Do your cows suffer from milk fever, mastitis, or go down at calving? Does your stock get Barbers Pole Worm? Do you have to combat facial eczema? Are you using bloat oil? Do you have difficulty with calf rearing?
Whatever the disease or problem, there are long-term solutions you can use as part of your calcium-magnesium fertiliser programme that, once corrected, do not have to be repeated year after year.
Calcium is perhaps the most important mineral in the soil, significantly influencing numerous chemical, physical, and biological processes.
When the ‘trucker of all minerals’ enters the plant, it takes many other minerals from the soil and helps transport them into the plant. Balancing calcium levels and correcting any soil deficiencies may therefore be the first priority in any fertility restoration program.
Among many other benefits, calcium:
Some deficiency symptoms are:
These symptoms all relate to poor cell division in the plants growing points, which includes the fruit. A continuous supply of calcium is needed for peak yield and quality.
Calcium deficiency in tomatoes, apples, and grass.
Calcium is the most dominant cation in the soil and should occupy 60-70% (PAL soil test) of the negatively charged sites of soil particles. The closer the base saturation percentages are to their ideal the harder the magnesium ion will hold onto the colloid.
Note: crops can still perform when calcium is more or less than ideal, but it is the quality and disease resistance that is compromised, along with soil structure, humus content, soil life, organic matter decay and subsequent nutrient release, and nitrogen-fixing microbes.
Calcium flocculates while magnesium disperses – so a balance is needed to get good pore space. Pore space provides oxygen and water for plant roots and microbes to thrive in.
A common symptom of the calcium-nitrogen interaction is seen in leaf tests where nitrogen levels are excessive and calcium is deficient. It is the nitrate ion that combines with calcium to form calcium nitrate which is then leached away in the soil.
Calcium is very immobile in the plant hence deficiencies are found mainly in the younger leaves; a main constituent of cell walls which play a role in resisting insect and fungal attack.
Calcium is necessary for growing points of leaves and roots, and stimulates seed germination. It does not transport from one part of a plant to another, so newly formed roots, stems and leaves need a continuous supply from the soil.
Calicum sources
Golden Bay Dolomite with, 24% Ca and 11.5% Mg, is the best material to improve soils where both magnesium and calcium are required. To ensure the soil calcium-magnesium quantum remains balanced, a mix of dolomite and lime may be necessary.
The finer lime is ground, the better. Hydrated lime, calcium hydroxide or burnt lime, or calcium oxide are some other forms.
Remember, for every one percent you increase calcium, magnesium is reduced by one percent (provided it is not badly deficient).
Under our current system of soil fertility, we are being encouraged to under-fertilise. This state has existed for many years, but the degree of under fertilising is getting worse. Applying so called maintenance levels of nutrients is not even ensuring soil fertility is static; it is declining.
Base saturation is simply the percentage of exchangeable cations. Cations are the positively charged soil fertility elements. Base saturation is used to identify and measure the % of each cation to determine the soils’ available relative mineral makeup.
Total Exchange Capacity is the sum of the total exchangeable cations. A light soil (eg. Volcanic) having a smaller sum than heavy, alluvial silt loam.
The balance of cations determines soil structure, nutrient holding capacity, and fertiliser requirement for optimum production. Economic decisions can then easily be made to prioritise fertiliser applications.
Some cations are: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, cobalt, copper, iron, zinc, hydrogen, and ammonium.
What we try to achieve (according to a Perry Agricultural Lab test), is calcium to be about 68%, magnesium 10-12%, potassium 2-5%, sodium 0.5-3%, hydrogen 10-15%, and other bases to be about 5%. Don’t try to fit these numbers around another test; it won’t work.
If the cation balance is close to this ideal, we will get good soil structure, moisture movement and retention, drainage, and maximum crop and pasture production and quality. All elements work together synergistically without antagonism, with pH being ideally constructed. Pasture and crop palatability and consequently, animal performance will all excel.
When calcium is present in the correct amount with other cations, the soil is at its most productive and efficient state. If calcium is deficient other cations, eg. Potassium will dominate the herbage to the detriment of animal health. If Ca is in excess, soil will drain and dry out faster. Phosphorus, trace elements and, magnesium availability will be low. Crops and pastures may show clinical symptoms of magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc deficiency. An application of ferrous sulphate will help.
