Case Studies & Grower Results
Real farming outcomes from New Zealand farms, orchards, and growing systems.
Across New Zealand, farmers and growers are using DCT products to improve nutrient efficiency, soil performance, pasture growth, crop consistency, and production outcomes.
These case studies come from commercial dairy, livestock, and horticultural systems under real-world growing conditions. DCT works alongside existing fertiliser programmes, including those used by Farmlands, PGW Wrightson, and Ravensdown customers, helping growers get more from the nutrients they already apply.
Observed Outcomes Across DCT Case Studies
📉 Up to 55% reduction in nitrogen inputs
📈 Increased milk solids and pasture utilisation
🐄 Improved animal health indicators and reduced SCC in reported cases
🌱 Observed improvements in root development, soil condition, and stress tolerance
💰 Improved whole-farm and orchard profitability
Featured Grower Results
Doug and Caroline — Higher Milk Solids With Less Nitrogen
System: Pasture-based dairy
Products used: Turbo N, Lazerhume
Key Outcomes:
Approximately 55% less nitrogen applied
Milk solids increased over three consecutive seasons
Animal health costs reduced by nearly 50% per cow
Pasture stayed greener through dry periods and recovered faster after rain
Summary:
By improving nitrogen efficiency and soil biology rather than increasing inputs, this dairy farm achieved stronger pasture performance, healthier cows, and higher production with lower overall risk.
Tristan — Pasture & Nitrogen Efficiency
System: Commercial pasture-based livestock
Product used: Turbo N-15
Key Outcomes:
Nitrogen inputs reduced from ~300 kg/ha/year to ~70 kg/ha/year
Pasture utilisation improved by 15–17%
Root depth increased from under 7 cm to over 40 cm
SCC reduced from ~250,000 to below ~50,000
Improved animal health and in-calf performance
Summary:
This system demonstrates how focusing on nitrogen efficiency, rather than nitrogen volume, can deliver more consistent feed supply and stronger livestock outcomes.
Leigh — Orchard Crop Health & Performance
System: Commercial fruit orchard
Products used: DCT Seaweed Plus, Lazerhume
Key Outcomes:
Healthier, more vigorous trees
Improved crop resilience and stress tolerance
Stronger root activity and nutrient uptake
Better overall crop consistency
Summary:
Supporting soil biology and plant stress pathways helped improve tree performance and crop reliability through seasonal pressure.
Case Studies Library
Nitrogen Efficiency & Fertiliser Performance
Improved Clover Growth & Natural Nitrogen Fixation
Summary:
Clover increased from an average of 10% to 17% across 10 paddocks after one year using DCT products. This improvement is equivalent to 49kg/ha of nitrogen (106kg/ha urea) through biological fixation.
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Biological Nitrogen Contribution Through Improved Soil Function
Summary:
DCT products improve soil structure, root-zone conditions, and microbial activity, enabling clover-associated bacteria to fix nitrogen from the air and convert it into plant-available forms. This supports pasture growth and reduces reliance on applied nitrogen fertiliser.
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Halving Fertiliser Use Without Sacrificing Results
Summary:
After using DCT products, a market gardening client reported they could halve their fertiliser inputs while achieving the same — or better — crop performance.
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Soil Health, Structure & Root Performance
Improved Soil Structure & Biological Function
Summary:
DCT products improve soil structure, increasing aeration and drainage while supporting beneficial soil biology. This helps nitrogen-fixing bacteria on clover roots and other microbes convert nutrients into plant-available forms, supporting stronger pasture growth.
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143% Increase in Soil Organic Matter in 6 Months
Summary:
Use of DCT products resulted in soil organic matter increasing from 3.2% to 7.8% over six months, significantly improving soil biology, structure, and long-term soil performance.
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Improved Root Depth & Pasture Resilience
Summary:
After one year of using DCT products, average pasture root depth increased from 62mm to 105mm across 10 paddocks — a 51% improvement. Deeper roots improve nutrient access, drought resilience, carbon storage, and pasture performance.
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Reducing High Sodium in Salt-Affected Soils and Improving Drainage Case Study
Summary:
A low-lying coastal paddock with elevated sodium levels showed significant improvement in soil structure and drainage over a two-year period. Soil sodium reduced from 2.44 g Na per 100 g soil to 0.70 g Na per 100 g soil, alongside improved pasture establishment and root growth.
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Pasture & Livestock Performance
Improved Pasture Minerals & DCAD Balance
Summary:
DCT products improved soil function, leading to higher pasture levels of Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium. This also improved DCAD balance, supporting animal health and production.
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Better Pasture Utilisation & More Milk Solids
Summary:
After using DCT products, milk solids increased from 297 to 312 per season from the same amount of grass — a 4.9% improvement in utilisation. This supports better feed efficiency and farm profitability.
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Horticulture & Crop Performance
Onion Trial – Improved Quality With Reduced Inputs
Summary:
An onion trial using DCT products maintained bulb size while improving skin firmness, root depth, and overall quality. The crop required less fertiliser and reduced herbicide use compared with previous crops in the same paddock.
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Improved Hops Growth, Yield & Quality
Summary:
DCT products supported strong lateral vine growth, dense canopy coverage, healthy bud formation, and a lush green crop. The result was higher yield and better quality hops compared with a parallel crop using a competitor product.
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Berry Cane Strength, Yield & Soil Health Improvement
Summary:
DCT products supported stronger berry canes, improved drainage, healthier plants, and a significant increase in yield, while extending active growth later into the season.
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Soil Resilience & Biological Balance
Grass Grub Reduction Through Improved Soil Health
Summary:
After applying DCT products, grass grub populations declined significantly, with remaining grubs found dead and calcified. Improved soil biology, structure, and root health created conditions where pests struggle to survive.
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Results shown in our case studies are from individual farms and orchards where soil and plant parameters were measured through third party laboratory analysis under real-world field conditions. These results reflect observed changes between baseline and follow-up sampling at each site.
Outcomes may vary depending on soil type, climate, seasonal conditions, and management practices. Soil systems are complex and dynamic, and while measurable changes can be observed under field conditions, underlying biological and chemical processes may vary between environments.
All percentage changes are based on comparative laboratory testing of soil samples collected from the same sites at different time points using consistent sampling methods. Natural soil heterogeneity and sampling variability may influence results.
Why Growers Choose DCT
Growers use DCT as part of a wider system approach to:
✓ Improve nutrient efficiency
✓ Support soil function
✓ Build stronger root systems
✓ Improve plant resilience
✓ Get more value from existing inputs
Understand the Science Behind These Results
DCT combines field observations with scientific research to understand the processes behind nutrient efficiency, soil function, and plant performance.
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