Biosolid Land Application.

Camreay Holdings have been applying biosolids to their farm for approximately 10 years and have experienced significant production improvement when growing cane and of more recent times growing sunflowers.

All of Bundaberg’s biosolids are now taken by Camreay Holdings Pty Ltd and as such the two different streams of biosolids are managed in two directions:

1.       East Treatment Plant which is dried cake is used for composting

2.       Millbank Treatment Plant which pressed cake is used for land application

(Currently on Camreay’s property but expressions of interest on other farms are being investigated).

An environmental management plan submitted and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency has been completed which allows Camreay to land apply using the framework of analysis of the biosolids  i.e. NLBAR (Nitrogen level) and CLBAR (contaminant level) to incorporate the biosolids at a predetermined rate using the aforementioned analysis regime.

As Bundaberg has no large industries the presence of heavy metals is limited.  The biosolids are analyzed regularly and applied at a set rate.

Benefits of Land Application:

1. Improves moisture retention in the soil
2. Adds nutrients to the soil
3. A good soil conditioner for soil – particularly for soil that has continual crop production
4. Less hazardous chemical than some fertilizers
5. Environmentally friendly
6. Will increase production
7. Environmental Management Plan done for farmer
8. Increases Organic Carbons in the soil.

We have noticed with the use of biosolids on the farming land that the soil has improved with the additional carbon that is in the bisolids along with the nutrient.  Soil that previously was hard to irrigate now retains its moisture successfully and any crops grown on this land reach very high production figures.

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