AGR220 A4 Podcast

A recent study in China found that substituting some chemical fertilizers with bio-organic fertilizers can improve soil properties and carbon sequestration, making it important for the horticultural industry. Bio-organic fertilizers are a combination of microbial and organic fertilizers that rely on microorganisms to provide nutrients for plants and soils. The study found that a 75% bio-organic fertilizer to 25% chemical fertilizer substitution rate yielded the best results. This led to increased plant nutrients, improved soil properties, bacterial diversity, and community structure. It also reduced soil acidification and increased nutrient availability. This resulted in better fruit quality and long-term sustainability of the soil. The concept of partial application of bio-organic fertilizers can be extended to other industries and management factors. However, more research is needed on the economic viability and cost offset. Overall, the switch to bio-organic fertilizers can increase Welcome back to Advanced Agriculture, a podcast that keeps you up to date on the latest innovations in the agricultural industry. Today is Episode 5, the benefits of bio-organic fertiliser in the sustainable development of agro-ecosystems. I'm Victoria and today I'm with Charlotte, an Industry Advisor in Soil Management. Thanks for having me here today. As you might know, in the agricultural industry at the moment, there's a big push to reduce climate change, though this is usually targeted at the livestock industry to reduce emissions. Recent studies have shown that the horticultural industry can help as well. This industry is known for the use, particularly misuse, of chemical fertilisers on a multi-scale level. More specifically, it results in eutrophication, air pollution and soil acidification, which decrease the sustainability of crop production. The recent study that was done in China found that the partial substitution of some of these chemical fertilisers with bio-organic fertilisers can improve carbon sequestration in the soil, as well as a multitude of soil properties. And the fact that it aligns with both farmer interest in wanting to improve crop productivity and soil properties, as well as government incentive to reach net zero emissions by 2050, makes this study very important and relevant in the horticultural industry today. That certainly sounds promising. So what is bio-organic fertiliser? Yeah, great question. So bio-organic fertilisers are a combination of microbial and organic fertilisers that rely on the production and metabolic activities of microorganisms, eating organic matter, to provide comprehensive nutritional balance and consistent fertility for plants and soils. So microorganisms themselves play a critical role in regulating various ecosystem functions and processes. So according to this study, the best substitution rate is 75% bio-organic fertiliser to 25% chemical fertiliser. But this was done in a specific environment, so if it's practically applied in Australia, the rate might be slightly different. In this study, there was significant increase in plant available nutrients and soil properties as a whole. pH went up by 0.67, total nitrogen increased by 65%, total phosphorus increased 21%, and soil nitrate increased to 1.2.5 times. There is a strong relationship in this study between increase in available nutrients in the soil to better bacterial diversity and community structure. These factors are used to indicate soil fertility status and plant health, both of which showed an increase. By creating a strong biodiversity of bacteria, other processes are also positively increased, such as climate moderation, nutrient cycling, environmental purification, as well as soil-organic decomposition. Additionally, the incorporation of organic matter in this fertiliser creates a better acid buffer, reducing the chances of soil acidification, and increases the cation exchange capacity which holds more nutrients in the soil that is plant available. This improvement in the soil characteristics increased not only the yield in the study, but also the quality of fruit that was being produced. Better long-term sustainability of the soil reduces the requirement of other inputs, like additional fertilisers over time, because of a solid foundation for naturally accumulated nutrients. The concept of partial application of bio-organic fertilisers can be extended past the citrus industry, and even past the horticultural industry, to broad-acre cropping, with possible extensions for research looking at the link between the introduction of bio-organic fertilisers with other management factors, such as tillage, or the management of pests and insects. There is little information at the moment relating to the economic viability of implementing this on a larger scale, however, or the cost offset as a result of the improved fruit income. Although there are still some specifics to be worked out in terms of the actual data for multi-practice adoption of this study, I pass it to the farmers to consider whether the switch to partial substitution of chemical fertilisers to bio-organic fertilisers is worth it. Personally, I think it is, to increase long-term sustainability and ensure that we all have food to eat in the future. So that about wraps up the effects of bio-organic fertilisers partially substituting chemical fertilisers in relation to soil properties and bacterial communities in the citrus orchard study. And I thank you for listening. I hope you have a really good day and make some good decisions. Thank you.