Please see attached report.

Soil physical health assessments have been carried out, in line with the Integrity Soils process, which measures several soil and plant health indicators along with recording photographic records of the sites. Soil biological health has been monitored using laboratory testing from Microbe Labs. Soil mineral analysis has been undertaken on each site with samples analysed by Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL). This data completes the whole picture of soil health and is viewed alongside soil physical and biological health indicators.

Please see attached report for results. 

• From a financial perspective, it is reasonable to conclude that successfully eradicating FR can have a significantly positive impact of the future profitability of a livestock enterprise.
• A successful program requires attention to detail and a professionally trained eye, for this reason, before embarking on an eradication program, seek professional assistance.

Starting in September of 2021, the KI Feral Pig Eradication Program is now well into it’s first year. So far, the program has culled over 350 pigs, building on earlier post-fire pig control carried out by the KI Landscape Board.

• Soil testing is essential for monitoring soil fertility levels.
• Of all the soil samples taken the majority were below critical levels for pH.
• Phosphorus levels were low on some properties particularly with ironstone soils

• SARDI Entomology is developing a large-scale pilot for the use of Sterile Insect technique for Sheep Blow Flies on Kangaroo Island
• Funding through the Bushfire Recovery program will allow us to set up a production facility on KI in 2021/22 and develop the technique
• With additional funding we hope to be able to do large scale releases and eradicate Sheep Blowfly from Kangaroo Island over a 4-5-year period

• Twenty soils monitoring sites were established on a selection of rainfall, soil type and management systems on the agricultural soils of Kangaroo Island.
• Soil organic carbon (Walkley and Black method), total carbon (Dumas method) and pH (calcium chloride) were analysed for depths 0-5, 5-10, 10-30 and 30-50 cm.
• There was a good relationship between organic carbonWB and total carbonD for the results on Kangaroo Island. A multiplication factor of 1.12 can be used to estimate total carbonD from organic carbonWB.
• There was a strong positive relationship between carbon stock, rainfall and soil type.
o There appears to be a sharp increase in carbon stock at rainfall > 600 mm.
o Sand over clay soil type had lowest carbon stock and ironstone soil type the highest.
• Management system had a variable effect on carbon.
• There are inconsistencies in carbon stock for the sites depending on which analytical test was used organic carbonWB and total carbonD. This requires further investigation.

• The majority of sites had a soil pH less than pH 5.0 (CaCl2) which will reduce crop and pasture productivity and reduce profitability.
• Soils should be sampled at 0-5 and 5-10 cm rather than 0-10 cm. There is often an ‘acid throttle’ that is missed if sampling at 0-10 cm.
• Soils that have been limed will acidify over time. An application of lime every 5-6 years may be necessary to keep the soil pH above pH 5.0 (CaCl2).
• Deep rooted perennial grass dominant pastures can be less acidifying than annual pastures.

• Monitor pH to depth by using a shovel and cheap pH test kit
• Don’t assume just because you once limed that the problem is solved – monitor, monitor, monitor
• Consider options to get lime to depth by increasing the rate and/or frequency of liming or using strategic tillage

• There was no significant difference on a dry matter basis between all fertilizer products. Nor was there an effect of the cumulative amount over the four harvest times.
• There was a hint in the data that plots receiving treatment D (single super) were the least productive at both the Parndana and the Stokes Bay trials.

• There was no significant difference on a dry matter basis between all fertilizer products. Nor was there an effect of the cumulative amount over the four harvest times.
• There was high variability across the site owing to the effect of the January bushfire.
• There was a hint in the data that plots receiving treatment D (single super) were the least productive at both the Parndana and the Stokes Bay trials.

• These initial results indicate that to change soil pH at depth ideally requires some form of incorporation and/or higher application rates
• In the second year of monitoring, there was a significant increase in yield with the high rates of lime application (either incorporated or surface application)

• Most suitable summer crop species for Kangaroo Island soils are tillage radish, French white millet, sunflowers, turnips and buckwheat
• Bees have a higher preference to forage on sunflowers and tillage radish flowers compared with buckwheat.

