Pasture
Evergreen or Bxa are the Petrik
products most associated with pasture production. They are used within a wide range of production models
from full organic to high intensity dairy. Most producers are conventional rather than organic but use the
Petrik system to give better production with reduced inputs and to improve herd health.
Barraba, Horton Valley NSW
In April 2010 John Cordlingley, a steer and fat lamb producer in Barraba, treated two thirds
of his winter oats crop with Petrik Evergreen. This was applied over the top of 2t/ha of chicken
manure directly in front of the oats planter to achieve some incorporation. Other sections of the
farm had identical treatment without the Evergreen and some areas had DAP in place of the manure.
The sections which received the Evergreen stood out so significantly that in June 2010, John
opted to reapply the manure to the sections without Evergreen and to treat these with the product
as well. The treated area has better recovery after grazing, less
evidence of fertility patches (coarse grass on manure), and has almost no uprooting from
grazing compared to the untreated areas. Less uprooting also results in fewer weeds. This is
the shortest Petrik trial we have run with the grazier opting to adopt the system across the
whole farm 8 weeks from the initial application.
John also has property at Walcha and Gyra and is in the process of bringing the Petrik biological farming system into place here as well.
On the left hand side of the below images
is treated pasture. On the right is untreated pasture.
Evergreen Treated Pasture
Untreated Pasture
John Cordingley, farmer:
You do not have to be a scientist to see the results.
South Gippsland, VIC
The Arbuthnot farm was a particularly difficult case. Situated on the coast with part of the farm being
a reclaimed inlet the soil suffered two extremes:
- High salt, high magnesium, heavy levels of root mat and peat, and a heavy clay soil.
- White, sand based soil.
A regime of Evergreen, Green Manure
and Infiltrate were combined with a lime and manure application
to kickstart the humus cycle wihin the soil and speed up the breakdown of organic compounds.
The results were outstanding.
- 101-152mm of good topsoil replacing widespread root mat in white sand and peat.
- Accumulation of humus and black soil on top of high saline water - pasture has formed on top of sea water. "Humus
retains fresh, not salt water, so moisture is now retained where salt once leeched in and destroyed crops" says
Kevin Hughes, the local consultant in Victoria.
Untreated sandy soil
Treated soil
Kevin Hughes, consultant:
Natural inputs are a catalyst for change, but they need to be supported by strong soil management techniques and methods.