More fertiliser use predicted

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 19, 6 October 1987, Page 4

More fertiliser use predicted

The fertiliser industry in New Zealand is predicting an increase in the tonnages spread this coming year. Fertiliser industry sources attribute the increase in saies predicted this year to the development of new fertiliser products during recent years. One such product researched and developed by the fertiliser industry is longlife super, a mixture of superphosphate and reactive phosphate rock (RPR). It is available in granulated fotm for easy handling and offers cost savings of up to 20 percent more than conventional superphosphate, a factor apparently overlooked by the promoters of reactive rock when producing costs comparisons.

Longlife Super has met with solid demand from the farming community because it retains many of the benefits of superphosphate while being a lowrisk option with no restrictions on use. The additional advantages, that it can be granulated at minimal cost and additives readily incorporated, also appeal to end users according to industry sources. Contrary to recent claims, the apparently new phosphate fertilisers, such as partially acidulated phosphate rock (PAPR) and RPR, have been available to the New Zealand farmer for years. The importation was in 1927 and various products of this type have been available for many years. The fact that little use has been made of RPR and

PAPR products in the past is possibly due to handling problems, relative costs and whether farmers have obtained the perceived benefits. One of the real benefits of conventional superphosphate to the New Zealand farmer over RPR and PAPR is its ability to deliver sulphur to the soil. Many areas of New Zealand, particularly peat, pumice, southern South Island soils and newly developed country, are all likely to require sulphur annually. While sulphur levels from many soil tests are high, this is the result of continuing use of super over many years. As the tonnages of superphosphate applied has declined recently, industry sources are concerned that many sulphur deficient areas are not being detected.