Fish and seaweed are used as the basis of healthy growth promoting foliar fertilisers that used in the right place, at the right time, and at the right rate, provide pleasing results.
Much of the credit for the improvement in plant quality and palatability resulting from their use is given to the wide range of minor or trace minerals all fish and seaweed contain.
Often these elements are only present in parts per million and when diluted and applied to pasture the effectiveness of such small amounts is often queried.
Having farmed within five kilometres of the coast as well as far inland as it is possible we have our own views on the effect of small quantities of salt and accompanying minerals carried by rain and wind coming from the sea can have.
In our experience animals reared on pasture close to the coast require are generally healthier. Our young dairy replacements required less animal health remedies particularly worm drenches. The requirement of lactating cows for sodium was almost nil close to the coast. Inland, for optimum health and performance, sodium supplementation was a constant requirement.
Two years ago a highly respected stockman farming inland hills introduced some of his young beef animals to fresh seawater. Fresh water was always available so animals were never forced to drink seawater, however seawater was drunk in surprisingly large quantities.
Although not a scientific trial this farmer became increasingly certain that based on his observation and the results from regular weighing, the animals that had access to salt water grew more rapidly.
Dolomite mined near Collingwood was originally a seabed deposit and therefore contains a range of trace minerals. Typically Dolomite contains Boron 5ppm (parts per million),
Cobalt 2ppm, Copper 1ppm, Manganese 173ppm, Molybdenum 3ppm, and Zinc 10ppm.
With the typically recommended application rate of 200 – 250kg/ha the rates of trace minerals input appears inconsequential however farmers and growers that regularly apply dolomite often claim general health benefits that cannot be attributed entirely to the calcium content of 24%, and magnesium content of 11.5%, both in the carbonate form.
Being a proven soil conditioner that improves soil tilth some of the improvement will be due to improved nutrient availability and the more rapid exchange of gasses to and from soil and atmosphere.
It is thought that even very small quantities of trace minerals may increase growth-promoting substances in the soil able to be utilised by plants. With all growing situations there are many factors that influence at any given time however there are frequent reports citing a general improvement in plant and animal health as a result of regular dolomite usage when applied at the rate required to meet soil magnesium requirements.
Some years ago a small dairy company found that dolomite markedly improved the palatability of pasture on paddocks to which effluent was regularly applied. After trying a number of different remedies pasture that cows were reluctant to graze became acceptable after a single dolomite application.
For more information call 0800 436 566 (0800 4 dolomite)