Frank Mason (Genesis Algae Innovation), conducted the following trial using alive micro green algae ( Chlorella vulgaris) near Mackay Queensland.
The block of cane was located on a farm at Erakala. It was fallowed for 2 years with rich alluvial black soil that had been laser levelled lightly prior to planting to ensure drainage down the cane rows.
A 4 row strip trial was planted with cane in early August 2023, completely chemically fertilised including Dunder (by-product of ethanol production). In late September, the 2 treatments of AlgaeFert Stabilised were applied over the cane drill. The first strip application rate was 18L/ha of AlgaeFert concentrate (1:166) where as the second strip application was applied at 6L/Ha of Algae Fert concentrate (1.166) from the same algae supply. Each treatment was 10m long with a gap in between the treatment of 10m. The block was irrigated twice in November and secondly early December 2023 using a travelling irrigator.
As of 14 March 24, the middle 2 rows of each treatment were randomly selected at 1 metre lengths 3 times with each treatment. Also there were 1metre lengths 3 times between the treatments, ie the control. The sticks of cane were counted and a tape measure was used to measure to the top dewlap of the cane.
Of note was the control cane sample was easily pulled out of the ground when the stick was laid down, ie the ‘stool’ was easily lifted out showing a shallow root system. Where as the sticks in both algae treatments just broke off rather than pulling out the ‘stool’ hence deeper root system. Stool loss in harvesting plant cane can reduce yield in future ratoon crops hence future monitoring of this crop will be conducted in ratoon crops to identify stool loss rates.
The control yield (76t/ha) was averaged as was the first and second treated averaged.
The first treatment being 18L per ha measured a yield increase of 25 tonnes per hectare ie 101t/ha total yield verses a control yield of 76 tonnes per hectare. The second treatment being 6L per hectare measured 88t/ha, a yield increase of 12 tonnes per hectare based on the same control yield of 76 tonnes per hectare.
Based on a sugar cane price of $60/tonne harvested net of harvesting costs, the first treatment shows an increase profit of $1500 less algae cost of $216 hence a RETURN ON INVESTMENT/HA OF $1284/ha IE 6 TIMES INVESTMENT
Based on a sugar cane price of $60/tonne harvested net of harvesting costs, the second treatment shows an increase profit of $720 less algae cost of $72 hence a RETURN ON INVESTMENT/HA OF $648 IE 9 TIMES INVESTMENT
Suggested future work could investigate using AlgaeFert could contribute to solving the ‘yield decline syndrome’ plaguing the sugar industry in Queensland.
For further information, www.genesisalgaeinnovation.com