SA non-wetting sand pasture project

Summary

The South Australian Non-Wetting Soils (NWS) project will apply soil amelioration techniques tested in cropping systems, to sandy soil based grazing systems to improve biomass production and test longevity of these treatments under commercial livestock grazing systems. By demonstration of new technologies and techniques that look at improving retention of moisture and nutrients, maximising rain-fed soil moisture and fertiliser use, to reduce the overall cost of production per hectare for feedbase finishing systems to ensure increased livestock productivity and performance.

Objectives

This project targets a large area of non-arable sandy soils that are inherently low in soil organic carbon.

The objective of this project is to test a series of soil treatments and improve participating producers and the broader industry understanding of improving feed and livestock production potential on sandy soils.

Additionally, the project will improve participating producer practice and increase industry understanding of increased soil carbon and its ability to enhance groundcover, soil biology, soil pH, soil structure, water holding capacity and perennial pasture production.

This project will use new technologies and techniques being used to improve productivity in cropping systems on sandy soils and will test them in grazing systems to provide increased feed & livestock production.

The project will demonstrate methods of improving the grazing systems feed base to extend the growing season, increase pasture utilisation, optimise fertiliser use, and reduce the overall cost of production per hectare by producing more feed, converting to increased feed & livestock production.

The aim of this project is to increase producer understanding of opportunities to increase feedbase and red meat production by introducing and testing the production response and cost effectiveness of the different treatments on sites across the project area.

Progress

At three producer sites, a variety of treatments have been applied to ameliorate non-wetting soils. These have included applications of synthetic fertiliser, manure, and composts at varying rates in combination with various mechanical interventions such as ripping, tilling and mixing.  

Soil tests, pasture production and pasture quality tests have been taken throughout, with all three sites hosting field walks to demonstrate treatments. Results from the first growing season of the Non-Wetting Sands project are now available, showing dry matter increases of -0.99 to 3.08t/ha across all sites and treatments.  

Treatments and monitoring protocols for the 2023 growing season are now being implemented.