Organic Producers and Gardeners

This test is primarily designed for those wanting to obtain Organic Certification. It has been vetted and approved by both Biological Farmers Australia (BFA/ACO) and NASAA.

This test is based on the Complete Soil Balance Analysis, but in addition to the three sections in that report (soil structure, plant nutrients and soil biology), this test includes a fourth section – the Soil Contaminant Audit.

This new section includes testing for 8 heavy metals and 40 Organo-phosphate and Organo-chlorine pesticides. As a result, it provides everything you need to both determine the requirements for transition to Organics and also to establish a sustainable soil health management system.

Altogether, this test features a twelve-page report that incorporates the results from 98 tests and calculations, together with desirable levels and recommendations for a specific land use.

Three sets of recommendations are provided:

• Cation Balance corrections to optimise soil structure, friability and other physical attributes. These are based on desirable percentages of the five major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K & H) as calculated from the Adjusted Cation Exchange Capacity. The recommendations are then given in terms of the most appropriate material (Gypsum, Lime, Dolomite, Magnesite, Magnesium Oxide or Magnesium Sulphate) to provide the amounts of Calcium &/or Magnesium needed.
• Balanced plant nutrition requirements for each land use, relative to the Cation Exchange Capacity and what is presently available in the soil.
• Soil Biology Balance to help improve soil biodiversity, encourage beneficial microbial interactions with plant roots and minimise disturbance caused by farming activities such as cultivation and fertiliser application, etc.

This test has an eleven-page report that includes everything on the Organic Soil Audit, except for the pesticide residue tests. The purpose of this test is to provide for detailed monitoring and soil health management by including heavy metal contaminants (that can creep in un-noticed from a number of sources such as Arsenic in Poultry manure, etc.), combined with everything found in the Complete Soil Balance Analysis.

As with our other reports, desirable levels are individually determined to suit your specified Land use and characteristics of the sample. The results are organised into each of the three Soil Balance components – Structure, Nutrients and Biology to make the report more readable and the information more accessible.

Three sets of recommendations are provided:

• Cation Balance corrections to optimise soil structure and other physical attributes. These are based on desirable percentages of the five major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K & H) as calculated from the Adjusted Cation Exchange Capacity. The recommendations are then given in terms of the most appropriate material (Gypsum, Lime, Dolomite, Magnesite, Magnesium Oxide or Magnesium Sulphate) to provide the amounts of Calcium &/or Magnesium needed.
• Balanced plant nutrition requirements for each land use, relative to the Cation Exchange Capacity and what is presently available in the soil.
• Balanced Soil Biology, using various bio-active materials (e.g. Humate, Kelp extract, Fish emulsion, etc.) to help manage the relative proportions of five key Indicator Groups of soil microbes – Lactic acid bacteria, Photosynthetic bacteria, Fungi, Yeast and Actinomycetes.

This test has an five-page report that includes the same Soil Contaminant Audit section from the Organic Soil Audit. The purpose of this test is to provide a quick check of soil health and contaminant status as part of an ongoing soil health management program, using all the essential soil health components found in the Standard Soil Balance Analysis.

As with our other reports, desirable levels are individually determined to suit your specified Land use and characteristics of the sample. The results are organised into each of the three Soil Balance components – Structure, Nutrients and Biology to make the report more readable and the information more accessible.

Three sets of recommendations are provided:

• Cation Balance corrections to optimise soil structure and other physical attributes. These are based on desirable percentages of the five major cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K & H) as calculated from the Adjusted Cation Exchange Capacity. The recommendations are then given in terms of the most appropriate material (Gypsum, Lime, Dolomite, Magnesite, Magnesium Oxide or Magnesium Sulphate) to provide the amounts of Calcium &/or Magnesium needed.
• Balanced plant nutrition requirements for each land use, relative to the Cation Exchange Capacity and what is presently available in the soil.
• Balanced Soil Biology, using various bio-active materials (eg. Humate, Kelp extract, Fish emulsion, etc.) to help manage the relative proportions of five key Indicator Groups of soil microbes – Lactic acid bacteria, Photosynthetic bacteria, Fungi, Yeast and Actinomycetes.

NB. We do not consider the preferences of fertiliser manufacturers, spreading contractors or other ‘external’ factors – ONLY what is going on in your soil and what your Land use requires.

Nutrient recommendations cover both major nutrients (N, P, K, S) and Trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, Mo, B) and are provided in kilograms of the elemental nutrient required per hectare. This means you can take our recommendations to any supplier for conversion into appropriate fertiliser applications. You can even take them to a number of different suppliers to make ‘apples-for-apples’ comparisons of their costs and services.

This test has been designed for compost makers and others who need to be sure of the quality of composts and manures intended for use in Organic production. This analysis provides the most detailed assessment available and will provide growers with complete confidence about the materials they are using.

The test features a six-page report that incorporates the results from 100 laboratory tests and calculations, together with suggestions for ameliorants that could be mixed with the material prior to application for optimum efficacy.

An important feature of this test is the inclusion of bio-hazard indicators. These are human pathogens that may indicate incomplete composting if found in high numbers. They come with detailed information on how to assess and potential bio-hazards in handling the material.

In short, this test not only helps ensure the health of your soil, crops and pastures, but your health as well!

This test has been designed for anyone who wants to ensure the consistency of composts or manures intended for use in Organic production. It includes everything in the Organic Compost Analysis, except for the pesticide contaminants so that you can monitor the quality of organic materials and make adjustments for variations in analysis that may occur.

The test features a five-page report that incorporates the results from 60 laboratory tests and calculations, together with suggestions for ameliorants that could be mixed with the material prior to application for optimum efficacy.