B.PSP.0018 - Phosphorus Efficient Pastures: delivering high nitrogen and water use efficiency, and reducing cost of production across southern Australia – Evaluation report

Summary

MLA undertook the project using stakeholder consultation to provide evidence of the nature and extent of the project’s impact on improved stakeholder knowledge and understanding of phosphorous (P) fertility management and P efficient pastures.

NSW Department of Primary Industries was tasked to provide an outcomes and process evaluation report with a focus on building research and advisory capacity, and providing farming groups with immediate access to information and expertise to encourage practice change. Using surveys and communication and extension activity data, the project included two lead research agencies, two universities, eight farming groups and four collaborating advisors operating across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Objectives

The focus was on developing new knowledge, building research and advisory capacity, and providing farming groups with immediate access to information and expertise to encourage practice change.

Key findings

A key project output was an update of the ‘Five Easy Steps’ soil P management tool. Additionally, in areas of northern NSW where the more acid tolerant and P efficient serradella species are commonly grown in response to the poor performance of subterranean clover, a research highlight was the refinement of P fertiliser recommendations and soil P testing procedures. In particular, new soil sampling guidelines have been developed for WA where serredella is well established.

Benefits to industry

Highlights included increased research capability, extended research network, improved experimental methods, new and closer relationships established between researchers, advisors and farming system groups. The project activities were designed to expose producers and advisors to the opportunity to use less P fertiliser by more targeted P fertiliser applications or by introducing serradella species.

Future research

Further research is required in areas where serradella species are not grown for advisors to promote and for producers to trial these legume species. Suggestions are provided to improve the RD&E model applied to this project including the need to build the capability of farming groups to participate in the research and extension activities confidently and actively by equipping them with the required skills and resources. Such research and extension work with farming systems groups has been initiated.