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An irrigated cotton trial harvested in 2017 in Wee Waa, New South Wales demonstrates the ability of Foundation LM to help cotton crops achieve higher yields when this biocatalyst is added to a grower's standard fertiliser practice (GSP).
Foundation LM and Basis XC contain concentrated biochemistry that helps growers increase nutrient availability to their crops, enhance root growth and functioning, and improve overall plant performance. But, what exactly is biochemistry?
Biochemistry is the chemistry of life. It is created by, in, and from living organisms, such as soil microbes. A number of different biochemistries are created by soil microbes—each serving an important role in soil microbial functioning, and even in plant functioning.
Foundation LM can be used to improve the performance of a wide variety of crops, including tree crops such as macadamias, apples and citrus.
Our tree crop booklet explains how the proven technology in Foundation LM helps tree crop growers get more out of their fertility programs by:
- Mineralising nutrient sources to increase nutrient availability
- Enhancing root growth and function
- Facilitating nutrient uptake
- Improving water penetration
- Reducing salt stress
During the 2016/2017 growing season, a production-scale field trial was conducted to evaluate a Loveland Agri Products nutritional program on nonpareil almonds. Overall, it showed that incorporating Loveland's products into the farm nutrition program was beneficial, increasing almond yield during the trial.
The trial took place at a commercial almond orchard in New South Wales under the agronomic supervision of Landmark Griffith.
Trees from two sections of the orchard were treated with the Loveland Agri Products program and compared to trees from two untreated blocks. The Loveland program included Awaken and LoKomotive (used in replacement of potassium nitrate and an NPK/trace nutrients product), as well as Foundation LM and NutriSync D. The orchard’s normal nutrition program was otherwise applied, with no other differences between the treated and untreated blocks. An independent research group (SGS of Mildura) harvested and assessed the crop, comparing fruit yield, kernel length, kernel weight and crack-out from the treated and untreated areas.
In a side by side trial conducted in Dalby, Queensland, adding Foundation LM (applied at 2.5 L/ha) to the grower's standard fertiliser program led to a yield gain of 0.25 tonnes/ha in grain sorghum. The trial was harvested in July.
These chickpea plants in Moree, New South Wales are from a block of a grower's paddock that was treated with Foundation LM. The grower reports that he is impressed with the size and health of the nodes and nodules on the plants. Photos were taken in August 2017.
Gatton, Queensland is home to much of the fresh produce found in the supermarkets across Australia. Fertile soils paired with favorable temperatures make this area and its surroundings a haven for horticulture production. Nutrien Ag Solutions agronomists are working to make horticulture in this area even more productive using innovative plant nutrition technologies like Foundation LM and other products in the Loveland Agri Products portfolio.
“We are utilising product technologies that have been extensively researched and trialed to give growers the opportunity to take their production to the next level,” says Nutrien Ag Solutions agronomist Nev Watts. “It takes a systems approach.”
A Nutrien Ag Solutions Field Day demonstration shows sugarcane's quick response to Foundation LM.
Two sugarcane billets were planted in pots at a Nutrien Ag Solutions location in Tolga, Queensland. Foundation LM was applied at 5 L/ha in one pot, and the other was left untreated as a control. In the photos below, which were taken 5 days after planting, you can already see that there is a big difference in root growth with Foundation LM.
A South Australian cropping farmer has been using Foundation LM to help unlock nutrients in his heavy clay soils and improve soil nutrition and structure.
After injecting Foundation LM in furrow on his farm using a Liquid Systems unit last year, farmer Peter Hannaford and Nutrien Ag Solutions agronomist Craig Hole noticed a more strongly developed root system and greener stalks in Peter's barley crops. The greener stalk colour indicates better phosphorus uptake, compared to purple stalks where Foundation LM had not been injected.
When growing short-season crops like brassicas and leafy greens, we often see strong benefits from the biochemistry in Foundation LM when added to a grower's standard practice. In a series of block trials with some growers, we were able to capture some of the benefits that Foundation provides to growers by making nutrients more available and helping to improve plant performance.
The first trial was conducted in cos (romaine) lettuce. Cos is a sturdy, dark green, and fast growing variety of lettuce that is a staple in many Australian diets. The second trial was conducted on wombok (Chinese cabbage). It is also a favorite with Australians because of its tender leaves and nutritional qualities.
In the trials, Foundation LM was applied with the grower's standard practice (GSP) one week after planting at 10 litres per hectare through fertigation. Early tissue test results and results of first and second pickings showed exceptional responses from one application Foundation LM.