{"id":8306,"date":"2023-08-17T01:02:06","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T01:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/fertiliser-sweet-spot-paul-marbelli-copy\/"},"modified":"2023-09-11T23:52:03","modified_gmt":"2023-09-11T23:52:03","slug":"fertiliser-sweet-spot-andrew-vella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/fertiliser-sweet-spot-andrew-vella\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the \u2018sweet spot\u2019 for fertiliser"},"content":{"rendered":"[mk_page_section bg_image=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/rt4canerow.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” enable_3d=”true” min_height=”500″ js_vertical_centered=”true” padding_top=”” padding_bottom=”” section_id=”donate” el_class=”donate-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”70px”][mk_fancy_title font_family=”none” align=”center”]REPEATED TENDER CANE PROGRAM[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”67″][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789112768{padding-right: 36px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_left”][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”15″ visibility=”visible-sm”][mk_padding_divider visibility=”visible-tl”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” el_class=”terrain-title-2″]FINDING THE ‘SWEET SPOT’ FOR FERTILISER[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider size=”60″ visibility=”hidden-nb”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″ visibility=”visible-nb”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1673847051407{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1694476324404{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Forty-one growers from Mareeba to Ingham have trialled changes to their cane-growing practices across 10,000 hectares of land to find the ‘sweet spot’ for productivity and sustainable agriculture.<\/p>\n

Changes have ranged from using enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertiliser and applying fertiliser at variable rates to improving soil health through compost production, mill mud application and planting legumes fallow crops. They have also included upgrading soil and yield mapping to better understand each cane block.<\/p>\n

The Wet Tropics Reef Trust IV Repeated Tender program is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by Terrain NRM in partnership with Cairns Canegrowers, Herbert Cane Productivity Services and Tully Canegrowers.<\/p>\n

Hear from Abergowrie grower Andrew Vella:<\/p>\n

Andrew Vella \u2013 Abergowrie<\/strong><\/p>\n

Abergowrie cane grower Andrew Vella\u2019s change to enhanced efficiency liquid nitrogen fertiliser has enabled him to average 140kg per hectare on the family\u2019s farms, which collectively have 300 hectares under cane.<\/p>\n

Application is down to between 80 and 100kg per hectare on plant blocks – depending on whether he can get a legume crop in or not – so that rates can remain higher on ratoons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the rising cost of fertiliser, you don\u2019t want to waste it. But when you\u2019re cutting back on nitrogen you want to still be able to maximise your production. You want the plant to use the whole lot. It\u2019s a challenge because our growing season varies every year. Sometimes we get a lot of late growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Enhanced efficiency fertilisers<\/strong><\/p>\n

He believes new products, like enhanced efficiency fertiliser, are the key to dropping nitrogen fertiliser rates because \u201cyou\u2019re not losing as much nitrogen to volatility or leaching\u201d. But they are currently a more expensive option \u2013 and that\u2019s where the Wet Tropics Reef Trust IV Repeated Tender program has helped.[\/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”5″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1563789122720{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 34px !important;}” el_class=”great_header_right”][mk_padding_divider size=”206″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_padding_divider size=”44″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1692235203810{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\"\"<\/p>\n

Customised nutrient management plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Developing a customised nutrient management plan with an extension officer was another advantage. And an accompanying increase in soil tests has shed light on soil health needs, including application of more lime.<\/p>\n

Cane production on the Vella farm remains in the top five in the sub-district.<\/p>\n

“If there’s a problem, we’ll work out a way to fix it”<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew says water sampling is a well-established practice in the catchment, where automated sampling stations have been in place for three years, with information relayed back to farmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cImidacloprid, for cane grubs, is one of the biggest worries. We are now using slow-release Suscon maxi granules, allowing us to use less liquid. If there\u2019s a problem, we\u2019ll work out a way to fix it.\u201d[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section el_class=”grean-btn-sec” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”47″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_button dimension=”outline” url=”https:\/\/terrain.org.au\/what-we-do\/biodiversity\/” align=”right” el_class=”green-btn” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_color=”#175137″ outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#175137″ outline_hover_color=”#ffffff”]Read More[\/mk_button][mk_padding_divider size=”100″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][mk_page_section section_id=”great-1-blog” sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_padding_divider size=”105″ visibility=”hidden-sm”][mk_fancy_title size=”28″ letter_spacing=”4″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”right” el_class=”terrain-title”]RELATED NEWS[\/mk_fancy_title][mk_padding_divider visibility=”hidden-sm”][\/vc_column][\/mk_page_section][vc_row fullwidth=”true” fullwidth_content=”false” id=”post_grid_filter_1″][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”grid_greate_3″ css=”.vc_custom_1682557110792{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]\n

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