Building resilient soils and enhancing carbon stocks in cropping systems through plant diversity

Soil CRC
Written By Cristy Houghton

Project overview

Project Funder: Soil CRC

Project Lead Organisation/Researcher: Southern Cross University/Terry Rose

Project Durations: 2023-2026

Project Location: Condobolin

Aims

The project investigates the impact of using different species in cover cropping, intercropping, and crop rotations on soil resilience, carbon dynamics, and productivity.

The project aims to determine the medium-longer term contribution of cover cropping, intercropping and crop rotation to soil resilience and carbon dynamics, and cropping system productivity. 

Description and background

The project will determine the long-term impact of plant diversity on soil carbon dynamic, quantify the stability and role of rhizodeposits (e.g. root exudates) on soil carbon, aggregate formation, and soil microbial communities and optimise intercrop mixes to enhance soil resilience. 

Longer term, the project aims to identify agronomic interventions that increase plant diversity in cropping systems that can improve soil resilience and sustain or increase system productivity. The project ultimately aims to increase carbon levels and resilience in Australian cropping soils. 

CWFS have a long-term trial set up that includes a range of summer cover crop, intercropping and temporary intercropping treatments that are continuously monitored for biomass production and grain yield, soil water use, soil health and changes in soil organic carbon.

Partnership

This project is funded by the CRC for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC) and led by Southern Cross University.

Project partners include NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Central West Farming Systems, Riverine Plains, Birchip Cropping Group and Herbert Cane Productivity Services. 

Cristy Houghton

Cristy's unique career has taken her from country NSW to the city lights of Clarendon Street South Melbourne and back again. With an early career in radio as a copywriter and creative strategist, she is now a Jill of all trades as a graphic designer, website builder, blog writer, video editor, social media manager, marketing strategist and more. 

In fact, give her any task and this chick will figure out how to do it! Go on, we dare you!

No, really, we DARE you!!

Cristy has won two Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs) for Best Ad and Best Sales Promotion, and even has an 'Employee of the Year' certificate with her name on it.

Cristy and her husband James have traveled extensively through Russia, China and South East Asia, and have two fur-babies, Sooty (cat) and Panda (puppy). Cristy loves drinking coffee, meeting people to drink coffee, coffee tasting and coffee flavoured cocktails. She also enjoys road trips, TED Talks and watching cat videos on youtube.

http://www.embarketing.com.au
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