project catalyst trial report bio-fertilizer to reduce n ... · innovation project report - anthony...

Innovation Project Report - Anthony Marino BioFert 04/04/2019

Project Catalyst Trial Report

Bio-fertilizer to reduce N inputs on Clay soils

Grower Information Grower Name: Anthony Marino

Entity Name: O & A MARINO FAMILY TRUST

Trial Farm No/Name: Biofertilizer to reduce N inputs

Mill Area: Victoria

Total Farm Area ha: 307ha

No. Years Farming: 50 Years in family

Trial Subdistrict: Trebonne

Area under Cane ha: 269.2 ha


Background Information

Aim: To reduce chemical cost and nutrient loss to water runoff. To improve soil health and farm management. Bio fertilizer helps improve nutrient uptake by the plant and improves overall soil health to sustain agricultural practices. By foliar spraying on micronutrients can we improve overall productivity while still maintaining sustainable soils.

Background: (Rationale for why this might work)

By creating his own bio-fertilizer Anthony can reduce fertiliser cost. Bio-fertilizer are considered a good soil conditioner and will hopefully improve soil microbe diversity, improve soil health and provide trace element minerals. Bio- fertilisers are microbe/trace element brews that can be used either in a foliar spray for an instant pickup in nutrients or used as a soil drench as a soil conditioner, or in combination.

Potential Water Quality Benefit: Bio-fertilisers promote soil health which in turns improves water holding capacity to the field. Other benefits from bio-fertiliser is a better uptake of nutrient by the plant, this has the potential to reduce nutrient losses from the block. Also, a reduction in chemical fertilisers will reduce losses to water ways.

Expected Outcome of Trial: That the additional use of the bio- fertilisers will improve yield and CCS, improve ratoon life and create a healthy soil system.

Service provider contact: Megan Zahmel 0447 317 102

Where did this idea come from: RegenAG and Kym Kruse, Anthony Marino


Plan - Project Activities

Date : (mth/year to be

undertaken) Activities :(breakdown of each activity for each stage)

Stage 1 Establish trial

Baseline soil samples taken on the 8/5/2017 Baseline Pachymetra & Nematode samples taken – 17/5/2017 Chromatography baseline samples taken & GPS marked – 10/5/2017 Trial plan designed -Done Trial planted – 9/6/2017. Variety Q232 Planted with 130L/ha of Plant Starter Em mapped block – 22/08/2017 Bio-fertiliser analysis – 29th August 2017 Start applying bio fert at side dress – 26/09/2017

Stage 2 Sampling 2017 1st set of chromatography samples – 1/11/2017 1st set of 3rd leaf samples – 1/11/2017 4mth stalk count – 1/11/2017 NMP completed. – 09/2017

Stage 3 Sampling 2018 WMP completed – March 2018 2nd set of 3rd leaf sample – 23/05/2018 3rd leaf samples for Silica content – 23/05/2018 2nd set of chromatography samples – 23/05/2018 Final harvest and ccs data – 13/08/2018 Re-mark trial and GPS plot areas – 24/08/2018 Applied Bio-Fert in the designated strip trials on the trial site -15/10/18 Applied Granular fertilizer in Standard and Reduced Strip trials. -5/11/18 Applied Granular fertilizer in Bio-Fert & Company Strip trials. – 5/11/2018 Applied sulfates on Bio-Fert & Company Strip trials. - 6/11/18 Applied Bio-Fert in the designated strip trials on the trial site. - 8/11/18 Applied Bio-Fert in the designated strip trials on the trial site. - 16/11/18

Stage 4 Sampling 2019 3rd leaf samples in April 2019 2019 Harvest Data

Stage 5

Stage 6


Anthony Marino

Trial Design Bio-fertiliser

Farm # 82A Block # 5-1,

Stone river rd

SIDING

12 guard rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows 6 rows Block 5-5

trt 2 trt 1 trt 3 trt 2 trt 3 trt 1 trt 3 trt 2 trt 1

Plot 1 Plot 2 Plot 3 Plot 4 Plot 5 Plot 6 Plot 7 Plot 8 Plot 9

approx

400m long

Trt 1 Standard Fert Rate

Trt 2 Reduce Rate Standard Fert

Trt 3 RegenAG biofert & company

16 guard

rows

Rep 3 Rep 2 Rep 1

Project Trial site details

Trial Crop: Plant Cane 2016

Variety: Rat/Plt:

Q232 Plant 2016

Trial Block No/Name:

B#5-1

Trial Block Size Ha: 6ha

Trial Block Position (GPS):

Refer to google earth map

Soil Type: Light Clay


Results:

3rd leaf results for 6-month plant cane November 2017


Chromatography samples. Taken on the 31/10/2017


EM Map


Chromatography samples. Taken 30 May 2018


2nd set of 3rd leaf samples taken 30th May 2018


2018 Plant Cane Harvest results

Averaged results:

All Plot results:


Plot areas measured for Harvest results:


3rd leaf Results for 2019 season


Google earth reference map

2019 Harvest Results


Conclusions and comments

Good results for the first year of plant cane. No statistical different between treatments so far. Regen Ag treatments are expected to improve with ratoons.

Advantages of this Practice Change: Economical advantages, possible soil health advantages, nutrient input advantages

Disadvantages of this Practice Change: The extra time and effort it takes to make and put out the bio-fert. Extra tractor hours.

Will you be using this practice in the future? Waiting on 2019 season results before planning

% of farm you would be confident to use this practice :

project catalyst trial report bio-fertilizer to reduce n ... · innovation project report - anthony...

Documents