Researching soil health and economics

Group name: New Farming Initiative Group, Herbert.

• Group collaboration - this will aid the acquisition of the necessary infrastructure and enable the full utilization of existing equipment and knowledge resources
• Comparison of soil health of the two farming systems. These soil tests have not previously been undertaken in the Herbert and will provide a benchmark of current soil health. The test includes physical, biological and chemical components:
  • Water Infiltration Rates
  • Bulk Density
  • Porosity
  • Aggregate stability
  • Earth worm counts
  • Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index (biological diversity)
  • Enrichment Index (enrichment of soil eco-system)
  • Structure Index (number of steps in food web)
  • B:F Ratio (bacterial to fungal feeding nematodes)
  • Chemical properties
• Determine which aspects of the 1.9m dual row farming system suit the Herbert district
• Demonstrate the economics of two farming systems (regional standard and 1.9m dual row/break crop fallow)

Group skills will be developed through shared knowledge, utilizing the expertise of consultants, building organisation skills and through first hand participation.