Biological Inoculants 
 
Effective biological inoculation can help rejuvenate and rebuild the important communities of beneficial organisms needed to help regulate the soil - plant interface. Beneficial soil organisms play a significant role in the maintenance of soil structure, maintaining aerobic conditions, maximising water use efficiency and reducing anaerobic conditions which favour disease-causing organisms. Soilsmart inoculants contain a broad diversity of beneficial biology to ensure effectiveness and longevity.

Biological inoculants.
 
  • Soil and Plant Tonic      (Liquid Biological Inoculant Biologically Rich Vermicompost (Worm Castings)
  • OziVerm                        (Biologically Rich Vermicompost (Worm Castings)
  • GranoVerm                   (Granulated Worm Castings)


 



Soil & Plant Tonic
 
Soil and Plant Tonic is specifically designed to replenish and rejuvenate depleted soil biology, it is an actively aerated biological liquid, containing an enormous number and diversity of beneficial organisms, including known organisms such as Trichoderma, Bacillus and VAM cultures. In addition to its biological properties it introduces a range of plant growth hormones and enzymes to encourage plant growth. 

Soil and Plant Tonic provides a preventative approach to managing soil and plant disease and has also been noted (by virtue of improved plant health) in the reduction of insect attack. Soil and Plant Tonic significantly improves the health and resilience of the plant, and also provides competition for soil borne pathogens, reducing their ability to become infective. Soil and Plant Tonic can also be used as a foliar spray to build the beneficial biomass that needs to exist on the leaf surfaces of plants, to protect against disease infection.
 
Soil and Plant Tonic works on the causes underlying soil decline by rejuvenating the soils’ biological properties, and taking the stress out of soil and plant management. It can easily work alongside ‘normal management’ by gradually improving conditions and reducing the need for chemical intervention.

Application Rates:

Greens and Tees:
Apply 100ltha (1 litre per 100 m2) per month as a soil drench.

Bowling Greens:
Apply 20 litres per green monthly.Follow applications with BioGrow. 

Ovals, Fairways and general Sports turf:
Apply 100ltha (1000ml per 100m2) per month as a soil drench.Follow application with BioGrow.

General landscape use (trees, shrubs, garden areas, including natives):
Apply 60ltha (600ml per 100m2) 2—4 times per year during the growing season (depending on condition of the plants)Follow application with BioGrow.

Vegetables and row cropping:
Apply to soil (at 20lt/ha) immediately after planting. For foliar disease prevention spray monthly during disease cycle at 20lt/ha.

Greenhouses:
Apply as a soil drench at 50 litres per hectare pre plant, then 20lthamonth to soil.

Fruit trees and Vines:
Apply as a soil drench 20 litres per hectare post harvest to break down crop residuals and treat ‘over-Wintering’disease organisms.

Foliar:
Apply 10lt per metre of foliage height/ha - pre bud break, then 10lt per month (per metre of foliage height/ha) through to
senescence. Apply more often (weekly) if disease symptoms become apparent.
 
NB: Follow applications with BioGrow. 

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OziVerm
 
OziVerm is rich in humus and complex organic Carbon, andcontains a natural balance of plant available and slow release nutrients. Its real strength however, lay in its ability to replenish the enormous diversity of beneficial organisms, (fungi, bacteria, protozoa and beneficial nematodes) which our soils need to ensure optimum performance levels.
 
These beneficial soil organisms are largely responsible for the retention and cycling of nutrients within the soil, including their release to plants. By decomposing thatch and plant residues, soil microbes build increasing levels of stable Organic Carbon, thus raising the soils’ natural cation exchangecapacity (CEC).
 
By improving soil structure, soil microbes also improve Oxygen levels in the root zone, reducing anaerobic conditions which favour pathogens, having a preventative effect on disease and insect infestation. The many millions of beneficial organisms contained in every gram of OziVerm build up protection and resistance to common root diseases and root feeding organisms.
 
OziVerm is produced by the natural digestive processes of worms-natures’ own recyclers and is one of the smartest ways of building soil health and sustainable, long-term fertility to your most important resource – the soil.
 

Application Rates:
 

OziVerm can be applied at any time in the growing season and can be spread using most commercial fertilizer spreaders.OziVerm is best incorporated into the soil prior to sowing or planting where possible.
 
Establishing new turf surfaces:
Incorporate into the root zone mix at 3% - 5% by volume.
 
Renovating existing turf:
Typical application rates (30 – 50 kg/100m2); aim to incorporate the product into the top 100 – 150 mm of soil. Rub into large style core holes, or mix with top dressing mediaat 5% - 10%by volume prior to dusting.

General landscape use (trees, shrubs, garden areas, including natives):
Incorporate into the soil via core holes or lightly working into the soil around trees and plants at 300g/m2.

Agriculture & Row Crops:
OziVerm is easily spread using a ‘walking floor, belt type’ spreader and has been used with success through spinner type fertilizer spreaders particularly where some agitation is possible within the holding bin.

Typical application rates are at 3 – 5 tonnes per hectare (300 – 500 gm per square metre) and incorporation should aim to cultivate the product into the top 100 – 150 mm of soil.
 
Trees & Vines:
If incorporation is not feasible, as is the case with many tree crops we recommend either mixing with mulch, prior to application or covering with a mulch layer after application to guarantee some protection from UV.

A mulch layer can be achieved by allowing the inter-row sward to grow and slashing it back under the rows within the orchard, vineyard etc, or in a pasture situation by mulching the sward after application.

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GranoVerm
 
GranoVerm has been developed for precision application and is a granulated form of OziVerm produced with the addition of crushed basalt to increase CEC and long-term nutrient availability.
 
Unlike many organic soil amendments GranoVerm is rich in stable organic Carbon which doesn’t easily breakdown and volatilise from the soil. It contains a natural balance of plant available and slow release nutrients as well as trace elements. Most importantly, it contains a naturally diverse array of biologically active organisms.
 
GranoVerm is first and foremost a biological inoculumwhich exhibits strong biological efficacy; it acts by replenishing soil microbiology, (fungi, bacteria, protozoa and beneficial nematodes) that are needed by the soil and growing plants.One of the primary roles of this beneficial soil biology is to provide competition for soil borne disease organisms.
 
These beneficial organisms also play a vital role in nutrient cycling, breaking down minerals and organic matter and converting them into ‘plant available’ forms.They are also responsible for most of the aggregation that takes place within the soil, improving Oxygen levels within the root zone as well as both water penetration and water retention. Studies have demonstrated increases of 20% - 30% in water-use efficiency. Beneficial soil microbes also assist in breaking down salts and other unwanted chemical residues, and are continually building levels of stable organic Carbon, increasing the soils natural cation exchange capacity.

Application Rates:

GranoVerm can be applied through precision fertilizer spreaders and is available in size grades (<1mm and 2mm – 4mm), it mixes well in fertilizer blends or with other granular inputs, where a stable organic component is required.

Application rates will vary depending on the particular application; it is ideal for inclusion with regular fertilizer applications, or at renovations and will gradually rebuild soil biology.
 
General turf use:
GranoVerm is best incorporated into the soil profile, typical application rates are (30 – 50 kg per 1000m2) and incorporation should aim to cultivate the product into the top 100 – 150 mm of soil.

General landscape use (trees, shrubs, garden areas, including natives):
Broadcast at 30g/m2around the drip zone of trees, shrubs and garden plants.

 
Agricultural and Horticultural uses:
Typical application rates are 300 – 500 kg per hectare (3 – 5 kg per 100m2) and incorporation should aim to cultivate the product into the top 100 – 150 mm of soil.
 


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