What is Osflo
Osflo is a natural fertiliser made from composted poultry litter, used on pasture, cropping and horticultural land throughout the North Island. The final product supplies nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and trace elements. Nearly half of it is organic matter, so it feeds the soil as well as the plant.
Here’s how it’s made, what’s in it, and why it keeps working after it’s spread.
Bedding for the sheds
We supply clean wood shavings for poultry bedding. Over time, the shavings and manure combine to form poultry litter, the raw material for Osflo. We collect the litter and bring it back to our depot in Inglewood, Taranaki.
At our Inglewood depot, the litter is composted under controlled conditions, reaching temperatures of 55°C or higher for a minimum of 15 days. This meets recognised composting standards for pathogen reduction. We monitor and manage the compost throughout the process.
Composted under controlled conditions
The composted material is then matured and processed into Osflo fertiliser. From Inglewood it’s dispatched throughout the North Island, ready to go back onto New Zealand soils, where it supports healthy plant growth and improves soil condition.
Matured and made into Osflo
From shed to soil
The bedding we supply comes back to us as litter, and goes back onto the land as fertiliser.
Why the nitrogen releases slowly
Osflo gives you nitrogen in two forms.
Some is ready straight away
It’s already in a form plants can take up, so you get an early lift in growth.
The rest in held in the organic matter.Â
Much of the nitrogen in Osflo is held in the organic matter rather than as soluble nitrate. Soil microbes break this down over the following weeks and months and release the nitrogen gradually. It doesn’t all arrive at once, so it keeps feeding your pasture or crop through the growing period.
This is also why soil condition affects how Osflo performs. Warm, moist, biologically active soil releases nutrients faster. Cold or dry soil releases them more slowly.
Research & Development
We’re working with Plant & Food Research, a division of the Bioeconomy Science Institute, on a research and development project.
The testing and development phase is complete. We’re now waiting on the final analytical results, and we’ll share them here once they’re in.
Plant & Food Research results.
What's in it
Osflo Base Analysis
| Osflo Base Mix | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Product |
N |
P |
K |
S |
Ca |
Mg |
NA |
|
Base Mix |
3.0 |
0.6 |
1.8 |
0.3 |
1.5 |
0.5 |
0.4 |
|
Organic Matter |
47.7 |
||||||
All results are reported on “as received basis”.
Trace elements (ppm): iron 590, zinc 440, manganese 404, copper 42, boron 21, molybdenum 6, cobalt 6, iodine 4, selenium 1.
Every Osflo mix is built on this base, with nutrients added to suit the crop and the soil.
Why farmers choose Osflo
| What farmers use it for | Why Osflo works |
|---|---|
| Maize and cropping | Many of our maize and crop growers come back to Osflo season after season. |
| Feeding the soil, not just the plant | Nearly half of Osflo is organic matter, and its nitrogen is released gradually as soil microbes break it down. |
| Working within nitrogen limits | Organic matter, nutrients and lime can go on together, with nitrogen planned into your farm's limits. |
| Getting through dry spells | Organic matter helps soils hold water, so they cope better when it's dry. |
| Remedial and regrassing ground | Organic matter builds soil structure and supports the soil life that tired ground needs. |
The right fertiliser starts with knowing your soil. We’ll test it, recommend the Osflo mix or custom blend that suits your farm, and spread it with GPS proof of placement. You can also collect Osflo as bulk product and spread it yourself. We supply farms throughout the North Island.
Start with a soil test
Better Choices. Better Soil. Better Results.
What solution is right for me?
Common questions
No. Osflo is made for conventional pasture and cropping systems as much as organic ones. It works on dairy, drystock and cropping farms and on horticultural blocks. For certified organic growers, Osflo Organic holds BioGro certification. [See Osflo Organic →]
Yes. We compost at 55°C or higher for at least 15 consecutive days, which effectively kills H5N1. Read our full answer →
Yes. We make customised Osflo and synthetic blends to match what your soil test shows your farm needs. Custom blends →
Any nitrogen can be lost if there’s more in the soil than plants can use. Much of Osflo’s nitrogen is held in organic matter and released gradually by soil microbes, rather than being available all at once. Applied at the rate your soil test recommends, more of it goes to the plant and releases over time rather than volatilising.