Soil health and nutrient management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://elibrary2.sugarresearch.com.au/handle/11079/13842

Research outcomes: Soil health is improved with a resulting positive impact on the environment and yield growth. Improved reputation and relationship between industry and environmental groups.

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A reference booklet for canegrowers on the nutrition and fertilizing of sugarcane for different soil types
(2003) Wood, AW; Schroeder, BL; Stewart, RL; Roth, CH
A wide range of different soils are used for sugarcane production in the Herbert River district. An understanding of these differences both at district and farm levels will ensure that nutrient management reflects this diversity and enables profitable and sustainable sugarcane production. The Australian sugar industry has used a generalised, industry-wide set of fertiliser recommendations with no specific guidelines for different regions, climatic conditions or soil types. This booklet is a first attempt to produce specific management guidelines for all of the different soil types used for sugarcane production in a cane area. Twenty four different soil types have been identified in the sugarcane production area of the Herbert and have been mapped at a scale of 1:5000, which is appropriate for soil-specific management recommendations to be delivered at block level. Growers can currently access soil maps of their farms through Herbert Cane productivity Services Ltd. and plans are in place to provide all growers with the capability of printing their own soil maps. In the booklet each soil type is described in terms of its appearance, where it occurs in the landscape, and its chemical and physical properties. Guidelines for the management of nutrients, tillage, drainage and irrigation and the minimisation of environmental risks are provided for each soil type. These guidelines have been developed using research results from a companion SRDC funded project, BSS232 “Improved nutrient management in the Australian Sugar Industry”. The soil booklet produced in this project is likely to be the first of a number of regional soil management publications that are likely to be produced for the Australian Sugar Industry. The booklet is intended for use by cane growers and their advisers, and where possible the information is presented in as non-technical way as possible. This approach is particularly appropriate for the current situation of the sugar industry with continuing low sugar prices, the need to reduce production costs together with mounting environmental pressures which demand demonstration of responsible soil and nutrient management. The guidelines in this booklet are aimed at providing best practice soil and nutrient management for Herbert growers that will not only maintain or improve crop yields and soil fertility but will also provide opportunities for cost reduction whilst enhancing sustainability and delivering better environmental outcomes.
A review of nitrogen use efficiency in sugarcane
(2015) Bell, MJ; Biggs, J; McKellar, LB; Connellan, J; Di Bella, L; Dwyer, R; Empson, M; Garside, AJ; Harvey, T; Kraak, J; Lakshmanan, P; Lamb, DW; Meier, E; Moody, P; Muster, T; Palmer, J; Robinson, N; Robson, A; Salter, B; Schroeder, B; Silburn, M; Schmidt, S; Skocaj, DM; Stacey, S; Stanley, J; Thorburn, P; Verburg, K; Walker, C; Wang, W; Wood, A
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the world's largest coral reef ecosystem, providing both substantial economic benefit to Australia and significant international ecological value. The health of the GBR is under pressure from sediments, pesticides and nutrients (especially nitrogen) discharged from nearby catchments. Discharge of nitrogen is of particular concern as it stimulates outbreaks of the Crown of Thorns Starfish, a major predator of GBR corals. Recent research has shown that the amount of nitrogen fertiliser applied in excess of crop uptake is an important determinant of nitrogen discharge from catchments, so increasing the efficiency of nitrogen use in cropping systems is an important step in protecting the economic and ecological benefits provided by the GBR. Importantly, an increase in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) also offers opportunities to improve productivity and profitability of agricultural industries, with such benefits a major incentive for industry adoption and practice change. The Australian sugarcane industry is a significant contributor to the anthropogenic loads of nitrogen entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, with recent estimates in the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (2013) suggesting it contributes 18% and 56% of particulate and inorganic nitrogen loads, respectively. A focus on improving NUE in the