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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Item Soil compaction studies - Mossman(1975) Hurney, APStudy was initiated to investigate the effects of the different bin transport systems on soil compaction. Compaction under dry soil conditions does not appear to be a serious problem and can ve overcome by cultivation. Compactive effects are more marked under wet soil conditions and there are indications of residual effects following cultivation.Item Consequences of future management options for the Bremerhaven drainage system.(1991) Kingston, GThe 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.Item Progress report on BSES and WRC studies of water quality in Woongarra-Pemberton area - July 1981(1981)This report summarizes results of a pot trial comparing bore and surface water; co-operative monitoring of water-table levels with the Water Resources Commission; field trials with various ameliorants; and a field survey of yields and various management factors in the problem area and other neighbouring areas.Item Soil constraints to productivity improvement(1990) Croft, BJ; Magarey, RC; Hurney, AP; Reghenzani, JRYields of most crops are known to decrease if that crop is grown continuously without fallowing or rotation with other crop species. Sugarcane has been grown continuously on many fields in Queensland for 50-100 years. As early as 1934 soil-borne factors which restricted root and shoot growth were identified in fields which had grown sugarcane for a number of years. During the 1970s nematodes were found to be causing serious losses in Bundaberg on certain soil types and a serious root disease complex known as poor root syndrome was identified in northern Queensland. During the 1980s intensive research into poor root syndrome identified the important new disease Pachymetra root rot and a number of minor fungal pathogens. Poor root syndrome has been identified in all regions of Queensland and general poor root health has been noted in all soils which have grown sugarcane for a number of years. Yield increases of 50-100% were obtained in areas severely affected by poor root syndrome in northern Queensland by soil fumigation with methyl bromide and metham sodium, and by soil solarisation. Recent experiments have recorded yield responses of 20-40% to methyl bromide fumigation in all major sugarcane regions. These experiments suggested that yield losses due to soil-borne factors may be greatly restricting yields throughout the sugar industry. Research to identify the causes of the yield losses has commenced and progress to date is summarised in this paper.Item Evaluation of biostil dunder and mixtures with nitrogen fertilisers for sugarcane nutrition(1990) Chapman, LS; Usher, JFThe aims of this project were: (a) to measure the cane and sugar yield responses from the application of biostil dunder on its own and in mixtures with nitrogen fertilisers in field trials; and (b) to assess the suitability of these treatments for sugarcane nutrition. These treatments relate to a possible management strategy on cane farms, ie to broadcast sufficient phosphorus fertiliser on fallow land for the crop cycle, and then use a mixture of dunder and nitrogen fertilisers to provide the total N and K requirements for each crop in a single field application.Item The effect of soil physical properties on growth and yield of sugarcane(1991) Braunack, MVThe literature reporting the effect of soil physical properties on sugarcane growth and yield has been reviewed and areas for further investigation are suggested. There is conflicting evidence in relation to the number of cultivations and cane yield, with little or no effect in plant cane but a significant interaction with the ratoon crop. The effect of soil compaction on cane growth has also been variable, with little or no effect in some instances and dramatic decreases in others. Overall as bulk density increased, the yield of cane decreased. The compaction effect depends on the soil water content at the time of impact. A major concern in the sugar industry is the trend to larger and heavier equipment and the effect this will have on the soil resource. To reduce the effect of compaction it was suggested that harvesters and haulout equipment be fitted with load sharing, high flotation running gear. When compared with equipment on conventional running gear, again the effect on soil compaction has been variable. It is difficult to isolate any one soil property influencing cane growth and yield. Green cane harvesting with trash blanketing has been introduced to reduce costs and it is hoped to improve soil structure. However, few studies have examined the effect on soil properties. Soil water and temperature are modified by the trash blanket and soil structure has been observed to improve after three years. Long term studies are required to substantiate these trends and resolve problems with insects and pathogens. It is concluded that soil properties do influence cane growth and yield, but further work is required to resolve the inconsistent results of previous workers.Item Soil constraints to productivity improvement(1991) Croft, BJ; Magarey, RC; Hurney, AP; Reghenzani, JREvidence from investigations into fumigation, fungicide application, fallowing and growth of sugarcane on recently cultivated soils strongly suggests that yields in established cane growing areas are being restricted by soil-borne biological factors. The yield restriction may be in the order of 20-40%. The soil-borne pathogens Pachymetra, Pythium and also nematodes probably account for a proportion of this yield loss, but other unknown deleterious microorganisms may be involved. In most cases nutrient deficiencies do not appear to be limiting growth. Zinc deficiency which has recently been identified in northern districts may be affecting growth on some soil types. Excesses of some nutrients, such as phosphorus may be interacting with other nutrients and/or soil-borne pathogens. A multi-disciplinary study of soil-borne limits to yield in sugarcane is needed to identify the major factors involved and to develop satisfactory treatments to ameliorate the problem.Item The effect of zinc deficiency as a factor limiting sugarcane growth (SRC Project BS14S - Final Report)(1990) Reghenzani, JRResults from this project confirm that substantial yield responses to zinc application can be expected in deficient soils in North Queensland. Deficiency is commonly associated with lime application. Three soil and two foliar analytical techniques have been evaluated for detecting zinc deficiency. Currently used critical levels for zinc in cane third leaves have been confirmed as the most reliable index of deficiency. The carbonic anhydrase assay on fresh leaf extracts shows promise for measuring active zinc and providing a rapid and reliable foliar index of zinc deficiency. Critical levels for soil zinc have been established for the standard DTPA extract and for two hydrochloric acid extracts. Both acid extracts are more reliable than the DTPA extract.Item Evaluation of the effects of rare earth elements on sugarcane in North Queensland(1989) Reghenzani, JRDuring 1988 BSES submitted a proposal to the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering for partial funding of a research project to investigate the response of sugarcane in North Queensland to rare earth elements. Muswellbrook Energy and Minerals Ltd. agreed to provide the funding required and they succeeded in importing a sample of the Chinese soluble rare earth product, "Nongle". BSES received 200g of the imported product, which was sufficient to establish four field trials. An earlier 10g sample of "nongle" provided by Prof. C. Asher of the University of Queensland was used subsequently in the glasshouse studies.