In the face of unpredictable rainfall patterns, drought resilience remains a top concern for farmers across Queensland. Recognising the importance of maximizing every drop of rainfall, a federally funded initiative, the Drought Resilient Soils and Landscape project, is underway to address soil constraints hindering water utilization by crops.
Twenty farmers in South East and Central Queensland have been selected to participate in this project, which aims to demonstrate effective soil management practices to overcome constraints, boost crop yields, and enhance drought resilience.
Managed by The University of Queensland and supported by AgForce Queensland and Australian Organics Ltd, the project has established twenty field sites across Southern and Central Queensland.
Recently, on 23 February, the UQ team from the School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability organised a field day at Wheatvale, hosted by farmer Tim Thorne, one of the participants in the trials.
Attended by 25 agronomists, scientists, and farmers, the field day served as a platform for discussing trial results and exchanging ideas on the challenges posed by erratic rainfall patterns.
Dr. Bernhard Wehr, the UQ project leader, provided insights into the project’s background and discussed the use of remote sensing data to identify soil variability in the field.
Based on soil test results, Thorne and the UQ team decided to trial three different silicon supplements to assess their impact on maize growth and soil health. Preliminary trial outcomes were shared, sparking lively discussions to deepen understanding.
Participants inspected the maize crops and engaged in demonstrations showcasing simple soil tests that farmers can use to evaluate soil quality.
Future field days are scheduled for April and May, offering continued opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange among farmers and scientists as they work towards enhancing drought resilience in Queensland’s agricultural landscape.
