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Wood Vinegar, Fertiliser Costs and Soil Biology: PyroAg on Ticker Insight
As fertiliser and agricultural input costs place increasing pressure on farm margins, improving the efficiency of existing farming programs continues to be an important consideration for Australian growers.
PyroAg Chief Engineer, Director & Co-Founder John Mellowes joined Mike Loder on Ticker Insight to discuss PyroAg Wood Vinegar, how it is produced and its potential role in supporting soil biology and nutrient availability within Australian farming systems.
The interview also explores PyroAg’s research with the University of Newcastle and why understanding the science behind Wood Vinegar has been an important part of the product’s development.
Watch the full interview below.
What Is Wood Vinegar?
Wood Vinegar, also known as pyroligneous acid, is a liquid produced during the pyrolysis of biomass.
In the interview, John explains how PyroAg’s journey began while he and Co-Founder Chad Sheppard were investigating alternative energy technologies and the products generated through pyrolysis.
Early pot trials encouraged the team to investigate Wood Vinegar further, ultimately leading to the development of PyroAg and continued research into its agricultural applications.
Today, PyroAg Wood Vinegar is produced and refined for use across a range of Australian farming systems.
Supporting Soil Biology and Nutrient Uptake
A key focus of the Ticker Insight conversation is what happens below the soil surface.
Soil microorganisms play important roles in nutrient cycling and the processes that make nutrients available to plants. John discusses how Wood Vinegar may interact with these microbial communities and why soil biology has become an important focus of PyroAg research.
Research undertaken with the University of Newcastle investigated the effects of pyroligneous acid on plant growth-promoting bacteria, finding changes in their abundance and diversity at appropriate concentrations under the conditions studied.
Getting More From Existing Fertiliser Programs
With fertiliser costs forming a significant part of many farm input budgets, the interview also considers how growers can improve the efficiency of what they are already applying.
PyroAg Wood Vinegar is not a fertiliser and is not positioned as a direct replacement for fertiliser. Instead, its role can be considered alongside existing nutrient and biological programs.
By continuing to investigate the relationship between Wood Vinegar, soil biology and nutrient availability, PyroAg is building a stronger understanding of where Wood Vinegar may help growers get more from their existing farming systems.
Watch the Ticker Insight Interview
Watch the full interview with John Mellowes and Mike Loder to hear more about PyroAg Wood Vinegar, soil biology, fertiliser costs and the research behind its development.
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