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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Subject: search.filters.subject.Economic analysis

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    Researching soil health and economics of two farming systems in the Herbert River district : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report
    (2009) Waring, M
    The New Farming Initiative Group (NFIG) consists of six members and has approximately 600ha of sugarcane farming land in the Herbert region. Comparison of soil health of the two farming systems is the primary objective. This project will increase the uptake of several best management practices which are considered to reduce the loss of sediment, chemicals and nutrients from cane lands as well as significantly improve soil fertility due to a healthier soil in terms of its physical, chemical and biological components. The primary aim of the New Farming Initiative Group includes: • Comparison of soil health of the two farming systems. These soil tests have not previously been undertaken in the Herbert and will provide a benchmark of current soil health. The test includes physical, biological and chemical components: • Demonstrate the economics of two farming systems (regional standard and 1.9m dual row/break crop fallow) • Development of group skills through shared knowledge, utilizing the expertise of consultants, building organisation skills and through first hand participation. The trial site consists of three replications, two treatments and one variety. The trial was marked out with GPS to include 9 rows of pre-formed mounds at 1.9m and 11 rows of conventional at 1.55m spacing. The key outcome of this project was the similar average gross margins for the conventional and new farming system treatments. Potentially higher future input costs will favour the new farming system economically, with greater average gross margins expected compared to a conventional farming system. The new farming system produced an average 0.5 unit CCS less sugar than conventional farming. The cause of this statistically significant difference is unclear and warrants further investigation. Essentially, no significant difference was observed in soil health parameters (biological, physical and chemical) between treatments over the 14 month testing interval. Of interest, the new farming system displayed positive trends of increasing pH, increasing organic carbon and higher cation exchange capacity. The project had a relatively short testing interval and longer term soil testing would likely create more meaningful soil health results. Continued soil heath testing and economic analysis is needed to achieve the full benefit from this project. It would be inappropriate to draw any firm conclusions on the comparison of these two farming systems from this study of only two years.
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    Final report - SRDC project BSS142 : Economic cost of soil compaction
    (2000) Braunack, MV
    This project was developed as a result of a study tour undertaken by Dr Braunack (Braunack, 1994) where the concept of the degree of compactness was thought to be applicable to the Australian sugar industry.The overall aim of the project was to assess the economic cost of soil compaction and the benefits from reducing soil compaction for the Australian sugar industry.Objectives for the project were: 1: Adapt a Scandinavian model to determine the effect of soil compaction on crop yield for the Australian sugar industry. 2: Relate crop response to degree of compactness by examining current and previous trials on soil compaction. 3: Estimate the economic value of reducing soil compaction. 4: Provide software and preliminary training to extension officers. 5: Subject to the successful completion of this project, apply for further funding to support a planned extension program.