Projects
Project 1.4.005 A new tool for assessing the benefits of adopting new farming practices
Led by Dr Nathan Craig from West Midlands Group, this project (1..4.005) will create a reporting tool to communicate the risks and benefits of new farming technologies and practices. It will enable grower groups and extension agencies to better deliver information to farmers so that they can make well informed decisions. Find out more.
Project 1.4.006 Assessing the financial impacts of using organic wastes as fertiliser
Led by Dr Richard Culas from Charles Sturt University, this project (1.4.006) will assess the cost effectiveness of using waste products such as manure, dairy farm waste, compost and biochar as an organic fertiliser. Find out more.
Project 1.4.007 Soil CRC Accelerator Program – Maximising adoption and engagement
Translating research outputs into tangible, practical outcomes for farmers can be challenging. Led by Bret Ryan from Southern Farming Systems, this project (1.4.007) will address the disconnect between research, next users, and end users that often leads to innovations failing to reach the people who can benefit most. Find out more.
Project 2.1.001 A review of indicators of soil health and function: farmers’ needs and data management
Led by Associate Professor Peter Dahlhaus from Federation University, this project (2.1.001) reviewed the indicators of soil health to determine which indicators would be most practical to improve profitability for Australian farmers. Find out more.
Project 2.1.002 Is the isotopic composition of bulk soil carbon and nitrogen a robust indicator of agricultural soil health?
Led by Dr Naomi Wells from Southern Cross University, this project (2.1.002), aimed to identify indicators of carbon and nitrogen status in soils that can be used across a wide range of soil types. Find out more.
Project 2.1.004 Smelling soil
Led by Dr Shane Powell from the University of Tasmania, this project (2.1.004) investigated what growers want to know about their soil and how they want to access this information. The project team developed an electronic nose, which was trialled in both laboratory (pot) and field settings. Find out more.
Project 2.1.005 Smelling soil: eNose development
Led by Dr Shane Powell from the University of Tasmania, this project (2.1.005) is continuing the development of the eNose focusing on two areas: it will build a robust device suitable for field use and it will investigate the relationship between eNose data and significant changes in soil condition. Find out more.
Project 2.1.006 Matching soil performance indicators to farming systems
Led by Dr Nathan Robinson from Federation University, this project used social research, data analytics and soil indicator domain expertise to determine how commonly used indicators, or suites of indicators (‘horses’) can best be matched to landscapes, climates, ecosystems and land management goals (‘courses’). Find out more.
Project 2.1.007 Affordable rapid field-based soil tests: Phase two – soil organic carbon
Led by Dr Liang Wang from the University of Newcastle, this project (2.1.007) aims to address the issue of costly and time-consuming laboratory soil health measurements to provide farmers with affordable rapid in-field solutions, without sacrificing accuracy. Find out more.
Project 2.1.008 Measuring soil microbes
Led by Dr Mick Rose from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, this project (2.1.007) will apply a range of soil biology metrics that have been proposed as indicators of soil health, and assess their relevance to agronomic or environmental outcomes, such as crop yield, soil structure and nutrient availability. Find out more.