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Cane Toad
(Bufo marinus)
Fertiliser
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With the onset of cane toads to the Northern Territory,
Frog Watch approached Moeco Pty Ltd with an idea to produce a fertiliser
from the unwanted pest. A preliminary batch of "Cane Toad
Fertiliser" was processed in early February 2006 from 200kg of frozen cane
toads. Samples were submitted to NT Environmental Laboratories for
analysis. Interest has been received from around Australia for this
new product. Greening Australia will trial the fertiliser to see its
effects on plant growth. Northern Territory residents are urged to take
live toads to the detention centre at Freds Pass Reserve near Bees Creek.
Further detention centres are being organised for Humpty Doo and Darwin.
The live cane toads are gassed, then frozen and delivered to Moeco
manufacturing factory. See
Frog Watch
for further information. |
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Manufacturing Process |
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The cane toad makes up the amino acid component of
fertiliser (similar to fish remains making up the amino acid component of
our popular fertiliser, Moeco 29). To extract the amino acid from
the cane toad carcasses, the carcasses are soaked in a very alkaline
solution to break down the proteins to a cocktail of amino acids.
The alkaline solution is then neutralized. This process also breaks
down the poisonous compound that cane toads excrete making the product
completely harmless to wildlife, pets or the
environment.
This cocktail of amino acids then has trace elements added and fortified
to make it a complete fertiliser suitable for the horticultural industry, orchards or
home garden. |
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General
Information
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Use: |
Flowers: for vibrant colours and improve shelf life |
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Fruit:
setting, improves sugar content, colour and taste |
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MSDS: |
Available upon request |
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Technical Details |
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High potassium fertiliser formulated specifically for use as a
fruit set on all types of fruit trees. |
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Recommended for flowering plants resulting in
enhanced flower size and vivid colouring. |
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Application to vegetables will impart crispness and succulence. |
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Practically free of nitrates, phosphates and chlorides, hence it is ideal
to apply to fruit trees in general. |
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Potassium is not in the form of a nitrate, sulphate or chloride but
chelated to an organic acid producing the smallest potassium compound
molecule and therefore considered a “safe” fertiliser. |
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Provides adequate and fast uptake of potassium and trace elements,
essential to fast growth (with possibly earlier harvesting), a marked
improvement of sugar formation and improved quality and colour in the
fruit. No undue leaf growth is encouraged during the fruit setting and
forming stage, ensuring maximum nutrients are available for fruit
development. This has been demonstrated particularly in rambutans and
mangoes. |
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Contains natural soaps which occur during the fish processing which are
excellent wetting agents. |
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Neem oil has been added to further aid wetting. |
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Preferably applied as a foliar spray, but also suited to sprinkler or
irrigation applications. Research shows foliar application of numerous
nutrients is efficient, convenient, and considered best practice. Applied
as a foliar spray, potassium is rapidly absorbed and transported to where
it is required most by the plant.
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Applied via irrigation systems, the cane toad emulsion content benefits
bacterial development and soil quality. |
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Analysis |
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Element Analysis |
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% |
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Present as: |
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| Nitrogen |
(N) |
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0.8 |
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Organic matter derived from bufo marinus |
| Phosphorous |
(P) |
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0.2 |
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Organic matter derived from bufo marinus |
| Potassium |
(K) |
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20 |
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1.5% as organic derived from bufo marinus
18.5% as potassium chelate |
| Calcium |
(Ca) |
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0.6 |
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Organic matter derived from bufo marinus |
| Magnesium |
(Mg) |
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0.1 |
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Organic matter derived from bufo marinus |
| Sulphur |
(S) |
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0.2 |
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Organic
matter derived from bufo marinus |
| Iron |
(Fe) |
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0.02 |
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0.01% organic
0.01 % as citrates |
| Manganese |
(Mn) |
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0.02 |
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As citrates |
| Copper |
(Cu) |
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0.01 |
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As citrates |
| Zinc |
(Zn) |
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0.02 |
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As citrates |
| Boron |
(B) |
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0.005 |
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As boro citrate |
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General
Application Rates |
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Crop |
Recommended Application Rate |
Dilution |
Frequency |
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| Fruit trees: |
Small |
300ml/tree |
10 ml/L |
From flowering
to pre-harvest |
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Large |
600ml/tree |
| Leaf vegetables |
1 ml/m2
(10 L/Hectare) |
10 ml/L |
Weekly |
| Flowers |
Spray at recommended
dilution to drip point |
5 ml/L |
Twice weekly |
| Orchids |
Spray at recommended dilution
to drip point |
3 ml/L |
Weekly |
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Note: For delicate plants or tender new growth, reduce dilution to
5 ml/L (or 1:200) for either application method. When applied to
soil ensure product is watered in well. |
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