True Science
Want real fertility results on your farm? Contact us today and request a soil audit.
The “true science” behind soil testing and fertiliser application
Kiwi Fertiliser Company is committed to encouraging farmers to understand the “true science” behind soil testing and fertiliser application. So what is that true science? Dr. Albrecht emphasised that to be true science, it must be highly repeatable. The soil tests must be highly accurate. If you can’t measure it; you can’t manage it. It manages you. In these circumstances, you are subject to the whims of nature and fluctuating yields, diseases and results. A worthy soil consultant, working with a truly scientific soil test must be able to differentiate between soils that produce top quality crops and those that don’t; and be able to tell why. Our consultants are all highly trained to do just that, and are committed to improving the situation of each of our clients. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. You can only prove what is being said here by doing it in the field. In some cases, the complete response may take up to three years to achieve. In most cases, results are evident within a month or two, but almost certainly within the first year. If you still have doubts about the effectiveness of the programme; try it on a small scale, or read the many success stories from around the world. You will not regret it. The results you get will prove; this is true science.
Optimum Nutrient Usage, Optimum Soil
Kiwi Fertiliser prides itself on delivering fertility as close as nature intended as practicable. Farmers have been led to believe urea is essential for high production. We contend that is not true. Nitrogen can be sourced from the air by plants if the correct conditions are met. After all, the urea manufacturers obtain nitrogen from the air, convert it to urea, and then sell it to the farmer. To ensure your farm gets free nitrogen, you have to ensure the following conditions:
An appropriate calcium and magnesium percent of soil base saturation
Available phosphorus
Available iron
Molybdenum
Cobalt
Our general experience
The vast majority of properties do not have the correct calcium and magnesium percentage. For most properties, on a lab test from Perry Agricultural Laboratories, this should be 68% and 12%. Most properties are either deficient or excessive in Ca and deficient in Mg.
Most properties have available P; in fact, excess P; a few are deficient, at least on flat land. On hill, many properties do not have enough phosphate.
Iron is variable with most sufficient on the flats, but not necessarily on the hills.
Molybdenum is generally in excess.
Cobalt is deficient.
We often find higher amounts of nitrogen in our soil tests, than in soil tests taken on farms not using our fertiliser system. That means the nitrogen is where it is supposed to be. It’s in the soil, not in the water. Our recommended phosphate products are all alkaline. Alkaline P does not have the same propensity to complex in the soil as acid superphosphate does. Further, acid P is harsh on soil fungi. One of soil fungi’s functions is to hold calcium in the soil. Without those fungi, calcium is not held in the soil at all. To make matters worse, urea can take calcium and copper out of the soil. Some fungi increase plants’ ability to uptake P by up to 1000 times. It is a huge loss to lose them. Potassium is not considered an issue by regional councils. However, since potassium chloride can be harsh on soil microbial life, we only recommend potassium sulphate. The chloride form is the main culprit that hardens soil. Hard soils are dead soils with less humus in them than living, productive soils. When it rains, hard soils shed water much faster than soft, spongy living soils. This leads to erosion and nutrient loss. A soil with 1% organic matter can only retain 20% of the water that a 5% organic matter soil can. That has serious implications in drought situations. Please Note: Any figures mentioned above are relevant only to soil readings given by Perry Agricultural Laboratory, and results will not be the same, or mean the same, if applied to or from other any soil tests.
