Increasing soil carbon stocks on lighter soils in the Northern Wimmera
Melissa Cann A, Nicole deCourcy-Ireland B, Joel Boyd C
A
Department of Environment and Primary Industries, PO BOX 501 SWAN HILL VIC 3585, [email protected]
B
epartment of Environment and Primary Industries, 110 NATIMUK ROAD HORSHAM VIC 3400,
D
[email protected]
C
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, 24 Darlot Street, Horsham, VIC 3400, [email protected]
The Department of Environment and Primary Industries in conjunction with the Wimmera Catchment
Management Authority and local Landcare Groups are undertaking a four year project demonstrating
practices to increase soil carbon sequestration on cropping and grazing properties in Victoria’s North West
Wimmera by utilising organic amendments and clay spreading.
Light sandy soils that are non-wetting and have very low organic carbon levels are the target of this project
and are common across the North West Wimmera. Existing clay spread, newly clay spread paddocks and
sites that have never been clay modified are incorporated into the project. To further improve the condition
of these soils and productivity, local organic amendment will be applied to the trials comparing surface
spreading and incorporation of the treatments. In addition, an iconic legacy remote sensing site will measure
productivity outcomes and soil carbon stocks under four different paddock scenarios comparing organic
amendment against clay modification and unimproved sand. This site will allow for ongoing learnings
beyond the term of the project for local farmers.
This work will complement a similar project in the SE of South Australia with Rural Solutions SA where
they are undertaking a similar soil carbon sequestration trial using clay and organic amendment. Support
and discussions will continue throughout the life of the project to ensure the findings obtained are useful and
meaningful for landholders managing light sandy soils.