Throughout the Carbon Positive Trial, Soil Nitrate levels down to 30cm have been monitored fortnightly. During the tomato crop (26/10/2023 – 6/3/2024), the Regenerative treatment had significantly lower nitrate levels than the Conventional and Hybrid treatments, despite all three receiving similar amounts of nitrogen. This lower nitrate level was likely due to the breakdown…
Category: Cultivation
Cyclone Gabrielle Research Symposium
Lessons for the management of highly productive land In November, we co-hosted a research symposium with Vegetable Research and Innovation and the Foundation for Arable Research. The symposium brought together those who had investigated Cyclone Gabrielle’s impacts on highly productive land to present and discuss findings and observations, and draw out lessons to aid land…
Soil Infiltration Calculator
We have launched an online web calculator to process soil infiltration rate measurements collected using a Disc Permeameter. The calculator analyses measurements made at different tensions. It is a beta product, primarily made to assist us in assessing soil infiltration, porosity etc. We are keen for any feedback! Disc permeameters (also called tension infiltrometers) are…
Carbon Positive: Butternut Planting
The butternuts for our 2025-2026 cropping season, in the Carbon Positive trial, have been planted! The Conventional treatment was planted with treated seed and 300kg/ha of Complex fertiliser. The Hybrid treatment was planted with treated seed, coated in TrichoStart and 300kg/ha of Complex fertiliser. Mycorrcin, Biostart N and TrichoStart were applied at planting via liquid…
Looking Ahead: Butternut squash
In the 2025-2026 cropping season, the fourth summer of the Carbon Positive trial, we are growing butternut pumpkins for Heinz-Wattie’s. Our planned planting date is the middle of November. In the Conventional system, things are getting underway with a broadcast spray of glyphosate now that the sheep have been moved out. The paddock will be…
Carbon Positive Soil Monitoring
All Systems Stable: Early Insights from a Crop-Driven Carbon Cycle Carbon Positive is, unsurprisingly, tracking soil carbon levels under our three different management approaches. We have two key measurements; total soil carbon and hot water extractable carbon. Hot water extractable carbon is a laboratory test measure of labile carbon, which is the ‘active’ carbon that…
Winter cover crop update – September
After a successful bean crop in the 2024-2025 season, the three systems were planted in cover crops for the winter. The Conventional was planted with ryegrass, the Hybrid with ryegrass, Balansa clover and crimson clover, and the Regenerative was the same as the Hybrid but with the addition of vetch. The Canopeo phone app has…
Cover Crops Survey
With funding from Te Ahikawariki, we teamed up with regional agronomists to ask a number of growers about cover cropping. We wanted to learn what the barriers were to new entrants, and what the ongoing headaches were for those who do use cover crops. Three-quarters of the 32 growers surveyed have been using cover crops…
Slakes: Soil aggregate stability testing
A Te Ahikawariki / VICE Project SLAKES: a cost effective measure of soil structural stability is one of two projects I have been running as a part of my Te Ahikawariki/VICE internship. A key part of the project was engaging with growers to demonstrate and support valid paddock sampling and correct use of the test…
LandWISE Conference Summary – Day 1
The LandWISE Conference, Getting to Carbon Positive, attracted more than 80 people who heard speakers on a wide range of topics related to ongoing sustainability. Day 1 discussed ways to assess our emissions levels, how we can reduce our environmental impact through diverse farming techniques including regenerative practices and soil health, and new research around…