HLN PROJECTS
SOIL
- Future proofing agricultural production through effective management of acidic soils
- Soil health in pasture systems
- Case Study: Arresting falling pH in fight against subsoil acidity
- Case Study: Lime on established perennial pasture keeps on giving
- Case Study: Success with lucerne in acidic soils
- Case Study: Phosphorus in Cropping Systems
- Information Sheet: Lime Quality
- Soil Monitoring of Acid Soils project key findings
- Issue 01: Project overview
- Issue 02: 3-D ripping machine
- Issue 24: The opportunity cost of soil acidity – An economic analysis
- Issue 25: Key findings and recommendations
CROPPING
- Time of sowing at Holbrook
- Time of sowing at Woomargama
- Nitrogen management for wheat in Holbrook
- Nitrogen management for wheat in Woomargama
- Canola stubble retention in Holbrook
- Canola stubble retention in Woomargama
- Changing soil organic carbon in Holbrook
- Changing soil organic carbon in Woomargama
REVEGETATION AND RESTORATION
- Planning for revegetation
- Site Preparation for tubestock revegetation
- Managing your revegetation
- Maintaining or improving habitat values
- Landscape connectivity
- Fox facts – why you should control foxes
GRAZING
- Helen Burns: Subsoil Acidity and Liming Presentation
- Soil test interpretation workshop presentation – Walla/Tumbarumba/Towong
- Soil test interpretation workshop presentation – Gerogery/Holbrook
- Efficient use of nitrogen
Robert Herrmann, Managing Director of Mecardo helps producers identify options to navigate through ‘risk management of commodities’.
Charles Cay of Warrembool Pastoral Co. discusses practical on-ground strategies to help your farm business performance.
In this 4 part video series we explore what soil health is and how it relates to pasture production in the Holbrook region.
A highlights video of a field day held on 2nd September 2020 in a lucerne paddock near Mangoplah. A soil pit was dug in an area of the paddock to highlight the lucerne plant response to a ‘miss’ with the lime spreader.
Accurate soil sampling is an investment in time and money. The following videos provide some tips on how to get the most from time spent in the paddock.
Is subsurface acidity an issue for you? This video A rapid check for subsurface acidity in the field shows how a Digstick and field pH kit can give a quick indication of the pH profile.
Accurate soil sampling for subsurface acidity. This video shows why soil samples collected at 5 cm intervals to a depth of at least 20 cm are necessary to detect subsurface acidity. Soil tests collected from traditional sampling depths of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm do not detect acidic layers that commonly occur at 5-15 or 20 cm. Knowing the variation in pH in the 0-20cm (also known as pH stratification) will help guide species selection and liming programs.
In April 2020, NSW DPI and HLN staff visited the ‘Tackling Soil Acidity’ project site to look at the establishment and development of canola and the impact different lime treatments have had on the plants. The standout response was increased root density and top growth in the lime treatments, and particularly where lime was incorporated.
The following is a video of Helen Burns (NSW DPI) in the paddock showing plant examples from the different treatments displaying various root development and manganese toxicity symptoms (mottled leaves).
Grant Sims and Declan McDonald share their stories and experience with improving soil health primarily with the use of plants. They discuss outcomes achieved, what it means for production and how the information is being shared and received by landholders. This webinar has been made possible through Soil CRC training program and partnerships with Holbrook Landcare and Upper Hopkins Land Management Group.
NRM
SOIL
- Biochar Trial report 2012
- Carp, Kelp & Christmas Islands 2014
- Subsoil Manuring Project trial 2014/15
- Soil Monitoring of Acid Soils project report 2020
CROPPING
GRAZING
For many farming enterprises, the application of phosphorus fertiliser is one of the largest annual expenses. HLN, as part of the Carbon Farming and our Business project, has developed a phosphorus budgeting tool which can be used in conjunction with soil testing. An annual fertiliser plan and budget can be developed by using this easy to use, excel-based tool.