Understand and optimise Mallee soils
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Cattle News
- Mar 06, 2019
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Grain growers, mixed farmers and advisors in the Mallee are invited to a workshop in Sea Lake on March 13 to bolster their knowledge on soil performance and its influence on the productivity and sustainability of farm businesses.
The workshop, funded through the National Landcare Program, is designed to inform growers of the current soil status and production capability of Mallee soils, what soil and production practices influence a change in soil characteristics and why and how decision support tools can enhance decision making to ensure soils remain productive and sustainable.
The workshop is a component of a new investment aimed at engaging local farmers to establish an assessible soil carbon and land management interaction baseline data source of 150 sites across the Mallee. The purpose is to provide local context and deliver specific information to farmers so they can adopt modern land management practices to improve their sustainability and profitability.
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One soil characteristic that is in a state of decline is soil organic carbon (SOC), despite attempts to alter farming practices such as rotation, stubble management and reduced tillage to improve it.
BCG research agronomist, Kate Maddern, will open the workshop by sharing the results of an intensive literature review completed in February which had a particular focus on SOC in the Mallee.
Ms Maddern said that the literature review comprised of a broad range of soils resources and data sets to capture an understanding of soils in the Mallee.
“While we now have a thorough understanding, it is now up to us to work with growers and advisors to develop solutions on how to use this information to inform decisions and maximise the potential of the soil,” she said.
Ms Maddern continued “I will share these results and also discuss fundamental soil characteristics, the localised soil limitations that influence crop growth, the practice of soil sampling to guarantee the best data available and interpreting the soil sampling information to make informed decisions.”
BCG manager innovation and business development, Cam Taylor, will be presenting results from Mallee paddock soils sampling so attendees can truly understand the baseline data and its meaning to their farming system.
Mr Taylor said that once we know the baseline information we are working with, it creates phenomenal prospects to use the information to guide decisions throughout the season and beyond.
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“The soils data we have creates opportunities to validate prior knowledge leading to a more strategic approach for fertiliser applications and crop rotations to optimise the soils within the farming system.” Mr Taylor said.
This project is supported by Mallee Catchment Management Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
The workshop is free to attend and will be held at the Sea Lake Football Club from 8.30-10.30am on Wednesday 13 March. For more information and to RSVP please phone the BCG office on (03) 5492 2787.
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