Magnesium excess is not common in NZ. However, too much or too little in the soil results in too little Mg in the plant. Nitrogen efficiency is also affected, taking more N to achieve the same result. Soils stick to machinery when wet and set hard when dry. They take more horse power to work. It is far more common to find Mg deficiency in the soil, particularly as a result of over liming. Dolomite is the best material to build Magnesium; Dunite (serpentine) and mag oxide do not achieve the same results as they release the magnesium too slowly.
If potassium dominates, pasture palatability will be poor. Stock will require salt to compensate or metabolic problems will develop. Leaf carbohydrate can also break down, leading to lower yields. High K suppresses manganese, cobalt and magnesium. Potassium causes the most angst among farmers who are reluctant to apply it. The dilemma they have is high potassium in the herbage, while at the same time it is low in the soil. Most farmers are used to potassium chloride; however potassium sulphate should be used instead. Low soil potassium leads to lower pasture production. Keep calcium, magnesium soil levels up, and high plant potassium will not be such an issue. Some areas of NSW have very high potassium, but growers following this system manage to grow high yielding crops by getting Ca, Mg and Na to the correct levels. The soil under those crops is as hard as concrete.
Sodium percentage must always be lower than potassium. We find in a surprising number of cases, it is the other way around. That situation leads to excess sodium uptake. Plant cell walls can then burst on hot days, leading to dehydration and plant death. Perhaps that situation arises if farmers neglect the potassium, but apply sodium to raise pasture palatability. That is attacking the problem from the wrong end and will never solve it. Always try to solve a problem by removing the cause, not by removing symptoms. If K and Na together exceed 10%, or if Na is higher than K, manganese uptake will be blocked.
The above four cations influence pH. The closer they are to balance, the closer the pH will be to the optimum, being what it should be. Say that is 6.4; however, a 6.4 pH may be obtained by cations out of balance. For this reason, never use fertiliser to change pH. Only add it to change the proportion of the nutrients. pH should be the result of your fertiliser programme, not the cause of it.
They give a logical explanation of your soil.
They give a total blue print of your soil.
They allow you to solve problems.
Farmers can relate data results to both good and problem areas.
No prior knowledge of nutrient levels in the soil is required.
The principles apply to all soils, plants and animals.
They give outstanding yields and quality of both plants and animals.
In the short term, balancing the BS can be an expensive exercise. The alternative is to put on fertiliser to get your crop or pasture through the season. Remember, chemical agriculture is a self-serving, input-driven system. You are advised to apply an unbalanced fertiliser to an unbalanced soil to sustain a state of imbalance, which will then require constant chemical intervention. After 20 years of doing that, the chances are you will be no better of in year 20, than you were in year one. Many farmers are complaining they are worse off.
Balancing will require extra fertiliser. For some, the way to approach that is do a portion of the farm at a time. Hill farmers need to look at their flats first. Other farmers need to consider their silage paddocks, crop paddocks or parts of the property not doing so well. Over time your farm performance will increase, while eventually, your fertiliser applications will decrease. The point at which the fertiliser spend will decrease, depends on how long it takes to reach that balanced plateau. Once there, it is plain sailing down the other side.
The system we use at Kiwi Fertiliser is proven all over the world. This system has produced a world record yield of wheat in Germany; best quantity and quality wheat in NZ; 37-42t+/ha maize silage in USA; best quality and quantity raspberries; best quality and quantity bananas in Guatemala and South Africa; the best performing horse stables in South Africa; 20t+/ha of Lucerne all over the world, and growers being paid US$19/kg for their high yielding grapes by wineries in California, to name just a few successes.
1 A comprehensive soil test should be completed annually to determine what nutrients should be applied to the soil to maintain fertility balance. We recommend Perry Agricultural Laboratories (PAL) for the tests and Kinsey Agricultural Services (KAS) for the recommendations.
2 The soil is the plants stomach; please respect it. We are a reflection of the soils health.
3 Some chemical fertiliser kills microbes, causing imbalances. Superphosphate and urea are deadly to some beneficial soil fungi. Nitrogen is the only major plant nutrient that you can grow yourself. Watch salt and ammonia levels, and insist on applying only fertilisers which do the least damage to soil life and plant roots - you can reduce nitrogen inputs over time by promoting soil biology.
4 95% of plant yield comes from the atmosphere; only 5% comes from the soil. We must get the soil nutrients corrected to maximise the 95% from the atmosphere.
