Disperse effluent with confidence

It may be summer, but there’s still a high chance of rain – it’s New Zealand after all. When the weather turns wet, farmers will no doubt be keeping a close eye on effluent ponds.

With fines of up to $80,000 or more for breaches, having a reliable way to keep ponds low is essential. RXP Technical Support Engineer Tony Atwool says many farms have systems that contribute to runoff and leaching.

“Many farmers have adopted systems like travelling irrigators to apply effluent Some irrigators can deliver effluent in a fast, concentrated stream (sometimes up to 25mm per hour), meaning the soil can’t absorb it quickly enough, especially in wet conditions. That’s when pooling would occur, and saturated ground leads to runoff or leaching into aquifers,” he says.

Low-rate pod systems allow farmers to stay compliant, protect the environment, and capture real value from their nutrients.

K-Line pod systems are designed to overcome these risks. With mid- and max-pod sizes, effluent can be applied evenly at a much lower rate, between 0.5mm and 3mm per hour.

“That means virtually no runoff, no ponding, and no leaching. By adding pump timers, farmers can irrigate in short bursts, giving the soil time to absorb nutrients before the next cycle begins,” says Tony.

In field trials, effluent applied at just 0.5mm per hour was undetectable in runoff.

“Nutrients are being absorbed by the pasture at the same rate they’re applied, especially in warm, moist conditions when pasture growth is strong.”

Effluent contains significant nutrients, particularly nitrogen and potassium, which can offset the need for synthetic fertiliser.

“With the right gear, you can keep that value on your paddocks and save on fertiliser. Farmers also need to be mindful of potassium levels in effluent, as excess potassium is linked with milk fever in cows, but applying nutrients slowly and evenly through a low-rate system like K-Line pods helps reduce the risk of overloading soils,” Tony says. 

“Effluent doesn’t need to be a liability. With the right system, it becomes an opportunity, keeping you compliant, protecting the environment, and returning value to your farm.”