Projects: Soils
Improving phosphorus use efficiency and return on investment in high Phosphorus (P) fixing soils of the Southern and Western Regions
Aims to improve growers’ certainty about managing phosphorus (P) in high-fixing soils, which have chemical properties that bind applied P, making it unavailable to crops. The project outcome is that by 2030, growers in the Southern and Western regions will access improved P fertiliser application strategies to maximise return on investment (ROI) in high P…
Innovative Soil Technologies: Fostering Resilience and Climate-Smart Crop Production in Australia
This project will apply recent advances in Innovative Soil Technologies (IST) to improve water capture and retention and water use efficiency. Through field trials conducted in SA, NSW, TAS, WA, and VIC, in collaboration with grower groups, we aim to utilize soil re-engineering techniques to address physical, chemical, and biological constraints across various soil types…
Future Drought Fund Long Term Trials SA Discovery Farms – Sustainable phosphorous strategies for Eyre Peninsula
AIR EP has partnered with SA Discovery Farms, with co-investment by SAGIT, in a new project aimed at improving P fertiliser applications in variable paddocks/landscapes and refining long-term management strategies on highly P responsive soils. The overall aim of this project is to increase the profitability from phosphorus (P) fertiliser applications and determine sustainable P…
Risky decisions and addressing soil constraints on EP
This project has two key objectives that address the priorities of the SA Drought Hub 1. Arming farmers and advisors with tools to assist in decision making that considers risk and reward, through two major extension events on Eyre Peninsula, directly addressing the SA Drought Hub theme: Farm planning and decision making to manage climate…
Understanding herbicide residue on challenging soil types within the southern region
To develop a better understanding of the nature and scope of herbicide residues issues, paddock surveys will be conducted in soil types of concern in SA. To determine phyto-toxicity thresholds, glasshouse dose-response bioassays will be conducted for these soil types for two herbicides and two crop types relevant to each region.Six demonstrations will be implemented…
Sustainable Agriculture: Driving growth through innovation and climate responsive practices.
The Eyre Peninsula Sustainable Agriculture Program brings together Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP), the EP Landscape Board, key researchers, industry specialists, and local organisations to deliver a coordinated, evidence-based approach to improving the productivity and resilience of farming systems across the region. Working in partnership, the program focuses on priority soil and…
Improving crop phosphorus supply on highly calcareous soils using novel sources
This project will develop integrated solutions to improve the delivery of P in challenging calcareous soils with multiple constraints. Those solutions will be developed in a farming systems context so that practical and profitable management options can be provided to farmers and advisers. Specifically, the project will identify the impact of CCM and other comparable…
Retaining soil water in farming systems using strip & disc machinery 2024
This project has enabled one demonstration site to be conducted in 2024 in a low rainfall farming system at Buckleboo to enable extension of past EP demonstration site results and results from other regions, and to further investigate: What are the measurable differences in stripper stubble vs conventional draper stubble sown using a disc seeding…
SA Young Farmer – Facilitated Peer to Peer Learning
PROJECT AIM To share innovative ways to build drought resilience and build local leadership, networks, and social support. In Ceduna and Rudall locations, AIR EP will offer field events for young farmers focussing on young people aged 18-35 years. The Rudall young farmers group first met in December 2023 to commence prioritisation of subjects they…