Centrex CEO Robert Mencel on site at Ardmore. Photo: Centrex
CENTREX subsidiary Agriflex last month signed a memorandum of understanding with Neutrog Australia to jointly develop new organic and biological fertiliser products for the broadacre farming market.
Fertiliser products now being trialed will incorporate crushed phosphate rock from Centrex’s Ardmore mine in north-west Queensland which commenced operations last year.
Neutrog Australia is a developer and manufacturer of specialist organic-based and biologically boosted fertiliser and liquid probiotics.
Agriflex and Neutrog Australia plan to jointly develop, produce and market organic and biological fertiliser products incorporating phosphate rock tailings, or fines, to create a new market and income stream for Agriflex while further derisking the Ardmore Phosphate Rock mine.
Crushed phosphate rock fines are well suited to broadacre farming application and are expected to comprise 22 percent phosphorus pentoxide, 30pc calcium oxide, and an ultra–low level of cadmium.
The Ardmore mine is located south of Mt Isa in north-west Qld. Photo: Centrex
The organic component of the product supplied by Neutrog, which will be around 70pc of the total, contributes bacteria and fungi and is coated with phosphorus-liberating microbes which will introduce nitrogen and acidity to enhance phosphorus bio-availability.
“Agriflex’s existing Direct Application Phosphate Rock (DAPR) products currently service the pasture
industry,” Centrex managing director Robert Mencel said.
Trials of the fertiliser product are starting this year.
“For traditional broadacre farmers, a product that combines phosphate rock with organic inputs and active biologicals, should provide a very appealing alternative to import and will lessen Australia’s reliance imported chemical fertilisers,” Neutrog Australia managing director Angus Irwin said.
Source: Centrex
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