As seen in Farm Weekly, 02/04/2026

Wongan Hills/Ballidu – As Western Australian growers prepare for the 2026 season, localised field results are validating a shift in crop nutrition strategy.

Extensive and monitored trials, conducted by Irwin Hunter & Co, have confirmed that BioNPK Powder S provides a dual-action economic advantage: lifting total tonnage while securing higher market premiums through enhanced grain quality.

The trials undertaken in the Wongan Hills and Ballidu area demonstrated tangible improvements in grain yield and quality, with a return of 3-4 times the investment in the product.

Irwin Hunter & Co's agronomist, Lance Kennedy, says he is excited about the product because it has been successful in many countries, especially in areas with challenging soils and adverse climates.

In favourable growing conditions, the product is applied while fertiliser inputs are reduced, as the Biostimulants enhance the plant's ability to access and utilise nutrients more efficiently.

It is suitable for a wide range of crops – including broadacre farming, specialty crops, orchards, and plantations – delivering consistent benefits across all plant types, with application timing adjusted to suit each crop.

Lance explains that the product is scientifically formulated in a laboratory, translating research into practical results and enabling stronger growth from healthier soil.

BioNPK Powder S is a soluble powder best used as a seed dressing or sprayed on at the early growth stages of the crop, where it will have direct contact with moist soil at application.

The product can be mixed with other biological products, fertilisers and pesticides, including fungicides (based on a mixing process), which provides additional ease of application.

The science of soil-plant optimisation

The effectiveness of BioNPK Powder S lies in its carefully selected microbial consortium, developed to support biological activity in the rhizosphere.

Rather than depending solely on synthetic fertilisers, the approach focuses on enhancing naturally occurring soil processes to improve nutrient availability and plant performance:

  • Atmospheric Nitrogen Fixation: Enabled by Paenibacillus azotofixans, with the capacity to fix up to 50 kg/ha of nitrogen annually.
  • Mineral Solubilisation: Specific bacterial strains facilitate the mobilisation of phosphorus and potassium from existing soil reserves, making available up to 35kg/ha of phosphorus and 30kg/ha of potassium per year.
  • Structural Resilience: The inclusion of Mycorrhizal fungi and Bacillus subtilis contributes to improved soil structure and enhanced plant stress tolerance, particularly under variable Wheatbelt conditions.

As input costs and climate variability continue to challenge traditional farming models, these results demonstrate that high-efficiency biologicals are essential for growers seeking to maximise both biological potential and financial return.

Bio NPK Powder S: Key Benefits

  • More nutrients (N P K, Si)
  • Better soil structure
  • Higher water retention
  • Stress tolerance

Bacteria

  • Paenibacillus azotofixans (N fixation up to 50 kg/ha/yr)
  • Bacillus megaterium (P release up to 35 kg/ha/yr)
  • Bacillus mucilaginosus (K release up to 30 kg/ha/yr)
  • Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus licheniformis (stress tolerance)
  • Bacillus mycoides (Si release)

Fungi

  • Trichoderma viride (plant resilience)
  • Mycorrhizal fungi (plant nutrients, soil structure)

Contact your local farm supplier or Irwin Hunter & Co for more information regarding the extensive range of pasture seed and mixes.