Project involved water monitoring /quality, field walks and discussion groups, stubble incorporation trials, soil characterisation and soil mapping of a 40 000ha area.
Recent wet winters combined with poorly drained heavy clay soils and high stubble loads were creating barriers to the adoption of stubble retention practices in the high rainfall zone of Western Victoria.
This project supported a group of farmers who manage over 20,000 hectares to investigate and trial practices to reduce stubble burning that suit their farming system, increase soil carbon, improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The project collected soil information which allow soil mapping of the region to improve the groups knowledge and understanding of soils, to help monitor soil health and reduce acidification. Water quality monitoring on waterways was also conducted to help promote changes to fertiliser practices to prevent losses and eutrophication of waterways and RAMSAR wetlands.
This project built on work completed under a previous project which characterised the soils across the Derrinallum, Lismore, Weerite and Leslie Manor areas.