Soil specific management for sugarcane production in the Wet Tropics

Summary

The SIX EASY STEPS® nutrient management program recognises the range of districts, soil types and soil properties within the sugar industry, while promoting balanced nutrition and sustainability.

STEP 1 knowing and understanding your soils and STEP 2 understanding and managing nutrient processes and losses are the basis for which many management decisions are made on-farm.

This project aims to increase the knowledge and understanding of key sugarcane soils across the Wet Tropics region. The physical and chemical characteristics of a soil are influenced by soil formation processes, parent material, soil texture, position within the landscape and climatic conditions. Improving the understanding of these soil properties allows appropriate soil and nutrient management strategies to be identified and implemented for profitable and sustainable sugarcane production.

 

RELATED GUIDELINES AND APP INFORMATION

View and download the Soil-Specific Nutrient Management Guidelines For Sugarcane Production In The Wet Tropics

View and download the User Guide for the Wet Tropics Sugarcane Soil Explorer 

 

Objectives

  • Improve the knowledge and understanding of sugarcane growing soils across the Wet Tropics region (specifically from Tully to Mossman)
  • Support sugarcane growers, farm managers and advisors to use this knowledge on-farm
  • Build capacity to develop soil sampling strategies, identify soil constraints and adopt site-specific soil and nutrient management practices

PROJECT LINK

Expected Outputs

  • A range of grower and advisor focussed extension activities including soil field tours, focus group meetings, facilitated peer-to-peer information exchange sessions and practical training events to better put theory into practice.
  • Improved packaging of scientific information into more practical, easily understood, and meaningful tools, including a new sugarcane soil specific reference booklet for the Wet Tropics region to support the SIX EASY STEPSTM nutrient management program.

Expected Outcomes

  • Increased farmer and advisor knowledge and understanding of sugarcane growing soils, best practice soil testing requirements and interpretation of soil test reports
  • Improved identification and management of soil constraints
  • Increased adoption of site-specific, sustainable soil and nutrient management practices
  • Increase interaction between sugarcane farmers/managers, advisors and scientific experts
  • Contribute to the National Soil Strategy goals: Empower soil innovation and stewards; Strengthen soil knowledge and capability.
RESEARCH AGENCY: Sugar Research Australia

CHIEF INVESTIGATOR: Dr Danielle Skocaj

PROJECT NUMBER: 2021/805

END DATE: 2024/04

Acknowledgements

This project is supported by Sugar Research Australia and the University of Southern Queensland, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.