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FIELD NOTE:
Soil performance secrets from a North
Canterbury farm
Stonyhurst's success hinges on a simple yet profound strategy: the healthier the soil, the healthier the crops and livestock. With a keen eye on efficient nutrient application and modern agronomy practices, the Douglas-Cliffords are pioneering a sustainable farming model built for the long haul.
Twenty thousand stock units, including ewe hoggets, wether lambs, stud breeding rams, a 450-strong herd of cows, and a deer operation call Stonyhurst Station home. A place where the health of their animals starts with the plants they eat and the soil that sustains them. Notably, the farm finishes all livestock on a grass-based system, prioritising legumes for nitrogen-fixing and maintaining optimal pH levels.
The trick is to ensure it’s available for our plants by maintaining that perfect pH." Charles Douglas-Clifford
Tips for tuning in your soil to reap the benefits
Find your optimal pH
The availability of essential nutrients like phosphorus and sulphur, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium depends on the soil pH. A neutral pH often ensures a well-balanced uptake of these nutrients, promoting healthier plant growth.
For the D-C’s, it's about unlocking what’s already there. "Our Phosphorus levels aren’t high, but it's not about adding more and more P. The trick is to ensure it’s available for our plants by maintaining that perfect pH."
Activate your soil biology
Soil organisms, such as beneficial bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and breakdown of organic matter. These microorganisms generally function optimally in neutral pH conditions. Extreme pH levels can disrupt the balance of the soil microbiome and reduce biological activity. Create a hospitable environment for these beneficial soil organisms to thrive, and they’ll support plant health.
Top up what your soil is missing
The number of earthworms, the structure of the soil and how it drains are good indicators of soil health. Take regular soil tests to determine your soil’s pH levels and what nutrients are missing. Then take steps to improve the health of your soil, the foundation to farming success.
Stonyhurst soil is deficient in Sulphur, so they doubled up on S, combining it with lime in a micronised, pelletised format to get the legumes really producing. That set them up for the spring – a crucial time when they do 50% of their livestock growing. The quality of feed then dictates how successful their year will be.
Optimise Fine Lime Sulphur
Following in the footsteps of his father and uncle, Charles uses Optimise Lime-based fertilisers to maintain soil health and enhance nutrient availability. They’ve tuned in their soil. How about you?
Each pellets contains CaCO3 and stable micronised Elemental Sulphur (Carbonate 72%, Ca 28.8%, S 19.6%)
