Future Drought Fund Long Term Trials SA Discovery Farms – Sustainable phosphorous strategies for Eyre Peninsula

P agronomy single year spatial sites will be delivered in 2025 and 2026 at three locations on EP (Tumby Bay, Minnipa and Cleve), these trials aim to generate crop response curves to phosphorus at four sites within a paddock with varied levels of expected response. Treatment list:

One long term P agronomy trial has been established near Minnipa, to assess the performance of high rates of MAP fertiliser and chicken litter on a highly P responsive soil.

• Residual P concentrations – Evaluating how phosphorus left in the soil from previous applications influences plant growth, identifying potential benefits or drawbacks.
• Long-term phosphorus value – Assessing whether applying phosphorus solely in Year 1 provides sustained benefits for subsequent growing seasons.
• Effectiveness of P delivery products – Comparing different phosphorus formulations and application methods to determine the most efficient options for improving nutrient uptake and yield.

Treatment list:

The SA Discovery Farms long-term trials project is conducting innovative and applied research to improve the climate resilience of South Australian cropping, livestock and mixed farms. It is led by Flinders University and delivered by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and more than 40 partners.