Boosting productivity in Maryborough by assisting cane growers to understand their soils : final report MSF007

Abstract

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.