Summit Quinphos Fertiliser application on farmland

Why do farmers apply fertiliser? All living organisms require some basic chemical elements to function i.e. to build DNA, cells walls etc The major elements required are; –nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, calcium and magnesium

If any one of these elements is deficient – grass will not grow –or will not grow as well as it could

Why do farmers use fertiliser? To over come nutrient deficiencies To replace nutrients transferred: –off farm in production i.e. milk, meat, wool,crops –to unproductive areas of the farm i.e. effluent ponds, tracks

What are the environmental problems associated with fertiliser application? Phosphate runoff –Approximately 80% of the phosphate in our waterways comes from agricultural runoff Nitrate leaching –A study in the late 80’s indicated that up to 20% of ground wells in Taranaki and Waikato had over 10mg/l nitrate –The recommended maximum level is 11.3mg/1

These affect water quality By causing algal blooms and excessive weed growth which –stops us drinking it –stops recreational activity –stops us eating the fish –and kills aquatic life

How do excess nutrients get into waterways? Direct application –animals depositing directly in waterways –fertiliser spreaders applying too close to waterways Erosion –pugging & compaction Runoff –surface runoff –sub-surface runoff Leaching

What does Summit Quinphos do to minimise the environmental effects Design a fertiliser plan for each farms specific needs. –This includes: Nutrient budgeting GPS Soil & Herbage testing Farm Environment Maps Summit Quinphos environmentally protective fertiliser

What is Nutrient Budgeting? It is a balance of nutrients onto and off the farm Works in a similar manner to a financial budget A fertiliser recommendation is using a simple form of nutrient budgeting

How do we do it? Use fertiliser recommendation models Or more advanced nutrient budgeting computer models e.g. Overseer

The information Overseer uses includes: Inputs Stock & production information Climate data Topography Soil type & fertility Fertiliser

GPS Soil & Herbage Testing Soil & herbage tests done at least every 2 years Soil tests show what nutrients levels are in the soil and show trends over time Herbage tests are needed to fine tune a fertiliser programme in the short term –tests for trace elements –checks on how well the grass is taking up the major elements in the soil.

GPS - Global Positioning Systems Uses satellites to accurately locate where soil & herbage tests have been taken: –Which increases reliability and accuracy of soil & herbage testing so; –I can give farmers better advice.

Summit Quinphos Environmentally Protective Fertiliser RPR - Reactive Phosphate Rock Sustain Protect PAPR

What is Reactive Phosphate Rock (RPR) RPR’s are natural minerals formed on the ocean floor over thousands of years Over time dead sea organisms form layers In certain areas these layers become enriched with phosphate absorbed from sea water And form a mineral which is part phosphate and part calcium carbonate (lime)

How does RPR work? RPR’s chemical structure is very unstable –Because of the carbonate in the rock; –Which means RPR can be dissolved by the weak organic acids in the soil. Superphosphate comes from hard phosphate rocks. –These rocks are very insoluble. –To release the phosphate so plants can use it; –The hard rock needs to be treated with a very strong acid (sulphuric acid).

Key Factors Affecting RPR Availability Two key factors affect the ability of RPR to be dissolved 1How acidic the soil is 2How easily calcium can move away from the RPR particle i.e. rainfall –These two factors mean that the breakdown of RPR is a gradual process (slow release)

Approximately 80% of the phosphate in our waterways comes from agricultural runoff Research in NZ & Ireland shows that a significant, and often the major proportion of this runoff comes directly from recently applied water soluble phosphate fertiliser – Superphosphate, Triple Superphosphate, DAP Phosphate Runoff

Reactive Phosphate Rock (RPR) Research has proven that runoff from RPR is 25 times less than Superphosphate This is because: –is not water soluble –has a greater density than water soluble phosphate

Nitrate Leaching Dairy cattle numbers have gone from 2.9 million to 4.1 million N fertiliser use has gone from 117,000 tonnes of N in 92/93 to 333,000 tonnes in 01/02 A cows urine patch contains the equivalent of kg N/ha

Nitrate Leaching cont.. At normal rates of application leaching losses from nitrogen fertilisers are typically 5-10% of nitrogen applied.

Sustain Sustain is urea that has been coated in Agrotain & Sulphur. –Sustain reduces leaching losses of nitrogen. –And also reduces ammonia volatilisation losses to the atmosphere

Sustain Agrotain slows the breakdown of the urea. –Urea breaks down over 0-2 days –Sustain breaks down over 0-10 days Slowing the breakdown of urea gives the plant more opportunity to take up nitrogen therefore leaving less nitrogen available to be leached.

Protect PAPR PAPR - Partially Acidulated Phosphoric Rock RPR is reacted with phosphoric acid –in a similar process to superphosphate It combines both water soluble phosphate and slow release phosphate. Has less runoff than superphosphate

Farm Environment Maps The Farm Environment Maps include: information on soil type –this helps me decide where on a farm to soil test information of the risk of phosphate loss from: –water soluble phosphate –RPR phosphate

The maps can help me decide what form of phosphate fertiliser to use on a particular farm Will include information on the risk of nitrate leaching And faecal bacteria runoff

In Conclusion –The Farm Environment maps –GPS soil & herbage testing –Nutrient budgeting –Summit Quinphos fertilisers – And talking to the farmer All help me to produce a fertiliser plan that is specific to a particular farms requirements and at the same time minimise the environmental risks of applying fertiliser.