Frank Mason (Genesis Algae Innovation), and Donald Walz of 83 Harvison’s Road Erakala a retired 4th generation cane farmer via Mackay Queensland 4740 conducted the following trial using alive micro green algae ( Chlorella Vulgaris).
The block of commercial water melonwaslocated on a farm west of Bowen. It was fallowed (grass) for 2 years with rich alluvial light soil that had been bedded, plastic laid and trickle irrigation installed.
A 4 row strip trial was planted with watermelon seedlings in early August 2023. Algae was applied as the treatment (6L of AlgaeFert 1:166) where as the control was treated with chemical fertigation fertiliser at industry normal rates. After the first week prior to the first treatment of chemical fertiliser across the plants in the control and treatment were measured.
(On the left: Dead algae, prior to the trial)
Significantly, the algae treated plants were double the size ( number of leaves and physical and the colour of the algae plants were much greener.
During the second week a dust storm blew sand/silt from the inter-rowand completely covered sections of the strip trial plants and adjacent control rows. The dust burnt off all the leaves however was removed from each plant by hand and missing plants replaced with new seedlings. The area effected was 3ha in total.
(On the right: 2 weeks post trial, the algae is alive and growing)
Given the plant stress caused from the burying impact and secondly the plants at the start of week 2 was fertilised with chemical fertiliser. It was decided to trickle irrigate the watermelon plants with 6L of AlgaeFert concentrate per hectare in the middle of the trickle irrigation session. The reason the algae was used was the reported research in the USA showing the algae has a positive impact on plant stress as it improves their vigour and root elongation as a Endophyte. The result was visually impressive as within 3 weeks the 3 hectares had caught up to the remaining 5 ha planted at the same date not impacted by the dust storm.
Ultimately the 3ha treated with AlgaeFert post the dust storm yielded 30 tonnes per hectare which was the same as the 5ha without dust damage and fertilised conventionally. The cost of non treatment with AlgaeFert in the dust impacted 3ha would have meant a lost crop as the stressed plants were too badly impacted. The resultant AlgaeFert cost at $216 for the 3ha enabled the farmer to harvest $90,000 worth of watermelon with the alternative a loss of $30,000 with zero income from the 3ha impacted by dust.
Suggested future work could investigate usingAlgaeFert for in-crop fertilising. We suggest reduce chemical fert by 30% and replace with AlgaeFert to reduce fertiliser cost by 20% and increase yield by 10 to 30% based on trial work un the USA.
For further information, www.genesisalgaeinnovation.com