Unlock Soil Nutrients

Soil CRC
Written By Cristy Houghton

Project Funder: Soil CRC

Project Lead Organisation/Researcher: The University of Newcastle, Dr Balaji Seshadri

Project Duration: March 2021 – March 2024

Aim

The aim of this project is to examine the value of innovative organic amendments (manures, composts, biosolids) in unlocking nutrient reserves and increasing Nutrient Use Efficient (NUE) in a range of soil types and cropping systems. These organic wastes can be major source of nutrients that primarily include carbon (C), Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P). It aims to explore how organic amendments can unlock tightly bound soil nutrients, enhancing NUE. The project will also establish innovative approaches to apply organic amendments in agricultural soils and examine ways to make the nutrients available for plants through moisture retention and nutrient mobilisation. 

Description and background

Enhancing NUE in agricultural soils is challenging due to diminishing natural resources such as phosphate rock and water availability. The use of organic wastes as soil amendments can potentially reduce the dependence on naturally available materials.

Maintaining and enhancing soil fertility are key issues for sustainability in an agricultural system with organic or low input methods. This project will study the effect of organic amendments on nutrient release in selected soil and cropping systems under different soil management practices.

The project will focus on the most common, large-scale nutrient-rich organic wastes that include poultry/pig manures, dairy-farm wastes, composts, biosolids, etc. The research will involve 4 research components in collaboration with farmers/end users, government bodies, research providers and industry partners:

RC1: Characterisation of the chemical form of nutrients and contaminants in organic wastes and soils.

RC2: Development of innovative approaches for modulation of nutrient release in organic waste-amended soils.

RC3: Characterisation of treated soils and plant availability of soil nutrients across agro-ecological systems.

RC4: Agronomic evaluation of organic fertilizer products under various agro-ecosystems.

Partnership

This project is a partnership between Soil CRC, The University of Newcastle, Central West Farming Systems, University of Southern Queensland, South East Water Corporation, Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA), Australian Organic Recycling Organisation, Herbert Cane Productivity Services Ltd, Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd.

 
 
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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