BioVerm Research & Development

Over the last 5 years Vermitech has conducted an extensive research and development program into the benefits and application requirements of BioVerm. 

  • The research programs were undertaken by:

  • Various divisions within the C.S.I.R.O

  • The University of Sydney - Department of Crop Sciences

  • The NSW Department of Agriculture 

  • The Queensland Department of Primary Industry

  • several grower groups in specialist area's ranging from sugar cane to carrots.

The purpose of the research was to provide accurate information to growers as to the cost benefit of using BioVerm. Research was conducted in several main areas including:

  • Viticulture

  • Horticulture & Orchards

  • Turf & Golf Courses

A general summary of other trial results appears in the table below.

Crop

 Effect Recorded within a Trial Environment
Broccoli Increase in yield up to 40% and suppression of Club Root disease on a lab scale.
Carrots Increased and earlier emergence rates, increase in dry weight of tops up to 109% and bottoms 259%.
Cherries 20% increase in yield.
Citrus Citrus yield increases up to 43%, increase in VAM colonisation.
Cotton Increased and earlier emergence rates, increase in VAM colonisation.
Grapes 20% increase in the Baume of Chardonnay, increase in yield 35%-55%.
Lettuce 14% increase in yield.
Minesite Rehabilitation Increased emergence and growth.
Onions Early control of White Rot.
Pasture Increase in Calcium Mobilisation and Nutrient uptake.
Turf Substantial acceleration of root development.
Sugar cane 25% increase in uptake of Nitrogen and yield increases upto 52%.
Tomato 80% increase in yield.

 

1. Viticulture

Dr John Buckerfield of the CSIRO, has published trials in which he achieved yield increases of 50% in pinot grown in the Adelaide Hills and 35% in Chardonnay grown in the McLaren Vale through the addition of vermicast with a straw mulch.

Similar results were obtained in Mudgee grower trials where the major impact was the 20% increase in Baume from 11.3 to 14. In Mudgee the grower grew a cover crop which was slashed over the BioVerm as a green mulch. The figures below illustrate some conservative financial returns based on the research. Values for grapes and yields vary from region to region as do the bonus amounts paid for baume bonuses

.10% yield increase (10 - 40% actual) and a 0.5 baume increase (2.2 actual) would result in net income increase of over $3,000 per hectare (ie after the costs of purchasing and applying the BioVerm have been deducted).

 
The other non-financially quantifiable effect was the fourfold increase in root mass with increases in length, girth and secondary development (Mildura trial), the quicker establishment of the new plantings and the increase in starch laid down ready for next season (Hunter Valley trials). The likely impact of these effects will be healthier more disease resistant vines with heavier sustainable cropping than the controls. The vines will be monitored for second and third year effects, with results looking promising.

2. Horticulture & Orchards

The first initial trials focused on seedling propagation. Emergence rate was increased from 50% to 95% on "poor" cauliflower seed. In "good" seed emergence was uniformly earlier with hardier, bigger seedlings ready for plant out up to two weeks earlier. The seedlings were more resistant to downy mildew. The optimum seedling mix varied by specie ranging from 10% to 25% by volume with the standard seedling mix. Higher concentrations produced no appreciable benefit proving the old adage "more is not always better". The next stage of the trial was to grow a wide variety of seedlings with BioVerm mix to ensure that the earlier maturation had no adverse effect on plant out. Signifcant improvements are being made in crops from tomato to broccoli.

3. Orchards

Research has been conducted in cherries, citrus, apples and pears. Significant yield and growth improvements have been identified in grower trials. Results from the scientific trials are now being released.

At the 29th National Cherry Growers of Australia Conference, Dr Buckerfield and Dr Campbell released their results on the use of compost mulches and vermicast on cherries. Trials were conducted in the Adelaide Hills on 80 Van cherry trees. Vermicast was applied at two rates - 5 mm and 20 mm. Additional variants included the use of a compost mulch.

