At the Peak Downs mine in Queensland, Australia, the site owner needed a cost-effective way to revegetate five hectares of poorly conditioned, remote land without importing topsoil. Working with PGG Wrightson Turf and Profile Products, the contractor hydraulically applied ProGanics® Biotic Soil Media™ (BSM™) as an alternative to trucking in topsoil and covered it with ProMatrix® Engineered Fiber Matrix® (EFM®) for erosion protection, along with gypsum, CK88 fertilizer and a diverse seed mix. Applied before the wet season, the system achieved established vegetation within three months and led to expansion of ProGanics BSM to more than 20 hectares.
Key Points
- Revegetation of five hectares (12 acres) at Peak Downs mine addressed poor soil conditions, remote access and exorbitant costs to truck in topsoil.
- Hydraulic application of ProGanics BSM at 5,000 kg/ha (4,460 lb/ac) and ProMatrix EFM at 3,500 kg/ha (3,120 lb/ac), plus gypsum at 20 t/ha (8.9 US t/ac) and CK88 fertilizer at 350 kg/ha (310 lb/ac).
- Seed blend included Japanese Millet, Creeping Bluegrass, Sabi, Rhodes Grass, Seca Stylo and Wynn Cassia.
- Within three months all five hectares had established vegetation, prompting installation of ProGanics BSM on more than 20 hectares (49 acres).
