Soil health and nutrient management

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Final report SRDC Project CG013 Growers working together to improve water quality in the Herbert Sugar Industry
(2008) Wood, A; Wrigley, T; Phillips, K; Sheedy, P
The sugarcane area of the Herbert River district is located adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The quality of water entering the GBR lagoon from the Herbert district is one of the most important environmental issues facing the Herbert sugar industry. However, little data on water quality are available from catchments consisting entirely of sugarcane. This project was conducted to establish a number of water quality monitoring sites in relatively small catchments where the land use is solely sugarcane and where individual growers or groups of growers could measure the quality of water in farm drains using simple tools and relate it to their farming practices. Eleven growers volunteered to participate in the programme. They were keen to participate because they felt that sugarcane growers’ reputation of being good custodians of the land had been tarnished by various external studies of water quality and they were eager to demonstrate that their activities were not polluting drainage water. A series of suitable sites for taking and testing water samples were established and V notch weirs were inserted in the drains for the purpose of measuring rates of water flow. A series of simple tools were developed for measuring sediment and nutrients drainage water leaving the farms. An experienced water engineer who had worked in the district for many years agreed to coordinate the project and proceeded to train the growers involved. He also set up and equipped a water analysis laboratory so that the measurements taken by the growers could be validated. Occasional samples were also sent to a NATA accredited laboratory for further validation of the nutrient determinations but also for measurements of pesticide residues. The growers involved in the project have recorded water quality measurements for three years and have also maintained records of on-farm practices that may impact on water quality such as tillage, fertilising, land levelling and herbicide applications and other activities that may impact on water quality. The growers were provided with information on desirable water quality levels. If their measurements exceeded these levels, growers reacted quickly to seek possible explanations for the elevated readings. The project was evaluated at the commencement, mid-term and just before its conclusion. The growers involved developed a list of the critical factors that needed to be achieved in order for the project to be successful. The mid-term evaluation was conducted with members of the Project Consultative Group and the final evaluation was again conducted with the growers involved in the project. Feedback was generally positive but there were a few areas where things could have been improved. The project outcomes consisted largely of improved knowledge, particularly amongst the growers, of what simple techniques are available for measuring nutrients, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity of farm drainage water. Growers learnt what constituted high, medium and low levels for the different water quality parameters and developed a better understanding of the relationship between rainfall and discharge characteristics of drains on their farms. They improved their understanding 4 of the relationship between on-farm management practices and water quality and of the accuracy and reliability of the different tools used to measure water quality. An important outcome has been the continued engagement and support of growers involved with the project, and the engagement and support of regulatory and other government support agencies through the project consultative group. This is important for the next phase of the project which aims to expand from 11 growers to around 100 growers conducting water quality monitoring. The existence of a committed nucleus of growers will be essential for helping to inspire others to participate. Likely economic benefits of the project will be increased farm profitability arising from improved farm practices associated with better management of farm inputs such as fertilisers and herbicides. Reduced input costs arising from reductions in soil tillage and more targeted applications of nutrients and herbicides will also contribute. Environmental benefits will arise from improved water quality on farm and in the downstream ecosystem, and improved soil health arising from changes in farming practices. Social benefits will include the empowerment of growers, who are now armed with better information about their farm practices and the likely impacts on water quality; greater confidence amongst growers when interacting with government and environmental groups; and improved attitudes and engagement by growers in sustainable land management.
Sugar Research & Development Corporation final report Pesticide transport in sugar production systems
(2000) Simpson, BW; Hargreaves, PA
The fate and persistence of a number of the key pesticides used in Australian sugar production have now been quantified for a range of soil types and conditions, In general there is no evidence of season-to-season build up in the soil from annual pesticide applications, However the herbicide diuron was shown to be highly persistent on the red ferrosol (krasnozem) site, Calculated dissipation rates (DT50) were used to establish risk windows for potential off-site losses, Sampling of the soil profile showed that most of the applied pesticide remained (and dissipated) in the upper 15 cm, Rainfall and surface runoff were measured throughout the project with samples of runoff collected throughout runoff events, Pesticide concentrations measured in runoff from the end of furrows were relatively high at times, particularly when runoff events followed shortly after application, This fouryear study highlights the need for careful management of application timing and chemical selection, particularly in areas close to waterways and sensitive habitats, Limited studies on the effect of pesticide application on trash, suggest that trash retention reduces the pesticide concentrations entering the soil and provides conditions for reduced off-farm losses, Information obtained will be incorporated into improved management guidelines,
SRDC Research Project final report Irrigation runoff event monitoring
(2006) Hesp, C
A major concern of the Burdekin irrigated sugarcane growing industry is the impact of nutrient runoff on the waterways and the surrounding environment. In line with the current Commonwealth and State Government’s Reef Water Quality Plan and the NRM regional plans, growers expressed the desire to evaluate the current situation to be able to address these concerns. This project was designed to enable growers to monitor runoff from their paddocks when irrigating and to assess the resulting. A trailer was designed and fitted with a solar power ISCO Avalanche refrigerated pumping sampler. It was designed to be a mobile unit that could easily be moved to any site within the MAFIA grower group area. The intention has been to make this unit available to any other grower group within the Burdekin area. During this project a number of training days were held and information disseminated to other grower groups through presentations at regional field days and workshops. Event sampling was carried out by growers in the MAFIA group which they then paid to have tested for nitrate concentrations. This information allowed growers to assess nitrate concentrations in runoff from irrigation of plant cane and discussions about the results were carried out with the members. Although a good wet season this year has limited the number of irrigation events available to monitoring. Great interest was expressed in further use of the sampling trailer to compare different fertiliser application methods and bedding practices to evaluate best management practices. The fact that the MAFIA group paid to have a consultant test the water samples shows their commitment to the success of the project and ongoing use of the water sampling trailer. A baseline survey was carried out at the start of the project and a follow up survey was done at the end of the project. Even with the weather constraints this year there has been an indication from these surveys that over 50% of growers in the group have made recent changes to their irrigation practices as a result of this project. It has provided the MAFIA members with degree of ownership of their runoff issues. This has highlight to an already aware group the extent of runoff and possible future investigations in improvement of irrigation practices. There has been a perceivable increase in the confidence of growers in the group about the validity of the sample data collated as it directly relevant to them.

Soil health and nutrient management

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