The synergies between vermicast and mulching are now being clearly established. Mulches that have been trialed with success include straw, paper, compost and slashed cover crops. As with the work in vines increases in trunk girth, shoot length and root development have been recorded, though the reports are not yet available for publication. Research programs planned for pathogen investigation included white root rot in apples.

4. RaceCourses, Golf Courses & Turf

BioVerm has proven in several settings to significantly promote the rate of growth of many turf & grass strains.

It has also proven to facilitate and hasten the development of the root system, and increase the colour depth of the blades.

Vermitech has moved its Bioverm product through dozens of golf and racecourses throughout NSW, including Cypress Lakes, Liverpool, Royal Sydney. Randwick, Wyong, and at Tyreel and Woodland Studs.

Superintendents and green keepers are reaping the benefits of BioVerm from the fairways, tee's and greens, through to ornamentals trees, flower beds and other landscaped areas.

BioVerm is now being produced in size fractions of less 2.5mm especially for application by drop spreaders to greens during renovation periods. Brett Mills (Superintendent - Ashlar Golf Club) commented that only 16 of his 18 greens received an application of BioVerm and the two greens that missed out were plagued with disease while the other 16 fared very well.

Brett also built his practice green using BioVerm and commented "after 12 months the practice green was more robust than the greens we replaced 3 years ago out on the course".

5. Sugar & Cotton

As two key BioVerm markets, Vermitech will be actively targeting growers in these regions during the year 2002.

SUGAR: To date the use of BioVerm in the sugar industry has been overseen by a variety of regional growers, The Bureau of Sugar Experimental Stations, and companies like Ross Ridge Consultancy.

Our most recent report describes plant cane results from sugarcane at Rocky Point where "BioVerm was applied with and without a conventional fertiliser side dressing. BioVerm broadcast applications at 5 and 1t/ha in combination (with a conventional fertliser side dressing) gave a substantial cane and sugar yield benefit. This appeared to be mainly due to improved nitrogen fertiliser uptake".

Ross Ridge Consultancy reported "There was a significant cane and sugar yield response to broadcast applications of BioVerm at 5 and 1 t/ha in combination with a conventional side dressing of nitrogen fertiliser. This response appeared to be mainly due to improved fertiliser N uptake in the presence of broadcast vermicast as indicated by third leaf analysis".

The assistance of BSES staff Tony Blatch and Jason Hillyard in setting out trials, and harvesting, are gratefully acknowledged.

 

COTTON: Vermitech retained the services of the CSIRO to conduct trials to evaluate the effectiveness of BioVerm in irrigated cotton production.

These trials (conducted at the Australian Cotton Research Institute) reported that BioVerm "had a significant positive effect on cotton seedling establishment" with "castings increasing plant population" .

The report concluded that whilst this particular trial was conducted in soil with strong fertile properties that "responses to vermicast may be evident in those soil types which are more silty or hard setting, or those which have sodicity or salinity problems".

In "The Land" newspaper, Dr John Buckerfield (also of the CSIRO) stated "...I am confident vermicompost has huge potential in large scale cropping. Up until now we haven't had any hard scientific data in cotton, though vineyard research in McLaren Vale suggests that vermicompost can create up to 50% yield benefit in wine grapes. There is no reason that won't translate to cotton and broadacre crops..."

6. Site Rehabilitation

BioVerm has been used in several minesites and quarries throughout NSW including Rio Tinto's Hunter Valley operations. Cumnock No 1 Colliery engaged the services of HLA Envirosciences to assess the performance of BioVerm and various other "topsoil alternatives".

Investigations 6 and 12 months after trial establishment confirmed that BioVerm had the lowest grass and weed competition for establishing trees and the BioVerm treated areas showed over 20% more germinated trees than any other product tested. The areas treated with BioVerm also showed the highest tree/shrub density and it was the only treatment to increase the density between the 6 and 12 month monitoring.