Please see article

Four problem sub-clover species Yarloop, Dinninup, Geraldton and Dwalgenup.

Oestrogenic clovers are responsible for a variety of symptoms in sheep including reduced ewe fertility, difficult births, prolapse of the uterus, urethral blockages in wethers and udder development in maiden ewes and wethers.

Paddock assessments have confirmed the widespread presence of oestrogenic clovers in the South East and Kangaroo Island.

Growers are encouraged to assess their own paddocks for the presence of problem species and their potential impact on their flock.

• 3t/ha Little Sahara limesand will increase the pH in the top 5 cm of soil within 6 months and the effect will last for 4 years before re-acidification occurs

• It can take up to two years to get a pH change down to 10 cm in the soil profile

• Maintain surface pH above 5.5 to minimise risk of sub surface acidification.

Take Home Messages

Whilst the trial didn’t go according to plan there were still some key messages that arose:

• Maximising seed-soil contact is the aim at sowing especially for the larger seeds that require more moisture to imbibe and germinate compared to small seeds.

• Unseasonably low June rainfall hindered establishment of partially sown beans due to a drying topsoil. These may have been

OK under normal June rainfall conditions.

• Hair pinning can be a serious issue when using a disc seeder especially when sowing into wet/ moist lodged stubble.

• Solutions to avoid hair pinning – sow when stubble is dry (good in theory), keep stubble standing, use sharp discs and ensure bar

has sufficient down force to cut through tough stubble.

• Soil testing is essential for monitoring soil fertility levels.
• Of all the soil samples taken the majority were below critical levels for pH.
• Sulphur levels were low on some properties with sandy soils.

Farmers planning to renovate pasture’s can face an almost bewildering choice of varieties to select from. Victorian perennial rye grass is one of the best known of the ryegrass varieties and is still used by many. However, given it was developed and released in the early 1900’s it’s been superseded by many new and improved varieties. To look at this another way, this would compare to you buying rams from a breeder that had not done any genetic improvement in his flock for 100 years. 

• Select a few key paddocks and soil test them every few years to monitor soil pH levels.
• Make lime a part of your annual farm budget.
• Lime will increase pasture growth and feed quality.

• Precision soil mapping for pH and nutrients can result in significant cost savings for producers.

• Mapping soil pH has greatest value if the paddocks are into their second or third rotation of lime.

• Consider including sulphur in the testing if mapping phosphorus.

• Establish several sites across the farm to monitor the ongoing pH, P and S status.

•  Use the tools – they are easy to use and real eye opener on what acidity can be costing you.
• Significant yield improvements have been seen when cropped paddocks are limed.
• Make liming a part of your annual program. 
   

• Condition score stock every time they come into the yards and use the “Lifetime Ewe” app to guide costeffective decisions on feeding regimes.
• Ewes pregnancy-scanned for twins and singles and managed as separate mobs, enables tighter feed management of the singles without compromising the overall lambing percentage.
• Use all the tools - Pastures from Space, condition scoring Lifetime Ewe app and stocking rate calculators - to ensure mobs are not being over or under-fed (both options can lead to costly mistakes).

• If you are a productive farmer, you will be acidifying your soils.
• Use the tools – they are easy to use and provide valuable information on what is driving acidity and what it is costing you and your property.
• Liming will save you money – it’s cheaper to lime than wear the cost of lost production . 
   

• The only way to accurately know your soil pH is to send a sample for a laboratory test (soil testing kits are available from the PIRSA Office in Kingscote).
• Have a look at the on-line acidity tools . They are easy to use and extremely helpful in guiding liming decisions.
• Liming will pay for itself, often in the first year. 
   

Take Home Messages

• Near perfect growing season for canola, provided ideal opportunity to assess the residual N feeding effect of the legumes.

• All legumes sown in 2016 – peas, lupins, sub clover and faba beans had similar starting soil N levels and soil water nitrate readings throughout the year which was reflected in similar grain yields inferring that all legume species were equal in terms of their N fixing capabilities.

