This project will directly address soil and nutrient management practices which have off-farm impacts on water quality of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The project was developed in collaboration with partners to ensure local relevance and ownership. Improved soil health increases the soil’s capacity to store and use water and nutrients, including nitrogen (N) more effectively and efficiently leading to reduced loss into the GBR.

This project takes the knowledge from SRA’s previous project 2017005 in the Burdekin and Herbert growing regions and applies the most transformational components into the Wet Tropics region. It also capitalises on soil health research by SRA and other leading research agencies across all six growing regions of the industry and transposes relevant information into the Wet Tropics region.

Ten paired sites (standard practice and >10 years improved farming practice) will be used for trials and demonstrations. The sites will be tested on soil, physical, biological, chemical and crop root health parameters, plus production measurement, to compare the standard and improved practices.

Results will inform regional soil health indicator and benchmark determination, technical resources and extension tools. An extension model to engage growers in research will deliver knowledge, understanding and capability including resources such as a locally validated in-field Soil Health Ute Toolkit.