Soil for Drought Resilience

Developing Robust Ground Cover

Enhancing drought resilience and advancing ground cover solutions to support farming sustainability in low-rainfall regions.

  • Prepare and promote

    Research explored long coleoptile wheat for extending sowing windows, seed priming to boost germination, and disc seeding to preserve moisture and ensure uniform crop establishment in dry soils.

  • Replenish and encourage and retain

    Low-risk, residue-friendly strip amelioration practices were introduced to boost plant biomass, alongside farming system solutions designed to maintain continuous ground cover.

  • Protect

    Stripper front harvesting was tested to leave taller stubble for erosion protection, paired with disc seeding to preserve stubble structure and enhance trafficability.

Project Overview

Innovative Farming Strategies for Resilient Soils in the Mallee

The transition to conservative farming practices has dramatically improved soil health and productivity in the Mallee, but challenges remain. Dry years limit biomass, and pulse crops, while beneficial for nitrogen fixation and disease management, often leave insufficient stubble for erosion protection.

This project tackled these challenges by focusing on three key phases: Prepare and Promote, Replenish and Encourage, and Retain and Protect.

Prepare and Promote investigated strategies like long coleoptile wheat to optimise sowing in dry topsoils, seed priming for better germination, and disc seeding to utilise moisture more efficiently.
Replenish and Encourage developed strip amelioration techniques to increase stubble load and enhance soil cover for subsequent seasons.

Retain and Protect explored stripper front harvesting, which leaves taller stubble, reducing wind erosion risks, and retaining soil moisture through summer fallows.

The results highlight the importance of combining practices like strip and disc systems to improve outcomes for cereals while balancing the challenges of low stubble retention from pulse crops.

View the final MSF report here

  • Improving Rainfall Infiltration and Erosion Control

    Enhancing groundcover boosts rainfall absorption, reduces runoff, and minimizes erosion risks, ensuring more effective use of available moisture.

  • Sustaining Groundcover During Drought

    Maintaining sufficient groundcover in dry periods enables paddocks to recover quickly after drought, reducing the need for costly remediation and preserving long-term productivity.

  • Innovating Groundcover Maintenance Strategies

    Exploring new approaches, including integrating legumes in crop rotations and leveraging their nitrogen-fixing benefits, addresses the challenge of limited biomass while promoting drought-resilient groundcover.

Revolutionising Grazing with Virtual Fencing Technology

Virtual fencing, nearing commercial availability in Australia, is transforming how mixed farms manage grazing. This innovative technology uses GPS-enabled devices to contain livestock without physical barriers, offering groundbreaking benefits for crop-livestock systems. Recent trials led by CSIRO demonstrate its potential to optimise grazing pressure, control weeds, and protect erosion-prone areas.

Implications of Virtual fencing for Mixed Farmers
The research highlights virtual fencing as a game-changer for Australian mixed farms. By integrating this technology, farmers can improve paddock management, optimise dual-purpose crops, and protect soil health, paving the way for more sustainable farming practices. With ongoing development, virtual fencing is set to become an essential tool for the future of agriculture.

Key Findings

Virtual Fencing Technology

  • 1
    Step

    Improved Grazing Efficiency

    Virtual fencing allows precise control of livestock, enabling targeted grazing of frost-affected or weed-heavy zones while avoiding overgrazing in erosion-prone areas.
  • 2
    Step

    Adaptation for Sheep

    Trials with non-wool sheep showcased the potential for ear tag and collar-based virtual fencing systems, overcoming challenges with wool-covered livestock.
  • 3
    Step

    Enhanced Weed and Biomass Management

    Strip grazing with virtual fencing significantly reduced ryegrass seed head density and improved biomass distribution, supporting better groundcover and crop performance.

  • Seed Priming

    Seed priming, soaking seeds before sowing, kickstarts germination, enabling seeds to germinate faster, uniformly, and in lower soil moisture. This method shows promise for improving groundcover in sandy, non-wetting soils, boosting crop vigour and yield potential in dry seasons.

  • Long Coleoptile Wheat

    Long coleoptile wheat varieties allow crops to germinate from deeper soil layers, accessing subsurface moisture during dry conditions. This helps establish crops in years with limited autumn rain, ensures timely emergence, avoids herbicide zones, and maximises yields by aligning with optimal flowering periods.

  • Strip and Disc Systems

    These systems conserve stubble, with stripper front harvesters leaving tall, durable stubble that reduces erosion and improves soil conditions. Disc seeders are used to plant through this stubble, enhancing soil protection and creating favourable conditions for emerging crops.

Conclusion

The project highlights the need for a systems-based approach to soil resilience, balancing immediate productivity with long-term sustainability. By focusing on robust ground cover strategies, farmers can safeguard their soils, mitigate erosion risks, and build a more resilient farming system, even in the face of challenging conditions. These insights pave the way for continued innovation and collaboration in the Mallee farming community.

Visit MSF

To find out more

This project is just one example of the innovative practices Mallee Sustainable Farming (MSF) is driving to support sustainable agriculture in low-rainfall environments. From seed priming and long coleoptile wheat to advanced grazing systems like virtual fencing, these solutions are designed to help farmers build resilience, improve productivity, and protect soil health for the future.

To explore more about these initiatives, access detailed resources, or see how you can implement these practices on your farm, visit the MSF website. Stay connected with cutting-edge research and practical solutions tailored to the challenges of farming in the Mallee.

Visit Mallee Sustainable Farming

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