Response to oustanding issues Animal Husbandry MCU12/0184

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                                                                               Callaghan & Toth


6.1.1    Poultry Litter Application as Fertiliser/Mulch

The proposal involves collecting the poultry litter (i.e. bedding material, such as
straw/shavings, and Poultry manure) and using it as a fertiliser and mulch for the existing
orchards on the site, following a composting process. The com posted poultry litter will be
used to replace most of the commercial fertiliser, which is currently used to fertilise the trees.
This composted poultry litter will help increase topsoil depth on the orchard over the long
term. It will also reduce the need to spray for weeds around the trees due to ’mulch’ effect of
the com posted litter acting to suppress weeds.


Com posted poultry litter can be a valuable resource to optimise pasture production. It is
mostly organic matter and supplies nutrients, helps hold moisture, improves soil structure
and encourages organisms such as earthworms. Com posted poultry litter contains the
following main components:

    .
         Nitrogen (N)
    .
         Phosphorus (P)
    .    Potassium (K)


The Agronomist’s Report (Myriad International 2nd August 2013) states that:


     1. The analysis revealed that actual nutrient requirements of the 7000 tree Avocado
         orchard are greater than the nitrogen supplied by the litter and that additional
         manufactured fertiliser nutrient will be required to meet the demands of the avocado
         production system.

    2.   Phosphorus contained in compost is predominately in the citrate form which is
         extremely stable in the soil and not water soluble. The citrate form of Phosphorus
         tightly binds to the soil and only a small percentage is available for crop uptake. The
         application of the compost will greatly reduce the potential movements of
         Phosphorus on the farm due to water runoff. This is compared to the standard
         practice of reliance on manufactured fertilisers which are water soluble Phosphorus
         based and move with water flows unless managed.


Refer to Myriad International Report for a comparison of the Calculated Litter to fertiliser
volumes and the Orchard fertiliser coverage volumes.


6.1.2    Poultry Litter Composting and Storage
The storage area for Poultry litter will be in bunded contained areas as shown on Plan 02 to
04 and 09 to 11. The mounds will be covered with tarps. The remaining Bunded area is to be
clay capped to ensure there is no stormwater entry to this area and therefore minimise
polluted stormwater runoff from this area. These areas will be treated to remove sediment
and nutrients with a system of wet Sediment Basins and Bioretention Basins.


The bunded areas will be able to store a volume of 1027m3 and will therefore be sufficient to
store litter from one complete clean out of all eight sheds for five (5)weeks prior to
application to avocado trees. The storage volume of 1027m3 has been calculated assuming
the use of a Seymour Compost turner 4000, which stockpiles at 2.5m3 per m of mound.


The eight sheds will have a 7 week growing cycle followed by a 2.5 week cleaning and
stocking cycle. This gives a 9.5 week total period between when new poultry litter is

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1209 Animal Husbandry   -

                            Top Forestry Rd, Ridgewood                       SWQMP_REV_3

September 2013