Establishing sugarcane farming systems to improve soil health
Project Background
| Project Name | Establishing sugarcane farming systems to improve soil health |
|---|---|
| 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:
|
| Region | Central, New South Wales and Herbert |
| Project Duration | July 2018 - March 2023 (5 years) |
Research/Demo Sites
Site one
| Site Type | Research site |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| 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) |