Australian sugar industry to reduce these loads wherever possible is a logical outcome from these statistics. While the relative impact of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and particulate nitrogen (PN) is still uncertain, recent NUE forums in the sugar industry in 2014 identified clear target reductions in DIN that would be needed in order to significantly improve water quality in line with Reef Plan (2013-18) targets. The forum also identified a clear need for a joint industry-government funded research program to improve NUE in sugarcane cropping systems. The review conducted for this report was commissioned and funded by the Australian Government Reef Programme to provide a foundation for this joint NUE research program. The review was tasked with providing an improved understanding of past and current research effort and available field trial information (both published and unpublished) relating to nitrogen management in the sugar industry. From this perspective the review was then tasked with identifying research gaps and opportunities for future research projects and field trials that would collectively contribute to improving NUE from both agronomic and production perspectives as well as delivering significant reductions in nitrogen lost to waterways and the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. It is widely recognized that in any crop, the demand for N is determined by the size of the crop and the fundamental efficiency with which that crop produces a unit of biomass or harvested product from a kg of acquired N (N use efficiency - NUE). Therefore a good understanding of yield potential at the spatial scale of the productivity unit (i.e., farm, several blocks of similar productivity, individual blocks or within-block) about which N fertilizer management decisions (rate, form, placement, timing) are made is required, along with an understanding of how that yield potential varies with seasonal conditions. Collectively, this could be called seasonal 'block' (or productivity zone) yield potential, and it will produce a crop N demand that may vary from year to year. The sugar industry is currently operating at the district level (generally comprising several thousand cropped hectares across variable soil types and landscapes), and basing N demand for all growers in the district on the best farm yield ever achieved over a 20 year time frame. It is apparent that overall NUE could be improved by basing N fertiliser inputs on the seasonal yield potential of the productivity unit.
A stocktake of the levels and sources of nitrate in groundwaters associated with sugarcane areas
(2000) Thorburn, PJ; Weier, KL; Biggs, JS
Water containing high concentrations of nitrate is unfit for human consumption and, if discharging to freshwater or marine habitats, can contribute to algal blooms and eutrophication. Previous studies have found elevated nitrate concentrations in groundwaters underlying sugar-growing areas, particularly the Bundaberg and Burdekin areas, and that in Bundaberg the problem was escalating. Nitrate pollution of groundwaters of the sugar industry is of particular concern because of the proximity of the industry to environmentally sensitive areas and the large number of people (in cities and rural areas) relying on groundwaters for drinking water. However, apart from recent studies in Bundaberg, data on nitrate in groundwater has generally come from inconsistent studies. These studies examining either a limited number of groundwater bores, or large databases of groundwater chemistry where sampling and analytical methods have been variable and, in some cases, inappropriate. So a reliable, consistent, industry-wide definition of the problem does not exist. This project determined the extent of nitrate contamination in groundwater underneath sugargrowing regions of eastern Australia, and examined the likely source of the nitrate. In bores where nitrate concentrations were elevated, and therefore likely to be a result of human activities, concentrations were monitored to provide an assessment of trends in nitrate concentrations. This information was used to promote “best management practices” through relevant extension, industry and regulatory groups, to restrict leaching of nitrate to groundwater.
Acid sulfate soils in canegrowing regions of northern New South Wales
(1995) Reghenzani, JR
Acid sulfate subsoils contain iron pyrites (FeS2). Pyrites is stable under anaerobic (saturated) conditions, but when oxidised forms sufuric acid and releases mobile Fe2+ ion. Soil pH can be reduced to as low as 2 and aluminium is released into the soil solution. These conditions can be toxic for plants. Ground water from acid sulfate soils which finds its way to drains and streams, particularly after rainfall following extended dry periods, may kill aquatic life.
