Nutrient Management from Variable Rate Technology
Project Title: Nutrient Management from Variable Rate Technology in a Control Traffic System
Group Name: Oakenden Grower Group
The aim of the project is to determine the benefits of nutrient management system in a controlled traffic farming enterprise in an environmentally sustainable manner. The project will determine the cost benefits by comparing the conventional nutrient application to variable rate application. The Oakenden Grower group would also like to address an issue that has been identified when planting legume break crops in a zero till operation e.g. seed placement through the varying thicknesses of trash left in a cane paddock after harvesting.
- Comparing fallow management options.
- The comparing of different legume crops and bare fallow to determine fertiliser rates in the following cane crop.
- Will also monitor disease levels [nematodes, pacemetra,etc] in the soil from either treatment.
- Comparison of variable rate application of nutrients versus conventional application of nutrients.
- Comparing of different planting methods (Conventional, Wide shoot, Double disc opener and Dual Row)
- Comparing of water run off between the different planting methods and break crops in the fallow management.
- Assessing water infiltration in the different fallow management methods and planting methods. Purchasing of Enviroscan equipment is very costly therefore availability of BSES equipment needs to be ascertained.
Contact Person: John Muscat 49597228