Mapping Soils for better Crop Production
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Cattle News
- Jun 24, 2018
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The explosion of Agtech has resulted in an ever-evolving industry requiring a new set of skills and presenting numerous opportunities to improve farm business and agricultural suitability.
Through funding from the National Landcare Program phase 1, BCG will investigate the use of grid soil sampling to better match nutrient application to soil requirements using variable rate technology.
Grid soil sampling is a relatively new way of understanding the soil and water properties of a paddock to match the nutrient requirement to crop demand, potentially saving thousands of dollars annually.
This type of sampling has been done by Ballarat-based company Precision Agriculture for lime, gypsum and phosphorus, as well as waterlogging management.
At the 2018 GRDC Farm Business Updates in Bendigo, Precision Agriculture’s director Andrew Whitlock explained that a grid soil map was the best place to start because production maps like yield and protein can be very confusing. This is due to the considerable variables that affect final yield and protein.
BCG has partnered with Precision Agriculture to soil sample a 140 hectare paddock in the West Wimmera in a grid pattern every four hectares.
The soil testing will include nitrate and ammonium nitrogen (0-10, 10-40, 40-70 and 70-100cm increments), electrical conductivity, water percentage, organic carbon, pH (water and CaCl), phosphorus, KCl sulphur and Colwell K.
BCG will host a crop walk at the paddock, owned by Alwyn and Jonathan Dyer on Monday 25 June from 1pm. Guest presenters will include Precision Agriculture advisor Daniel Bell, Agriculture Victoria acting grains program manager Melissa Cann and BCG staff.
A soil pit will be dug across the farmers controlled traffic farming (CTF) tramlines to investigate the differences in soil properties and Ms Cann will discuss the opportunities for improving soil management under a CTF system including reduced compaction which will be measured by a penetrometer.
Mr Bell will explain the research and history behind grid soil sampling, the process and some recent success stories where farmers have saved money and improved soil health.
Growers are welcome to attend a West Wimmera crop tour with local agronomist Edwina Simpson leaving Western Ag 8.30am. Paddock inspections will focus on crop establishment, pre and post-emergent weed management, potential pest issues and soil management.
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