• The average amount of N fixed by the legumes was calculated as ~86kg/ha.

• Growing adequately nodulated legumes can give rise to a ~1t/ha canola yield advantage compared with a non-legume.

• Linseed used more moisture, from a greater depth, than the faba beans in 2016. Resultantly more moisture was extracted by the canola crop sown on the faba bean stubble in 2017, and yet there is still more  residual moisture left.

• Early sulphur application supported higher tiller numbers although this did not translate into yield
• Site was very responsive to at least 79kg nitrogen application.
• An additional 50kg urea (23kg N), resulted in slightly higher protein readings.
• Site was unresponsive to sulphur application.
• Timing and splitting of in-crop fertilisation conferred no yield advantage • Good utilisation of applied N and S in spite of high rainfall year.

• Amistar Xtra, Intake Hiload Gold and Prosaro provided effective blackleg control.
• No significant yield increase from these fungicides
• Need to consider economics- high cost fungicides arent justified if blackleg risk is low
• Last year’s work indicates variety selection also a good tool for blackleg control
• Blackleg is a problem in retained stubbles, fungicides and variety choice are 2 of many tools for blackleg control

• All 4 rotations produced good gross margins for 2014.
• KI rotation plus broad beans’ best gross margin based on 2 year average.
• Need to compare data over 3 years of crop rotation.

• Longer season varieties had lowest yields in dry season.
• Hyola 559 TT had highest yield, oil content and gross margin.
• Need to consider gross margin over yield as seed and end point royalties (EPR) costs differ.
• Range of varietal resistance to blackleg at this site.
• Addition of stubble had no impact on performance of Crusher TT.

• For the third year in a row and now over a variety of seasonal conditions the deep placement of organic matter has increased both crop yield and quality.

• 3t/ha limesand will increase the pH in the top 5 cm of soil within 6 months.
• Possibly takes up to two years to get a pH change down to 10 cm in the soil profile.

• Monitor canola crops at windrowing for the presence of Blackleg disease.
• Know the Resistance group your canola variety and be prepared to change both variety and resistance group if required.

• The use of eNtrenchTM, adequate sulphur at sowing, AwakenTM foliar all should be considered to enhance hay yields.
• A more complete approach to nutrition (sulphur, zinc & copper) is only beneficial if the nutrition is managed within the environment provided. This is what AwakenTM, eNtrenchTM & Pro Gibb take advantage of.
• By stabilising the nitrogen, big gains in utilisation were able, which results in more efficient use of land for hay production which could be adopted easily as all changes fit with existing operations.
• The extra costs are easily returned in yield, even in a poor rainfall season.
• The adoption of these products is not difficult as they fit as part of existing regimes.

• Small differences in yield with extra N under conditions at this site.
• Very dry spring needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting results.
• High rates of N early did not have significant impact on number of tillers.
• Grain quality higher for all N treatments.
• Further work required with ENTEC, eNtrench and Biopolymer urea coated product.

• Nodulation can be very poor and very patchy, and measures to improve both the level and consistency of nodulation are needed.
• Growers are encouraged to take root samples of legume crops in late winter or early spring to assess nodulation. A nodulation assessment guide that includes photos of plants with poor and good nodulation is available online.
• AgKI has received funding through GRDC for bean nodulation trial work in 2015 – so hopefully next year’s Ag Trial booklet will have good news about how to improve nodulation.

• There is still a lack of scientific research to validate results and their complete interpretation, nor does there appear to be any standardisation of tests.
• Testing may provide a ‘guide’ and some value as a comparison tool between paddocks.
• Significant differences in results between labs, possibly due to different analysis methods. This highlights the
• need to be cautious when comparing results from different labs.
• For a copy of the full report contact the PIRSA Office, Kingscote.

• Salinity is increasing slightly but is still well within desired levels. Salinity is not increasing at depth.
• Acidity is worsening with the majorioty of sites below critical levels. Acidity is also inceasing at depth, where it is much more costly to treat.
• Phosphorus levels, where fertilser had been applied, is at optimum to above optimum levels.

