For WA avocado grower Nigel Love, it all starts with healthy roots, leading to healthier trees, and improved yields of higher quality fruit.

Since switching from potato growing after the turn of the century, this has been a journey and there have been some challenges along the way, but the family’s orchard has grown from four hectares to 160ha, and it is achieving consistent yields and excellent packouts of large avocadoes.

Situated west of Pemberton in the state’s South West region, the Love Family Farms enterprise also includes a beef herd run over another 200ha.

The avocado orchard comprises the popular Hass variety and pollinator lines set over predominantly Karri loam soils.

Mr Love said Karri loam was a good soil type, however it harboured phytophthora root rot in the region and that ratcheted up the focus on tree health.

“If you can keep them healthier for longer, you are in the box seat,” Mr Love said.

A number of years ago, young seedlings purchased for the orchard also unfortunately came with some root pathogens.

These challenges commenced the Love’s use of beneficial bacteria, and this has continued via the Serenade family of biological and organically certified (ACO and OMRI) products from Bayer.

Serenade Prime was used previously as a soil ameliorant, however, the introduction of Serenade Soil Activ has delivered a soil-optimised formulation that provides superior colonisation of plant roots and enhanced nutrient uptake, leading to improved root hair development and higher root biomass.

Serenade Soil Activ contains a 30-fold increase in concentration of the QST 713 strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, formulated specifically for better soil amelioration characteristics and root colonisation. It allows much lower use rates via a range of soil application methods, as well as reduced product handling.

Bayer Horticulture WA territory business manager Ian Cook said the much higher loading of the beneficial bacteria in Serenade Soil Activ provided for more rapid and successful colonisation of root systems across a range of soil conditions, resulting in significant plant benefits via access to a wider range and greater amounts of soil resources.

Mr Love said they initially applied Serenade Prime in a 20ha block in their orchard and the results prompted them to expand the use of the beneficial bacteria.

“We experienced a staggering result to start with. Seeing the response with those sick trees we purchased was excellent. There was a big correlation with tree health almost instantly,” he said.

This was no doubt due to the improved access to nutrients and water, despite the disease. “We try to promote happy, healthy roots and a happy orchard – and all of these things work in conjunction with each other,” Mr Love said.

The Loves started using the soil-optimised Serenade Soil Activ through their fertigation and micro sprinkler irrigation system last year following consultation with Bayer.

“The higher concentration of the beneficial bacteria and ease of use led us this way, and it has been compatible with various products through our fertigation system, including fish (emulsion), Seasol, molasses, UAN and a range of sulphates,” Mr Love said.

“We try to apply it at the time of root flushes through the year and we have seen improved growth and healthier root systems.

“When we peel back the mulch, we see white roots that are growing, and this also relates to the healthier shoots on the plants.

“Looking at the roots, we believe there is some extra growth there since moving from Serenade Prime to Serenade Soil Activ, so we are seeing a small additional benefit. It’s early days of course, but what we are already seeing is looking very promising.”

The Loves undertake leaf testing twice a year to investigate nutrient uptake and have been pleased with the results, while Nigel said excellent fruit size and packouts can also be attributed to the use of the Serenade products.

“Since we have included Serenade into our program, our yields and packouts have definitely improved, with larger sizes and better-quality fruit. We are looking for a premium product that goes into supermarket chains and that cuts well, eats well and is cosmetically good.

“We have certainly seen some benefits with some sandy patches we have. The yield and productivity are definitely better out of those areas.”

He said it would continue to be used as a strategic product for their orchard into the future.

“After seeing what the Serenade products have brought to us, we would be crazy not to continue using them in our program going forward.”

Meanwhile, Mr Cook said in addition to improved root growth, applications of Serenade Soil Activ before and after planting had resulted in reduced mortality in various crops, including trees and vines, by providing better access to soil resources, including water.

“Serenade Soil Activ is helping to get plants established during the critical, early period of their life, when they are vulnerable,” Mr Cook said.

“Having better access to soil nutrient and moisture reserves helps develop stronger root systems, resulting in increased vigour.”

He said grower uptake of Serenade Soil Activ had been strong across a range of crops and the benefits were driving its wider use in programs.

“When you consider our harsh environment, including challenging soil types, anything you can do to help plants uptake nutrients better and, consequently, fight-off stresses better, is a big plus.”