Download NEW HORIZONS the next revolution in agriculture

NEW HORIZONS the next revolution in agriculture
South Australian broadacre farmers have a strong and proud history as innovative leaders in farm management
practices. The increasing global demand for food and premium grade products creates real opportunities for
South Australian grain growers if they can increase production in a sustainable manner. Grains are a highly
valuable export commodity. The Gross Food Revenue value for the grains industry in 2012-13 was $4.3 billion
and each year much of the South Australian grains crop is exported.
Through the New Horizons Program, the
South Australian government will grow
the capability of our dryland farmers to
significantly increase crop and pasture
production on poor performing soils.
About 40% (4.1 million ha) of the area under
broadacre agriculture in South Australia has
soil issues which limit agricultural production
that can be addressed through the New
Horizons Program. These include low fertility
soils, poorly structured soils, sandy soils
and sodic clay sub-soils which are hostile to
plant growth. There is compelling evidence
from recent advances in soil science
that such limitations can be addressed
through making modifications to the top 50
centimetres of soil.
The New Horizons Program is establishing
experimental sites and a demonstration
program to uncover the benefits of
modifying the top 50 centimetres of the soil
profile to improve root growth, plant vigour
and water use efficiency. Early evidence
suggests that increases in yield of 20%
to 200% (70% average) can be achieved
with these new farming practices. The
New Horizons Program will improve our
understanding of the processes in the soil
that contribute to increased yield so that the
benefits of soil modification can be reliably
predicted. The ability of farmers to know
how and when they can increase crop yields
by 70% on average across much of South
Australia would represent a new revolution
in farm management in this state.
The New Horizons Program will involve a
mix of fundamental and applied research,
extension and regional demonstrations
to develop an effective soil management
package and technology guidelines.
www.pir.sa.gov.au/newhorizons
1300 364 322
Working closely with broadacre producers,
New Horizons is being delivered by PIRSA in
partnership with:
yy South Australian Farming Systems
Groups
yy Adelaide University
yy University of South Australia
yy Department of Environment, Water and
Natural Resources (DEWNR)
NEW HORIZONS the next revolution in agriculture
The need for new
approaches
Broadacre agriculture is a significant
contributor to our State’s GDP. Traditionally
the sector has been able to maintain a
competitive advantage because of the
relatively low cost of purchasing productive
land, labour and energy. Increased
economic and environmental risks,
including the degradation of soils, faced
by the agricultural sector, calls for a more
innovative and precise approach to farming
and resource management.
Maintaining current approaches to soil
management would see the sector grow
by $200 million per annum over 20 years.
By taking the New Horizons approach, the
program predicts an increase in South
Australia’s agricultural production by another
$600 million per annum within 5 years.
In addition, an increase in the protection
of agricultural cropping land from soil
erosion, and the potential for storage of 200
megatonnes of carbon can be achieved.
Some 40% of South Australia’s broadacre
agricultural area has soil issues limiting
productive capacity of the land. These
include low fertility and poorly structured
sandy soils and sodic clay sub-soils that
are hostile to plant growth.
Advances in soil science and management
techniques have shown that these
issues can be addressed through the
application of innovations in soil science
and management. However, slow adoption
of these advances and techniques has
resulted in a significant loss of opportunity
both in terms of maximum crop yields and
management of environmental risk.
soil structure, the level of organic matter
in soil, the identification and management
of nutrient deficiencies of South Australian
soils and the role of micro-organisms
in soil and plant health – all of which, if
poorly managed, affect sub-soil integrity
and constrain root growth. Removing
these sub-soil constraints to root growth is
critical to plant health and productivity.
Constraints to root growth in sub-soils
include:
yy soil compaction which physically stop
roots growing
yy low fertility or nutrient deficient soils
that limit root growth at depth, leaving
soil moisture unused by crops or
pastures at the end of a season
yy saline sub-soils or soils with very high
or very low pH levels which are hostile
to root growth
yy high sodium and boron concentration in
soils, toxic to plant growth
Opportunity through
research and extension
Since the 1940’s, agronomic research has
focussed on management of the top 10
centimetres of soil as this is where most of
the plant roots have been seen to grow and
is the depth at which farm machinery could
easily modify.
Strong evidence now exists to support the
premise that the roots growing deeper in
A typical sandy soil profile which will be
addressed in this program
the soil also play a very important role in
taking up nutrients and water. Wherever
there are constraints to root growth in
subsoils, plant growth suffers. By utilising
the top 50 centimetres of the soil profile
rather than just the top 10 centimetres,
roots are encouraged deeper into the
subsoil layer, significantly improving crop
and pasture productivity.
Working closely with farming groups, New
Horizons aims to increase adoption of
advanced soil management techniques.
The research findings and evidence will
be collated to create a valuable resource
for farmers to maximise productivity and
environmental benefit.
For further information about the New
Horizons Program, contact Brett Bartel
on (08) 8226 9771
Why do we think we can
increase crop production
by 70%?
South Australian soil research has
highlighted the importance of improving
Diagram showing traditional tillage practices on the left and clay mixing on the right.
www.pir.sa.gov.au/newhorizons
1300 364 322