Soil Quality
Articles
Western Australian Soil Health Forum Presentations
Author
Misc
Published
20 March 2007
The presentations from the Western Australian Soil Health Forum, held on March 6 2007 at the University of Western Australia.
8:25AM – Peter Sullivan
Opening Remarks
8:40AM – Dr Graham Sparling
Soil quality monitoring in New Zealand: What’s worked and what hasn’t – lessons from a 10 year study
Graham is a part-time research associate with Landcare Research, New Zealand. The focus of his most recent work has been applying biochemical techniques to assessing soil quality, and identifying sustainable land use practices.
Graham’s presentation reviews the soil quality monitoring program instigated in New Zealand 15 years ago. Graham discusses the pros and cons of the program and lessons Western Australia can learn if implementing our own program.
9:30AM – Chris Gazey
Long-term soil acidity monitoring
Chris has over 20 years experience working in WA Agriculture, most recently with the Department of Agriculture and Food, WA and has completed a number of projects dealing with the management of acidic soils.
The focus of Chris’s presentation is on the long-term soil acidity monitoring program being conducted in the Avon region and some of the interesting results to come out of the program.
10:00AM – Dr Daniel Murphy
The official launch of the “Soil Quality Website”
Dan is the current head of the Soil Biology group at the University of Western Australia. His main areas of research are the study of microbial nutrient cycling and issues relating to microbial function and diversity.
Dan officially launched the Soil Quality website at the Soil Health Forum. His presentation provides an overview of his statewide soil monitoring program and how this information is being stored and made accessible all landholders through the Soil Quality website.
11:00AM – Dr Jeff Baldock
An overview of the role of soil organic matter
Jeff is employed by CSIRO Land and Water in Adelaide, South Australia. He has been involved in research related to the chemistry and dynamics of organic matter (specifically carbon and nitrogen) in agricultural, forest and marine ecosystems.
Jeff’s presentation is an excellent overview of soil organic matter, including its different components and the role it plays in soil health and resilience.
11:30AM – Frances Hoyle
How do agronomic practises influence organic matter?
Fran Hoyle has 17 years research, development and project management experience with the Department of Agriculture and Food, WA and the University of WA in cereal agronomy, residue management and soil biology.
Fran presents on the influence of agricultural practices on soil organic matter using Western Australian examples.
12:00PM – Wayne Pluske
Does the value of stubble and nutrients from organic matter?
Wayne is an agribusiness consultant with Nutrient Management Systems and also a key trainer for programs in Western Australia, including FERTCARE.
Wayne reviews the economic worth of soil organic matter and asks the question; “What is the cost : benefit of changing agricultural management practices to increase SOM?”.
1:30PM – Dr Ann McNeill
The impact of agricultural inputs on soil organisms
Annie is a lecturer and researcher at The University of Adelaide and is interested in soil-plant interactions at all scales from the micro to the system level.
Annie reviews the impact of agricultural inputs on soil organisms including the changes in activity and diversity due to different management practices and areas where more research is needed.
2:00PM – Assoc. Prof John Howieson
Rhizobium biology and crop productivity
John is based at the Centre for Rhizobium Studies at Murdoch University, Western Australia. His research interests include rhizobial ecology, particularly in adaptation of rhizobial strains to harsh environments and selection of new strains for maximum nitrogen fixation efficiency.
John presents on the science to rhizobia and improved crop productivity, including where the research is currently at and where he hopes to see it go in the future.
2:30PM – Dr Greg Bender
Inoculants in the Australian environment
Greg has spent the 80’s as a research scientist in plant-microbe interactions at ANU in Canberra, the 90’s in the inoculant and seed industries, and the 00’s as a private consultant to GRDC, AWI and agribusiness.
Greg reviews new inoculants and current successes in the Australian environment.
3:30PM – Dr Stephen Carr
Liming to improve soil health and increase profit
Steve has been general manager of Aglime of Australia for some years now and he strives to help clients maximise profits within sustainable farming systems.
Steve looks at the benefits of an acceptable pH to soil health and the differences this can make to grain yields.
4:00PM – Graeme McConnell
Is there a $$ value in improving your soil health?
Graeme joined Planfarm in 1999 where he remains today, specialising in providing farm business management advice to clients in the Central and Eastern wheatbelts. His focus is farm financing, financial analysis, production and financial benchmarking, succession/ business planning and problem solving.
Graeme discusses whether there is a dollar value in a landholder improving agricultural soil health and the notion of profit vs sustainability.
4:30PM – Ian Duncan
Forum Wrap-up
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