Soil scientists are unearthing secrets from deep below southern Queensland’s broadacre farming belt that have the potential to revolutionize soil management for Australian and international cropping enterprises.
“Economics of ameliorating hostile sub-soils in the northern region: Project B – Soil constraint management and amelioration for the northern region”, is a four-year study made possible by a five million dollars investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
The project will uncover greater insight into soil types, varieties and dispersal to produce soil maps that show not only topsoil but subsoil a metre below the surface.
The Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Systems, Deputy Director Professor John Bennett knows a better understanding of total soil profile can completely change paddock management and profitability.
“It’s a misconception if the soil looks the same on the surface it is the same all the way down, soil constraints vary in four dimensions including depth which is the hard one because we can’t see subsoil”