Adopting systems approaches to water and nutrient management for future cane production in the Burdekin SRDC Research Project CSE020 final report
(2008) Thorburn, P
There is concern about environmental impacts of cropping in catchments of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, especially losses of nitrogen (N) and herbicides from cropping systems. Sugarcane production in the Burdekin region in the dry tropics stands out from other crops/regions because, (1) it is fully irrigated, which may enhance the losses of any chemicals from farms, and (2) it has the highest N fertiliser application rates of any sugarcane producing region in Australia. There are few measurements of N and/or herbicide losses from sugarcane production, especially fully irrigated production. More complete information is needed to evaluate, develop and underpin the adoption of management practices to reduce environmental impacts of sugarcane production. Four streams of work were undertaken to provide this information: Monitoring water quality leaving sugarcane farms. Demonstrating water quality and productivity benefits of farm management practices. Harnessing the information from these two components to describe and classify management practice systems typical of past, current and future ‘best practice’, and estimate the water quality, productivity and economic benefits of these systems. Communicating results of these activities widely within and beyond the region. Water, N and herbicide losses were measured at three sites in different parts of the Burdekin region, covering a range of soil types and irrigation managements. The experimental data were then used to parameterise the APSIM-Sugarcane cropping systems model, and then used to infill missing data and develop complete water and N balances for each of the three crops measured at the sites. N losses in runoff were relatively small, being less than 10 kg N ha-1 crop-1. Herbicide losses were similar to those measured previously. More N was lost via deep drainage than runoff at all sites, even those with slowly permeable soils. The results were consistent with the known ground water nitrate contamination issues in the region.
Aspects of temporal N management in sugarcane in sub-tropical Queensland : ASSCT peer-reviewed paper
(ASSCT, 2019) Panitz, JH; Schroeder, BL; Skocaj, DM; Salter, B
The proximity of the Australian sugar industry to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) has resulted in ongoing concerns about elevated concentrations of the dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the near-reef environments due to sugarcane production practices on-farm. Although the nitrogen (N) guidelines within the SIX EASY STEPS nutrient-management program are generally appropriate, scope exists for fine-tuning of N application rates for specific circumstances. In particular, enhanced-efficiency fertilisers (EEFs), such as urea coated with 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP-urea) and polymer-coated urea (PC-urea), offer promise potentially to improve nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) in sugarcane production and reducing DIN losses to the GBR. Temporal N-management strategies using these EEFs were assessed within a randomised complete-block field trial conducted in a sub-tropical environment on a well-drained soil supported by a concurrently run shorter-term pot experiment. There were no significant yield responses to applied N, split applications or use of EEFs in the trial in either the plant or first-ratoon crops. Rainfall measured during these seasons would not have resulted in excessively wet conditions at the trial site and may have contributed to the lack of responses to EEFs. Increased N-uptake by the crop, due to the use of N strategies away from the standard practice (i.e. by using EEFs or split applications of urea), improved NUE values based on crop N, but this did not always translate into any improvements in yield. The highest partial net returns in the plant and first-ratoon crop corresponded to the control treatments. Urea applied at 120 kg N/ha in a single application resulted in the next best partial net returns in both crops. This appeared to be the most appropriate strategy to minimise risk to growers. The cost of EEF fertilisers negatively affected the partial net returns, with DMPP-coated urea being more affordable than the poly-coated urea. The results of the pot experiment that included two sugarcane cultivars supported these outcomes. Further work, across seasons (dry, wet and 'normal'), is needed to evaluate more fully the potential of EEFs for use in specific circumstances.
Assessing clonal and nitrogen interaction on ccs in sugarcane in the wet tropis ; SRDC project BSS180 final report
(2003) Hurney, AP; Berding, N; Grace, D
