From an agronomic efficiency perspective, lime should be fine – meaning minus 100 microns. Lime has been typically sold and applied in much coarser form simply because of spreading, dust and safety issues. Infrequent heavy applications of coarse ‘aglime’ were more convenient for solid application, but lead to a zig-zag effect on soil pH, especially in the critical 50-100mm depth, which greatly increases the risk of aluminum toxicity. Superfine lime (below 40 microns) is extremely expensive to produce, and confers no agronomic advantages over fine lime.

Futurespread uses 100 micron fine lime which is relatively inexpensive, yet fine enough to rapidly correct soil acidity and aluminum toxicity, and stimulate soil microbiological activity and organic matter turnover.

The ‘base’ N content is present as DAP. Additional N in higher N-content fluidised products is incorporated as fine urea, incorporating urease inhibitor. For an organic source we use Moana 15%N. Fluidised urea containing urease inhibitor is vastly more efficient (two and a half times!) than granular urea. This is because fluidised urea, unlike other forms of N, can be taken up directly through the leaves, for greater plant growth efficiency. However, a urease inhibitor must be present to prevent urea being volatilized directly from the leaves before uptake.

A urease inhibitor, temporarily blocks (inhibits) the action of the urease enzyme, and in so doing minimises volatilisation for 7 – 14 days, the critical period for volatisation losses after application.