5 Fertiliser programmes must be based around the calcium content of your soil. If base saturation calcium is below 60%, you will virtually have to purchase fertiliser ad infinitum.
6 The correct base saturation figures from KAS for soils are:
7 It is extremely important to get calcium levels up. Calcium is responsible for carrying other minerals into the plant, however too much calcium can tie up other nutrients and cause deficiencies. Soil testing with a reputable lab is the only way to effectively measure base saturation and calcium levels.
8 Calcium and boron are synergists so lime is more effective with boron added. Boron, along with selenium and cobalt, is commonly deficient in New Zealand soils.
9 Lime to correct calcium, not to “correct” pH. Calcium:
10 Dolomite is highly rated for its calcium and magnesium content. Magnesium is found at the centre of the chlorophyll molecule, the plants light-harvesting, energy-producing centre. Magnesium also plays an important role in the production of oils and proteins, and in energy metabolism. (If Ca levels are too high, we will not recommend dolomite, nor do we recommend serpentine as it is too slow to break down and to build in the soil.)
11 Fertiliser and lime are more effective with carbon added. Carbon is food for the microbes. Carbon sources are well-made compost, humates and similar substances.
12 Feed the soil life using carbon from compost, green manures, livestock manures and crop residues; apply calcium from a reputable plant available source.
13 Soil fungi are responsible for retaining 100% of available calcium in the soil. It is a fallacy that one tonne of lime or another product is required to move soil pH by one point. The soil microbes have the ability to move the pH of your soil without the physical input of calcium.
14 If Lucerne, oats and similar crops have hollow stems, calcium is lacking and yield will not meet potential. Adequate calcium also translates into better stock growth rates and weight gain.
15 Not all N, P, K, Mg, S etc is equal. Natural forms are far superior to chemical forms, and some chemicals are worse than others. The bioavailable forms of nutrients are the healthiest options.
16 A fertiliser programme must feed the microbes first, which will then feed the plants. Microbes include bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nemotodes, algae, ciliates, arthropods and earthworms.
17 Bacteria have a Carbon:Nitrogen ratio of 5:1 which means for every six bacteria eaten, five parts of N are released. Nematodes are 100:1, so for every 20 bacteria they eat, 19 parts of N are released into the soil. This is why it's so important that the soil life be in balance. (This process can account for 400kg N/ha/yr.)
18 The number of earthworms in the soil is an excellent visual sign of a healthy soil, and they can produce 30-300 tonnes/ha of casts per year. Worm casts from 20 worms per spade square contain 5 x N (1.2t/ha), 7 x P, 3 x Mg, 11 x K and 1.5 x Ca, far more than ordinary soil. Sulphur, iron, zinc, and trace elements also increase. Pasture fibre increases by over 100%.
19 60% of the sugars manufactured in leaves are transferred to the roots at night. Because sugar content in leaves is highest then, endeavour to cut hay or silage in late afternoon or evening.
20 50% of that root sugar is exuded into the soil to feed the microbes. Microbes in turn make minerals available to the plant. The nutrient responsible for that transfer from the leaves is Boron.
21 Brix levels are a measurement of soluble solids (superior nutrition.) Urea-fed pastures have low Brix readings. The minimum reading for pastures able to resist pests and diseases is 12, while an excellent pasture will measure 24. A bee will not work flowers/nectar with a Brix level below 7; otherwise it will expend more energy in collection than it will get back. Using a refractometer regularly will aid in monitoring Brix levels.
22 There are 74,000 tonnes of free nitrogen above every hectare. This can be sequestered in the soil by having calcium at 65-70% and magnesium at 10-12% of base saturation, available phosphorus, iron, cobalt and molybdenum. If one of these five requirements is missing, you may have to import nitrogen.
23 Dr Linus Pauling, winner of two Nobel Prizes, stated: "In my opinion, one can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to mineral deficiency." If you accept this statement, then:
24 Most people confuse symptoms with causes. This is deeply ingrained in our lives.The disease itself is not the cause; it is a symptom of an already failing and deficient system. Once you accept that, you will have control over whether you and your property will be as susceptible to disease and other stresses (e.g. drought) or not.
25 Replacing the nutrients removed on an annual basis will not keep your soils in top efficient working order if you do not do that from a full tank. Replacing what has been removed will keep yopur fertility deficient if it was sub-optimal in the first place.
26 Organic matter (OM) is the single most important factor determining profit, yet just one kilogram of excess nitrogen will account for a loss of 100kg of soil carbon, so organic matter will decline slowly but surely.
