BONUS SPRING SUMMER 2025

Dr. Teunis Vahrmeijer, Director Business Development, Victus Bio Dr. Stefan van Wyk, Head of Biological Research & Product Development, Victus Bio Proven results On the Highveld, good results were obtained when NutriCAST™ was broadcast at 3 m 3 /ha on soybean fields before planting, where, over a three-year period, an increase in the soil potassium and phosphor levels was observed. In the Northern Cape region, NutriCAST™-treated wheat fields (2,7 m 3 /ha) consistently had higher yields (12,3%) than the control. A synergistic relationship also exists between NutriCAST™ and beneficial soil organisms, as illustrated in Figure 2, where the number of rhizobia colony-forming units increased with the NutriCAST™ application rate. It is due to this effect that one of the proven fertiliser strategies for soybeans is to apply NutriCAST™ as a base fertiliser. Not only does this provide the soybean with the necessary plant nutrients, but it also increases the nodulation potential of the soybean plants. CFU/ml Control 3 5 10 NutriCAST™ application rate (m 3 /ha) 5.3 x 10 9 5.4 x 10 9 5.5 x 10 9 5.6 x 10 9 5.7 x 10 9 5.8 x 10 9 5.9 x 10 9 6.0 x 10 9 6.1 x 10 9 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 1 7 28 60 90 150 240 Cumulative concentration (%) Day NO 3 NH 4 K CFU/ml Control 3 5 10 NutriCAST™ application rate (m 3 /ha) 5.3 x 10 9 5.4 x 10 9 5.5 x 10 9 5.6 x 10 9 5.7 x 10 9 5.8 x 10 9 5.9 x 10 9 6.0 x 10 9 6.1 x 10 9 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 1 7 28 60 90 150 240 Cumulative concentration (%) Day NO 3 NH 4 K Figure 1: Nitrogen and potassium availability on NutriCAST™. 2 References: 1. Brevik, E.C. 2019. A brief history of the soil concept. https://profile.soils.org/posts/field-and-historical-notes/a-brief-history-of-the-soil-health-concept. 2. Vahrmeijer, J.T., van Heerden, C and Tesfamarium, E. 2017. Nitrogen and potassium release from organic soil amendments over time. Report 1113. Citrus Research International. 3. Maeda K, Hanajima D, Toyoda S, Yoshida N, Morioka R, Osada T. 2011. Microbiology of ni trogen cycle in animal manure compost. Microbial Biotechnology, 700-709. Figure 2: Relationship between NutriCAST™ application and the number of colony-forming units (CFU) per millilitre (ml) of rhizobia. NutriCAST™: Fertiliser Group 2 | Reg. number B5145 | Act 36 of 1947 Pr results O i veld, go d results wer obtained when NutriCAST™ was bro dcast at 3 m 3 soybean fields before planti g, where, ov r a three-year p riod, an i r i t e soil potassium and phosphor levels was ob erved. In th orthern Cape region, NutriCAST™-treated wheat fields (2,7 m 3 /ha) consistently had higher yields (12,3%) than the control. A synergistic relationship also exists between NutriCAST™ and beneficial soil organisms, as illustrated in Figure 2, where the number of rhizobia colony-forming units increased with the NutriCAST™ application rate. It is due to this effect that one of the proven fertiliser strategies for soybeans is to apply NutriCAST™ as a base fertiliser. Not only does this provide the soybean with the necessary plant nutrients, but it also increases the nodulation potential of the soybean plants. Dr Teunis Vahrmeijer, Director Business Development, Victus Bio Dr Stefan van Wyk, Head of Biological Research & Product Development, Victus Bio 1. Brevik, E.C. 2019. “A brief history of the soil concept”. https://profile.soils.org/posts/field-and-historical-notes/a-brief- history-of-the-soil-health-concept. 2. Maeda, K., Hanajima, D., Toyoda, S., Yoshida, N., Morioka, R., Osada, T. 2011. “Microbiology of nitrogen cycle in animal manure compost”. Microbial Biotechnology , 700–709. 3. Vahrmeijer, J.T., Van Heerden, C., and Tesfamarium, E. 2017. “Nitrogen and potassium release from organic soil amendments over time”. Report 1113. Citrus Research International. 3 . Spring/Summer 2025 BONUS www.agribonus.co.za 66