Wastewater

You are here > Home > Council A-Z > Wastewater > Bioboost

Bioboost^®

Wastewater | Leaks, Maintenance and Upgrades | Wastewater Treatment | Preventing Sewer Blockages | Maintaining a Septic Tank System | Oakura Sewerage Scheme | Waitara Wastewater Treatment Plant

Bioboost is an organic, slow-release, granular fertiliser suitable for general garden use. It is produced from heat-dried biosolids at New Plymouth’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• Where can I buy Bioboost?

How is Bioboost made?

Following separation from the clean effluent water, the surplus micro-organisms used in the aeration basins at New Plymouth’s Wastewater Treatment Plant are subjected to a high temperature rotary thermal drying process which sterilises, pelletise and dries them into 2-4mm sized pellets.

Bioboost is manufactured in accordance with New Zealand Health Department requirements that ensure it is sterile and safe to use.

• Milorganite (This is the American equivalent to Bioboost. The website features video and extensive information about the product.)

What’s good about Bioboost?

• No need to water – apply now and Bioboost is ready to work when moisture comes along. Ideal for areas with water restrictions.
• Slow release, long lasting – provides uniform growth and a well-established root system. Releases minerals and nutrients over a 12 to 16 week period.
• Adds organic matter – promotes beneficial microbial activity and improves the soil’s ability to grow and nurture grass and plants. With 67 per cent organic matter it is ideal for sandy soils.  
• Weed and pathogen free – Bioboost is heated to 600°C without affecting the nutrient value.
• Non burning – it will not burn plant tissue or roots as it is not a chemical salt fertilizer.
• Environmentally friendly phosphorus – the inorganically bound phosphorus found in Bioboost binds itself in the soil remaining available for plant uptake. This reduces the risk of nutrients leaching into our waterways. The phosphate in Bioboost behaves differently from other fertilisers containing non-bound or water-extractable forms of phosphorus (such as Triple Super Phosphate).
• Great for vegetables and fruit trees– encourages good strong growth without interfering with flowering and fruiting. Does not produce long internodes like some other nitrogen fertilizers can do especially when they are applied at high rates. Bioboost works  in sync with plants growth requirements.
• ECO friendly – no need to worry about groundwater or well contamination. The slow release properties of Bioboost stays in the root zone, even with frequent watering or on sandy soils.

How and when should you use Bioboost?

Established lawns

Fertilise three times per year in spring, summer and autumn at 5kg per 100m² (no need to water in).

New lawns

Seed bed or ready lawn: Mix Bioboost into the top 50mm of soil at 13kg per 100m² before seeding or laying the turf. After the third mowing apply 7kg per 100m². (Top photo pre-Bioboost, bottom post Bioboost.)

• Tips for lawn care (Seven pages 118KB PDF)

Roses

Late winter/early spring apply 100g per rose, then repeat four to six weeks later.

Annuals

In spring apply 1.3kg per 10m², then in summer apply 800g per 10m².

Perennials

In spring and summer apply 2kg per 10m².

Trees and shrubs

Apply 150g - 200g within the feeder root zone (depending on the size and nutrient requirements of the plant) and work into the top 20 - 30mm of the surface zone.

For ground work or bed preparation incorporate Bioboost to a depth of 10cm at 250g - 300g per m². Potassium, calcium and magnesium should be added where soil levels of these nutirents are low.

Vegetable gardens

Prior to planting work 200g of Bioboost per m² into the top 50- 100mm of soil. Then side dress with a supplementary NPK fertiliser two to three weeks later.

    

Before and after examples of regular applications of Bioboost

                
Return to top

Typical Nutrient Analysis

• Nitrogen (N) 5.5%
• Phosphorus (P) 2.4%
• Potassium (K) 0.4%
• Calcium (Ca) 1.2%
• Magnesium (Mg) 0.3%
• Sulphur (S) 0.8%
• Iron (Fe) + TE 0.8%

What pack sizes is Bioboost available in?

• Sling Packs: 500kg and 800kg
• Bags: 8kg and 25kg

Where can I get Bioboost from?