27 Most farm soils being "fed" by chemical fertilisers are losing organic matter and the ability to hold nutrients and moisture. They are becoming more drought-prone, and pasture growth rates are decreasing, especially with applied chemical urea. (In 1980, 16,000t of urea was used in NZ. Now it is 500,000t. Kiwi Fertiliser grows in excess of 23t/haDM with little or no added nitrogen.)
28 Over time, correct fertiliser policies substantially drought-proof the soil, build organic matter, and improve plant and animal health. Vet bills plummet.
29 If 1% humus soil can only hold 24,000 litres, or the equivalent of 24mm rain before the water runs off, then 5% humus soil can hold 144mm of rain. More than 144mm of rain falling on soil with 5% humus will be lost to runoff, (depending on intensity). If soil does not have good levels of humus, it will not store enough water to feed rivers over summer, which is why summer river flows are decreasing.
30 The majority of phosphate in acid phosphate products complex (tie up) with aluminium, calcium, manganese and iron within six weeks of application. Alkaline phosphate products cost more, but are better value, as they do not tie up and become fully available.
31 Phosphorus along with nitrogen is responsible for eutrophication of our water supplies. Eutrophication is increased algal growth and decreased oxygen levels of drains, rivers and lakes, owing to chemical phosphorus and nitrogen reaching waterways. 1kg of phosphorus can grow 350-700kg of algae.
32 Available phosphorus translates into better stock growth rates and weight gain. Replacing acid phosphorus with alkaline fertilisers and increasing calcium levels will cause elevated aluminium and iron levels to fall as the soil comes into balance. Weed pressure will also reduce.
33 Soluble phosphorus products kill vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAM). Mycorrhizal fungi can increase the roots effectiveness by 10-1,000 times, and plants grown with VAM have superior nutrition. Lack of VAM leads to soil erosion and leaching. New Zealand's rates of soil erosion and leaching are very high.
34 Soil scientists claim 16 elements are required to support life. However, some geneticists maintain that at least 64 nutrients are required for healthy life. If one or more minor element is missing, another can substitute, but it cannot carry out the same function as the missing nutrients, so disease will follow.
35 Potassium chloride (KCI) kills microbes; just 2ppm (4kg/ha) of chlorine is enough to cause harm and the net effect of this is a rock-hard soil. KCI also encourages certain weed growth. Potassium chloride has a salt index of 116, while Potassium sulphate has a salt index of 46. Insist on applying only Potassium sulphate. Use of KCl increases the leaching/erosion of N & P.
36 If nitrogen is high, potassium should also be at high levels. If both of these elements are at luxury levels, then all elements need to be lifted to luxury levels for maximum production (1:1 N:K). If tissue tests show high manganese and low zinc, that may indicate a potassium deficiency, regardless of the reported potassium level.
37 In general, the more NPK applied, the higher the yield, but the lower the mineral content, health and quality of that product. A balance of nutrients is required.
38 NPK grows crops, but does not build fertility or humus; carbon, calcium and microbes do. The higher the humus content the greater the ability of the soil to hold nutrients and moisture.
39 NPK has grown grass and is growing grass, but the decline of organic matter (or transfer of carbon to the atmosphere) is not sustainable or acceptable and must be addressed if farming is to be sustainable in the long term.
40 The label primary, secondary, major, trace, or minor signifies quantities of nutrients required; not their importance. All of the minerals need to be included in a balanced crop fertiliser as they are all important. A shortage of trace minerals will cause crop problems the same way missing major minerals do.
41 Copper and sulphur improve flavour and nutrition, along with potassium sulphate. Potassium chloride makes produce unpalatable. Adequate sulphur increases stem girth and leaf size. Stonefruit with uneven halves are lacking boron. Cracked stones and shrivelled kernels signify lack of manganese, Mn deficiency may lead to an excess of bull calves. K, Mn & Cu all contribute to timber strength. Sufficient K reduces trunk taper. Silicon strengthens plants’ ability to withstand pest and disease attack.
42 When base saturation comes into balance, foliar applications work more effectively and can have a positive effect on quality and yield.
43 Use pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, and nitrogen in minimum amounts and only when absolutely necessary. Always add a carbon to those substances. These inputs are only a quick fix and are a sure sign that soil health is not optimum. Kiwi Fertiliser can show you how to at least halve these substances for equal or better results.
