Author: NZ Business Connect

Soil magnetism plays a crucial role in soil health, affecting nutrient availability, soil structure, and microbial activity. An often-overlooked cause of soil compaction is the loss of electrical charge in soil colloids—tiny charged particles essential for maintaining soil structure. This disruption, caused by excessive salts, sodium, and poor agricultural practices, weakens soil colloids, leading to compaction and degradation.

Envirocal, a calcium-based soil conditioner, addresses these issues by enhancing the electrical charge of soil colloids. Calcium helps bind soil particles together into aggregates, improving soil structure and health. This creates a favourable environment for soil microbes, which are vital for forming soil aggregates and enhancing soil structure through the production of glomalin.

Correcting Soil Compaction

Compaction, often seen as a result of heavy machinery or excess rainfall, actually stems from the loss of electrical charge in soil colloids. These colloids act like magnets, with internal and external electrical charges that bind them into aggregates by attracting a balance of cations and anions. When this balance is disrupted by excessive salts (found in most fertilisers, herbicides, insecticides, and pesticides), sodium, or poor agricultural practices, the colloids weaken and disperse, leading to soil degradation and erosion.

The key to mitigating compaction lies in correcting mineral balances, particularly by increasing available calcium. This enhances the electrical charge of soil colloids, promoting aggregation and improving soil health. Improved soil structure also fosters a hospitable environment for soil microbes, crucial for forming soil aggregates and enhancing soil structure through glomalin production.

Addressing soil compaction and enhancing soil magnetism with Envirocal is essential for sustainable farming. By improving soil structure and nutrient availability, Envirocal helps create a healthier soil environment, leading to better crop yields and long-term soil health. As highlighted by Agraforum New Zealand, focusing on correcting the underlying causes of compaction is crucial for maintaining productive and sustainable agricultural practices.

Contact Agraforum New Zealand

Mobile: 0274 485 159
Email: allan@agraforum.co.nz

www.agraforum.co.nz

Contact Phillip Quay
phillip@mediapa.co.nz
P: 0274 587 724
www.mediapa.co.nz

Winter presents unique challenges for maintaining soil health and ensuring robust forage growth. Cold temperatures and heavy rainfall can lead to soil compaction and nutrient leaching, affecting crop productivity. Profile Fertilisers offers solutions to these issues, emphasising the importance of tailored fertilisation strategies to maintain soil vitality during the winter months.

Effective winter soil management begins with understanding the specific needs of your soil. Regular soil testing is crucial to identify nutrient deficiencies and tailor fertilisation strategies accordingly. Profile Fertilisers provides comprehensive soil testing services, allowing farmers to make informed decisions about nutrient applications.

Heavy machinery use and wet conditions can lead to soil compaction, hindering root growth and reducing soil aeration. To mitigate this, consider using soil conditioners and gypsum-based products to improve soil structure and drainage. These amendments help maintain porosity, ensuring roots have access to essential nutrients and oxygen.

Winter rains can cause nutrient leaching, depleting soil of essential elements. Applying slow-release fertilisers can help maintain nutrient availability throughout the season. Profile Fertilisers offers a range of products designed to enhance nutrient retention and support plant health during winter.

Incorporating cover crops during winter can improve soil structure, reduce erosion, and enhance organic matter content. Cover crops like clover and rye can fix nitrogen and protect soil from harsh weather conditions, creating a healthier environment for subsequent plantings.

Profile Fertilisers advocates for customised fertilisation plans based on soil test results. By addressing specific soil needs, farmers can optimise nutrient uptake and improve forage growth, even in challenging winter conditions.

Maintaining soil health during winter is crucial for sustainable farming. With tailored solutions from Profile Fertilisers, farmers can effectively manage soil compaction, nutrient retention, and overall soil vitality, ensuring robust forage growth and soil health year-round.

Contact Profile Fertilisers

Don Henderson: 021 643 698

Factory:027 222 7698
donh@profilefert.co.nz

www.profilefert.co.nz

Contact Phillip Quay

phillip@mediapa.co.nz

027 458 7724

www.mediapa.co.nz

Volcanic soils, rich in unique minerals such as allophane, play a pivotal role in New Zealand’s agricultural success and environmental sustainability. Dr. Gordon Rajendram, a leading soil scientist, explains that allophane, an amorphous mineral found predominantly in the volcanic ash soils of regions like Waikato and Taranaki, significantly enhances carbon sequestration capabilities, which is crucial in the fight against climate change.