There has been a negative trend in CCS in the Tully-Mossman region since the mid-1960s that has been linked to increased extraneous matter and suckers in the cane supply. The situation had become particularly bad during 1990-1996, with most mill districts within the region experiencing problems with low CCS. An increase in the frequency of lodging and incidence of suckers was possibly contributing to this problem and there was a perception that this was related to inappropriate use of nitrogen fertiliser for the locally grown cultivars. There were also concerns that current cultivars were not suited to the local environmental conditions. Growers choosing to grow inappropriate cultivars for particular locations were thought to be exacerbating the problem.Decisions on what cultivar to grow and how much fertiliser to apply are management options that could be modified if they were contributing to the low CCS problem. These issues were addressed in this project by studying the effects of four rates of nitrogen (0, 70, 140, 210 kg N/ha) on lodging, suckering, CCS and cane yield of the three cultivars Q117, Q120 and Q138. These experiments were conducted on three different soil types at three locations within the Tully mill district. The objectives of this project were to provide a better understanding of the role of nitrogen and cultivars in the low CCS issue to facilitate the development of improved management options.In the plant crops, which were planted after a fallow, nitrogen had no influence on cane yield, CCS, lodging or suckering under the environmental conditions in which these crops were grown. However, it did increase both cane yield and lodging in first- and second-ratoon crops. Responses were limited by adverse interactions with the wet conditions and nitrogen losses due to leaching and/or volatilisation. Nitrogen had no direct influence on CCS in the ratoon crops, but it did have an indirect negative effect, because it increased the incidence of lodging. Rates of N application could be reduced in both plant and ratoon crops, which would reduce production costs. It would also be beneficial environmentally.There was no evidence of nitrogen accumulation in the soil from high nitrogen fertiliser application even following a low-yielding crop. This is of concern from an environmental viewpoint if inappropriate nitrogen rates are applied, as any excess nitrogen will be lost from the soil due to leaching or denitrification. The data suggested that the critical leaf nitrogen concentration might vary between cultivars. This provides an opportunity to reduce nitrogen rates for cultivars with lower nitrogen requirements.Current cultivars do have high potential CCS, but this cannot be realised, partially because of their susceptibility to lodging and suckering. All three cultivars tested, Q117, Q120 and Q138, are susceptible to lodging in well-grown crops. It appears that the susceptibility of Q120 and Q138 is high in crops yielding more than 70-80 t/ha under the wet conditions of the wet tropics.The potential reduction in CCS from total lodging was estimated at about 10% across all cultivars in these trials. The actual loss in CCS is governed by the actual proportion of lodging in the crop and was estimated at 0.4 units in crops that had 25% lodging. This is a hidden cost of which growers are generally not aware. There are no management options that can be implemented to minimise this loss. Severe and multiple lodging events had a negative impact on CCS and cane yield in Q120 and Q138, reducing profitability. In these circumstances, the negative effects of lodging can be reduced if the time between harvesting and occurrence of lodging is reduced. Increased returns to the grower of $200 $300/ha are possible using this strategy.Lodging was less extensive in Q117 and lower-vigour cultivars, such as Q117, may offer a more appropriate ideotype for the wet tropics, because of their lower susceptibility to lodging. Economic impact was estimated at a loss of $7.5 million to growers within the region from a moderate lodging event affecting 25% of the crop. Adoption of agronomic practices to improve physical support of the crop is only partially successful in reducing the intensity of lodging. This can only be achieved by the implementation of a research program to select cultivars with a low incidence of lodging, while maintaining or improving productivity.The cultivars Q117, Q120 and Q138 are representative of those being grown in the wet tropics and demonstrated a high propensity to sucker. Lodging is not a pre-requisite for sucker initiation, as the emergence of suckers was generally first noted under a closed canopy. Suckers have a negative effect on CCS, because they dilute the cane juice through their high moisture and low sucrose composition. In these experiments, 10% by weight of suckers in the cane supply reduced CCS by a little over 1 unit. The increased cane yield from suckers is inflating productivity estimates but not improving profitability; the level of suckering experienced in these experiments would reduce regional grower-income by approximately $6 million. It is possible to select against suckering propensity and this has already been introduced into the crop improvement program. However, research into the relationship between suckers and longevity of ratoons is required because of the potential impact on productivity.An appropriate extension program needs to be developed to disseminate the findings of this research to growers. The results from this project have been extended to the industry. There have also been extension programs for BMP of cultivars. However, there is still a large gap between extension and adoption, which is why additional extension programs are recommended. Adoption of findings on nitrogen will reduce production costs, as well as have a positive environmental impact. Management strategies are available to partially alleviate the negative impacts of lodging and suckering. However, further research is required to fully overcome the effects of these phenomena.
Assessing the impact of biochar in the Herbert cane industry.
