Red soil and fields of gold

The 2024 Soil CRC Participants Conference wrapped up with three sun-drenched field trips to inspect Soil CRC and other soil-related research in the Riverina region, enhancing our understanding of local soil management issues.

Soil CRC Program Leader, Richard Doyle (University of Tasmania), led the field trip organising committee and tour guides, who delivered a fantastic day of discovery for all participants.

Trip 1: Mangoplah & Lockhart

Richard Doyle led the full day tour with support from our local NSW DPI&RD guides, Murray Hart, Helen Burns and Richard Hayes, and Nick McGrath from Holbrook Landcare Network.

The group set off to Mangoplah to inspect acid soil management field trials and learn about the productivity and pasture persistence outcomes, before heading to the Soil CRC subsoil amendment trial near Lockhart.

Trip 2: Junee 

The second tour was expertly led by Soil CRC Soil Knowledge Broker, Felicity Harrop, with guides Terry Rose, Mick Rose and Soil CRC PhD student Hayden Thompson (all from Southern Cross University).

The first stop was at a local farm where agronomist Angus Knight explained how he has used soil management practices to transform his farm and increase production. Then it was onto Hart Brothers farm to see the Soil CRC’s intercropping trial run by Hayden Thompson and hear about the Cool Soil Project.

Tour highlights included a skilful soil pit demonstration by soil scientist Sam North (NSW DPI&RD), which proved to be very popular with Soil CRC PhD students (they were reluctant to retreat from the pit!). And a stop at Junee Liquorice and Chocolate Factory for a guided tour and some important product sampling.

Trip 3: Charles Sturt University Farm

Soil CRC Program Leader Lukas Van Zwieten (NSW DPI&RD) led the final tour to the Charles Sturt University Farm, with support from Charles Sturt University guides Shamsul Haque and Johnathan Medway.

Participants were able to examine the key soil landscape systems of the region, see a rhizo-lysimeter demonstration with a wheat crop, and hear about the CSU Global Digital Farm.

The Soil CRC would like to thank the field trip organising committee, tour guides and everyone involved in ensuring the field trips went off without a hitch and provided an excellent learning experience for participants.