Troforte^® Farming System

Welcome to the Troforte^® farming system

The Troforte^® Farming System is all about utilizing economically and environmentally sustainable farming practices that:

1. effectively utilize fertilizer inputs (high NUE);
2. increase soil mineral nutrient status and soil Carbon;
3. multiply beneficial biological activity;
4. improve water infiltration and water holding capacity (high WUE); and
5. minimize soil degradation and build-up of residues.

Current and future Scenarios:

Agriculture, an important industry of the Australian economy, is facing ever increasing issues of declining crop yields and failing crops – mainly due to deteriorating soil health and also from the impact of climate change in particular. This can be either a challenge or an opportunity. The first national audit of Australian soils (National land & water Resources Audit), in 2000, found that soil health is declining due to processes such as acidification, salinization and erosion.

The Audit estimated that large areas of affected soils occur in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania; and nearly 50 million Hectares of the agricultural zone are already suffering – probably markedly affecting yields. It summarised that "soils with surface layers containing low organic content are often poorly structured – a condition made worse by various agricultural practices".

Rainfall:

Over the last decade, there has been a significant change in rainfall patterns – particularly across dryland agricultural regions of Australia. A new climate is emerging in Australia, according to Dr David Stephens the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC), at the 2016 GRDC Perth Grains Research Update. There has been a general increase in summer rainfall, and a corresponding decrease in winter rainfall, leading to shifts in rainfall zones extending for hundreds of kilometres – according to new maps released by AEGIC.

This change in climate has major implications for the profitability and sustainability of farming and pastoral systems. Agronomists, using new computer modelling by NSW Department of Primary Industries Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, have suggested that farmers need to adopt remedial measures to prevent declines in crop yields, such as adopting strategies to retain more moisture in the soil – as reduced rainfall is expected to reduce both crop biomass and grain yield. A lead cropping system modeller has used climate projection data and Agriculture Production Systems Simulator (APSIM software) to grow various crops "Virtually". Predictions are that crop yields could be as much as 45% lower with the declining trend in annual rainfall, if current farming methods and varieties continue to be used.

Non-Wetting Soils

Water repellent sandy soils of southern and western grain growing regions of Western Australia, (estimated to be over 5 million Hectares), poses another major challenge for farmers in maintaining economically and environmentally sustainable production of grains and pastures.

There is enough evidence that due to indiscriminate use of synthetic fertilizers under the conventional farming system (particularly excessive use of N), soil carbon has been diminishing at a fast pace. Soil carbon has long been known to hold moisture and nutrients in soil systems – essential for plant growth. In addition to the above issues, many of the agricultural and horticultural crops cultivated in temperate zone regions of Australia are originated from tropical regions and were not endemic to it. Long-term productivity growth, was attributed to continued development of technologies, a process that has benefitted the farmers for decades in maintaining economic viability of their farming businesses. However, declining soil health status due to indiscriminate use of high analysis synthetic fertilizers and vulnerability to climate change may severely limit the capability of Australian farmers to produce the crops that are economically viable.

Various researches suggests that sustainable cultivation of these agricultural and horticultural crops, will require additional biological inputs – to compensate for what was previously naturally available from the soils of vastly varying Australian geographical regions, to achieve sustainable soil fertility.

Indiscriminate use of non-compatible and high analysis synthetic inputs, can be detrimental to soil fertility and potentially can create environmental problems including eutrophication, salinization, chemical contamination and pathogen development in the soils.

Agriculture in Australia lies at the cross roads of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. A growing body of research suggest that climate change will have significant negative impacts on productivity due to the limited capacity of farmers to adapt to the adverse shocks, intensifying declines in yields and consequently farmer’s income.

Adaptation measures, to maintain crop yields and efforts in mitigating risk and the negative impact on environment (such as reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the nutrient use efficiency "NUE"), are of great significance in saving Australia natural resources from further degradation, and to achieve economic sustainability for the farmer community.

THE WAY Forward:

Troforte^® Innovations Pty Ltd, synonymous with its name is dedicated to fundamentally enhancing research and development strengths (Forte) using innovative practices, technologies and systems.

Our particular interest and focus is on sustainable soil health and resource use efficiency in intensive farming systems – all rooted in the emerging needs of growers related to agricultural & horticultural industries.

Troforte^® Innovations (the research arm of Sunpalm Australia and Langley Fertilizers), in strategic alliance with various universities and Research institutions is specialising in R&D driven manufacturing of cutting edge innovative fertilizer products. Sunpalm Australia’s strategic manufacturing alliances in Australia and overseas, ensures that innovative fertilizers are available and affordable.

Langley’s Troforte^® Farm Management System provides more choice for farmers and helps meet the demand for more sustainable agricultural practices in the current agricultural climate. It essentially involves, enriching the living portion of the soil and creating reserves of nutrients through its’ proprietary and cutting edge Bio-minerals fertilizer / Microbial based Technologies and Slow / Controlled Release fertilizer Technologies.

The Microbial Products, responsible for beneficial soil biology, are based on microorganisms derived from nature such as beneficial bacteria and fungi. They offer a sustainable, cost effective solutions to improve and protect crop yields when used correctly in tandem with judicious quantities of chemical inputs.

The Key to the success of Troforte^® Farming system lies in continual improvement of soil fertility status through "microbial carbon biomass" production and by maintaining optimum level of macro and micro nutrients in the soil sub-system for uptake by the crops – at its crucial development phases.

The unique combination of innovative fertilizer coating / matrix technologies and beneficial microbiological technologies ensures that nutrients are used in the most efficient manner (high Nutrient Use Efficiency) – and are available in the soil for uptake by the crops at various stages. Thanks to Troforte^® Technology.

Significant features of Troforte^® Technology

Release pattern and availability of nutrients in the soil for crop uptake from Troforte^® Technology fertilizer products is virtually identical to those of natural organic fertilizers, such as fish meal and rapeseed oil cake etc.

• Slow Controlled Release of Nutrients through Osmotic pressure and / or microbial decomposition
• Microbial metabolization
• Mineralisation of microbial & other organic nutrients

The Troforte^® Farming System is a way forward, an integrated ‘whole- of-farm’ management approach, a revolutionary middle ground, that builds on the "best of conventional and organic farming practices incorporating cutting-edge agricult-ural science".

Development of technologies incorporated in the Troforte^® Farming System essentially involves years of R&D work, specific to the crops and regions that now can be used to enhance soil health and also the adaptive capacity to climate change thereby contributing to resilient, profitable and sustainable farming in present and future scenarios.

Take Home Message

The Troforte^® Farming System – aim is to enhance Soil Health, Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) and Gross Margin.

Troforte^® Farming Programs are all about utilizing economically and environmentally sustainable farming practices that:

1. Multiply beneficial biological activity
2. Increase soil mineral nutrient status and soil Carbon
3. Increasing Fertilizer Use Efficiency
4. Improve water infiltration and water holding capacity
5. Increasing Water Use Efficiency
6. Minimize soil degradation and the build up of chemical residues

Ask us how we can help you to grow your farming enterprise using Troforte^® Farming.

For more information, please contact Langley Fertilizers or your Troforte^® farm consultant.

For technical support, contact Senior Field Advisor Rob Harper (Mob 0427 772 990) or consultant microbiologist Paul Storer (Mob 0456 716 061).