(2015) Morley, G
Biochar is the charred by-product of biomass pyrolysis, the heating of plant-derived material in the absence of oxygen in order to capture combustible gases. It is generally accepted that biochar is a highly stable form of carbon and as such has the potential to form an effective C sink, therefore sequestering atmospheric CO2. The objective of this report was to report on the findings of a SRDC/SRA funded Grower Group project that was undertaken in the Herbert cane growing region between 2012 and 2014 to assess the impact of biochar and compost in a sugarcane farming system. The trial was conducted on a low cation exchange capacity soil in the Lannercost farming area west of Ingham. A large number of studies (on numerous crops) have been conducted where biochar application has shown significant agronomic benefits, with a minor number of studies showing no significant effects on crop productivity and some studies reporting adverse effects (Sohi et. al., 2009). These results clearly suggests that crop productivity is variable due to a multiple number of reasons which are not fully understood. The mitigation potential of biochar with regard to other greenhouse gases, such as N2O and CH4, through its application to soil is less well established and requires further research (Sohi et. al., 2009). In this particular trial there were no significant difference in levels of greenhouse gases measured for the various treatments accessed. In the trial conducted for this project, there was no significant cane productivity (being measured as cane and sugar yield) or economic advantage from applying biochar. The only way biochar may become viable is if a carbon market is established. The economic value of sequestered carbon is still being researched and debated in scientific and political arenas, so while this is occurring it will be challenging for biochar to be economically viable based upon the results from this trial. If biochar is to be considered as a part of a carbon sequestration program, a whole of carbon life cycle analysis will be required to better understand the carbon pathways and potential loss mechanisms. In this trial the use of biochar in a sugarcane farming system is uneconomical based upon the results obtained. The only way that biochar may be economically viable in a sugarcane farming systems is through a government or community carbon credit program whereby a grower may be paid for the amount of carbon sequestered. Composts can be a useful source of nutrients, however the nutrient content of parent materials will need to be considered. This trial has shown that sugarcane can be produced using compost as a nutrient source. If composts are to provide the nutrients for cane growth, an assessment of total nutrients present and their availability and speed of release will be required. Because the nutrients are in organic forms in compost, the availability of nutrients may be variable. Composts should only be applied when they are “stabilised” and are not being acted upon by microbial activity. In this trial it is suspected that the composting process was still active when the product was applied and the compost was not yet “stabilised”. Germination and establishment of the plant cane were negatively impacted upon, with the crop showing nitrogen deficiencies in early stages of growth due to the compost not releasing sufficient nitrogen for crop growth. Composts could be a useful source of nutrients to grow a crop, however the economics associated with purchase and application will need to be considered.
Australian sugarcane industry soil health benchmarking in Central Queensland: Increasing profit and transforming soil health practices through cooperative industry research, extension and adoption
(2021-12-13) Manatsa, Gus
Activity 1: Measure changes in soil health under a range of farming practices: potential soil health indicators, benchmarks & measurements recommended to enable grower/ industry demonstration of performance improvement through the implementation of IFS practices (i.e., cover cropping, organic amendments, row spacing, controlled traffic, minimal till). Over two years, ten paired sites were established across the three mill areas of the Central Region to determine the soil health, root health and business impact of transitioning to an Improved Farming System (IFS). Long-term IFS sites, of at least ten years, were matched with nearby sites using conventional farming practices. Physical, chemical, and biological soil parameters were measured, along with root development testing, to determine variation between the sites within each pair and therefore the long-term impact of implementing IFS practices. This work is building the evidence required to assist the industry to determine the best set of soil health indicators for the Central region. Combined results from the Central region indicate that microbial biomass, pH and soil compaction are positively impacted by improved farm management systems. Some measures that seemed to show very strong trends in the first year were more mixed in the second year, notably effective rooting depth. Soil texture emerged as a major influence on results, making it difficult to assess the effects of improved management practices in some cases. Root biomass averaged substantially higher in the IFS treatment, possibly reflecting a combined influence of other soil health factors. Activity 2: Innovative soil health/ IFS extension: regional synthesis of solution-based soil health messages to improve production, profit and sustainability through development, training in and implementation of the SRA Soil Health Toolkit (SHET). This project was an industry partnership of the Central cane growing region of Queensland. Collaboratively, the partners, led by Farmacist and SRA, ground-truthed potential soil health indicators and benchmarks for varying soil types and farming systems of the region. This work was needed so that growers could have increased confidence in soil, plant and root sampling data, to inform their decision making and build a greater understanding of how IFS practices deliver production, profit & sustainability outcomes, in addition to improved resilience to climatic variability and extreme weather. The development of the Soil Health Extension Toolkit (SHET) provided a way for local service providers to build their own knowledge in possible Central region soil health indicators, whilst working alongside “champion” growers keen to trial the tests included in the SHET and use the data to help inform the soil constraints most impacting their yield potential, and importantly, where to progress their investigations through further in-depth testing.