Carbon sequestration in soils is a natural way of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in a solid form. In New Zealand, volcanic soils have demonstrated a remarkable ability to store carbon, with carbon levels reaching 10-12% in some areas. This high organic content not only bolsters soil fertility but also contributes to a healthier microbial environment, which is essential for sustainable agricultural practices.

“Allophane’s structure allows these soils to lock in carbon effectively, making them less prone to the typical losses seen in other soil types,” Dr. Rajendram notes. “This characteristic is vitally important for maintaining soil health and long-term agricultural productivity.”

Moreover, the presence of allophane influences the physical properties of soil, such as texture and water retention, which are beneficial for plant growth. Its ability to bind with organic matter reduces the rate at which carbon decomposes, thereby keeping it stored in the soil for longer periods. This process not only improves the soil’s structure but also its resistance to erosion and degradation.

Dr. Rajendram underscores that understanding the interaction between allophane and organic carbon offers significant insights into sustainable land management practices. By promoting the health of volcanic soils, New Zealand can continue to lead in sustainable agriculture, leveraging its unique geological assets to benefit both the environment and farming communities. The ongoing research and management strategies aimed at enhancing carbon sequestration in these soils not only address global environmental concerns but also support the agricultural sector crucial to New Zealand’s economy.

Contact Dr Gordon Rajendram

021 466077

rajendram@xtra.co.nz

www.gordonrajendramsoilscientist.co.nz

Contact Phillip Quay

phillip@mediapa.co.nz

027 458 7724

www.mediapa.co.nz

Soil compaction is an often-overlooked factor that can significantly impact root development in plants, leading to reduced forage growth on the surface. This physical phenomenon occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space and hindering the movement of air, water, and nutrients through the soil. As Dr Gordon Rajendram, a renowned soil scientist, explains, “Compacted soil creates a hostile environment for roots, limiting their growth and ultimately affecting plant health and productivity.” Consequently, compacted soil presents a challenging environment for root growth, which in turn affects the overall health and productivity of forage crops. Agraforum New Zealand delves into the impact of soil compaction on plant roots and surface forage growth.

The root system of a plant is essential for its ability to access water and nutrients, anchor itself in the soil, and interact with beneficial soil organisms. In compacted soils, the restricted pore space limits root penetration, often causing roots to grow horizontally rather than vertically. This shallow root system reduces the plant’s ability to access deeper soil layers where moisture and nutrients are often more plentiful, particularly during dry periods. Consequently, plants growing in compacted soils are more susceptible to drought stress and nutrient deficiencies.

Moreover, the restricted root growth in compacted soils affects the plant’s ability to establish a robust and extensive root system. This limitation can lead to reduced plant vigour and lower biomass production. For forage crops, this translates to less available forage for livestock, which can have significant economic implications for farmers. Compacted soil not only limits root depth and growth but also affects the soil’s ability to support healthy microbial activity, further reducing the soil’s fertility and the quality of the forage produced.

Soil testing is crucial for identifying compaction issues and determining the appropriate corrective measures. Products such as Envirocal and ComCat are beneficial in mitigating soil compaction. Envirocal, a calcium-based soil conditioner, helps to improve soil structure, while ComCat, a biostimulant, enhances root growth and overall plant health. These products, when used in conjunction with good soil management practices, can significantly reduce the impact of soil compaction.

In conclusion, soil compaction poses a serious threat to root development and forage growth. By understanding the implications of compacted soils and adopting appropriate management practices, farmers can improve root health, enhance forage production, and ensure the sustainability of their farming systems. As highlighted by Agraforum New Zealand, addressing soil compaction is crucial for maintaining productive and sustainable agricultural practices.

Contact Agraforum New Zealand

Mobile: 0274 485 159
Email: allan@agraforum.co.nz

www.agraforum.co.nz

Contact Phillip Quay
phillip@mediapa.co.nz
P: 0274 587 724
www.mediapa.co.nz