YOUR PRODUCTION
Feed your soils to feed the world:
Supporting soil health in vegetable production
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BY DIMI KYRIAKOU AND CARL LARSEN RMCG
he Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) project works with growers nationally to put soil management and plant health research into practice. In this column, the team spoke to South Australian industry stalwart Peter Wadewitz about the importance of healthy soils, building organic matter and strengthening soil structure to produce a better crop. Soil Wealth ICP Phase 2 (VG16078) is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.
It’s rare to come across someone who is as passionate about soil health as Peter Wadewitz. The founder and Managing Director of Peats Soil & Garden Supplies has dedicated the last 45 years to supplying compost, mulches and recycled organic resources to the horticulture, landscape and garden supplies industries in South Australia and interstate. The business operates on four sites across South Australia and recently expanded its presence to Darwin, South Africa and Qatar.
organic matter and strengthening soil structure to produce a better crop. “I think we’ve overused fertilisers and chemicals for so long and let the quality of the soil run down, which is probably why we don’t get as many good results due to poor and unhealthy growing practices,” he explains.
Building organic matter and strengthening soil structure to produce a better crop.
For Peter, it all starts with talking to growers about healthy soils, building
“If nature can’t break down a product, we should be questioning whether we use that product in the first place.”
While many growers are becoming increasingly aware of the role that soil health plays in a productive and sustainable vegetable growing operation, Peter says it is a topic that must be continually discussed and supported by the wider industry. “I’ve spoken to growers who have no idea about organic matter or cation exchange capacity and what it does to the soil. A lot of the issues that growers are dealing with could potentially be overcome with a good healthy soil that produces a stronger, healthier plant. “Some of the results we are getting are just unbelievable. We did a trial in Virginia with Soil Wealth ICP team member Doris Blaesing and the differences we saw in the colour of the broccoli was incredible, just from being grown in good healthy soils.” f PEATS Soil & Garden Supplies founder and Managing Director Peter Wadewitz.
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WA Grower SPRING 2021
