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Optimise is made up of fine particle lime (under 70 micron), which supplies calcium carbonate to help neutralise soil acidity and increase soil pH, which is then pelletised for efficiency when spreading. When using Optimise, depending on your soil type, soil CEC (cation exchange capacity) and rainfall, results can generally begin to be seen between 6-12 weeks.

This will depend on your soil CEC. With a low soil CEC, Optimise should work quickly using low volumes, so a more frequent application might be necessary. With a high soil CEC, Optimise will last longer but might require a higher application rate to cause a shift in pH.

The finer the lime, the more immediate the reaction in the soil. The smaller the particle size, the greater the surface area, the quicker the effect on soil pH and the more the calcium is readily available. However the finer the lime, the greater the chance of it being carried away by the wind and not reaching and settling on the area it is intended for. This is why Optimise Ultra-Fine Lime is pelletised. Micronising and pelletising ultra-fine particles increases the efficiency of the lime. Pelletising also allows the product to be evenly spread from air or truck.

Lincoln University has completed trials comparing Optimise with Aglime. We conducted a trial at Glenfoyle and have also conducted on-farm pastoral trials as part of a local farm discussion group. You can see our trial data here.

Yes, Optimise can be supplied with Organic Certification. Custom blends with qualifying inputs such as Sulphur, Magnesium, Guano Phosphate and more, can also be produced, as required, to meet Organic specifications.

Optimise has the advantage of breaking down more readily, due to its very small particle size, therefore being able to react a lot faster to help stimulate biological activity. This action, as well as providing a readily available source of calcium will help aid moisture retention.

Optimise is used in many pastoral, arable, horticultural and viticultural operations, throughout NZ. It is a great tool due to efficiency of application and is particularly well suited to large scale arial top dressing scenarios. Optimise is commonly used to provide a boost for pH sensitive crops.

Optimise, as a fine particle fertiliser, does not require any special spreading equipment and is equally suited to application by helicopter, top dressing, ground spreading and drilling.

Yes! We do many pelletised custom blends which are made up of combinations of lime and/or Sulphur, Magnesium, Trace Elements and Bio-Stimulants (Humates, EM, Bio-Marinus). Combining other nutrients in the pellets can achieve a one-pass lime and fertiliser application. The combination of nutrients in the pellet can also be of greater benefit to the soil in comparison to applying each nutrient separately.

Because Optimise contains less than 1% moisture, it has the ability to be blended with Guano Phosphate, DAP/CAN, Urea/Ammonium Sulphate, Potassium Sulphate / Chloride, etc making it an easy one-pass method of application. To be able to blend, store and apply makes these a convenient and popular combination.

The best way to move lime throughout the soil profile and to have an effect at depth is to have CaCO3 moved by soil biology. Lime in general helps to improve soil structure, and Calcium is necessary for healthy soil microbe activity, leading to more moisture retention and root development. High aluminium levels, which can be associated with low pH, have also been identified as being a key limiting factor for root development at lower depths and hence pasture production.

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