Boosting NUE in sugarcane through temporal and spatial management options : Final report 2014/045
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2018) Schroeder, BL; Salter, B; Skocaj, DM; Panitz, JH; Park, G
This collaborative project involved the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and the Sugar Research Australia (SRA) Technology Unit. It aimed to evaluate methods of matching nitrogen (N) supply (from soils and fertilisers) with crop N uptake and crop needs. It was conducted with cognizance of the industry’s production goal of 36 million tonnes of sugar per annum, and water quality targets for the Great Barrier Reef lagoon set by government and environmental groups. The project methodology comprised several discrete yet linked activities. The basic tenets of various N management strategies were reviewed. Several long-term N management trials that had previously been established in various districts were continued to provide essential background information. Additional field trials and pot experiments were established to assess N fertiliser formulations, uptake of N fertiliser and/or temporal aspects of N management. Adjustments to the N guidelines were considered in terms of existing evidence. A mechanism for incorporating future research outcomes and outputs into the SIX EASY STEPS nutrient management program was developed. An overarching objective was to subject trial and experimental results to multi-facetted evaluations by means of agronomic, economic and/or environmental assessments. The SIX EASY STEPS program continues to be recognised as the basis for best practice nutrient management in the Australian sugar industry. Trial results have indicated that the SIX EASY SYEPS guidelines are generally appropriate. However, scope exists for fine-tuning of N application rates for specific circumstances. This will be best achieved via STEPS 5 and 6 of the SIX EASY STEPS program. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) indicators are useful for alerting growers and/or advisors to inefficiencies or circumstance where alternative on-farm management are worth considering, but that are not appropriate for determining N application rates per se. Enhanced efficiency fertilisers, such as DMPP-coated urea and poly-coated urea, offer promise to improve NUE. However, their use will probably be limited to situations where N losses (by leaching and/or denitrification) are more likely. The flexibility of the SIX EASY STEPS program allows the component N guidelines to be amended and/or revised as new information becomes available. This also relates to the delivery channels, especially via the SIX EASY STEPS short course program and decision support tools such as NutriCalcTM. In particular, the formation of the SIX EASY STEPS Advisory Committee will provide a mechanism for additional nutrient management strategies to be incorporated in the program in future.
BSES technical report TE11004 - Burdekin nitrogen project - September 2011
(2011) Connellan, J; Bateman, S; Schroeder, BL
In response to the introduction of the regulated method of determining N, some canegrowers in the Burdekin district (which produces approximately 25% of Queensland's sugarcane) expressed concern that sugarcane yields could be negatively affected by the permissible N application rates. Growers and Sucrogen (the milling company that operates in the Burdekin region) were also of the opinion that additional research was needed to ensure that any regulated N application would not compromise the profitability and/or supply security of the local sugarcane industry. As a result of grower and industry concerns the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) contracted BSES Limited to undertake a series of trials across the Burdekin district to determine the adequacy of the regulated N for sugarcane production on different soil types and at different on-farm locations. To date BSES has established ten trials, five of which are located in the Delta and five in the Burdekin River Irrigation Area (BRIA).Replicated nitrogen rate strip trials have been established in plant sugarcane blocks on commercial farms in the Delta and BRIA. These sites were selected after considering a number of factors such as block size, shape, soil uniformity, irrigation systems employed and pest control measures. Consideration was also given to yield history of the blocks.At the conclusion of this work, partial net grower returns per hectare for each N application rate will be calculated per crop and for the complete crop cycle. The optimum N application rates that maintain the profitability of sugarcane production will be identified with due consideration to the potential impact on the environment.
Burdekin Legume Fallow Discussion Sheet
(2017)
Information sheet on legume fallow in the Burdekin.
Comparison of 'into' and 'beside' stool nitrogen placement
(1992) Smith, MA
There are now two alternative methods of subsurface nitrogen placement available: beside the stool or into the stool. The second, into the stool treatment, is easier to accomplish. Comparison of cane yields from strips fertilised by the two methods revealed no significant differences.
