Australian sugar industry soil health benchmarking in the Central region of Qld - increasing profit and transforming soil health practices through cooperative industry research, extension and adoption

This project will directly address soil and nutrient management practices which have off-farm impacts on water quality of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Embedding land managers in testing and trialling research innovation builds capacity, capability and beneficial networks. 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. 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.