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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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Soil moisture

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    Sugar Research and Development Corporation final report Increasing sugar cane yields by improvements in soil structure
    (1998) Hughes, M; Nielsen, P; Grabski, A
    A project to increase sugar cane yields by improvements in soil structure was conducted at Broadwater, NSW. It was instigated in response to the poor physical structure of many cane soils and poor root development in many sugar cane crops resulting in low cane yields. A number of alternative management practices were tested and cane and sugar yield as well as appropriate soil parameters were measured. The main findings were that ridging had the biggest effects on cane and sugar yields and on soil bulk density, soil moisture (drier in the top 30 cm and wetter at depth), and a leaching of Cl, Na and S when in excess amounts. Ridging also resulted in a stable inter-row and hence far less damage during wet harvests. Intensity of tillage had some small effect on yields and soil structure; it is not clear if these would have increased over a longer period of time. The main effect of soybean production during the fallow period was due to nitrogen input. There were some small but positive effects on subsequent cane root growth soil organic carbon and soil bulk density. Mole drains and deep ripping provided no clear advantage over laser levelling alone.
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    Technical Report - Evaluation of a Roving Capacitance Probe for Measuring Soil Moisture
    (1998) Hardie, M
    In the Proserpine area of central Queensland, Australia, trials were conducted to evaluate the performance of a proving capacitance probe for determining soil moisture. Soil moisture was monitored using both a neutron moisture meter (NMM) and a roving capacitance probe on seven different soil types at depths between 0.20 and 1 m. Volumetric soil moisture was also determined from core analysis. While the capacitance probe was more accurate when used with specific site or soil type calibrations, a general calibration was believed to be acceptable for most purposes. The calibration supplied with the sensor produced considerable error. The capacitance probe was quick, cheap and simple to use with a similar level of accuracy to that of the neutron probe. Difficulties with the capacitance probe resulted from poor installation of access tubes, and development of cracks around the access tube in cracking clay soils.