NutriSmart® is a new crop nutrition technology based on specific biological processes in the soil. It comprises biological actives and natural organic components that have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N), unlock reserves of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) from the soil, and release phosphorus in the product.
NutriSmart® interacts with soil and plant roots to significantly improve a plant's nutrient uptake through enhanced efficiency of the root system.
The Technology
Each NutriSmart® granule is composed of specially selected natural ingredients, including phosphate rock, weathered coal (lignite), yeasts and other growth materials. The NutriSmart® granules act as "biological factories" which, once incorporated into the soil, become activated and start fixing N from the atmosphere, decomposing P from the phosphate rock and making insoluble P and K in the soil available on-demand to the plant.
The on-demand function occurs because NutriSmart® is a technology with a nutrient feedback mechanism that really thinks about crops' needs. Therefore crops are not over-fed (loaded with excessive nutrients) or under-nourished (nutrient-deficient), which can lead to a loss of yield, decrease in quality or pest and disease attack
After a considerable amount of research including extensive phytotoxicity trials Paton Fertilizers is now able to offer an economical multipurpose soil conditioner that offers improved water infiltration, improved soil structure, increased leaching of sodium out of sodic soils and increased seed germination. This is known as Pedocare®
Ultimer and the results since its introduction have been excellent.
The Technology
Water-soluble linear anionic polymers, comprise a single chain of an enormous number with repeating units. These polymers are designed to bind together thousands of soil particles and form a latticework in and around soil crumbs. The function of the soil enhancing polymer is not to absorb water -- the function is to stabilize cultivated soil by maintaining soil in a loose and friable state; the soil particles become "water-stable".
Pedocare® Ultimer is available as a fertilizer coating, liquid or powder
depending on your application. Contact us for application rates
and which form is most applicable to your situation.
The Benefits
Use of Pedocare® Ultimer has shown the following:
Increased sodium displacement from high sodium soils
Increasing their water-holding capacity
Increasing water use efficiency
Enhancing soil permeability and infiltration rates
Reducing irrigation frequency
Reducing compaction
Stopping erosion and water run-off
Increasing turf performance (especially in structureless soils in areas subject to drought)
Case Studies
The following are three case studies where Pedocare® Ultimer was
used. The first two are on golf course greens and the last was
on potatoes.
Golf Course
Richmond and Strathfield Golf Clubs in Sydney, Australia have
both used Pedocare® Ultimer and achieved excellent results. Both had
detrimentally high soil Na levels which fell dramatically
following one application of Pedocare® Ultimer which was applied as a
fertilizer coating.
The results gained are shown graphically below:
Strathfield G.C - Graph showing Na as % CEC. An
average 56% decrease in Na levels was achieved between February
2005 and August 2005.
Richmond G.C. - Historically has always had issues
with water quality and Na build up on the greens. This
traditionally meant using gypsum on a regular annual basis and
as the results below show this achieved little. However, after
one application of Pedocare® Ultimer in August 2005 by March 2006 the
results speak for themselves!
Potatoes
A trial was arranged on a typical sandy low sodic soil in the
Lucindale area of South Australia about 50 Kilometres due west
of Penola. These soils are greasy, hard to wet and soil moisture
retention is low. This has the potential to cause water stress
on the crops between irrigation events, as the centre pivot may
not be able to apply enough water fast enough. This is
particularly evident in this region during the drier summer
months Dec/Jan/Feb. The trial started when the potatoes were 110
days old on 11th Feb 2003. The trial commenced with the potato
crop at 110 days old and finished when harvested at 205 days old
21st May 2003.
The yield of the trial crop averaged 72 tonnes /hectare
compared to the control 70.1 t/ha.
This represents a 2.7 % yield increase.
At an average price of $214 per tonne of potatoes, this
trial showed a 480% ROI.
