The treated test area was treated with 10 grams of the product, which is consistent with the recommended rate of 4 Kg (4,000 grams) per Acre (4,000 m²). The product was broadcast over the test area and was incorporated into the first few centimetres of soil. The area was irrigated on the same day.
The temporary effects on pH were quite dramatic. Within 2 days of
application, the pH had dropped from 7.4 to 6.8. After 14 days it had risen
again to 7.2.
Nitrate Nitrogen had gone from 24 ppm to 45 ppm, then reduced again
to 24 ppm. I would not put great value on this, as this is to be expected
after an application of what is in truth a nitrogen-based fertiliser.
A slight effect on available Potassium was also noted, with an increase
from 90ppm to 96ppm, then to 108ppm. There was also a reduction in available
Magnesium from 158ppm, to 125ppm, to 126ppm. This may or may not have been
due to the application of the product, but it was certainly a positive
sign in this situation were excessive Magnesium and deficiencies in Potassium
are a problem.
Levels of available Zinc remained the same throughout the testing
period.
Available Manganese increased from 0.37ppm to 0.90ppm to 1.24ppm.
Chloride increased from 28ppm to 76ppm, but then reduced again to
44ppm.
The temporary acidification of the alkaline soil has the potential
to release available trace elements from insoluble compounds into the soil
solution where they are available for uptake by plant roots. This would
certainly be of value especially in broadacre situations where the application
of large amounts of trace elements on an annual basis is not economical
or practical. It could be assumed that further applications of the product
at flowering or fruit/pod/grain-fill stages could be made to again release
some insoluble trace elements if this was considered necessary by plant
tissue testing.
The noted increase in available Copper and Manganese in this situation
was notable. These results cannot be considered conclusive, as these elements
are available in such small quantities, but they are notable enough to
indicate that an expected increase in their availability could well be
expected. The dramatic decrease in pH gives further weight to this.
The lack of change in Zinc availability was probably due to the level
of the pH at the start of the test. pH 7.4 is not extremely high from a
Zinc-availability perspective. Perhaps if the starting level was higher,
an increase in availability could be expected.
The increase in Chloride could well be a matter of concern depending
on the initial chloride status of the soil, as well as the level of sodium
and salinity (Electrical Conductivity, or E.C.). In this particular situation
it was not a problem, as the level never rose above what you would call
a 'danger level' for the crop that was planted. In susceptible crops like
tobacco it could well be a matter of concern. The evidence that the increase
appears to be only temporary is a positive sign. Under irrigation it is
likely that this free chloride could combine with available sodium cations,
and leach through the profile in a sodium chloride solution.
This product appears to the author to have a definite market potential
in situations where a production increase can be gained by a temporary
acidification of an alkaline soil. The major problem caused by alkaline
soils is the unavailability of sufficiently high levels of the trace elements
Zinc, Copper and Manganese. Deficiencies of these elements are common in
high-pH cropping soils, and cause productivity losses due to deficiencies,
or profitability losses due to the cost of purchasing and applying trace
elements on an annual basis. Permanently lowering pH with high applications
of sulfur is far too expensive to ever be considered a viable proposition.
The most valuable market placement of this product would be in the
semi-intensive and extensive cropping industries where irrigation and/or
rainfall is expected at planting time and at fruit/pod/grain-fill time.
The product will certainly require water to activate it. Experiments could
also be done with deep-placement of the product at 50-100mm below the seed
in a rain-grown (dryland) situation.
The major advantages of the product are:
CONTENTS:
· Soil Test #1 (Before the Application
of the Product).
· Soil Test #2 (Two Days After The
Application of the Product).
· Soil Test #3 (Fourteen Days After
The Application of the Product).
Grower: MALIK
Units
Comment
Suggestions:
Grower: MALIK
Units
Comment
Suggestions:
Grower: MALIK
Units
Comment
Suggestions:
Consultant
P.O.Box 3500
Available Copper increased over the course of the testing period
from 0.24ppm, to 0.40ppm, to 0.44ppm.
· its low cost due to the low purchase price, and the low
application rates
· the speed of action
· the dramatic lowering of the pH
· the notable effects on trace element availability
Block ID: TEST BLOCK
Date Entered: 4/19/99
Crop:
pH:
7.40
E.C.:
0.12 MS/cm³ 120 m S/cm³
Nitrate:
24.00 ppm
Phosphorus (BSES):
34.00 ppm
Phosphate (Bicarb):
65.00 ppm
Potassium:
90.00 ppm 0.230 meq %
% cations:
1.14
Calcium:& nbsp;
1859.00 ppm 9.295 meq %
% cations:
46.18
Magnesium:
1190.00 ppm 9.917 meq %
% cations:
49.27
Sodium:
158.00 ppm 0.687 meq %
% cations:
3.41 20.128 C.E.C.
E.S.P.
3.41 %
Ca:Mg Ratio
0.94 Ca:Mg
Sulfate:
7.00 ppm
Zinc:
0.70 ppm
Copper:
0.24 ppm
Iron:
1.29 ppm
Manganese:
0.37 ppm
Boron:
0.21 ppm
Chloride:
28.00 ppm
Organic Carbon:
1.81 % 2.896 % Organic Matter
Ammeliorants:
Fertilisers:
Block ID: TEST SITE
Date Entered: 4/21/99
Crop:
pH:
6.80
E.C.:
0.20 MS/cm³ 200 m S/cm³
Nitrate:
45.00 ppm
Phosphorus (BSES):
29.00 ppm
Phosphate (Bicarb):
32.00 ppm
Potassium:
96.00 ppm 0.245 meq %
% cations:
1.20
Calcium:
2030.00 ppm 10.15 meq %
% cations:
49.58
Magnesium:
1144.00 ppm 9.533 meq %
% cations:
46.57
Sodium:
125.00 ppm 0.543 meq %
% cations:
2.65 20.472 C.E.C.
E.S.P.
2.65 %
Ca:Mg Ratio
1.06 Ca:Mg
Sulfate:
3.00 ppm
Zinc:
0.70 ppm
Copper:
0.40 ppm
Iron:
1.12 ppm
Manganese:
0.90 ppm
Boron:
0.33 ppm
Chloride:
76.00 ppm
Organic Carbon:
1.61 % 2.576 % Organic Matter
Ammeliorants:
Fertilisers:
Block ID: TEST SITE
Date Entered: 5/3/99
Crop:
pH:
7.20
E.C.:
0.14 MS/cm³ 140 m S/cm³
Nitrate:
21.00 ppm
Phosphorus (BSES):
34.00 ppm
Phosphate (Bicarb):
36.00 ppm
Potassium:
108.00 ppm 0.276 meq %
% cations:
1.34
Calcium:
2031.00 ppm 10.155 meq %
% cations:
49.47
Magnesium:
1146.00 ppm 9.550 meq %
% cations:
46.52
Sodium:
126.00 ppm 0.548 meq %
% cations:
2.67 20.528 C.E.C.
E.S.P.
2.67 %
Ca:Mg Ratio
1.06 Ca:Mg
Sulfate:
5.00 ppm
Zinc:
0.70 ppm
Copper:
0.44 ppm
Iron:
0.95 ppm
Manganese:
1.24 ppm
Boron:
0.29 ppm
Chloride:
44.00 ppm
Organic Carbon:
1.64 % 2.624 % Organic Matter
Ammeliorants:
Fertilisers:
Jeff Harvie
AdvCertHort
AdvDipFarmMgmt
AdvDipHort
Ph/Fax:(07) 4934 2922
Mobile: 0419 026435
E-mail: [email protected]
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