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STOCK & LAND, October 11, 2012 47 Focus on Total Grower Services “ This crop grew on 2t/ha of chicken manure treated with Petrik Biology, with a side-dressing of 20 kg/ha of nitrogen the only other fertiliser.” Jeremy Cruikshank – Piora Charolais & Charbray Stud, Casino NSW Maximise manure response with Petrik Biology. Healthy soills for a healthier yield. By achieving optimum yields with reduced fertiliser Petrik biology is challenging conventional farming systems. The microbes in Petrik Biology utilise the nutrients and fresh organic compounds in manure and crop residues to produce humus. The improved soil conditions allow both the native soil biology and the plants to work together to provide nutrients on demand. Petrik Biology will release nitrogen and phosphorus as required by the crop while improving water holding capacity and rooting depth. Petrik have been world leaders in soil microbiology since 1961. In fact it is the only biological farming company with yield mapped results. So for a healthier balance sheet for your business realise your lands full potential with Petrik. BFA REGISTERED PRODUCT ALLOWED INPUT 454AI totalgs.com.au scan me TGS006 CONTACT YOUR LOCAL PETRIK SUPPLIER Leongatha Kevin Hughes Soilwise - 04 2734 3866 email: [email protected] Colac Gavin Bone - 04 2838 3221 email: [email protected] Seymour Dave Williams - 0419449395 National and Distributor Enquiries Shane Fitz Gerald - 0419656251 [email protected] Liam Riedy 04 2968 5063 Office 07 4068 5063 SUCCESSFUL adaptation and innovation around the logistical challenges of using the Petrik live biological culture has resulted in major steps forward across a range of agriculture sectors. When the products were first introduced from the USA over 20 years ago the standard was to spray the biology over the field. Success with this system was patchy, with rain or irrigation required for results. John Hosking a Petrik consultant in Quirrindi has had rapidly increased success and uptake since the more widespread adoption of liquid injection systems on summer planters. John states, “The survival of the Petrik biology is much increased where it can be placed in the right environment “. Many clients have now set up their winter planters based on the performance of the summer crops. In-ground composting however remains a viable option where the biology is sprayed onto manure immediately prior to cultivation. In the pasture systems John Cordingley of “Topdale” via Walcha developed the technique of applying the Petrik biology to the belt of the manure or compost spreader 2 years ago. A small tank with an inbuilt 12 volt pump is sufficient to do this job these systems are now in place across pasture industries in 4 states. Application of the biology to the manure as it leaves the spreader continues to evolve into new industries with Peter Watson of Ag-Culture Bundaberg setting up for contracting with his new in- row cane manure applicator. Here the manure is treated with the Petrik biology as it leaves the chutes. Manure rates can be used as low as 1t/ha in this case. Application the key to Petrik adoption M ax Phil and Jenny Mawhinney of Kentucky Blue via Walcha hosted field days in June 2011 following successful trials they ran using Petrik Evergreen and Green manure plus. Now 18 months since they began using the Petrik System they are still very happy with the outcomes. In the trial Max and Phil compared weight gains in Angus steers from two equivalent rotations of 4 treated and 4 untreated cells. The animals on the treated cells showed a consistent 300g/day advantage. Nutritional analysis of the pasture for ME, CP and NDF explained the differences with higher energy and lower fibre in the treated plots. The 4 control cells from this trial were the last section of “Kentucky Blue” to receive the products; as Max wanted to keep this as a comparison as long as possible. The control cells were treated with manure and the biology in autumn 2012. The differences between the two trial sections however continued to grow as in July the original control rotation which had received manure twice over two years and the Petrik treatment only recently was running 100 steers compared to the treated rotation which has now had the Petrik biology twice over manure is running 150 steers on the same area and pasture history. What was measured in 2011 as a 27% yield increase has now developed into better than a 35% yield increase. The core of this system is humus creation. The Petrik products break down the soils existing organic matter through to humus, providing an improved environment for both the native soil biology and the plant roots. Shane Fitz Gerald of Petrik Pacific states, “So many of the limitations of agriculture are related to soil structure, this is partly caused by traffic of both animals or machinery however the major cause is the loss of humifying biology from soil systems”. He goes on to say, “Evidence of this biology limitation is seen in the build-up of undigested organic matter both on top of the soil and through the profile, this commonly becomes a carpet of organic trash in pasture systems.” The Petrik products under the right conditions start to break this plant material down starting a cycle of improvement as the native biology in the soil can again function to its potential. A biologically active soil has the ability to recycle nutrients and release tied up phosphorus. At the time of the trials the Mawhinney’s were using the products over 5 cubic metres per hectare of chicken litter. With these results they have reduced the manure rate to only 1 cubic metre /ha annually. In this case the main role of the manure is as a carrier facilitating rapid multiplication of the humifying biology. Graham Cope of Fish Creek Victoria who was one of the first intensive dairy producers in the Gippsland region to utilise the Petrik system has successfully improved the productivity of a number of farms over the last 20 years while expanded from a 230 cow dairy to now milk 650. Graham has improved the quality of his feed while increasing the efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus. This method has been successfully implemented often using liquid only application in aircraft for over a decade. This is effective as pasture already contains high organic matter and has consistent manure inputs from the animals providing raw material for humus creation. Based on consultation with Gippsland Dairy agronomist Kevin Hughes of Koonwarra Victoria the Mawhinney’s along with Rob Mulligan of “Salway” via Walcha NSW, also investigated liquid only application of the Petrik products. In the absence of a manure carrier however the weather conditions are important as the biology needs to make it through the canopy to the soil. Light rain is ideal but even a heavy dew within a few days of application can be enough. Based on this Rob Mulligan at Walcha NSW in conjunction with Agronomists Rob Ecceles and Pippie Lee put this application technique to the test in a replicated trial. The dry matter production more than doubled compared to the control section and Rob Mulligan is applying the process to his whole property. Rob comments, “I can see some improvements in the paddocks however the real test for me is the lift in the look of the animals”. Kentucky Blue Petrik program continues Graham Cope of Fish Creek with Petrik Consultant Kevin Hughes. 1146453 ADVERTISING FEATURE
