Background

FRL has set out to develop products that will provide a healthy and environmentally sustainable balance between plants and their growing media, whether they be soils, ranging from free- draining light-sandy to heavy clay soils, or other media such as those used in plant nurseries.

With the escalating emphasis on the health of the soil, sustainability and the quality of food very much in mind, FRL is utilising naturally sourced materials to arrive at a financially and environmentally attractive result for end users.

The quantitative trials that are being carried out in New Zealand and Australia have been designed so that they can be readily extrapolated to other international markets.

FRL is aware of products on the market that can be regarded as “fringe”, and of the need for technical credibility. The product methodology was only developed after an extensive review of the existing technical literature.

Product Overview

The product range is designed to provide horticultural crop and specialist broad acre growers with:

• Superior plant health
• For the plant, stress free uptake of macro and micronutrients via amorphous nutrient transporters.
• Introduction to the soil and thereby the plant, key natural elements essential for strong plant growth activity.
• Increased yields
• Resistance to insect, fungal and bacterial attack
• Resistance to thermal shock
• Increased soil moisture retention properties
• Improved soil health
• Stable pH throughout release period

Current products

FRL will initially manufacture three basic products, AdvEco ® Type T, AdvEco ® Type N and HFC Microflora.

Has been designed as a slow release soil conditioner fertiliser with superior moisture retention properties. It is produced from natural raw materials using a patented process, with one of the key components being sourced from the diatomite resource owned by the company.

It particularly addresses those markets where growers don’t wish to move to a completely organic regime, but seek an alternative to the use of chemical fertilisers with their impact on long term soil health, fertility, and the environment.

Its moisture-retention properties are particularly attractive for those applications where there is a concern about the availability or increasing cost of water.

Has all the above attractions, but is specifically directed towards organically certified applications. Organic farming typically incurs a 30% yield penalty when compared with conventional production and there is also typically a loss in appearance and presentation.

Is a blended product using the unique advantages of the Middlemarch diatomite resource, and addresses the issues of degraded and saline soils, and reduced availability or the higher cost of water. Qualitative tests have been encouraging, and further work is being implemented to move towards commercialisation.