Completed projects and reports
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Sugar Research Australia, Sugar Research Development Corporation and BSES reports from completed research projects and papers.
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Item Review of nitrogen fertiliser research in the Australian sugar industry(2004) Thorburn, PThe management of nitrogen (N) fertiliser is important to the Australian sugar industry, as it is an important nutrient for sugarcane production. However, over application results in reduced profitability and sugar quality, and results in high concentrations of N in soils and water of sugarcane growing areas. An extensive review of current and past research on N fertiliser management in the Australian sugar industry was undertaken to identify possible improvements in N fertiliser management and establish priorities for future research into sustainable management of N fertiliser. The Australian sugar industry has a history of high N fertiliser usage, with applications increasing from the 1960s to the late 1990s. However, industry average sugarcane production has not kept pace with N fertiliser applications, resulting in a steady increase in N fertiliser applied per ton of sugarcane harvested. Historical and recently developed N management strategies rely on matching N applications to the predicted/expected yield of the forthcoming crop. Over-application of N fertiliser is a rational reaction by growers to uncertainty about the size of the coming crop and the long-term impact of N fertiliser on profitability – significant over-fertilisation reduces profits much less than significant under fertilisation. We suggest that past and current N fertiliser management strategies have not adequately accounted for these attitudes, and the resultant longer-term implications for soil and water quality and environmental impacts in sugarcane catchments. While long-term under application of N fertiliser undoubtedly reduces profitability, there is considerable evidence to show that greatly reducing N fertiliser applications for a single crop will not significantly reduce sugarcane production. Thus, the short-term risk of crop yields limited by N deficits is possibly much lower than generally appreciated. If this is so, a new philosophy of N fertiliser management can be developed that remove the uncertainties that drive growers to over-apply N, and so allow closer matching of N inputs to N outputs from a sugarcane system. Rather than aiming to fertilise the coming crop, it may only necessary to replace the N lost from the previous crop, the majority of which is in harvested cane and therefore be easily estimated. Over the past decade, there have been significant advances in our ability to simulate N (and carbon) dynamics in sugarcane production systems. We drew upon these advances to undertake a ‘desktop’ examination of this new ‘replacement’ N management strategy. Three N management scenarios were simulated: (1) the ‘replacement’ strategy, (2) the current recommended strategy and (3) the average amounts of N applied in the industry (i.e., 30 % greater than those recommended). The replacement strategy had similar productivity, greater profitability and lower environmental N losses, whether we simulated potential crop production or a more realistic level of production (resulting from the impact of pests, diseases, lodging, stool damage, etc.). Moreover, these advantages were greater in the simulations of realistic yields. The ‘replacement’ strategy is an evidence based, transparent and defensible N management strategy, all attributes that are important for the sugar industry to maintain self-regulation of N fertiliser management. We suggest that this strategy warrants further testing, through both simulation and field experiments.Item Nutrient management from variable rate technology in a control traffic system by the Oakenden Grower Group : SRDC Grower Group Innovation Project final report(2008) Muscat, JThe aim of the project is to determine the benefits of nutrient management system in a controlled traffic farming enterprise in an environmentally sustainable manner. The project will determine the cost benefits by comparing the conventional nutrient application to variable rate application. It will determine the difference between narrow chute planting and wide chute planting. The project will compare different legumes and the impact on the following cane crop. Oakenden Grower Group has documented a fact sheet to enable growers some insight when choosing a GPS system in a question and answer style information sheet. The Oakenden Grower group was keen to understand the economic impact of these trails which are highlighted in the trial results.Item SRDC Grower Group innovation project final report Developing a sediment trapping system in the Silkwood drainage board area (SDBA)(2008) Brooks, IThe Silkwood Drainage Board Area (SDBA) encompasses a catchment area of approximately 1200 hectares using a system of drains which are both man made and redesigned natural streams. There are roughly 16 kilometres of drainage system. In the North Queensland Wet Tropics it is essential to have an efficient and effective drainage system to allow sugar cane or any other crop to be free of water logging and excessive flooding. The SDBA is an ideal demonstration area because most of the farm runoff is contained within the drainage scheme. This allows for the collecting of data to evaluate the effectiveness of different drainage models. By incorporating a system of sediment trapping into the farm layout, off farm sediment losses can be reduced. Soil erosion by water has been identified as a research priority especially for the farms within the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Area. Environmental factors such as slope, rainfall intensity, soil structure and soil cover are interacting factors producing sediment runoff. Farmers can manage soil structure and soil cover in ratoon cane through green cane thrash blanket and minimum tillage systems but currently the plant cane farming systems still entails the intense cultivation of ground. There are combinations of factors restricting change on the ground to a total minimum tillage planting system. Factors such as; the high cost to change equipment, the necessity to carry out earth works on particular paddocks such as levelling and drainage works and the changing over of row widths and wheel centre spacings to the new dual row system. These all require complete cultivation of the paddock. Other environmental factors such as slope and rainfall also have an effect on sediment runoff. Therefore farm management needs to consider how it can offset the effects from these factors. Sediment trapping systems should be considered as an effective solution in a farm management program to mitigate the effects of paddock cultivation, high rainfall and slope erosion.Item Canegrowing and sustainability - a survey of Australian cane growers with particular reference to the Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing in Queensland : final report BSS238(2000) O'Grady, C; Christiansen, IThe sustainable management of soil and water resources is crucial both for the productivity of sugarcane growing and for the protection of the environment. Canegrowers recognise the importance of maintaining the condition of the natural resource base for farm viability. Community concern over recent years has focused attention on the potential impacts of agricultural practices on the off-farm environment, particularly aquatic and marine ecosystems and regional biodiversity.The Australian sugar industry has responded to these concerns by taking a proactive approach to environmental management. The Code of Practice for Sustainable Cane Growing in Queensland (CANEGROWERS, 1998) and the New South Wales (NSW) sugar industry?s Best Practice Guidelines for Acid Sulfate Soils are examples of the industry?s initiatives towards environmental management and self-regulation.A survey of all cane farmers in Queensland and NSW was carried out in April 2000. The survey had several aims. Firstly, to benchmark awareness and opinions of the Queensland Code of Practice and the NSW Best Practice Guidelines. It also benchmarked current farming practices in relation to industry-accepted best practice, an indication of the level of adoption of the Code. Growers? perceptions of environmental issues in cane farming areas were also sought. Additionally, the survey served as a prompter to cane farmers about the Code and Guidelines.