Soil and Carbon
Soil for Drought Resilience

Driving On-Farm Adoption of Carbon-Friendly Soil Management Practices across the Mallee

A collaborative Mallee project promoting soil amelioration to boost carbon storage, crop yields, and drought resilience.

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  • Increase adoption of soil amelioration practices

    Help Mallee farmers confidently implement soil improvement methods (deep soil disturbance with organic matter incorporation) to enhance soil health, crop performance, and drought resilience.

  • Demonstrate and communicate measurable benefits

    Monitor and share long-term trial results showing how soil amelioration can increase soil carbon, boost yields, and protect fragile landscapes, using field days, demonstrations, and case studies.

  • Build a collaborative innovation network

    Create a Farmer Innovation Platform linking farmers, advisers, and researchers to share data, experiences, and region-specific guidance for integrating soil amelioration into commercial farming systems.

Project Overview

Supporting Mallee Farmers to Adopt Soil Amelioration Practices

This project aims to assist Mallee farmers in confidently adopting soil amelioration practices that enhance soil health, crop performance, and resilience to drought and climate change.

Working with local grower groups, the project will monitor and share long-term outcomes from existing on-farm trials to demonstrate how soil amelioration can increase soil carbon, boost yields, and safeguard fragile landscapes. Through field days, demonstrations, and an innovation platform connecting farmers, advisers, and researchers, MSF will deliver practical, region-specific guidance for integrating these techniques into commercial farming systems.

Why the Project is Being Conducted (the Research Question)

Soil amelioration — deep soil disturbance combined with the addition of organic matter such as manure — has shown encouraging results across the Mallee’s sandy soils.

The project asks: “How can soil amelioration be applied effectively and sustainably in low-rainfall Mallee systems to achieve long-term improvements in soil health, yield, and climate resilience?”

While farmers have experienced short-term benefits, further work is needed to understand the longer-term effects on soil carbon, fertility, and the optimal frequency for these treatments. This project builds on previous research to address those knowledge gaps and to make adoption easier and more profitable.

Soil amelioration has already yielded impressive results in the Mallee. Farmers and trials have demonstrated

What are the Benefits of Soil Amelioration?

  • Improved crop establishment and yield by breaking up sub-surface hardpans, enabling deeper root growth.

  • Increased access to moisture and nutrients, especially in sandy dune soils.

  • Enhanced groundcover and plant biomass, which helps reduce erosion and boost soil stability.

  • Potential for long-term soil carbon storage, supporting carbon farming and climate-smart practices.

  • Greater fertiliser efficiency and a lower risk of nutrient runoff into the environment.

Project Activities

The project combines scientific monitoring, farmer participation, and knowledge sharing to promote soil amelioration across the Mallee.

Key activities include:

  1. Field Monitoring (2025–26): Track soil fertility, carbon levels, and crop performance at demonstration sites in Bow Hill, Lowbank, Browns Well, and Millewa.

  2. Farmer Innovation Platform: Build a regional network linking farmers, advisers, and researchers through field walks and discussions.

  3. Regional Workshop (July 2026): Share findings and practical guidance on soil health and carbon management.

  4. Case Studies and Knowledge Sharing: Publish farmer case studies via MSF’s Soils Connect and social media.

  5. First Nations Engagement: Collaborate with Indigenous Officers to integrate traditional knowledge and participation.

  6. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL): Use surveys and reports to assess knowledge gains, practice changes, and adoption rates.

This participatory model ensures both farmers and researchers co-develop soil improvement practices tailored to Mallee conditions.

Locations

Where is the Project Being Conducted?

The project operates across key low-rainfall districts of the South Australian and Victorian Mallee, including Bow Hill SA, Lowbank SA, Browns Well SA, and the Millewa VIC. It focuses on monitoring three existing on-farm soil amelioration demonstration sites and supporting local farmer groups as they test and refine these practices under real paddock conditions.

See more trial sites on MSF website

Who is Conducting and Funding the Project?

The project is conducted by Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) in collaboration with local grower groups and research partners. It is funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Carbon Farming Outreach Program.

The MSF project team includes:

  • Penny Roberts – Research Manager

  • Sarah Day – Communications and Extension Manager

  • Jay Cummins – Project Manager

  • Chris McDonough – Extension Agronomist

How Can Farmers and Consultants Get Involved?

Farmers, advisers, and consultants are encouraged to join the project’s Innovation Platform—a network connecting growers, agronomists, and researchers who are testing and adopting soil health improvements.

You can:

  • Attend local field days and workshops to see results firsthand.

  • Join group discussions to share experiences and help develop best practices.

  • Contribute on-farm data or case studies that track soil and crop yields.

  • Follow MSF’s “Soils Connect” channels for videos, podcasts, and updates on soil health and carbon-friendly farming.

For more information or to get involved:
Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF)
Email: [email protected]

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