Canterbury Farmer: "Optimising Your Growth Potential in Dry Conditions"

Extended dry periods highlight the value of regular lime application. Lime helps to improve soil structure leading to better moisture retention and root development. It also improves water absorption. This is especially important on hill country – when rainfall comes it is important that the soil to absorbs water quickly to avoid surface run-off.

These improvements are in a large-part due to increased microbial and earth worm activity creating a better aerated soil. Soil biology responds positively to lime which also leads to improved nutrient cycling. Active soil biology can mineralise more nutrients from organic matter and improve ultilisation of other fertiliser inputs. Optimal utilisation of inputs will be critical for future development while working within nutrient budgets.

More intensive farming of hill country increases the rate of soil acidification and threatens to diminish productivity if regular liming does not occur. This has a detrimental impact on soil biology and in more acid soils can lead to high soluble aluminum levels. Clover is especially prone to the effects of aluminum toxicity. The importance of healthy clover should not be overlooked — ultilising the nitrogen-fixing ability of legumes makes good economic sense.

Liming on hill country often falls behind because of the high cost of application. Optimise is ultra-fine lime in a pelletised form that has been shown to be effective at lower application rates than conventional aglime. This makes Optimise a practical and cost-effective means of applying lime to hill country. Optimise can also be custom blended to suit your specific needs. This means you can address liming and other nutrient requirements in a simple all-in- one application.

For more information freephone 0508 678 464 or see www.optimise.net.nz 

Canterbury Farming: http://issuu.com/nsmm/docs/cf_feb_2015/1