Tree nuts
High yielding nut orchards have an ongoing demand for nutrients and water. Light, well drained soils with good fertility are required for orchards.
Soil fertility comprises a number of parameters including soil chemistry, structure and biology. By addressing all aspects of soil fertility, orchards are better able to reach their yield and quality potential.
Establishing a nutrition program that provides the required macro and micronutrients but avoids excesses is important for highly productive orchards. Phosphorus (P) is important for transfer of energy (carbohydrates and nutrients) within the tree, and ensuring access to phosphorus throughout the growing season will aid higher yields and quality. A BioAg program looks to supply P in a sustained release form as well as fertigated or foliar applications to support critical growth phases. Supply of P in a sustained release form minimises losses or lock up in soils and ensures a continual supply of P rather than peaks and troughs of supply that can occur when P is only supplied in immediately available forms.
Post-harvest is a critical period for orchards. Trees look to recover and build energy and nutrient reserves prior to dormancy and in preparation for the next season. Applications of post-harvest nutrients (correcting any deficiencies) and biostimulants are a key part of a BioAg program, improving nutrient access and uptake during this important recovery phase.
A BioAg program looks to improve soil conditions so as to improve nutrient delivery, reduce nutrient loss pathways and improve soil structure and properties improving parameters such as infiltration and water holding capacity and aiding orchard resilience to abiotic stresses.
Recommended products
BioAgPhos
Solid Fertiliser
Phosphorus 13%
Sulphur 1% / Calcium 35%
Highly reactive phosphate fertiliser made from high-grade reactive phosphate rock combined with BioAg’s microbial digesting agent.
BioAgSoP
Solid Fertiliser
Organically certified granular form of fertiliser containing potassium and sulphur. Immediately available to crops and plants. Ideal for crops with a high potassium demand and sensitive to chloride.
Soil & Seed
Liquid Biostimulant
Formulated to improve soil microbial activity, natural soil fertility and moisture and nutrient utilisation.
Balance & Grow
Biostimulant
Formulated to increase vegetative growth, root development and soil microbial activity. Ideal for broadacre, pastures and horticulture.
Fruit & Balance
Biostimulant
Formulated to increase flowering, fruit set and soil microbial activity. Fruit & Balance enhances the nutritional value and quality of fruit or grain by increasing plant sugar levels.
BioAgBor
Trace Element
A sustained-release form of boron suited to a range of enterprises such as horticulture, vegetables, pastures and field crops.
Committed to organics
With a core range of natural fertilisers and biostimulants, BioAg can offer an extensive range of products certified by Australian Organics, suitable for use in organic systems.
The BioAg approach
BioAg nutrition programs are incorporated into a growers current nutrition program. Our objective is to make fertiliser and other inputs work better and build and support healthy and balanced soils and plants. Programs are custom-made for each block, using advanced soil and tissue analysis. These integrated programs typically incorporate a range of BioAg solid and liquid nutrients, often associated with conventional inputs. BioAg fertility programs can be developed to meet organic certification requirements.
Soil test
An experienced and Fertcare accredited BioAg agronomist works with you and provides technical expertise on your crop. If you don’t already have recent soil test data, we arrange a soil test for you. The results provide essential information about the soil fertility and soil structure for better performance. Download the BioAg soil sampling procedure here.
A tailored program
Based on the results of soil tests, crop requirements and other factors such as soil structure, climate, history of the block, and targets that you are trying to achieve, we provide a tailored program that aims to improve soil fertility and maximise yield response. We support you through the program to ensure that inputs are applied at the right time, in the right way.
Leaf and tissue testing
Any nutritional program cannot foresee the changes in weather, disease, or pests, that may impact a crop. During the season, growers may observe issues or evidence of stress in their crop. This may be due to greater growth or yields than planned, a trace element shortage or abiotic stresses. An on-farm inspection and associated leaf or tissue tests will promptly identify any issues, which can quickly be addressed by applying the appropriate inputs. Download the BioAg leaf sampling procedure here.
High yielding crops require fertile balanced soils
Key to highly productive crops is the function of soils. Soil structure, chemistry and biology are critical in supporting crops throughout the growing season. By improving all aspects of the soil, crops will benefit from improved access to moisture, due to improved infiltration and water holding capacity, improved access to nutrition through improved nutrient cycling, fixation (for N) and a reduction in loss pathways, improved resilience to abiotic stresses and disease, improved root growth providing access to additional moisture and nutrients as well as improved carbon sequestration and a range of other benefits (click for more on soil health).
Beneficial microorganisms stimulate the plant’s root growth and help protect it from abiotic stresses. This is made possible through mutually beneficial relationships that microbes develop with plants, for example mycorrhizal associations. BioAg products programs supply essential macronutrients (N, P, K, S, Ca), trace elements (B, Zn, Cu etc.), microbial food and metabolites beneficial microorganisms that colonise root systems, improving soil function, plant health and productivity.
Tree nut resources
As fruit and nuts near maturity and harvest, the critical processes for perennial tree crops and vines are the accumulation of sugars, the maintenance of the sugar-to-acid ratio, and the development of colour, and for vines, an increase in anthocyanins (dark pigments). Nutrients, such as calcium and magnesium, may be supplied to plants solely from reserves held in the soil. Others like phosphorus and nitrogen are added regularly to soils as fertiliser to be withdrawn as needed by crops. The yield map from the Summer 2023 harvest near Brocklesby in Southern NSW visibly shows the positive
impact of BioAg’s biostimulant program on yield. Post-harvest is an important period for perennial tree crops and vines. This is when carbohydrates and nutrient reserves (like nitrogen) are replenished prior to dormancy. These reserves are then used at bud or flower burst and the start of the next season.
Post-harvest...