DoloZest Soil Enhancement

DoloZest contains soft carbons inoculated with a wide range of selected beneficial microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi. Applied annually in autumn it ensures sufficient plant available Mg for maximum growth throughout the following 12 months. The included fungi and bacteria also speed the rate of nutrient cycling and the sequestration of carbon in the form of humus. Humus building starts with pasture plants sequestering carbon (C) from the atmosphere via photosynthesis creating soil carbon - organic matter (OM). We see it on farm as dung, old root matter, and decaying plant leaves. Humus is formed when OM is fully digested by earthworms, fungi, bacteria and a host of other soil dwellers.

DoloZest is highly stable material and along with glomalin, builds soil structure to withstand extreme treading pressure and provides resilience in times of drought and flooding. Glomalin is a sticky substance exuded by mycorrhizal fungi that builds tread-resistant crumb in the soil. Increasing soil carbon levels is a key goal for any pastoral farming system. It provides the storage capacity for nutrients including nitrogen and water. It’s the speed at which biological cycling takes place that elevates production levels – lifting both quality and quantity. Where carbon is being constantly sequestered high levels of growth can be maintained with pasture growth exceeding 90kg DM/ha/day for extended periods. Not all farms are sequestering carbon L Work by Louis Schipper at Waikato University showed that intensive dairy properties reliant on synthetic nitrogen were, on average, losing 1.0 tonne of carbon/ha/year (refer to the picture on page 1). The results of that loss are already obvious:- o Pasture production levels have steadily declined. o Supplements & grazing off-farm are required to fill the gap. o Frequent pasture renovation/renewal; up to 20% of the farm per year. o Higher animal health costs, and slower genetic gain – empty rates in excess of 20%.

A DoloZest-based nutrient programme containing all the required P, S & potassium, reduces and ultimately eliminates dependence on synthetic nitrogen. More pasture is grown, higher animal production at lower costs along with greater resilience provides the necessary change for a truly sustainable farming future.