In the area from Taupo to Auckland, and North Island wide, BOP Fertiliser Ltd, Mt Maunganui, supplies some 700 000 t of fertiliser annually. In the years 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 total fertiliser sales were 668 900, 700 700 and 678 100 respectively. BOP Fertiliser supplied fertiliser to approximately 50% of New Zealand dairy farms. Nitrogen was applied to 91% of dairy farms at an average annual input of 58 kg N/ha. Less than 4% of farms applying N received >200 kg N/ha. Some 23% of dairy farms received less than maintenance P (30 kg/ha). A review of soil fertility levels on dairy farms in 1996/97 using soil test results from the Soil Fertility Service laboratories at Ruakura suggests some 38% of Olsen P values on dairy farms were below optimum (<30), 49% of pH tests were <5.8, 55% of K tests were <8, 30% of S tests were <12 and 8% of Mg tests were <15. Likewise on sheep-beef farms some 43% of the land received less than maintenance P (15 kg P) while soil fertility levels indicated 54% of Olsen P values were below optimum (<17); 69% of the pHs were <5.8; 42% of the K tests were <5; 29% of the S tests were <8 and 12% of the Mg tests were <8. Figures for South Auckland follow a similar pattern to the region. Trace element use indicated 26% of the farms used Co, 37% used Se, 13% boron and 9% copper. Pasture analyses records for 1996/97 (Ruakura SFS Laboratories) suggest trace element use follows deficiencies in a general way. Keywords: database, dairy farms, fertilisers, nutrient status, sheep-beef farms, trace elements
