Australian Potash Ltd (ASX:APC) has welcomed a Western Australian Sulphate of Potash (SOP) trial, an Australian first that will analyse the benefits of SOP fertiliser produced in the state.
The two-year Sulphate of Potash for WA Farmers (SOPWA) environmental study will start this growing season and will compare commonly used Muriate of Potash (MOP) with SOP as well as investigate the full effects of both potassium sources on crop yield, quality, safety and value.
Another first is the research collaboration between the Western Australian No-Tillage Farmers Association (WANTFA), The University of Western Australia’s Institute of Agriculture and Australian Potash for the research programs.
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Australian Potash managing director and CEO Matt Shackleton said: “The co-operative relationship APC has developed with WANTFA is paramount to our strategy to distribute Lake Wells SOP through the WA ag sector.
“As one of the state’s most highly influential, broadacre grower groups, their technical agronomic leadership skills lend immense authority to the work APC is part of.
“In conjunction with UWA’s Institute of Agriculture, arguably one of the world’s leading agricultural research institutions, APC is proud to be part of what will be a game-changing shift for WA and Australian agriculture.”
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The trials will also investigate crop response to SOP and soil biology in comparison to MOP, with WANTFA having selected paddock trial sites in rural towns across WA such as Bolgart, Grass Patch, Kojunup, Southern Cross and Yuna.
Each site will receive four to six treatments of SOP and MOP with differences to crops and soil recorded over two seasons.
UWA will add scientific rigour by studying the yield and quality of key grain crops applied with SOP and MOP on soils collected from the paddocks.
The company plans to initially produce 150,000 tonnes per annum of premium SOP beginning in 2020 for the local and overseas markets before beginning the next stage in 2026 providing an additional 150,000 tonnes per annum.