Last checked at 
LONDON (Alliance News) - Brazil-focused fertiliser producer Harvest Minerals Ltd on Monday said recent testing has shown the effectiveness of its KPfertil product as a long-term grass fertiliser.
Tests by the Federal University of Uberlandia compared KPfertil, a slow-release fertiliser made from weathered potassium and phosphate-rich lava, to traditional super triple phosphate fertilisers.
When given a like-for-like dosage, KPfertil was almost as effective as traditional fertilisers and it could be made as effective at higher doses, Harvest said.
"As KPfertil is substantially cheaper than the traditional sources, farmers can obtain a clear economic benefit from using KPfertil with no decrease in effectiveness," the company said.
Moreover, KPfertil increased the concentration of phosphorus in the soil by 53% compared to super triple phosphate fertilisers, making it more effective as a slow-release long-term fertiliser.
KPfertil was tested on and is intended to be used on brachiara, also known as signal grass, which Harvest Minerals described as "the most widely used grass for pasture in Brazil".
"These results confirm the long term effectiveness of KPfertil as a remineraliser for grass pasture; opening up a huge market for us given that Brazil has over 40 million hectares of signal grass planted," said Executive Chairman Brian McMaster.
"Our sales team has already secured several small orders so that customers can begin to see the benefits for themselves. We expect this take-up rate to increase as we develop and implement our market strategies to the local graziers," McMaster added.
Shares in Harvest Minerals were up 3.3% at 16.78 pence on Monday.
