Enrich your plant growth this Spring
Apply Golden Bay Dolomite
Now is the perfect time to incorporate Golden Bay Dolomite (GBD) into your spring crop planting rotations and pasture renewal programmes. Make a soil application to gain the dual benefits of calcium and magnesium carbonate.
As farmers, you’ve invested heavily in planting programmes, seed varieties and technologies. Climatic conditions are uncontrollable - but you can give the best start by incorporating GBD. Establishing a good root system with reasonable architecture quickly is fundamental to early strong plant growth. As a soil conditioner, GBD balance’s the loosening and tightening of soil particles - providing a structure that allows for water, air and nutrient uptake while minimising leaching.
Improve plant growth and resistance with calcium
Regardless of plant type, calcium promotes the healthy growth of roots, stems, and leaves. It is an element that is a constituent of plant cell walls and membranes - essential to forming structures. The role of calcium in forming plant tissue, a physical barrier against pathogens, increases plants' resistance and feed value for livestock.
Pastures – stimulate nitrogen fixation
Photo: Red clover courtesy Barenbrug Group
https://www.barenbrug.co.nz/sheep-beef-deer/cultivars/clover/red-clover
Our pastoral systems are well-established on grass, and clover mixes utilising the natural nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobial) symbiotic relationship with legumes (clover). The process relies on calcium signalling for successful plant-microbe symbiosis – making calcium critical for good production.
The critical roles of magnesium for plant growth
Boost photosynthesis with magnesium
Magnesium is essential for plant growth actively involved in photosynthesis and found at the centre of chlorophyll. All plants need magnesium to help capture the energy from the sun for growth and production. The green pigment in plants is a reflection of the chlorophyll molecule, each chlorophyll molecule contains 6.7% magnesium.
Photo: Chlorophyll under the microscope courtesy of The Tree Centre
https://www.thetreecenter.com/what-is-chlorophyll/
Enzyme activation for plant metabolism
Enzymes involved in plant respiration, photosynthesis and nucleic acid synthesis are activated by magnesium. It also serves as a carrier of phosphate compounds throughout the plant facilitating the translocation of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and enhancing plant growth.
Photo: Grass sword courtesy of Agrigro
https://agrigro.com/understanding-c3-c4-grasses/
What is your farm's magnesium status?
Base Saturation analysis as part of your property’s standard soil testing program will give you an indication of your current soil magnesium reserves.
To organise a soil test of your farm, call Golden Bay Dolomite today on 03 525 9843 or email sales@goldenbaydolomite.co.nz