AUSTRALIAN onion and pineapple crops could better utilise nitrogen resources to improve production.
That's the assessment from world-renowned plant physiologist, Dr David Marks, who spent the past month imparting his knowledge, specifically on nitrogen and calcium use, to Australian and New Zealand fresh produce growers.
His Australian visit was part of his ongoing campaign to improve crop fertiliser use throughout the world.
"Globally, the way fertiliser is used is inherently wasteful. Conventional wisdom is 'use more to achieve more'," Dr Marks said.
"However, we've been demonstrating that producers can improve yields with sustainable inputs.
"That has been something of a 'lightbulb moment' for growers.
Dr Marks is the co-managing director of Levity Crop Science and the inventor of more than 30 patented agricultural products.
He said sustainability for Australian producers was higher on the agenda than it was 10 years ago.
"There's a growing global awareness of the need to protect the environment and an appetite to reduce inputs as farmers face increasing economic, climatic, social and legislative pressures," Dr Marks said.
"Australian farmers have a pioneer psyche as they are producing crops against a backdrop of extreme weather conditions and low nutrient-holding soils.
"Traditional farming methods don't apply so they've learnt to become extremely adaptable and resilient and are therefore receptive to technology-driven innovations.
"They are more conscious than ever of reducing waste and farm costs."
Along with co-managing director and scientist Anna Weston and crop science technologist Zenon Kynigos of Levity's Australian partner ProdOz International, Dr Marks visited multiple commercial operations in Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand where tree crops, berries, tropical fruit, nuts, root vegetables and brassicas were being produced.
Dr Marks developed Levity's flagship nitrogen product, Lono, in 2011 specifically to hold nitrogen in the amine form and stop leaching and volatilisation.
The "smart fertiliser" focuses on the plant's reproductive growth, rather than vegetative growth. It has recently become available in Australia and is in use in multiple crops.
"Some growers who have been trialing our products for a while have achieved great results and are now implementing our program across their entire operation," he said.
"Other growers are yet to see the results of their trials and others were receptive to learning more."
He said while all crops could benefit from more effective nitrogen-use practices, he could see enormous potential for improving outcomes particularly in Australian onion and pineapple production.
"Both these crops have poor roots so aren't able to harvest nutrients from the soil as well as other plants. Also they are 'lion feeders' which feed on nitrogen at specific times in their growth cycle," Dr Marks said.
"We already know effective nitrogen use can make a difference in root vegetable, banana and broadacre crops such as sugarcane and cotton.
"We use Levity on crops across the board. Each grower will get their own results due to the varied factors on each farm. We encourage our clients to trial and get their own data on this.
"Our key focus is to share knowledge about effective nitrogen use and help farmers achieve better outcomes in marketable yield and quality.
"It's about helping farmers understand the interaction between plants and how they take up nutrients in the environment they're in."
He said the team had dispelled several myths about nutrient practices, during the farm visits.
"Farmers have been very surprised at how little calcium-targeted product they can use to achieve a good result. It's about using the right amount in the right way," he said.
He said he envisaged the next five years would see farmers globally using less fertilisers as they came to understand that light applications of high-tech products could significantly increase productivity, marketable yield and quality attributes such as flavour, size, appearance and shelf life.
Dr Marks is set to return to Australasia next winter where he will meet with producers in key regions.
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