Combatting non-wetting soils

Published: 3 Jul 2014

Combatting non-wetting soils cover page

Tour of on-farm research in Western Australia - 2014 

This book outlines some of the options that Western Australian farmers have adopted to manage non-wetting soils on their properties. The top three research, development and extension priorities for the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Western Region are frost, weeds and non-wetting soils. GRDC has committed significant investment in these priorities on behalf of growers. 

GRDC invested in the Regional Cropping Solutions Network (RCSN) in 2011 with the primary aim to identify local research, development and extension priorities. There are five RCSN’s across the Western Region, which have been divided on a port zone basis with two in Kwinana (Kwinana East and Kwinana West). The RCSN consists of a mix of over 70 growers and industry professionals who meet formally twice per year to discuss research, development and extension priorities. 

Non-wetting has been identified by the RCSN’s as having a significant impact on productivity. The RCSN members have recognised that non-wetting is limiting yield and it is increasing in extent and/or severity across many of the grain growing regions of WA. 

In particular, Kwinana West and Albany Port Zone RCSNs are keen to increase farmer knowledge on methods to address non-wetting soils, and want to see extension of these methods to farmers in WA. To help achieve this, two non-wetting bus tours, and this booklet were initiated.

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Region West

Region: West