Developed in the early 1960s at Hatuma Lime Company Ltd in Central Hawke’s Bay, Hatuma DP® is a specially manufactured fusion of limestone and mature superphosphate that has been left to cure, turn rock-hard, crushed, then screened. The end result is a completely new product that has a pH 6.5-7, is non water soluble, yet fully plant available. Thanks to these beneficial characteristics, farmers typically apply it at the same rate they would superphosphate making it an extremely cost-effective form of topdressing.

Many. For a general overview view the benefits of HDP.

Since 2002 Hatuma DP has invested over a million dollars in on-farm research with Hatuma DP customers. Please refer to the Eariler Work section for an overview. That early research evolved into the Farming for the Future Research Programme, focussing on finding ways to future-proof New Zealand’s natural farming advantage. Since 2009 the Programme has been measuring the outcomes on 13 lower-input North Island hill country sheep/beef farms, most of whom have already been farming this idealism successfully for many years.

After five years of extensive independent monitoring preliminary results in the Farming for the Future Research Project suggest that, in comparison to Beef + Lamb monitor farms, sheep and beef farmers using Hatuma DP are applying half the amount of phosphate on their farms with no negative impact to their production.
View the full programme overview and results.

Fundamentally the products are different. This is not a case of apples with apples.
Lime and super are not compatible as a dry blend (that’s why they go hard together), which is why Hatuma DP ensures the two products are completely fused together through a maturing process.

The reasons for this are:
Cost effective application – There is no ‘large’ lime application with the normal superphosphate component or the need to do two different applications with the truck or plane. Typical applications of Hatuma DP are based on the same rate as a single normal superphosphate application.

Practical and safe – It’s a much more stable product to handle – farmers don’t run the costly risk of being left with a lime/super blend going hard in their aerial bin.

Efficient – The phosphate in Hatuma DP is plant available and non water-soluble so farmers don’t need to think about spending more on higher application rates and increased tonnage. This also means the window of opportunity to apply it is larger, and the environmental impact is minimal.

It’s a more complete product – after the maturing process Hatuma DP becomes a new product with the best of both worlds retained.

No. Unlike reverted super that is often only left for a short-as-possible period, Hatuma DP ensures the process is complete right through to the final week. While Hatuma DP builds ample maturity time in the production process to ensure that the phosphate is completely stable and there will be no harmful environmental residues from this, farmers can access the product immediately through Hatuma’s extensive stock reserves.

Also note, 75/25 blend of super and lime will not result in the same neutral soil friendly pH of Hatuma DP.

With over 50 years of production and manufacture, we have pioneered and led the market for dicalcic phosphate in New Zealand. Other products have been developed around the benefits of our product, however, Hatuma DP’s original and true formula still remains unique to the brand and the results achieved on-farm. Cutting corners at the expense of Hatuma DP’s integrity is not an option.

The underlying philosophy of Hatuma DP is firmly based on organic principles, however Hatuma DP is not certified. Due to Hatuma DP’s commitment to the environment and sustainable farming for over 50 years, farmers can get the best of both worlds, satisfying their organic principles at the same time as farming conventionally.