CalciZest

CalciZest - Essence of Clover

Producing higher quality food.

The future of New Zealand intensive pastoral farming will remain based on pastures containing both grass and clover, with clover providing the bulk of the nitrogen required for high production.

Over the last twenty years increasing quantities of nitrogen fertiliser has been applied to New Zealand pastures and many farms have developed a dependence on regular fertiliser nitrogen applications to maintain growth.

A reliance on fertiliser nitrogen for high pasture yield is unsustainable.

The cost of nitrogen fertiliser will increase as the cost of all oil or coal derived energy increases, and with a growing awareness of the importance of water quality, the use of fertiliser nitrogen is becoming increasingly regulated.

CalciZest provides the basis of the solution to long-term pasture nitrogen requirements, with Visual Soil Assessment work by Graham Shepherd indicating that properties using CalciZest based programmes are both sequestering carbon and have low potential for greenhouse gas emissions.

In the 2006 spring, 6 properties applying CalciZest and/or DoloZest had the following percentage of clover in the sward compared to 6 traditionally fertilised properties.
 

	Well managed pastures using CalciZest as part of a sound nutrient programme are able to provide dry matter yield in excess of 18.0 tonne without the need for fertiliser nitrogen.   Clover % in pasture
	properties (6) with DoloZest &/or CalciZest	properties (6) without DoloZest &/or CalciZest
September	20%	11%
October	24%	12%
November	31%	12%
December	35%	18%

 

Early in November rye grass, usually the dominant grass in pastures, changes from strong vegetative growth to developing a seed head.

From the table above it can be seen that the clover content in well-managed pastures steadily increases throughout spring and early summer, providing a range of benefits.

Clover contains significantly higher levels of calcium than rye grass.  Whether the focus is milk production, or the growth of animal frame and meat production, calcium provides the base.

Clover is also more digestible than grasses, which means that animals can eat more,
grow more rapidly, and produce more milk solids.

• More total dry matter with steady annual increases
• A higher percentage of clover in sward
• Reduction in the need for fertiliser nitrogen
• Markedly improved weight gains and total animal performance
• Cleaner animals, fewer dags and dirty tails
• Improved drainage with better drought resistance due to increasing humus levels 

Eco-Logic CalciZest is a unique Soil Improver containing Calcium (lime),Organic Matter and Microbes for Plant Growth & Soil Health.

Clover is and will remain the most important plant in pastoral New Zealand. In 2003 it was estimated to “contribute $3 billion annually to the New Zealand economy and each one per cent improvement in yield has been estimated to be worth more than $20 million”. Fast-forward to 2007/08 and those figures will be markedly higher; with clover now likely to rank even higher in this country’s top 20 essential survival items. The country as a whole benefits from higher clover production but what of the individual farmer? More clover grown means:- higher total milk, meat, and wool yields less nitrogen fertiliser required lower overall costs more disposable or bankable money

In the 2006 spring, 6 properties applying CalciZest and/or DoloZest had the following percentage of clover in the sward compared to 6 traditionally fertilised properties.

Rapidly cycling plant available calcium is the key to growing more clover. Clover has a higher requirement for calcium than does rye grass.

Just applying lime will help grow more clover however applying calcium in the form of CalciZest will be even more effective. 

CalciZest is highly effective because it contains a wide range of soil friendly fungi and bacteria that help speed nutrient cycling. Also included is humate and sufficient food to start the colonisation process. 

The recent addition of fine lime with the aglime provides an immediate boost in biological activity. A rapid greening of pasture is often seen within a few days of application. 

 Increased nutrient cycling assists the formation of humus. More humus ensures:-

• • better drainage
  • reduced compaction and pugging
  • less nutrient run-off and leaching
  • higher moisture retention in summer
  • more even grass growth throughout the season

 Creating an environment for strong Clover growth ensures little damage by flea, weevil, or any other predator, other than grazing ruminants. Clover stem length increases with larger leaves obvious at the top of the sward.

It is possible and we have monitoring work that clearly shows Clovers are able to provide sufficient nitrogen for high producing intensive dairy farming. This work also highlights ongoing increases in total pasture production.
 

A Typical Analysis of CalciZest