A NEW facility for applying liquid treatments to fertilisers has opened in Mackay.
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers launched its latest liquids applicator, the first of its type in North Queensland, to support the growing demand for ENTEC among cane growers.
ENTEC is an enhanced efficiency fertiliser treatment which stabilises nitrogen fertiliser and reduces the potential for losses including runoff, denitrification and leaching.
Agronomists in the Mackay and Whitsunday region worked alongside Incitec Pivot Fertilisers to develop a market for ENTEC in the region as it improves nitrogen uptake in cane and reduces losses.
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers vice president northern Trent Cosh said the new facility would not be possible without the support of local cane growers and dealers.
"This facility is another significant investment in our liquid capabilities, not only for ENTEC but for other fertiliser treatments such as Green Urea NV and spray-on trace elements," he said.
"Investments like these clearly signal that we are committed to supplying our customers with the right products at the right time in the right places.
"We also take our environmental responsibilities seriously, investing not only in improving fertiliser management on-farm but also at our primary distribution centres and other sites."
Incitec Pivot Fertilisers tropical systems agronomist Rob Dwyer also showed guests at the opening a 'Stool Zippa' closing wheel, which was developed to reduce nutrient loss in sugar cane.
"The Stool Zippa delivers compacted soil cover over the fertiliser band, keeping the nutrients where they have been placed and reducing runoff losses by nearly half," Mr Dwyer said.
Mr Lawn said the Stool Zippa had been developed over several years by as a result of numerous field trials and computer-based simulations showing exactly how the finger press wheels performed in a range of soil conditions in sugar cane.
"The finger press wheels of the Stool Zippa do the job really well, especially in variable conditions such as different soil types, soil moisture, trash levels and crop heights," Mr Dwyer said.