NORTH ISLAND and NZ WIDE

Farmlands
All stores in the North Island

Fruitfed Supplies
All stores

Horticentre
All stores

PGG Wrightson
All outlets

PGG Wrightson Turf
All outlets

Prebbles Seeds
All outlets

AUCKLAND

Evans Turf
09-412 7265
9 Loft Place, Kumeu

Horticentre
09-832 1400
18 Cabernet Crescent, Massey

Turfgrass Specialists
09-572 8001
8 Hannigan Drive, Mt Wellington

BAY OF PLENTY

Palmers Tauranga 
07-579 3925 
Cnr Bethlehem and SH2, Bethlehem

HAWKES BAY

Mitre 10 Mega 
06-873 8700 
300 St Aubyn Street, Hastings

Mitre 10 Mega 
06-833 8100 
180 Prebensen Drive, Napier

Skelton
06-876 8029
233 Ruahapia Road, Hastings

MANAWATU 

Colin Macpherson Garden Centre 
06-356 3356 
261 Napier Road, Palmerston North

TARANAKI

Colson Rd Garden Centre 
06-757 4268 
53 Colson Road, New Plymouth

Garden Edge 
06-278 8148 
Cnr Fantham Street and Waihi Road, Hawera

Inglewood Hammer Hardware
06-756 8009
24 Matai Street, Inglewood

Mitre 10 Mega Centre 
06-759 5231 
5 Vickers Road, Waiwakaiho, New Plymouth

New Life Nursery 
06-761 8067 or 027 218 3377
183 Tasman Street, Opunake

Palmers Garden World 
06-758 7455 
Cnr Devon and Katere roads, New Plymouth

Taranaki Farmers 
All outlets in Taranaki

WAIKATO

Mitre 10 Solutions 
07-878 8879 
23 Taupiri Street, Te Kuiti

The Garden Shop 
07-870 5070 
41 Market Street, Te Awamutu

Mitre 10 Solutions 
07-827 5139 
Gillies Street, Cambridge

Four Seasons Garden Centre 
07-888 8657 
6 Tainui Street, Matamata

WELLINGTON

Evans Turf
04-586 1116
58 Victoria Street, Petone, Lower Hutt

Moores Valley Nurseries 
04-564 8391 
Wainuiomata and Levin

Nature's Garden Centre 
04-494 6492 
41 Murphy Street, Wellington

Twigland Gardeners World 
04-477 4090 
240 Middleton Road, Johnsonville

How do I store it?

Store in a closed container (or bag) in a dry place to avoid Bioboost decomposing and becoming smelly. Keep out of reach of children and pets.Return to top

Precautions

• Observe good hygiene practises and wash hands after use.
• Minimise dust generation when handling and avoid inhaling the dust (wear a dust mask if necessary).
• Keep storage areas free of dust and remove any potential sources of ignition.

Bioboost awards

• KPMG Supreme Innovation Award in 2001.
• KPMG Local Government Innovation Award 2001.
• Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Awards 2001.
• New Zealand Post Overall Winner for Management of Excellence Award 2002.
• New Zealand Post Category Winner for Process Management 2002.

Endorsements

"The photos (show) the result of 2-3 years application on fragile volcanic soils or in some areas raw pumice.

"The advantage of the Bioboost on this soil type is that it is the only product that we have been able to sustain a fertiliser that slowly releases the nutrient on these low CEC soil types plus, due to the age old problem of phosphate retention, this product allows a slow constant release which enables the plants to establish allowing the bare  ground area to cover thereby prevents further erosion of the light pumice and plant cover then reduces the heat reaching the pumice and as shown allows organic build up to sustain cover all year.

"It's a great product for these young light soils."
Nigel Lloyd, Course Superintendent
Wairakei International Golf Club, Taupo

We have been using Bioboost in the gardens at Pukeiti for the last eight years, on both the lawns and garden beds, and have found the results to be beyond expectation. The low NPK rating and mode of action makes this organic fertiliser ideal in all garden situations.

Our experience has seen Bioboost acting more as a soil conditioner than a true fertiliser, with its slow acting nature producing long term effects. With the grass paths and lawns the results aren’t as obvious above ground, but the root growth and healthy thickening of the sward is aiding in the recovery of our grass paths. 

In the garden beds the same is apparent. Better root growth all round, especially within the perennial borders.

Pukeiti is pleased to use and promote Bioboost.
Andrew Brooker, Curator
Pukeiti, Taranaki

More information

For technical issues or enquiries please contact David Tong from Bioboost Ltd on 027 445 8218 or contact us on 06-759 6060.

Related link

• Milorganite  (American equivalent to Bioboost) 

Return to top