Research could save farmers millions

Thursday, 16 August 2007

University of 新浪彩票 postgraduate student Simon Craig has won a prestigious to help him research the use of liquid fertilisers in agriculture to improve crop production.

Mr Craig, a research officer with the , was one of six people awarded the annual fellowship from the , Professor David de Kretser AC, at Government House this week.

Liquid fertilisers are thought to have enormous potential for improving yields and farm profitability on Victoria's alkaline, calcium carbonate-heavy soils but to date they have been used in a limited way in Victoria.

Mr Craig, 26, has had good success so far with a spray that delivers the exact amount of nutrients needed by the plants.

He believes that if all 800 farmers in the Wimmera-Mallee region were to apply liquid fertiliser in this way it could save an estimated $1.6 million a year.

"If farmers are able to apply less fertiliser and still get the same if not more grain, they would save $20,000 a year. The consumer would also be less likely to face increased prices at the supermarket for their bread, cereals and pasta.

"A further benefit is that liquid fertilisers appear able to better protect the minerals reserves of phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil, stopping pollution of waterways and algal blooms," he says.