Boosting productivity in Maryborough by assisting cane growers to understand their soils : final report MSF007
Date
2014Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This project was based around producing a soil map of the Bauple area which is south of
Maryborough. The soil map will be a valuable tool for improving productivity in the area
because it can facilitate better farm management, for example variety selection by soil
type and more specific management of different soils. We used this mapping project as
an extension tool to teach growers about their soils and how to better manage them, this
resulted in four main extension activities: 1. Assisting growers in the Bauple area to identify their major soils types and to
understand the key properties of their soils (surface and subsoil). Encouraging
growers to assist in and observe soil mapping work. 2. Identifying the various subsoil constraints present across the Bauple area and
assisting growers by providing management solutions to these constraints where
present. 3. Conducting soil field days for growers within the Bauple area and wider cane
growing district sharing the importance of understanding their soil properties and
how it relates to improved productivity and catchment outcomes. 4. Using the resultant soil mapping data to provide growers with cane variety by soil
type recommendation maps. Presently, growers in the Bauple area cannot access any
other tool/s to assist them with soils x cane variety information.