Lime and Learn: Risks in Acid soils of Low rainfall farming systems
Key contact: Maurie Street
Summary:
Sub-soil acidification is a growing problem as the costs of amelioration are higher because of the required incorporation of lime, both which induce higher production costs and risks for subsequent crops. Growers often delay liming or don’t lime because i) the effects of acidification emerge slowly and aren’t immediately obvious, (ii) liming costs in more remote low rainfall areas are high due to additional costs associated with transportation and (iii) the returns on investment in lower rainfall areas are anticipated to be involve long time frames (> 10 years) and/or returns are marginal.
This project seeks to identify in the wider Nyngan region (i) the extent of the low pH risk to area wide production (e.g., estimated area affected and severity of acidity), (ii) the likely crop response (downside risk in year one and the extent of the reward in subsequent years) from different strategies of correcting low pH and (iii) what crop species best manages downside risk after liming.
P
Soil Carbon Risks and Rewards in Cropping Systems
Key contact: Diana Fear
Summary:
Making good decisions around soil organic matter management practices can increase soil fertility, soil moisture holding capacity and nitrogen relations and hence economic returns. Improving soil organic matter contributions to the soil can also increase soil organic carbon and open up market opportunities to trade that carbon. However, growers also need to manage a range of unknowns including seasonal conditions in a challenging low rainfall zone when operating their farm and considering participation in any carbon-based program. There is significant opportunity to understand the risk-reward profile of managing soil carbon by providing farm business owners with tools and information to better analyse their farm potential and individual decision-making profile. This applies to both learning the impacts of soil carbon and managing to preserve or increase this in soil for both production outcomes but also as a market opportunity.
Project Partners: MCAG Consulting, CSU
Long-term soil fertility management in Queensland grain regions
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Key contact: Jayne Gentry
Summary:
Declining soil fertility that underpins grain production is increasingly recognised as a limitation to production across many regions of central and southern Queensland. Particularly, soil fertility levels of phosphorus, potassium and soil organic matter, along with soil constraints are widespread. Yet, management options to address these require long-term decisions often with a large upfront cost and/or slow or delayed improvements. As a result, growers are apprehensive about the upfront capital outlay and hence may overestimate the risk relative to the reward. This project will assist growers to identify soil production constraints, and explore and test soil amendment options to improve their rewards relative to risk.
Project Partners: JB Ag Services, Iker Ag Consulting