Correct fertility does not stop in the soil. It transfers to pastures crops and animals. Plants grown on a truly balanced soil are healthier and more productive. In turn they fully nourish the animals. Those animals have far stronger immune systems. They grow faster, and are healthier overall.
Our highly experienced consultants can come to your farm and help your get your soils in balance, so you can experience superior stock health and performance, among many other benefits. We use highly specific testing and custom blended fertiliser mixes. Read all about the incredible service we offer here
At Kiwi Fertiliser, our founding principle is to change NZ agriculture for the better, by prioritising soil health and fertility. When the soil is healthy, the microbial life flourishes. Everything ends up in equilibrium, and there are countless benefits for your farm.
Our highly experienced consultants will come to your farm and help your get your soils in balance, using highly specific testing and custom blended fertiliser mixes. Read all about the service we offer here.
This refers to the minerals, including nutrients, that make up the soil. This aspect of the soil is measured using soil analysis techniques. Soil tests often do not give total nutrient levels but attempt to give relative concentrations that reflect plant availability. Changes in the chemistry of soils affects:
Refers to the structure of the soils; hardness, friable nature, porosity. Changing the physical aspect of the soil affects:
The biology of the soils is one of the hardest aspects of the soil to measure and interpret. The simplest and most manageable way is by observation; the rate at which dung breaks down, stubble degrades and the number of worm casts. Changing the biological aspect of the soil affects:
The philosophy behind the Albrecht-Kinsey system is to “use the chemical (fertiliser) to change the physical (soil structure) to provide the environment for the microbes”. The right microbial environment translates directly to high production and superior stock/vine/tree health. These three phases of the soil are interdependent. You cannot change one without affecting the others.
What do individuals, businesses or governments do when they come to the realisation that methods or regimes they have been following for 20, 30, or 40 years are wrong? The answer usually is bugger all. However, when change is necessary for the better and the weight of public opinion forces change there will always be some who are affected adversely.
While other dairy farmers wait to supply Miraka to gain its lucrative 10c/kg milksolids (MS) premium over Fonterra’s milk price, Te Raparahi Lands Trust is intending to increase production within the next year.
Bernard Lilburn has had a lifetime of living and working in the agricultural and rural community, so he understands how it all works. His working life started as a shepherd in both the North and South Island, before returning to the family farm, near Hunterville. The next phase of working life involved buying a local transport company in 1983 to complement the family farming enterprise. And so Bernard became a truck driver and, as the business grew, became an operator that transported everything rural and also people; a business that he still has today, with school buses contracted to the Ministry of Education.
Bernard returned to and went farming on his own account in 1987 – a great year to start! In 1990, the transport operation was contracted to move 3500 tons of Sechura RPR, imported from Peru, off the wharf in Wellington to a store near Marton. After transporting the product, he thought some should be applied to the property – on the worst ground. The results were spectacular, and he quickly became a convert. The property today still uses RPR based fertilisers.
In 1997, Bernard moved from the farm to a lifestyle block in the Manawatu. He has continued his involvement with the fertiliser industry, running the storage and distribution business near Marton that has been in existence since 1991. The best farming years have seen over 10,500 tons of product go through the Mt View Store, all custom blends for farming clients, requiring the need to employ a storeman.
Bernard now focuses on consulting to farmers, using experience and knowledge gained over 26 years of being in the fertiliser industry, covering an area from Wanganui through the Rangitikei and Manawatu down into the Horowhenua.
A consultation with this fertiliser specialist, in conjunction with soil audit information, will give you advice and a blend that fits your farm or requirement, not something off the price list or what the corporate head office tells him to sell.
One of the things that he finds amusing is dairy cockies tearing around dusting paddocks with magnesium at their busiest time of the year! Put it in the fertiliser – it’s cheaper, it’s there and saves time – and money. Fact.
Production = profit, and our aim is to increase your production.
Talk to Bernard for a different perspective.
Jamie Lawson is Kiwi Fertiliser’s Hawkes Bay soil fertility advisor.
Jamie was born and raised on the family farm and started his formal education in Agriculture at Napier Boys High, Scinde House, doing the ag course in the 3rd form. 38 years later Jamie is still studying and researching the fields of soil science and animal health.
His experience should be measured by the amount of well-respected farmers that he advises to in Hawkes Bay and the East Coast region.
Jamie says the best piece of advice that was ever given to him is that you cannot listen when your mouth is open.
