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Independent
Trial

Location
Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Conducted by
Tremaine Family and W&J Stanton

Kangaroo Island Fertiliser Trials

Replicated trials being held at Stokes Bay and Parndana on Kangaroo Island have supported results to date showing BioAg’s immediate and sustained release fertilisers are as effective, and potentially better performing, than Single Super Phosphate (SSP). Using BioAg’s Superb® and S10 BioAgPhos® the trials displayed improved pasture production in both annual and biennial applications.

Parndana Small Plot Trial

Background

The BioAg fertiliser trial was established in 2019. The trial has 6 treatments with 4 replications and compares various BioAg products and rates against an annual application of single super.

The site is located on M & M Tremaine’s at the big bend on the Playford Highway east of Parndana. The pasture is an annual regenerating pasture. In 2019, the composition was 70:30 clover:capeweed. The site was burnt out in January 2020 and it is likely that this influenced capeweed to dominate the sward with the ratio tending 10:90 clover:capeweed in 2020.

The biomass was measured by mowing with a push behind mower and weighing the catchings. The site was not grazed.

Results

The following information includes a summary from the site in 2020 when 4 cuts were taken. The trial will run for another two years.

Table 1: Means and standard errors of each treatment at both harvest times Parndana 2020. (Biomass kg/Ha).
6 Jun
7 Aug
4 Sep
3 Dec
Cumulative
A: Control
1670±130
2613±195
2355±176
3187±186
9824±341
B: 275kg Superb - Biennial
1518±130
2844±195
2693±176
2897±186
9952±341
C: 200kg S10 BioAgPhos - Biennial
1507±129
2964±194
2844±175
2903±184
10218±339
D: 125kg Single Super - Annual
1428±129
3033±194
2301±175
3013±184
9775±339
E: 135kg Superb - Annual
1539±130
2922±195
2595±176
3114±186
10171±341
F: 275kg Superb + Lime + Trace Elements - Biennial
1730±109
2953±164
2651±148
2724±156
10058±270
Figure 1: Bar plot of averages across treatments of cuts at each date for Parndana trial. Biomass (kg/Ha)

Error bars are standard errors. Refer to codes in Table 1 to identify treatments.

Bar graph, details described in the conclusion
Conclusion

There was no significant difference on a dry matter basis between all fertiliser products. Nor was there an effect of the cumulative amount over the four harvest times.

There was a hint in the data that plots receiving treatment D (single super) were the least productive at both the Parndana and the Stokes Bay trials.

Stokes Bay Small Plot Trial

Background

The BioAg fertiliser trial was established in 2019. The trial has 6 treatments with 4 replications and compares various BioAg products and rates against an annual application of single super. The biomass is measured by mowing with a push behind mower and weighing the catchings. The site was not grazed.

The site is located on W & J Stantons at Stokes Bay on a sandy soil. The pasture is a perennial veldt grass and serradella with a light smattering of capeweed and annual ryegrass. The site was burnt out in January 2020 with the treatments closest to the scrub line suffering the most damage to the pasture base.

Results

Due to the fire and the upright podding nature of serradella it was decided to allow the serradella to set seed in spring 2020. As a result, only 2 cuts were taken during the growing season. Veldt and serradella typically hit their straps in spring and there was estimated to have been an extra 4t DM/Ha grown between September and November. The trial will run for another two years.

Table 2: Means and standard errors of each treatment at both harvest times Stokes Bay 2020. (Biomass kg/Ha).
23 Jul
15 Sep
Cumulative
A Control
1184±95
2190±378
3374±456
B: 275kg Superb - Biennial
1202±95
2705±378
3907±456
C: 200kg S10 BioAgPhos - Biennial
1222±95
2253±378
3475±456
D: 125kg Single Super - Annual
1022±95
1610±378
2632±456
E: 135kg Superb - Annual
1212±95
2626±378
3838±456
F: 275kg Superb + Lime + Trace Elements - Biennial
1236±95
2765±378
4001±456
Figure 2: Bar plot of averages across treatments of cuts at each date for Stokes Bay trial. Biomass (kg/Ha)

Error bars are standard errors. Refer to codes in Table 2 to identify treatments.

Bar graph, details described in the conclusion
Conclusion

There was no significant difference on a dry matter basis between all fertiliser products. Nor was there an effect of the cumulative amount over the four harvest times.

There was high variability across the site owing to the effect of the January bushfire.

There was a hint in the data that plots receiving treatment D (single super) were the least productive at both the Parndana and the Stokes Bay trials.

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For the full trial, including methods, results and conclusion, download here.