WHO: Oakville potatoes
WHERE: Nildottie, South Australia
WHAT: Centre Pivot potato farming
AIM: Help the sandy soil’s water and nutrient holding capacity. Stop fertilizer and water loss through rapid leaching using Peats soils cultured compost.
OUTCOMES
-The trial is still under way.
-fertilizer use is down 30%
-Visible changes in the soil and positive growth response.
Oakville Potatoes
Oakville Potatoes produce around 50,000 tones of potatoes sold into Sydney every year. The reason for having production in South Australia is because of the irrigation provided by the Murray River, and the sandy soils which are ideal for the clean looking potato finish. The issue with the sandy soil is its ability to hold water is very poor. The large pores in the sandy soil promote highly permeable soils which result in losing both water and fertilizer from the root zone. The sandy soils are providing a good skin finish on the potatoes but causing issues in the soil as well as huge water and fertilizer costs.
WHY COMPOST?
Compost in a sandy soil, like the soil types at Nildottie, can help stabilize soil permeability as well as creating more positive charge in the soil that will act as a catalyst for holding water and fertilizer in the root zone. The organic matter in the compost acts as binding agent for the soils pours providing strengthened soil aggregation. As a result the water and fertilizer flow will work horizontally and downward. This will help the water and fertilizer be readily available to the potatoes as well as creating a healthy drainage. Adding compost into the fertilizer rotation will make these changes in the soil as well as adding vital organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Compost in a sandy soil, like the soil types at Nildottie, can help stabilize soil permeability as well as creating more positive charge in the soil that will act as a catalyst for holding water and fertilizer in the root zone. The organic matter in the compost acts as binding agent for the soils pours providing strengthened soil aggregation. As a result the water and fertilizer flow will work horizontally and downward. This will help the water and fertilizer be readily available to the potatoes as well as creating a healthy drainage. Adding compost into the fertilizer rotation will make these changes in the soil as well as adding vital organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus.
THE PRODUCT-PEATS CULTURED COMPOST
Peats soil worked closely with Richie Hartely (Oakville’s farm manager) to tailor make a product that was suitable to go through their spreader and mature enough organic matter to make the changes that they require in the soil. Peats soil’s cultured compost can be tailored to suit the needs of the customer. Peats soil can also provide soil testing and agronomy advice to any customers that require it.
“If you get that recipe right by tailoring the mix for specific soil type and land use, the results are remarkable, as this we have seen with this particular trial.”
Peter Wadewitz, managing director of Peats Soil and Garden Supplies
