Soil carbon frontier

2014
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Erika McAllister (FarmLink)
Tony Pratt (FarmLink)
Harm van Rees (Cropfacts)
Year(s) 2014
Contributor FarmLink Research
Trial location(s) Illabo, NSW
Further information View external link
Soil carbon frontier locations
Aims

Work conducted by Clive Kirkby (CSIRO) has investigated the feasibility of increasing soil carbon levels with the use of balanced amounts of nutrients and incorporation of stubble.

The overall aim of the project was to raise awareness of farmers about how they can reduce green house gas emissions, sequester soil carbon and make improvements in farm productivity.

Key messages

Given that carbon sequestration is not an overnight process it is not surprising that there have been few significant results or trends to report on in either an intensive plot or large paddock scale.  Nutrient addition to balance the ration of C;N;P;S has surprisingly had little impact on yield and this is possibly a desirable outcome as no difference between +/- nutrient treatments would indicate that the nutrients are available for sutbble breakdown, rather than crop vegetative mass. Cost associated on a whole farm scale of purchasing nutrients in addition to normal fertiliser requirements could prove prohibitive.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Trial funding source CEF
Trial funding source Department of Agriculture
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Harm Van Rees from Cropfacts for his assistance and to Derek and Alexander Ingold and Geoff Tidd for hosting paddock scale trials.


Other trial partners Cropfacts and FarmLink
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Rate
  • Fertiliser: Timing
  • Stubble: Management
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Illabo 2014

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Illabo, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Illabo, NSW Kandosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Illabo NSW
2014 476.6mm
2013 534.3mm
2012 571.0mm
2011 603.9mm
2010 636.1mm
2009 613.1mm
2008 594.5mm
2007 554.8mm
2006 567.3mm
2005 604.2mm
2004 560.4mm
2003 532.8mm
2002 517.7mm
2001 557.4mm
2000 531.3mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Illabo NSW

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 07-02-2022 12:48pm AEST