Consequences of future management options for the Bremerhaven drainage system.
(1991) Kingston, G
The following questions were referred to BSES by the Woongoolba Flood Mitigation Advisory Committee: (1) The possible short and long-term effect on all classes of land of lowering the watertable in the Bremerhaven System. (2) The possible effect of the continued use of a designated part of the system for water exchange for the existing prawn farm. These questions will be answered in relation to data acquired in the area of the Bremerhaven System during the Rocky Point Watertable Study from September 1982 to July 1984, and on the basis of sill height determinations at Bremerhaven on 28\8\91 and 19\9\91.
Decision support for choice of enhanced efficiency fertilisers - Herbert catchment pilot study : Final report 2017/015
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2019) Verburg, K
Enhanced Efficiency Fertilisers (EEF) are of interest to the sugarcane industry because they have the potential to increase N use efficiency and reduce nitrogen (N) loss. However, agronomic and environmental benefits are proving to be highly variable and condition specific. Therefore, tactical use of EEF will be a more economically sustainable strategy than use of EEF in every crop and season. This requires decision support for growers and advisors based on understanding of the conditions leading to benefits from EEF.
Delivering a novel DNA-based diagnostic for root health to the sugar industry: final report 2015/042
(Sugar Research Australia Limited, 2017) Pierre, J
Plant root systems play many key roles including nutrients and water uptake, interface with soil microorganisms and resistance to lodging. Unfortunately, as for any other crop, large and systematic studies of sugarcane root systems have always been hampered by the opaque and solid nature of the soil. In recent years, methods for efficient extraction of DNA from soil and for species-specific DNA amplification have been developed. Such tools could be adapted for sugarcane and have the potential to greatly improve root phenotyping and health diagnostic capability in sugarcane. In this report, we present a fast and efficient method for the quantification of live sugarcane root mass in soil samples. First we demonstrated that this test is sensitive and specific to sugarcane. Then we established a universal calibration for the test to convert root DNA quantity to live root mass. Finally we validated our test on field samples and used it to answer the question of the fate of the root system after harvest. There we demonstrated that, two weeks after harvest, the sugarcane roots are still alive. It raises the question of the role that the former root system plays in the performance of the following crop and demonstrates how this test can be used to answer research question or to monitor crop root health.
Developing prescription compost to suit specific soils in Maryborough
(2014) Grohn, G; Dougall, A
One issue with organic based fertilisers is the variability of the nutrient content, often the amount of nutrients is not enough or too much for the crop. This project sought to solve this problem by producing and trialling compost that has been fortified with mineral fertiliser (soil specific compost) so that it more accurately matches the needs of the crop. To achieve this goal the project had three main components; construct a compost mixer that is capable of achieving mixing mineral fertiliser into the compost, produce soil specific compost and establish a trial to test the concept
Development of commercial molecular biological assays for improved sugarcane soil health and productivity : final report 2018/009
(Sugar Research Australia Limited) Magarey, R; McKay, A
Project research has shown that the DNA-based molecular assays for Pachymetra chaunorhiza, Pratylenchus zeae and Meloidogyne species quantify soil populations in field samples, confirming research undertaken in project 2016047, and has also confirmed the importance of sampling strategy and storage for obtaining representative data. Some further research is needed with P. chaunorhiza to ensure the accuracy of the molecular assay; the focus should be on sample storage conditions, amongst other things. Soil samples were processed from soil health projects, plant breeding selection trials and industry samples sent to the Tully soil assay laboratory.
Development of criteria for draining shallow watertables in the Isis irrigation area
(1993) Kingston, G
This project was proposed to the Sugar Research Council because qualitative data suggested a significant problem with waterlogging and salinity in hydromorphic sedimentary soils in the Bundaberg to Maryborough region. Also there were no quantitative data to indicate elevation of watertables in areas of hazard, nor were there any criteria to determine an approach to management of shallow watertables in the region.
Does ratoon age impact on N-fertiliser requirements in the Wet Tropics? : ASSCT poster paper
(ASSCT, 2019) Skocaj, DM; Schroeder, BL; Park, G; Hurney, AP