Foliar fertilisers deliver better pasture, more stock

Thursday, May 31, 2007

The use of foliar fertiliser has been key to bolstering stocking rates at a Central Queensland property, by plant and soil health as part of an intensive grazing system.
Jim Wade, Wade Agricultural Consulting, says foliar fertiliser sprays are key to maximising year-round grass growth, as he believes they are more effective in improving grass coverage and durability.

Although starting out with an application of granular fertilisers to help establish newly sown pastures, it is always followed by foliar fertilisation, which is then applied twice a year thereafter.

He says the foliar sprays deliver a sharper growth burst to the plant, which can more quickly absorb nutrients through its leaf system than from the roots up.

Whereas granular fertilisers stay near the surface of the soil, meaning the root system stays near the surface as well, foliar fertilisation gives the plant the strength to create a bigger root ball, making it a stronger perennial plant.

And by building up the root ball, there is a corresponding increase in the organic matter in the soil, improving soil health and overall plant structure.

"It’s a more sustainable fertiliser approach," Mr Wade said. "When you use a lot of urea, it can make the soil acidic, knocking out the soil micro-organisms, whereas this method builds those micro-organisms back up."

The foliar spray delivers 17 nutrients through the leaves, and when absorbed into the leaf tissue, Mr Wade said it was then in the right form to be digested cattle, helping boost growth rates.

That strategy has helped John Morris bolster his stocking rates his St Lawrence properties, Tallawalah and Jabiru Springs, from just 1033 head in 2001, to now be running more than 5000.

On native pastures the stocking rate for the property was one animal equivalent to every three hectares, producing roughly 200kg of beef for the year, or just 85kg/ha/year at an estimated growth rate of 540g/day.

However, improved and foliar-fertilised pastures are now running up to 5AE/ha, which equates to roughly 1000kg of beef/ha/year.

And while it costs $370/ha/year in fertiliser to maintain that stocking rate, it has resulted in an extra 915kg of beef/ha/year.

At roughly $1.80kg (liveweight) in the market, that equates to an extra $1650 (gross) to the bottom line from every hectare each year.

"And we could reasonably think that by supplementing in drier months with self-grown silage and with the use of dry lick and M8U, we can achieve 830g/day average growth over a 12-month period," Mr Morris said.

"But to do this you need good land and excellent water; you need good staff and you need to be of a mind set that is prepared to accept change and maintain daily performance."

SOURCE: Extract from full report in Queensland Country Life, May 31 issue.