This document summarizes a trial conducted by Geomite Development Pty Ltd to test the effects of their biomineral technique on plant growth and soil properties using a sandy soil base with low fertility. The trial included incorporating Geomite and compost worms into a raised garden bed and planting various vegetable crops. Results after 7 months showed increased colloidal organic matter in both topsoil and subsoil, indicating effective carbon sequestration down to 45cm depth. Plant growth was also excellent, with bok choy leaves exceeding commercial sizes and strong garlic growth, demonstrating correct nutrition for root crops. The biomineral technique successfully improved the sandy soil and sustained high-quality plant production.

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GEOMITE DEVELOPMENT PTY LTD
NorthHavenTrial July 2012
The purposeof this trial is to demonstratetheapplication of biomineraltechniquein plantfood
production,using as starting pointa soil baseof limited fertility – in this instancethe limesand common
to coastalSouthAustralia.
Soil developmentis limited in these sands,chief characteristicsbeing low retention of carbon and
extremely low clay content. Water repellency is universaland protracted irrigation necessary to achieve
wetting,so that garden watercostsin this,the driest state of Australia,militate againstgarden
development. In previoustests,Geomite hasbeen found to controlthe fungalorganismwhich coatsthe
soil particles with a waterrepellent film, and hasconsiderably reduced irrigation cost.
The presenttrial includesGeomite containing 10% sugarmud,theanalysisof which matcheswell with
the Geomite formulation.
The trial is to be conducted in two one monthly incrementswhich will follow thedevelopment of the
initial planting to maturity. An essential of the trial will be incorporation of plantsuccession aimed at
demonstrating theabilityof biomineraltechniqueto sustain maximumuninterrupted food production
froma given area of land,essentialin termsof futurefood security.
Nextin order of precedencewill be analysisof planttissue in order to determine thenutritionalquality of
food produced in this way againsta chemically fertilised control.
Finally,soil sampling to 15 and 45 cm will be conducted atend of each month to demonstrate carbon
sequestration and structuredevelopment achievablewith thismethod of operation.
The Garden
January4, 2012
A Denyercorrugatediron raisedgardenmeasuring180 by60 cm by 60cm deepwasfilledwithamix of
approximately75%limesandsubsoil and25% topsoil derivedfromthe trial area.
An 8cm mulchof eucalyptusbarkwasthenappliedtothe whole andGeomite biological liquidfraction
appliedandwateredin.
The plot wasthen inoculatedwiththe compostwormvarieties: Eisenia andrei andfoetida, earthworm
varieties: Perionixexcavatus (blue) andAmynthus(cod),thenplantedtovegetable varietiesranging
throughleaf,rootand pulses.
Growth commencedwithinsix daysandproceeded forsome fourweeksuntil rapiddeteriorationwas
observed and the gardenwas obviouslydying.

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The eucalyptusbarkmulchwas consideredasa possible source of allogensandreplacedwithpeastraw,
howevernoimprovementresultedandfora time the projectwasabandoneduntil excavationrevealed
the entire plottobe colonizedbyfeederrootsfromaneighbouring Melaleuca.
Trenching and placementof polyethylene membrane outside the gardeneffectivelyeliminatedthe
problemandgrowthrecommencedwithin8days.
The plantsillustratedanddiscussedinthisreportare codedas follows:
T1 survivorsof original planting….. January2012
T2 firstplantingforthistrial……………….July2, 2012
T3 plantingof brassicas………………..July20,2012
Photographs
General view of garden. Location open to full morninglightand
partial shadeafter noon. Invasivemelaleuca visibleon right.

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View alonggarden showingmassed closeplanting.

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Bok Choi of T2 planting July2. Dominant plant on left to be retainedfor seed. Note infestationof leaf
miner whichhas been left untreated to assess plant’s abilityto self-protect. All affectedleaves are
from basal ringexcept for the spot visible near centre of image above, whichhas not developedfurther.

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At 30 day development from transplant,leaf sizeexceeds that of commercial product
and growth acceleratingwith increased day length.

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T1 strawberry recommencing growth
T3 broccoli with Bacopa

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T2 lemongrass

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Bok choi succession from T3 seeding - no disturbance of mulch is necessary, small seed placed on
surfacearewashed to soil surfaceby rainfall.
T3 brocolli and garlicabove.

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T3 garlic development with T1 thyme recommencing growth
Defoliated stalks of peppers from T1 planting survived and are recommencing growth

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T3 cauliflower and cabbage with emerging pea.Parsley succession lower right.

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T1 oregano regrowth, brassicas, bok choi succession lower right
Soil
Six sampleswere takenof the base soil surroundingthe plot,avoidingthe areafrom whichsoil hadbeen
excavatedtofill the Denyer. Six sampleswere thentakenfromthe plotitself.
Samplingprocedure involvedcollectionof surface to15cm and15-45cm columnsfromeachsite. These
were thenindividuallymixed,quartered, andplaced inthe appropriate bags, yieldinganacceptable
statitical meanof top and subsoil foreachof the plotand base soil.
The characteristicsof the base soil,bothtopand sub,were pale greycolourandpowderdryto the
extentthatprecautionagainstloss wasrequiredwhentransferringfromsamplertothe mix plate.
The topsoil fromthe plotcarrieda muchhighercarboncontentand was extremelylooseandfriable
withdevelopingstructure –the subsoil onlyslightlylessso. Moisture contentwas highenoughto

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retainmaterial inthe sample,necessitatingconsiderable impactforremoval. Visual observation
indicatedsequestrationof appreciable carboncontenttodepth.
Conclusions
Carbonsequestrationinthe topsoil is satisfactory,and has persistedtoconsiderable extenttoa depth
of 45cm. If this continuestodevelop,Geomite willofferconsiderablecarboncreditadvantage
throughoutthe supplychain.
1. Colloidal OrganicMatterintopsoil wasincreasedfrom3.05% to 5.62% insevenmonths.
2. Colloidal OrganicMatterinsubsoil wasincreasedfrom 3.05% to 5.27% insevenmonths – this
resultisfor a sampleddepthopf 45cm, indicatingthatGeomite iseffective in sequestering
carbon well intosubsoil.
3. Greencrop (bokchoi) showsapproximatelydoubled leaf areaovercommercialproductatthis
point. Colourandglossof leavesindicatesgoodhealth,withnonitrogeninsufficiency.
4. Growth of garlicis strong,indicatingnutritioniscorrectforroot crops.
©4.08.2012
Geomite Development Pty Ltd

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