A new range of fertilisers aims to maintain yields while rebuilding soil health, combining instant-release mineral nutrients with phased organic nutrition.
Early trial results suggest improved nutrient retention in wet conditions, alongside greater yield stability, says organic fertiliser producer SoilWorx, which is expanding beyond its Irish heartland to the UK.
SoilWorx says it will continue to support organic farmers while opening up new opportunities for UK farmers considering regenerative and hybrid approaches that blend organic and chemical inputs.
Dual approach
SoilWorx has traditionally served organic farmers with fully certified, products, but business development manager John Paul Gilroy says real benefits also exist for farmers incorporating organic nutrition into their crop plans.
Three agricultural product ranges are launching, with Organo Mineral Fertilisers (OMFs) at their core – products that blend instant-release mineral nutrients with the phased release of organic amendments.
This provides the best of both worlds, says SoilWorx – an instant hit of mineral fertiliser that’s readily available to the crop, followed by the phased release of nutrients from the organic matter.
Core product
SoilWorx’s core product is a 4-2-3 NPK. But there are higher nitrogen options too. These include an 8-2-2 formulation which is now available and a range of OMF products such as 12-1-1 and 10-4-4 in advanced stages of development.
SoilWorx says this can open up access to sustainability schemes and carbon payment programmes and open up new markets to customers further along the food chain, seeking to reduce their Scope 3 emissions.
A fully automated production line can produce 500 tonnes of 5mm pellets every week to the same specification. The composting, heating and sterilising process delivers consistent product quality while eliminating pathogens too, says Mr Gilroy.
The consistently smaller, denser and more compact pellets don’t disintegrate into dust when spread. SoilWorx pellets work in standard spreading equipment and require no investment in new machinery.