Soil carbon
Watch our video of the trial of the Soil Kee system at Looking Glass
Background:
In 2017, the Commonwealth govt provided funding to the National Landcare Program to examine sustainable agriculture methods focussing on soil health. In 2018, a project assessing the soil carbon profiles of farmland in the Hughes Creek catchment was commenced, in conjunction with soil scientist Dr Cassandra Schefe and agronomist David Hawkey from AgriSci Pty Ltd.
Climate change is predicted to impact on farming practises. Increased temperature, variable rainfall compounded by increased evaporation are all predicted to change the way we produce food and fibre.
This project takes a two-pronged approach to address this issue:
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Sequestering carbon in pasture.
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Demonstrating that elevated soil carbon will improve soil fertility, increase farm productivity and make farming more profitable.
This project principal aim is to demonstrate to local farmers how using the best practice guidelines can improve farm productivity.
Conduct soil sampling from 3 different farms / paddocks that have good data on past farming practices, including soil analysis.
1. Perennial pastures
2. Perennial pasture, native grasses
3. Annual pasture
The soil test will be used in conjunction with historical data to develop methodologies and practices to help land owners to improve soil carbon.
The project will;
• Conduct Workshops and field days on farms
• Advise farmers on change practises, by using demonstration plots
• Develop and publish best practice guidelines specific to Hughes Creek catchment.
Farmers within the Hughes creek catchment are concerned about the impact of Climate Change upon their farming practices. The increase in predicted temperature and variable rainfall increases the risk associated with food and fibre production. Hughes Creek Catchment Collective (HCCC) would like to assist farmers in understanding how measuring carbon within soils and CO2 sequestration into the soil can impact on farming techniques.
HCCC will employ AgriSci to measure carbon stored in the soil to set up demonstrations on 3 properties within the Strathbogie Ranges. From the information collected over two years, the HCCC will host field days to inform local farmers about how to manage their grazing practices to best utilise the carbon stored within the soil. Soil tests will be conducted to further understand the impact of soil health and storage of carbon. It is anticipated that the information gained from these demonstrations can be a platform to gather further information from different soils and farming practices within the Goulburn Broken CMA region.
HCCC will bring together farmers within the Strathbogie Ranges which will inform best-practice guidelines for farming within the constraints of carbon, specific to the Hughes Creek catchment. The field days and information exchange will be a key platform to collaborate with farmers within the district and offer peer to peer support for farming in a changing climate.
Soil Carbon Project Update 2021
Soil pit field day
A soil pit demonstration day was held in June 2021 on two farms: one at Tarcombe Herefords and the other at Lawson’s farm in Highlands.
Soil testing was conducted on these farms in early May to measure the amount of carbon, nutrients, and pH of the soil to a depth of 30 cm.
The results of these tests were presented at the field day and discussions were held over lunch at the Hayes shearing shed.
The focus of the field day was to explain the results of the soil sampling in terms of management practices and how carbon levels and soil productivity can be improved through refinement of these management practices.
To build soil carbon and improve soil health and productivity it is important to address any underlying constraints such as soil acidity, compaction, or other chemical, physical, or biological barriers. building soil carbon is dependent on overall good soil health.
Soil pits allow participants to view soils from a different perspective and to visually see some of the limitations of their soils and how these limitations impact on factors such as root growth, water movement and biological activity. The pits provide real-life learning scenarios to help explain the often-complex relationships that exist between chemical, physical, and biological factors.
See full report and presentation here.