Changes in pasture composition, groundcover, stocking rate and stock condition are being monitored at each grazing site. Soil moisture is being measured at one pasture site (to 1.2m) and one cropping site (to 1.6m). Water quality will be monitored at one pasture site opportunistically depending on flow. Photo points were established and soil pH and nutrient testing was undertaken at all sites.

• Without this intensive mapping the paddock would have been either under or over limed and fertilised resulting in either a loss of productivity or a waste of fertiliser/lime dollars and possibly both.
• Whilst it’s economically beneficial to apply variable rate technology for a liming program, until more cost efficient soil testing methods are developed, the economic justification may not be there for soil nutrients.

Engineering solutions:

• On flat waterlogged land, raised beds provided the best yield result but they do have some management issues.
• Gravel slots and moles also worked well but the slots are expensive for broad acre use.
• Conventional moles are prone to collapse with Kangaroo Island’s sodic clays.
• The nature of many of our clays (sodic and poor draining) results in poor water movement from the soil into a slotted agricultural pipe.

Agronomic solutions:

• The adverse effects of waterlogging are primarily due to anoxic conditions in the soil, rather than element toxicities or deficiencies, except perhaps for aluminium.
• Liming acidic soils will reduce al toxicity.
• In waterlogged soils the application of poultry manure doesn’t appear to improve yields. But the application of lime may increase yield.
• Waterlogging may cause nitrogen (N) deficiency but high rates of N will not turn a waterlogged crop into a good crop.
• There may be some potential for varietal difference to waterlogging in wheat.
• Broad beans: improve nodulation through a combination of liming and application of molybdenum. Liming will also reduce inherent nutritional problems of low soil pH. Early tissue testing and nutrient correction with foliar applications help overcome some soil ph deficiencies

• PBA Coogee being a dual purpose pea provides growers the option to either cut for hay, harvest for grain, or graze.
• PBA Pearl is consistently the highest yielding pea variety in all areas across SA (2013 NVT data). It stands well and has better pod shattering tolerance than traditional varieties.

• Deep placement of organic master improved root development and increased overall yield.
• Site needs ongoing monitoring to gauge the long term effectiveness (and profitability) of sub soil manuring.
• First commercial machine has now been developed by a farmer in Victoria.

• Surface applied lime increased soil pH in the top 10 cm by 0.9 unit.
• Deep application of lime had a limited impact on soil pH at depth, possibly due to sampling errors and natural soil variability.

KI’s 7 golden rules for successful establishment

•  Good weed control is absolutely critical – it’s a waste of time seeding if you don’t get weed kill.
•  Apply broad spectrum insecticides pre-seeding.
• Seed in early Spring.
•  Seed at 2kg/ha.
•  Ensure good seed soil contact.
•  Allow the plants to become well established before grazing.
•  Continually monitor the paddock, after seeding for insects and pests and during the first graze to ensure stock are not pulling up runners.

How quickly can your N be lost? Most yield reductions come from one or two nitrogen- loss events pertaining to:
Denitrification  

• 10 percent lost in 3 days of saturated soils saturated (i.e. 20+ percent lost in four days of  wet soils)

Leaching  

• Heavy soils: lose NO3 nitrogen with tile-line flow  (7 to 23 Kgs/year)

 

• Products with low cost per unit N were the most profitable in 2013.
• Very high N treatment increased quality but reduced yield.
• Some products that claim to increase N efficiency require further investigation.

• Over time applications of lime (2.5-3t/ha) increase soil pH by an average of 0.45 unit.
• Monitor pH levels, retest 2 to 3 years after liming and reapply lime if required.
• Amelioration of soil acidity, through lime spreading, needs to be conducted to prevent soil acidification.

Two seasons data reaffirms newer varieties preforming well.

• Variety relative performance consistent last two seasons.
• Need to consider gross margin.
• Gross margin driven by yield and quality.
• Canobolas Trit high yielding feed option.