Rootboot clears up soil

He began selling the Rootboot system in early 2013, after more than two years in the making.

The seed-fertiliser-liquid fertiliser boot can be bolted behind any tyne that uses a knife-point to open the soil, and delivers paired seed rows.

The fertiliser and liquid product is placed between paired seed rows with a buffer zone of soil between the seed and fertiliser.

Mr Pfitzner also designed the Rootboot Razor, which uses a disc to open the soil, cutting through residue and weeds from the previous season.

The disc can penetrate soil at any depth without affecting seed depth and placement, and delivers paired seed rows.

The depth is governed by a presswheel that firms the soil between seed rows, not above the seed. It also eliminates seed-bounce by having soil flow over its seed outlets, encapsulating the seed on clean chemical-free soil.

Poor early vigour is overcome through under-seed tilth, because the disc penetrates the soil deeper than the seed, allowing easy root growth.

Mud build-up is avoided with the boot's scraper plate and the system's open layout - with less surface area for mud to stick on.

"I've been using the Rootboot myself for three full seasons," Mr Pfitzner said.

"The results are getting better and better every season. It's generating larger root mass within the soil profile and generating a lot more stubble, which creates soil cover throughout summer.

"With paired rows, you get excellent weed competition, so you can really get on top of any weed issues, and with correct fertiliser placement plant health is improved dramatically."

Mr Pfitzner farms land near Eudunda, ranging from high-rainfall to marginal country. Apart from cropping about 1600 hectares annually, he runs 750 breeding ewes for cross-bred lamb production.

Rainfall varies among his properties, from 200 millimetres to 490mm, so crops require the best start possible to reach full potential.

Mr Pfitzner said 2013 was a good year in his district but yields in 2014 were 20 per cent above those results.

He was particularly pleased with how marginal areas performed.

"A good season starts with strong emergence," he said.

"With the Rootboot, the fertiliser is in a position where it is not toxic to the plant and you don't get any seedling burn. It also allows the plant to access fertiliser when it needs it and not just a big hit at the end of the season."

With the Rootboot business keeping him busy, Mr Pfitzner decided to scale his cropping program down last season, sowing only wheat, peas and beans.

It turned out to be a good year to leave canola out, because of the damage caused by beet western yellows virus throughout SA.

But Mr Pfitzner plans to include it in his 2015 program, using the variety Stingray, which can be direct-headed.

Last season, he started seeding at the traditional time of Anzac Day.

"We use an element-based seed dressing, apply adequate fertiliser at seeding and also brew our own foliar spray," Mr Pfitzner said.

"We spray on urea with a blend of trace elements. I find that by spraying it directly onto the plant we use less, get better results and better uptake of nutrients, rather than just spreading it."

The system was created after Mr Pfitzner became unsatisfied with available seeding systems.

"We hand-fabricated 1000 boots after it was first released, purely due to demand," he said.

"We sold them into WA and SA."

But hand-fabricating was never going to be viable in the long-term, so a full range of cast products can be supplied to match virtually every seeder on the market.

"We have also released two new single seed row openers for farmers who don't want paired rows," he said.

Some of the biggest demand for the product has come from Esperance, and SA's Mid and Upper North, in areas such as Port Pirie and Crystal Brook.

The Rootboot, Mr Pfitzner said, was suited to all soil types.

"Other producers tend to struggle in heavier soil types, but the Rootboot is less prone to soil build up, especially for a paired row system," he said.