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Targeting Fertiliser Types Makes Money

Fertiliser management is an area where potentially thousands of dollars can be made on farms each year.

By Department of Primary Industries - 19th February 2004 - Back to News

For many farms up to 25% of variable costs are spent on the stuff at $100 approx per hectare. The rewards are there for those who accurately calculate what their farm fertiliser requirements really are before putting in an order with the local fertiliser distributor.

The trick to making cost-effective fertiliser decisions is to base the choice of fertilisers on the nutrient requirements of the soil. This way only the nutrients that are required for plant growth are being applied. Too often money is wasted on fertilisers that contain nutrients that are already at high levels in the soil.

Soil testing is the best way to determine the nutrient needs of a farm. Because fertility levels vary around the farm, it is best to divide the farm into separate sections for soil sampling. Soil tests cost between $70 to $110, but can potentially make thousands of dollars on farms each year.

Effluent paddocks and night paddocks usually have high phosphorus and potassium levels whilst areas where hay has been regularly cut tend to have low potassium levels. These different farm sections will have different fertiliser requirements depending on the levels of the different nutrients in each section.

Soil test results can fine tune fertiliser choices for each farm section, for example for sections that have high potassium levels applying a super-potash mix such as 3 & 1 (6% phosphorus, 12.7% potassium and 8.2% sulphur) is not a cost-effective option. Alternatively straight super (8.8% phosphorus and 11% sulphur) would be a better option as you would only be applying what the soils and pasture requires.

Interpreting soil test information and knowing your farm fertiliser requirements are vital dairy farm management skills that can help you save large dollars on the fertiliser bill. For further information contact your local Dairy Extension Officer at DPI Ellinbank on 5624 2222, DPI Leongatha on 5662 9900 or DPI Maffra on 5147 0800.

STEPS TOWARDS WHITE BLISTER
CONTROL STRATEGIES

White blister is caused by the fungus Albugo candida and in recent years has become an economically important disease of broccoli in south-eastern and western Australia. Growers in areas affected with white blister are in urgent need of effective management strategies. Currently there is only one contact fungicide registered for control of white blister disease in broccoli in Australia.

Scientists from Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic) (Department of Primary Industries) have evaluated a range of chemicals for control of white blister of broccoli in field and glasshouse trials. The experiments were conducted as part of a research project on the epidemiology and management of white blister of brassica vegetables, funded by the Victorian Government, the vegetable industry and Horticulture Australia Limited.

In spring last year, a survey of white blister disease was conducted prior to harvest on 13 mature broccoli crops in four major growing areas (Cranbourne, Rosebud, Werribee and Bairnsdale) in Victoria. White blister was present in almost all crops except those sprayed weekly. The incidence of the disease (% of plants with disease symptoms) varied from 0 to 94%. The disease severity was low or very low on all affected broccoli plants assessed.

Project scientist Joanna Petkowski said that the survey showed that the disease is common and that there is scope to develop and evaluate management strategies. "Control methods should integrate both cultural practices (including rotation, irrigation timing and crop isolation) and efficient chemical spray programs, with reduced numbers of fungicide applications to prevent the development of pathogen resistance," she said.

A number of chemicals, including systemic and contact fungicides and ‘soft’ chemicals such as non-ionic surfactants and disinfectants, were evaluated in a glasshouse trial on broccoli seedlings and in two field trials. The glasshouse experiment was conducted at PIRVic Knoxfield and field trials were established in broccoli crops at Werribee in November 2003. The first field trial was on cv. Legacy at the stage of button forming and the second on cv. Green Belt four days after planting.

Ms Petkowski said that, in all trials, systemic fungicides significantly reduced white blister on broccoli seedlings, heads and leaves, when compared with a control (water sprays). "Contact fungicides did not significantly reduce disease levels when compared with systemics and control treatments," she said. "There was also no benefit in spraying ‘soft’ chemicals following the application of systemics."

The results of the trials were presented to growers during a field day at Werribee in February.

The researchers hope to further improve their knowledge of white blister, using new techniques. For example, a disease predictive model has been created for United Kingdom cabbage growers to ensure fewer and more precise applications of fungicides in weather conditions conducive to white blister infection. However, this model would first need to be evaluated in Australia before it could be commercially used.

For further information, please contact Joanna Petkowski or Elizabeth Minchinton at PIRVic Knoxfield on (03) 9210 9222.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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