Improved soil, water and nutrient management through variable rate crop inputs - Climate Smart Landscapes (NHT project)

Project code: 

Project manager: MFMG 

Project duration: March 2025 to 30 June 2028

About the project

Aligned with the Limestone Coast Climate-smart Landscapes project outcomes, MFMG will:

1) establish two demonstration sites

2) run 8 workshop/field days

3) and have 1 baseline and 1 indicator skills and knowledge targeting 20 farmers adopting sustainable natural resource management practices on sandy soils and erosion prone land and 80 farmers with improved skills, knowledge and capacity in this area. 

 

This project builds on previous work to support farmers in implementing variable rate applications on their farms. It aims to guide farmers in identifying management zones, collecting soil samples across these zones (supported by a demonstration video), and using soil test kits to capture variability. Once soil data is returned, workshops will help farmers interpret the results and develop variable rate application strategies.

Two key focus paddocks—one in the Coorong District Council and one in the Tatiara District Council—have been established, both featuring areas of low-fertility sandy soils. Variable rate strategies have been applied to these paddocks, which will serve as case studies and be monitored over three years to demonstrate the benefits and potential of variable rate application in the region.

 

This project is funded by:

This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program and delivered for the Limestone Coast Landscape Board, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel by MacKillop Farm Management Group. 

 

 

 

 

Project Resources

Video: Sampling by Zones: Smarter Soil Data with Dr Mel Fraser (2 minute watch)

Video: How to collect a good soil sample with Dr Mel Fraser (1.3 minute watch)