AgriBusiness News September 2016

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18 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 Soil properties critical when applying effluent Dairy effluent is a great source of nutrients for growing pasture. But if not managed properly effluent can also be a significant source of contaminants which harm our waterways. Understanding how soil properties affect nutrient loss is a key to maximising the benefits of effluent on farm and minimising its impacts on waterways. Soil texture and structure determine the amount of water that can enter and be retained within a particular soil, and the rate of transmission of excess water through that soil. So effluent irrigation systems should be matched with soil properties to minimise runoff and leaching. The rate at which effluent can be applied to the land for maximum production benefit is determined by the soil’s properties including structure, porosity and infiltration rate. The nature of the effluent and cattle treading on soils can affect the infiltration rate. Treading damage, which occurs most when the soils are wet, significantly reduces the infiltration rate. For some soils this can result in accumulation of effluent below slopes and in hollows. It can then enter surface waterways. Movement of water through soil pores is generally described as hydraulic conductivity. When hydraulic conductivity of the soil is low, irrigation of effluent will result in ponding and run-off once the total water capacity of the soil is exceeded or if application rate exceeds infiltration rate. Low rates of hydraulic conductivity are found in soils that are poorly drained, and ponding and runoff often occur with high rainfall. Many of these soils are artificially drained to reduce the incidence of ponding and water-logging, and this carries a risk that effluent can bypass the soil and be directed rapidly into waterways Leaching occurs as excess water moves through the soil. So soils with lower water holding capacity are more susceptible to leaching, while soils with high water holding capacity (deep silt loams) can store significant quantities of effluent. The soils that have low available water holding capacities, are the shallow to moderately deep soils, as well as sandy or stony soils. Effluent irrigation on these soils is likely to result in leaching unless it is applied at low rates and in small doses. The irrigation system on these soils must be capable of low rates of application to gain the maximum nutrient benefit. Drainage and the level of biological activity of the soil at the application site are important. Aim to apply effluent at a rate that keeps it in the root zone so that the nutrients can be utilised by pasture. Permeable soils with a deep water table and no drainage limits are best for putting effluent on. However, on stony soils the risk of effluent draining directly to ground water would be an issue to consider. In such situations, application depths and rates should be adjusted to account for this risk. Another issue is “bypass flow”. When effluent application rates are higher than infiltration rates, water can enter continuous macro-pores that are open at the soil surface, and then move very rapidly via so-called “bypass flow” through a relatively dry soil matrix. This means little opportunity for the water to be retained within the root zone and high leaching of nitrate is likely to occur. Bypass flow of farm dairy effluent can occur in soils that undergo shrinkage and fissuring during drying, especially when these soils have been previously compacted by treading. A key to avoiding over application can be having adequate effluent storage so that By Bala Tikkisetty Sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council Mark McHardy wins Cooperative Leader of the Year Award Cooperative Business New Zealand has announced Farmlands Fuel general manager, Mark McHardy, as the winner of the Cooperative Leader of the Year Award for 2015/16. The award honours an individual who has shown significant co-operative leadership, commitment and support of well recognised and accepted co-operative principles. They also need to display vision and courage for the co-operative model, along with demonstrate successful initiatives that have benefited their co-operative or the co-operative sector. Cooperative Business New Zealand CEO, Craig Presland, says that Mark was the stand out nominee for this award. “His business’ successes as general manager of Farmlands Fuel have been based in strong co-operative principles such as leveraging the collective buying power of the group, displaying a strong vision and determination in ensuring full health and safety compliance, implementing systems and procedures that have ensured the efficient and sustainable supply of fuel and irrigation can be deferred if conditions aren’t right. DairyNZ has released a new smart phone app to help farmers apply effluent more efficiently. The Dairy Effluent Spreading Calculator app provides dairy farmers and effluent spreading contractors with leading the long-term survival and growth of Farmlands’ fuel business,” he says. Farmlands Co-operative CEO, Peter Reidie says Mark has been at the forefront of growth for Farmlands Fuel for the past 10 years and has shown decisive leadership around the expansion and delivery of the Farmlands Fuel business to Farmlands’ shareholder customers and the wider rural New Zealand community, along with offering innovative solutions throughout the fuel and lubricant sector. “Mark has contributed to not only the success of Farmlands guidance around nutrient application rates based on the depth and type of effluent they apply. • Bala Tikkisetty is a sustainable agriculture advisor at Waikato Regional Council. Contacts: bala.tikkisetty@waikatoregion.govt.nz or 0800 800 401. Fuel but also Farmlands Co-operative as a whole, as a key member of the executive team that now guides New Zealand’s largest rural supplies co-operative,” he says. “Mark has excellent focus on customer service, has implemented a leading environmental awareness plan and has been a champion in the health and safety arena, not only within Farmlands but in the wider fuel industry.” Mark has a strong affinity to rural New Zealand. He comes from a dairy farm in the North Island and completed a Diploma in Horticultural Management at Lincoln University, before working in the grain and agricultural chemical industries. Specialists in tree maintenance Treescape specialises in the cost effective maintenance of trees and vegetation, from tree pruning, tree removals, power line clearing, transplanting, land clearing, consultancy and restoration projects. We pride ourselves in working safely, professionally and with integrity. • Pruning & hedge trimming • Chipping • Dismantling & felling • Thinning & crown reduction • Stump grinding • Land clearing PHONE: 0800 TREE WORK (873 396) or (07) 857 0280 Email: hugov@treescape.co.nz www.treescape.co.nz
WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS September 2016 19 Not new... But nearly! VF SS 6.0 V8 engine 6 Speed auto with active select, auto park assist, rear view camera, blind spot alert, my link infotainment system with 8’’ touch screen, dual zone climate control, sports suspension. Sportec and kenetic suede sports seats, NE W MID -SI ZE CR UZE EQ UIPE COL ORADO 4X2 MALIB U CD PE TR OL 1.8L SED AN AU TO CREW CAB AU TO fromrsp fromrsp fromrsp $ 33,990 +onroads electric park brake, reverse traffic alert and 5 star ANCAP rating. VF II SS 6.2 LS3 V8 engine $ 25,990 +onroads $ 39,990 +onroads THESE DEALS ARE AS GOOD AS THEY GET EBBETT HOLDEN Offer available while stocks last. Offers end April 30th 2014. Not available wi other offers. Private customers only. 5965158AA 204-208 Anglesea St, Hamilton, T 0800 07 838 280 0949 888 www.ebbett.co.nz www.ebbett.co.nz
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