Key results

Biggest achievements

  1. The Bruker Alpha-II-FT-IR (mid-infrared spectroscopy) instrument is in full operation at Fijian Agriculture Chemistry Laboratory at the Ministry of Agriculture.
    • 3 staff are fully trained and proficient in operating the Bruker mid-infrared spectroscopy. Most of the soil samples for the National Soil Health Card initiative were analysed using mid-infrared spectroscopy.
    • Assisted Tonga in analysing soil samples for this project.
  2. Field trials were successfully completed. A combination of inorganic (NPK hydro-complex) and organic fertiliser (manure) worked well in Fiji.
  3. Participating farmers and extension officers in the project enhanced their knowledge and skills in the following:
    • Collecting soil and plant samples.
    • Fertiliser application rates.
    • Field equipment (full-stop and chameleon).

Field trials

In Fiji, three phases of field trials were successfully completed. In the first phase (2018-2019), the field trials were at the Qila and Qarawalu sites. For the second phase (2019-2020), the field trials were at the Qila-Mua and Qarawalu sites. For the third phase (2020-2021), the field trial was at the Mua site. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the team from the Fijian Ministry of Agriculture based at Koronivia Research Station ran the field trials largely independently. Treatments differed between phases.

Field trials: Phase 1 (2018-2019)
  • There was no significant difference between corm yield or biomass at the Qila or Qarawalu sites. It was observed that there were more suckers at the Qila site.
  • The yield was significantly higher at the Qila site than at the Qarawalu site.
  • Severe corm rot was observed at the Qarawalu site, which may have been attributed to over maturity of corms and/or lack of rain.
  • There was a high incidence of mealy bugs observed at the Qarawalu site.
  • Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium application was less than removal by crop. Treatments did not have enough nitrogen or potassium.
Field trials: Phase 2 (2019-2020)

Figure 1: Taro corm mass for four treatments (Micronutrients, Control, Carbon and Growers Choice) at 2 sites (Qarawalu and Qila-Mua) for the second phase of field trials in Fiji.

  • Figure 2: Estimation of nutrient export-corm mass at both sites for four treatments (Micronutrients, Control, Carbon and Growers Choice) at 2 sites (Qarawalu and Qila-Mua) for the second phase of field trials in Fiji.

    There was no significant difference in corm mass between locations or treatments (Figure1). However, higher yields (not significant) were obtained for the Growers choice treatment that used inorganic (NPK hydro-complex) fertiliser, and the Carbon treatment that used organic fertiliser (poultry manure/fish meal), than for the other treatments.

  • Successful estimation of nitrogen export-corm mass was achieved for both sites (Figure 2). This relationship holds for the data measured in the field and the data derived from literature. Similar relationships were estimated for phosphorus and potassium.
Field trials: Phase 3 (2020-2021)
  • There was no significant difference in corm yield (Figure 3) or number of suckers between treatments at the Mua site.

    Figure 3: Taro yield (kg) for five treatments (Micronutrients, Boron, Carbon, Growers Choice, Organic matter and nutrients) for the third phase of the field trials in Fiji.

Water monitoring technological devices

Important capacity building impacts were achieved from exposure to technological devices (Chameleon and Full stop) for enhancing farm management. However, there was limited ability for the devices to improve farm management due to technical limitations (poor internet network, damage to devices, issues with device design).

Mid-infrared spectroscopy

  • Mid-infrared spectroscopy was successfully used for traditional soil fertility measurements for allophanic soils in Fiji. A total of 477 soil samples were analysed in the Fijian Agriculture Chemistry Laboratory.
  • CSIRO researchers conducted a “Mid-infrared spectroscopy” 5-day (5-11 May 2018) training course that included soil survey and sampling methodology and meta-data collection introduction. Eleven Fijian Agriculture Chemistry Laboratory staff participated in the course.
  • Capacity building in mid-infrared spectroscopy was achieved with three staff Fijian Ministry of Agriculture fully trained and proficient in operating mid-infrared spectroscopy equipment.
  • The Fijian Ministry of Agriculture team has adopted mid-infrared spectroscopy analysis in new National Soil Health Card program to build spectral libraries. The Soil Health Card program is a government initiative through the Ministry of Agriculture to provide every registered farmer with a soil health card detailing the nutrient and fertility status of their soil and other relevant information relating to fertiliser recommendation and long-term soil health and management.
  • Soil samples from Tonga for this project were analysed using mid-infrared spectroscopy by the Fijian Agriculture Chemistry Laboratory staff.

Extension and outreach

Location Date Audience Topic
Nawaisomo (Beqa Island) April 2021 Farmers Soil health training
Dakuibeqa (Beqa Island) April 2021 Farmers Soil health training
The Pacific Community Narere December 2020 The Pacific Community Land Resources Division staff World Soil Day – soil biodiversity and organic farming systems
Taveuni February 2021 Farmers and extensions officers Nutrient budgets and soil health