With soil health critical to long-term farm productivity and crop performance, Australian company Agreva Sustainable Agriculture is championing soil health for land restoration and drought resilience, as well as the growing problem of desertification, under the theme #GenerationRestoration.

General manager, Danny Thornton said Agreva delivers next generation agricultural solutions for growers looking to support a sustainable alternative to traditional chemistry -offering a portfolio of innovative bio-synthetic solutions including microbials, peptides, enzymes and botanicals designed to boost crop quality and yield from enhanced soil health.

“Without good soil health, we are behind the eight ball from the start.  

“It is important that we get the most from preharvest applications, for better postharvest outcomes on production factors like quality, fruit size, grain yield, overall tonnages – all the things consumers want from growers,” Mr Thornton said.

Agreva’s goal is to help growers address crop health challenges, through improved soil health and performance. This includes challenges such as nutrient deficiencies, pest control, disease mitigation, improving organic matter and water use efficiency. 

Choosing the best natural solution for your needs

The trend toward the use of actives derived from nature is clear, with all major R&D companies investing in these new technologies for improved soil structure, plant growth and disease management. 

As different bio-synthetic products have different benefits, depending on crop conditions and what the grower is trying to achieve, Agreva says a full portfolio approach is important. 

“For example, the inclusion of a degrading enzyme to help breakdown stubble more effectively can lead to improved soil organic matter and nutrient cycling, while also giving less potential for disease to grow on the stubble. It also improves trafficability at sowing and helps maximise control from herbicide applications,” Mr Thornton explained. 

“Likewise, some Agreva products enhance the effect of other inputs such as fertiliser and agri-chemical applications. 

“The key is to find the right solution for your needs, depending on your local environment and the crops you’re growing.”

Agreva is making sure its product portfolio integrates with existing farm practices, to help with grower uptake and benefit. 

“We don’t want to make it harder than it needs to be, but some specialist knowledge is often required, which is where your agronomist or advisor can help,” he said. 

“Microbial products, for example, need to be kept alive, so a strong technical understanding of these is critical for success. 

“Appreciation for factors such as soil type, native microbial populations, UV stability, foliar persistence, tank mix partners, as well as the impact of other applications before or after the microbes can have a big impact on effectiveness.”

Mr Thornton says, on the other hand, enzyme-based products don’t require special storage and can be very easily combined with existing pre- and post-harvest applications.

“Our enzymes are very robust as they are not alive; they survive at a range of PH levels and only activate when the soil is moist. 

“They are stable so there’s no special handling like refrigeration or a specific temperature at which they need to be applied, and they can be combined with a range of different fertiliser and agrichemical mixes, saving the need for an extra pass over the paddock. 

“We’re really trying to make it as simple as possible for growers to incorporate these kinds of products into their processes – they can have a big impact on crop performance, so we are really working hard to make integration as seamless as possible.”

Proof in the paddock

Mr Thornton said strong results are demonstrated with the use of microbials and next-gen bio-synthetic solutions, pointing to the Almond Centre for Excellence (ACE) Orchard at Loxton which has trialled Agreva soil enzyme technology with strong trial results. 

“We conducted a 3-year trial of Nucleon – a liquid enzyme additive that increases the availability of water and nutrients to plant roots and improves native microbial populations on 5-7 year old Nonpareil almond trees,” he explained.

“Over the period, the average cumulative yield increased by 24.6 per cent for treated trees versus control, delivering a significant return on investment of more than 23:1. 

“These kinds of results highlight the need to focus on soil health and resilience, ensuring all farmers have the tools available to protect and enhance their growing environments.

“It is not only good for the long-term sustainability of our farms but can deliver quantifiable crop and financial performance benefits for farmers. 

“Growers willing to modernise their production systems with a view to becoming more sustainable will be best-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”