Establishing sugarcane farming systems to improve soil health
Project Background
Project Name | Establishing sugarcane farming systems to improve soil health |
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Project Owner | Sugar Research Australia |
Project Partners | NSW Department of Primary Industries and Farmacist Pty Ltd |
Project Contact |
Barry Salter |
Project Investors | Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries |
Project Summary | The Project aims to assess a range of practical farming practices that may improve soil condition through the addition and management of organic matter. Three farming system trials will be conducted in the project:
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Region | Central, New South Wales and Herbert |
Project Duration | July 2018 - March 2023 (5 years) |
Research/Demo Sites
Site one
Site Type | Research site |
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Site Subtype | Research station |
Location Name | Sugar Research Australia Farm |
Site Contact |
Barry Salter |
Site Purpose | Investigate whether tillage between crops cycles affects accumulation of soil carbon and soil health in a trash blanketing system. |
Soil Type | Chromosol |
Rainfall | 1,500mm |
Site two
Site Type | Research site |
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Site Subtype | Commercial farm |
Location Name | Brightly |
Site Contact |
Barry Salter |
Site Purpose | Investigate the impact of mixed species cover cropping and additional carbon inputs on sugarcane crop performance and soil condition |
Soil Type | Waiting for soil sample results |
Rainfall | 1,300 - 1,500 mm |
Site three
Site Type | Research site |
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Site Subtype | Commercial farm |
Location Name | Lower Tully |
Site Contact |
Barry Salter |
Site Purpose | Investigate the impact of mixed species cover cropping and additional carbon inputs on sugarcane crop performance and soil condition. |
Soil Type | TBA |
Rainfall | 4,000mm |
Site four (Keilbach intercropping trial)
Site Type | Research and demonstration |
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Site Subtype | Commercial farm |
Location Name | Sunnyside via Mackay |
Site Contact |
Robert Sluggett |
Site Purpose | The trial aims to determine the benefits of growing a soybean intercrop with sugarcane while exploring methods of managing intercrops to reduce competitive effects. |
Soil Type | Sunnyside, Class A Sodosol |
Rainfall | 1,500mm |
Site five
Site Type | Research |
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Site Subtype | Commercial farm |
Location Name | Tweed Valley |
Site Contact |
Lukas Van Zwieten |
Site Purpose | Mixed-species break crop trial |
Soil Type | Humose Sulfidic Oxyaquic Hydrosol (ASC), Humic Gley (GSG) |
Rainfall | 1,763mm (average annual) |