individual trial cannot be completed in less than ten years”.
Fertilisers and Soils in New Zealand Farming   C During 1984.
 
The results need to be interpreted, however a basic understanding of soils and plants along with common sense and regular observation will ensure that we don’t need to wait ten years to have sufficiently good data for further steps in alternative soil fertility programmes to be taken.
 
Although only the interim nitrate leaching results are available it is likely that the amount of other nutrients will follow the same pattern.
 
The logic we have used over the last 20+ years has been that if we are able to encourage pasture plant roots to a depth of 0.5m and deeper and improve the friability of the soil by stimulating biological activity then plants will capture a large proportion of applied nutrient before it enters the ground water.
 
Humus-rich, well-structured soils also have the ability to hold more nutrient, releasing it steadily to meet plant needs.   Both the efficiency and effectiveness of applied nutrient is enhanced.
 

Berryman facts and figures
The Berryman property is now at the end of the 4^th season and in each season less than 20kg/ha of fertiliser N has been applied.  The total pasture production figures speak for themselves.  There are several thousand kilograms of nitrogen held in the top 25cm of the soil, and with the regular use of CalciZest and DoloZest plants are able to draw on enough of that nitrogen for optimum annual growth.   
 

	Berryman Total Grown average kg/ha ’08-’09 16,146 ’09-’10 15,070 ’10-’11 18,420			Average daily growth rates   08 - '09  '09-'10 10-'11 May 31 31 31 June 26 10 24 July 23 15 24 Aug 28 42 35 Sept 46 36 30 Oct 58 53 64 Nov 59 76 58 Dec 86 63 69 Jan 43 41 74 Feb 59 66 92 March 45 23 60 April 32 33 46
		Average herd test figures for the 2010-2011 season       260 Days in milk   per cow     % milk fat   3.90 289 kg fat % protein   3.40 252 kg protein     541 total MS/cow               7% MT rate
	One description we like to use is that truly healthy soil is one where vigorously growing plants are largely unaffected by pest or disease of any description, and well fed animals grazing the plants are largely unaffected by parasites. No worm drenches have been used on the Berryman property for the last four years.  On our own property at Te Puea Road just prior to selling it in August last year, dung samples from yearling stags contained no worm eggs.  Our programme had been in place for close to 9 years at that time and no worm drenches had been administered.

Our understanding is that by fully feeding high energy (brix) pastures at all times the immune system of the animal is able to withstand parasite pressure.  High brix readings can only consistently be obtained when all elements both major and minor are available to plants.
 
Crops other than pasture
 
We often get asked the question, “will I get the same sort of performance improvement with other crops”?  If the crop is grown in soil and DoloZest/CalciZest are part of a nutrient input programme that ensures all major and minor mineral are sufficiently available for maximum growth the answer is “yes”.
 
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King Orchard Profile
 

Nelson King has regularly applied DoloZest followed by SeaZest to the trees in his 3.5 ha orchard on SH30 at Onepu.
 
The first application was in April 2007 and the results since carefully monitored.
 
Nelson’s father Ronald purchased the land in 1941 with initial orchard plantings in 1955.  Apples were initially planted, the varieties being Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, Kids Orange, Rome Beauty.
 
Nelson started work in partnership with his father in 1965 and assumed full control in 1972, developing a meticulous orchard producing top quality fruit.
 
Family owned and worked enterprises are becoming increasingly fewer particularly where all aspects from growing through to marketing and selling are undertaken.  All fruit grown on the King orchard are sold locally.
 
Presently the orchard has a mix of; Miyagawa and Silverhill mandarin, Tangelos, Parent Naval Oranges, along with Fuji and Gala apples.
 
A block of recently planted 370 Albany Surprise table grapes cropped very heavily this season, and in hindsight given the vigour of the vines fewer could have been planted.
 
Since applying DoloZest and SeaZest there has been a steady increase in fruit yield with apple production outstripping demand this season.
 
“Over the last two years my customers have regularly remarked on the improved taste and better keeping quality!”
 
Fruit are maturing earlier with Gala apples being picked the first week in February, a week to ten days earlier than normal with an abundance of shiny pink faced fruit indicating excellent tree health.
 
The increase in Parent Navel fruit produced is significant. 
The block regularly produced 40 – 42  350kg bins for a period of 10 – 18 years with a subsequent decline to 8 bins over the 5 years prior to the application of DoloZest and SeaZest.  This year Nelson estimates that 12 –14 bins of fruit will be harvested and with the amount of strong young fruiting timber, a further significant increase in production next year can be expected. 
 

Nelson comments that people no longer eat the quantity of fruit consumed by earlier generations and puts part of this down to an increase in the consumption of high sugar and fat convenience foods.
 
The taste of high brix tree ripened fruit is never forgotten, and when eaten regularly can become quite addictive.  Nothing else is as delicious as freshly picked, nutritionally dense locally grown fruit.
Nelson delivers fruit to Whakatane & Kawerau on a weekly basis and can be contacted on
07 322 8348.

The following was printed in an earlier DoloZest News and is the basis for deciding on the optimum time to graze pastures.

 

The optimum grazing time is when pasture growth has slowed after the rapid growth phase.  As leaf surface area increases the plant is able to utilise more of the available sunlight. At this stage plant energy is at its greatest, and brix readings in excess of 10 can be expected under an ESI programme. 
 
Energy formed in the leaf is translocated to the plant root increasing the activity of mycorrhizal fungi.  Mycorrhizal fungi extend from roots increasing the ability of the plant to harvest both phosphorus and moisture. 
 
The correct rotation length is the one that allows sufficient time between grazings for the optimum length to be obtained.  For ease of maths let’s assume that the optimum length is an average cover of 3,000kgDM/ha.  
 
If the pasture is uniformly grazed to 1,200kgDM/ha and an average October growth rate of 60kgDM/ha/day is obtained, the pasture will again reach 3,000kgDM in 30 days.
 
In April/ May, if the growth rate is 30kgDM/ha/day, then theoretically 60 days will be required for cover to again be 3,000kgDM.
 
As with all averages and theoretical situations, the practical will be different, which is why regular observation is necessary for best results.
 
An important fact to remember when allocating feed for animals behind wires is that the growth of a plant grazed three times in quick succession will be significantly reduced hence the reason for back fencing during winter.  It really does make a difference.