soil management practice

In a recent survey 96% of growers indicated their knowledge about soil health had increased as a result of this project; 94% indicated they were better at making decisions for their business regarding soil health and 91% indicated information from the Liebe Group had been useful for changing farm practices... Professor Daniel Murphy, of UWA, analysed results from the Liebe Group's long term Soil Biology Trial, which has been measuring soil organic carbon build up since 2003, and the results of this analysis have provided growers with an indication of realistic soil organic carbon levels that can be targeted... Seven fact sheets about soil amelioration have been produced. . They contain concise and practical information to be used as starting points for growers investigating soil amelioration options...

Flow on effects from this optimism include members making effective investment decisions regarding paddock variation management strategies, soil health practices and innovative enterprises - all of which lead to future farm sustainability... The growers had a well established evaluation process enabling them to lower the risk when leasing extra cropping land... The technical audit survey results show 75% of growers in the Liebe Group region use a farm consultant on an on-going basis...

"It is important that we take what we now know out to the farming community so growers can gain a better understanding of how soils respond to management practices.".. The GRDC has established the Soil Biology Initiative to explore what is seen as the "last frontier" for the grains industry, "The arrival and rapid development of new technologies now means we are finally in a position to delve deep into the soil biological communities and see not only who is there but what they are doing, not only as individual species but as highly interactive communities," Assoc Prof Mele said... Knowledge and understanding generated through the Soil Biology Initiative's extensive suite of research projects is expected to lead to recommendations on how growers can best manage soils to maximise nutrient capture and defend against disease, resulting in less reliance on chemical controls and reduced inputs...

"Our living soils are the engine room of grain production systems so it is essential that we have a greater appreciation of what they're made of and how they function, and we use that knowledge to harness the biological potential of our soils in improving crop yields.".. The GRDC has established the Soil Biology Initiative to explore what is seen as the "last frontier" for the grains industry, "The arrival and rapid development of new technologies now means we are finally in a position to delve deep into the soil biological communities and see not only who is there but what they are doing, not only as individual species but as highly interactive communities," Assoc Prof Mele said... Knowledge and understanding generated through the Soil Biology Initiative's extensive suite of research projects is expected to lead to recommendations on how growers can best manage soils to maximise nutrient capture and defend against disease, resulting in less reliance on chemical controls and reduced inputs...

The use of brown and green manuring declined by around 10% although the practices were not widely adopted in 2006... Neither Zero tillage nor Tramlining had been widely adopted (only 5% and 7% respectively)... In 2012 growers had less intention of using zero tillage and tramling farming than they did three years before (data not shown)...

When considering a new technology, growers are looking for increased profit and improved ease of management... The use of brown and green manuring declined by around 10% although the practices were not widely adopted in 2006... Neither Zero tillage nor Tramlining had been widely adopted (only 5% and 7% respectively)...