Nutrient report
Central plateau (Taupō, Rotorua) — needs higher P; watch K, Co, Se.
Enter what your report shows — leave the rest blank. Nothing is assumed.
Base saturation (optional) ▾
Drives the maintenance estimate — how much P, K and S your production removes each year. Set to 0 for dry stock / cut-and-carry.
- pH5.7(optimal 5.8–6)
- low
Below optimal — aim to build toward 5.8+.
- Olsen P28 mg/L(optimal 35–45)
- low
Below optimal — aim to build toward 35+.
- Potassium (QTK)6(optimal 7–10)
- low
Below optimal — aim to build toward 7+.
- Sulphate S9 ppm(optimal 10–12)
- low
Below optimal — aim to build toward 10+.
- Magnesium (QTM)12(optimal 8–10)
- high
Above optimal — no need to add magnesium; hold or skip.
- Calcium base sat.55 %(optimal 50–75)
- optimal
In the optimal band — maintain.
- Magnesium base sat.18 %(optimal 5–15)
- high
Above optimal — no need to add magnesium; hold or skip.
- Potassium base sat.4 %(optimal 2–5)
- optimal
In the optimal band — maintain.
- Sodium base sat.1 %(optimal 1–2)
- optimal
In the optimal band — maintain.
About 0.7 t/ha of good lime (>80% CaCO₃) to lift pH from 5.7 to ~5.8.
Optimal for this soil is 5.8–6.0. Over-liming can lock up trace elements — aim for the band, not above it.
Capital — lift what's deficient
Lift Olsen P from 28 to ~35. Spread over 2–3 years, not all at once.
Lift QTK from 6 to ~7. Split big dressings to limit leaching and grass-staggers risk.
Maintenance — replace yearly removal
Replaces P removed in product plus soil immobilisation; some phosphate fertilisers also carry sulphur.
Replaces K removed and leached. Most grazed K is recycled in dung/urine.
Annual sulphur to prevent deficiency (soil-type rate). Sulphate leaches, so apply little-and-often through the season rather than one hit.
Indicative rates from standard NZ figures — soil reserves, P-retention and stocking vary a lot. Confirm product and rate with your fertiliser rep before ordering.
Indicative agronomic decision support — optimal ranges, lime and fertiliser coefficients follow NZ (FANZ / Ravensdown / Ballance) guidance. Not nitrogen-loss / regulatory modelling, and not a substitute for your fertiliser rep or consultant.
Making sense of your soil test
Enter your soil-test results and Feedwise compares each one against the optimal range for your soil type, works out a lime requirement to correct pH, and gives indicative capital and maintenance fertiliser guidance — so you can see what's actually limiting growth and roughly what it'll take to fix.
Common questions
How do I read my soil test?
Each result (pH, Olsen P, potassium, sulphur and so on) means most when compared to the optimal range for your soil type — Feedwise does that comparison and flags what is low, fine or high.
What is the difference between capital and maintenance fertiliser?
Capital fertiliser builds a deficient nutrient up to its optimal range; maintenance replaces what each year of production removes. The report separates the two.
How is the lime requirement worked out?
From your current pH against a target, allowing for how strongly your soil type resists a change in pH.
Is this a nutrient-loss or compliance tool?
No. It is agronomic decision support — interpreting your test and suggesting lime and fertiliser. It does not model nutrient leaching or regulatory loss; confirm a fertiliser plan with your rep or agronomist.