Cropping Program:
Step 1. For example starting - post harvest
Apply solid soil amendment - these are generally supplied custom blended.
calcium (lime) 300 - 800 kg/Ha
biologically activated phosphate EzyPhos™ 80 - 200 kg/Ha
+/- Trace nutrients as per test preferable in chelated form
+/- gypsum in fertiliser quantities 50 - 300 kg/Ha
+/- added biological stimulants - BioBrew Soil™
In higher input intensive systems such as horticulture may use added specific humates, paramagnetic rock, composts, mineral salts and earths.
Step 2.
Apply liquid biological stimulant and inoculant direct to the stubble to maximise digestion and recycling process.
- BioBrew Digester™ 3 - 6 litres/Ha,
+/- generally with added soluble nitrogen - urea 10 - 30 kg
This must be incorporated to ground level to achieve soil contact so the microbes can have a suitable moist environment to work in, preferably by light discing. (may harrow/prickle chain though less soil contact)
If your system involves chemical fallowing in this time then many add humate-derived products to their herbicide with a view to increasing efficacy and providing some bio-stimulation to counter any potential negative effects of the chemical. Some farmers have found that BioBrew Soil™ works well in this role.
Step 3 Pre plant
BioBrew Soil™ is applied as a soil inoculant; @ 3 - 6 litres L/ha.
Either with your pre-plant knock down herbicide
Or spray broad-acre and incorporate at sowing within 24 hours
Options here include applying direct into seed row as water injection for those that have equipment.
Recommended that BioBrew Soil™ is applied/inoculated to seed at 4.0 L/tonne.
Starter fertiliser - Check with your consultant as to the bio-friendly options:
MAP liquid starter-MAP +/- humates…
Choose moderate rate, don't decrease rate too much in initial “transition” period as the system has to learn to feed in a different manner and the biodiversity has to build to support more efficient nutrient cycling.
Nitrogen - depending on crop rotation and crop choice legume/cereal…
Generally first choice is sulphate of ammonia, includes 24% sulphur and is a slow release ammoniacal nitrogen. This may in itself allow you to use slightly less N than your normal practice. If using urea or anhydrous ensure that plenty of carbohydrates and humates as buffers are in your nutrition program.
# Some apply BioBrew Soil™ + molasses as liquid injection into the soil when knifing in the urea or anhydrous. The constant supply of sugars, enzymes and biologicals will encourage enhanced biodiversity in the soil zone.
# Don't apply all your nitrogen at once, split applications if at all possible so that flexible to crop needs based on season at hand.
In crop foliar treatments
Step 4
Mid tillering
BioBrew Growth™ @ 2 - 6 L/Ha
To stimulate vegetative growth
+/- nitrogen - as nitrate: calcium nitrate, urea
+/- traces - biochelated.
Step 5
Pre-flowering (pannicle initiation, joint elongation)
Apply BioBrew Harvest™ @ 2 - 6 L/Ha
To switch the plant into a fruiting phase of growth to maximise fruit/grain set and quality
+/- nitrogen - ammoniacal
+/- traces - biochelated