Building Soil Function

Optimising Fertiliser Use with VRT in the Murray Plains

Improving Soil Performance with Variable Rate Technology in the Murray Plains

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  • Tailored Inputs Improve Efficiency and Profitability

    VRT enabled farmers to apply fertiliser more strategically, improving nutrient efficiency and boosting returns by aligning inputs with soil type and seasonal risk.

  • Farmer Participation Drives Real-World Solutions

    By involving growers directly in mapping, trials, and tool development, the project ensured solutions were practical, localised, and trusted by the community.

  • Easy VRT Tools Support On-Farm Decision Making

    Tools developed through the project—like Easy VRT and NDVI mapping—enabled farmers to manage variability with more confidence, from paddock zoning to harvest analysis.

Project Overview

Using VRT to Manage Soil Variability in the Murray Plains

This project tackled the challenge of managing variable soils across the Murray Plains, where productivity is often constrained by factors like sodicity, low fertility, and inconsistent moisture.
By supporting the use of Variable Rate Technology (VRT), the project aimed to improve input efficiency, boost profitability, and build farmer confidence in using soil data, satellite imagery, and yield maps to inform fertiliser decisions.

Through field trials, decision-support tools, and collaborative learning, farmers gained experience in soil zone mapping, precision input application, and multi-season planning for sustainable cropping.

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How the Murray Plains VRT Trials Were Designed and Delivered

How It Works

  • 1
    Step

    Mapped paddock zones using NDVI satellite imagery

    Farmers worked with advisers to review NDVI images from different seasons, identifying crop growth patterns that reflect underlying soil differences. These zones were used to guide input strategies.
  • 2
    Step

    Conducted surface and deep soil testing

    Soil samples were taken from different depths across each zone to assess nutrient status, soil constraints, and Plant Available Water (PAW), helping determine where fertiliser responses were most likely.
  • 3
    Step

    Implemented fertiliser strip trials within zones

    Each paddock included high-rate, low-rate, and standard (flat-rate) fertiliser strips. In some cases, post-season nitrogen strips were also added. These helped compare yield and gross margin responses across different soil types.
  • 4
    Step

    Used planning tools like the Mallee N Calculator and Your Soil’s Potential

    These tools helped translate soil test data, rainfall outlooks, and crop needs into practical fertiliser plans that aligned with the specific conditions in each zone.
  • 5
    Step

    Held seasonal check-ins and virtual workshops

    Mid-season Zoom calls and post-harvest reviews allowed participants to share feedback, troubleshoot issues, and evaluate how different strategies performed in a challenging dry year.
  • 6
    Step

    Collaborated with technical support to integrate VRT with machinery

    Many farmers received one-on-one assistance ensuring that their seeding and harvesting equipment could capture and apply zone-specific data effectively—removing a major barrier to VRT use.
  • 7
    Step

    Ran field days and crop walks to encourage peer learning

    Demonstration paddocks were toured in August and September, allowing farmers, advisers, and agribusiness reps to see results firsthand, discuss approaches, and build regional understanding of VRT’s benefits.

Insights, Limitations and Discoveries from the VRT Demonstrations

The Murray Plains VRT project revealed valuable insights into both the opportunities and challenges of implementing Variable Rate Technology across diverse soil types and seasonal conditions.

Key Challenges

Several environmental and technical barriers affected trial outcomes:

  • Dry seasonal conditions, including drought and frost, made it difficult to compare treatments at some sites.
  • Sodic clays responded inconsistently, and where these were mixed into the topsoil, crop performance declined.
  • High-input zones often underperformed in dry seasons, showing that more fertiliser does not always equal better results.
  • Technology adoption barriers remained, including difficulties with data interpretation and machinery integration for some growers.

Key Findings

Despite the challenges, the project delivered a range of positive discoveries:

  • Post-N applications on heavier soils during dry conditions led to negative returns, while sandy soils with deeper moisture performed better.
  • Pig manure showed promise in rehabilitating dry saline patches.
  • Deep seeding into subsoil moisture helped with crop establishment in dry years.
  • Farmers became more confident using yield maps and VRT tools, which encouraged whole-farm adoption strategies.
  • Using PAW data and soil testing improved input targeting, leading to more efficient nitrogen and phosphorus use.
  • Peer learning through field days and workshops was a critical factor in building regional knowledge and encouraging uptake.

These findings highlight that VRT, when paired with the right agronomic insights and participatory support, can significantly improve input efficiency and resilience—though success is heavily influenced by soil type, seasonal timing, and grower experience.

Building on Success - Expanding VRT Across the Murray Plains

The Murray Plains VRT project successfully showed that with the right tools, support, and knowledge, farmers can manage soil variability more precisely. Participatory approaches built trust, and practical tools helped farmers interpret data and take action with confidence.

Moving forward, all participating farmers plan to expand VRT across more paddocks in 2025. Key next steps include:

  • Continued development and simplification of Easy VRT tools
  • Long-term monitoring to assess soil and yield improvements across seasons
  • Ongoing peer-to-peer learning and technical support
  • Regional promotion of outcomes through videos, workshops, and field days

This project laid the groundwork for more profitable and resilient soil management strategies—grounded in data, tailored to local conditions, and driven by farmer collaboration.

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