Nutrition management

This publication contains information to assist growers in understanding how biofumigants work and managing them for optimum efficacy against soilborne diseases.

Biofumigants are a unique type of cover crop that produce compounds with suppression effects on soilborne pathogens, pests and weeds.

This guide also discusses and presents data on a range of agronomic management practices of biofumigant cover crops including pest and diseases, nutrient uptake requirements, irrigation and incorporation methods.

Plant analysis is used as a tool to fine tune the nutrition of crops. The nutrient status of plants or parts of plants can be determined directly via laboratory analysis or estimated via in-field testing, while the overall health and nutrient status of a crop can be assessed via non-destructive sensing technologies, e.g. using colourimeters, Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) or other remote sensing technologies.

This guide only deals with laboratory based plant nutrient analyses, specifically dry matter analysis and sap analysis. These are analyses of specific plant parts sampled from an entire crop or distinct area(s) in a crop using standardised sampling and sample handling methods. The analyses can be used for leaves, petioles, fruit, tubers/rhizomes/bulbs or entire plants.

This guide provides information for good nutrient management of Australian onion crops.

In this edition: Steph to search for a nitrogen fix in veg production, upcoming events and webinars, demonstration site news from Tas and Vic, navigating pest management options and the basics of spray application.

Our Skye demonstration site at Butler Market Gardens in Victoria will give more “oomph” to sandy loam soils south-east of Melbourne through smart nutrient management. Read the latest update after our team visited the site in September 2023.

The Soil Wealth ICP team has been busy setting up a new network of demonstration sites around the country for the next five years. This will include 10 vegetable sites, aligned with VegNET regions, and four melon sites.

We’re excited to share an update on two confirmed vegetable demonstration sites in Victoria’s south-east and Gippsland: Skye (Butler Market Gardens) and Tarwin (Schreurs & Sons).

In this edition: Veg and melon growers to benefit from Soil Wealth ICP Phase 2, Soil Biology Masterclass registrations, Vic veg innovation days showcases Soil Wealth ICP cover crop trial, Bathurst growers prepare for winter cover crops, upcoming events and webinars, demonstration site news from VIC and new resources from VicVID 2023, Biological Products Database updates, and plant sampling for nutrient analysis webinar recording.

Soil Wealth ICP team member Dr Doris Blaesing presented at a Soil Network of Knowledge webinar to discuss plant sampling methodologies which can be used in a broad range of production systems.

Soil Wealth ICP team member Carl Larsen was on-site at the Victorian Vegetable Innovation Days (VicVID) on 28 April 2023 to deliver two Facebook livestreams of the agrichemical and seed field trial results alongside event organisers and agronomists Stuart Grigg and Connor Steel.

RMCG and AHR have delivered the Soil Wealth ICP project to the Australian vegetable industry on behalf of Hort Innovation. Phase 2 of the project (2017-2022) has now been completed.

Watch this video to find out the highlights from Phase 2 including grower engagement, training and events, demonstration sites, communication products and resources, and progress towards industry outcomes.

This guide summarises and provides easy access to useful resources developed by the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection project from December 2017 to February 2023.

In this episode of InfoVeg TV, produced by AUSVEG, project leads Carl Larsen from RMCG and Gordon Rogers from Applied Horticultural Research provide an overview of Soil Wealth ICP Phase 2 and what it aims to achieve for the Australian vegetable industry.

In this InfoVeg Radio podcast, produced by AUSVEG, project leads Carl Larsen from RMCG and Gordon Rogers from Applied Horticultural Research provide an overview of Soil Wealth ICP Phase 2 and what it aims to achieve for the Australian vegetable industry.

In this edition: How to look after your soils for veg production, upcoming events and webinars, precision ag trial case study from Koo Wee Rup, Top 5 resources in 2022 and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

Soil Wealth ICP team member Dr Doris Blaesing contributed to the updated Fertcare Plant Sampling Guide, which is now available and includes significant changes to previous sampling notes.

The Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar, held ahead of Hort Connections 2022 in Brisbane, attracted a room full of growers on Monday 6 June.

Presentations included a grower panel from the Soil Wealth ICP project which discussed the cutting-edge practices and technologies that are key to improving productivity, profitability and sustainability in the Australian vegetable industry.

Soil Wealth ICP team members Dr Gordon Rogers and Carl Larsen facilitated the discussion with growers who currently or previously hosted demonstration sites as part of the project. The growers shared why they became involved in Soil Wealth ICP, the areas of soil management and plant health that their demonstration sites focused on, as well as the challenges they have faced and what’s next for their farms.

In this edition: Integrated weed management manual for vegetable growers, biostimulants market to boom by 2026, upcoming events and webinars, demonstration site news, improving phosphorus uptake efficiency in potatoes, strip-till resources and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

In this edition: The importance of soil biodiversity, supporting Tassie researchers, upcoming events and webinars, demonstration site news from New South Wales, cover crop resources and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

In 2021, Soil Wealth ICP team members Doris Blaesing and Donna Lucas shared their expertise with a group of students from the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, who were conducting a trial on the effectiveness of an organic phosphorus fertiliser in providing adequate nutrients for plant growth when compared to an inorganic alternative.

Our team is always keen to support up-and-coming researchers who are interested in contributing to the future productivity and sustainability of the Australian vegetable and potato industries.

The commercial nitrogen fertiliser market has been very volatile the past seven months. Supply issues from China, Russia, as well as Europe, have caused shipping issues and shortages for all of Australia. Australia does not manufacture enough nitrogen to supply its own domestic market.

Watch this webinar recording to hear from industry experts about best practice nitrogen management options in vegetable production.

Andrew and Zurri Braham have grown capsicums under greenhouse on their farm in Virginia, South Australia, since 2006.

Through a demonstration site trial, the Soil Wealth ICP project is working with Braham Produce to showcase some of their work on using organic amendments, biofumigation and other soil health management practices in a protected cropping production system.

In this edition: The link between IPM and soil health, nominate a soil health champion, upcoming events and webinars, demonstration site news from South Australia, IPM grower resources and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

The commercial nitrogen fertiliser market has been very volatile the past seven months. Supply issues from China, Russia, as well as Europe, have caused shipping issues and shortages for all of Australia.

Given the price rises and uncertainty of nitrogen fertiliser supply, it’s a good time to look at legume cover crops.

This four-part Carbon Series from the Soil Wealth ICP project breaks down the practicalities of carbon farming for vegetable growers and looks more closely at soil carbon management.

Part 1 provides an overview of carbon farming and its relevance to Australian vegetable growers.

This four-part Carbon Series from the Soil Wealth ICP project breaks down the practicalities of carbon farming for vegetable growers and looks more closely at soil carbon management.

Part 2 delves into soil carbon and carbon sequestration.

This four-part Carbon Series from the Soil Wealth ICP project breaks down the practicalities of carbon farming for vegetable growers and looks more closely at soil carbon management.

Part 3 discusses carbon emissions in vegetable production.

This four-part Carbon Series from the Soil Wealth ICP project breaks down the practicalities of carbon farming for vegetable growers and looks more closely at soil carbon management.

Part 4 takes you through carbon accounting and the Emissions Reduction Fund.

Carbon is the main component of soil organic matter and helps give soil its water-retention capacity, its structure, and its fertility. The management of carbon is not only important for soil health and productive vegetable crops, but is also increasingly important in carbon markets and reducing the effects of climate change.

Watch industry leading researchers, practitioners and growers who tackle some of the most important questions about carbon management on vegetable farms during this webinar.

In this edition: Virtual shed walk showcasing microwave weed technology, demonstration site news from Queensland and Victoria, new resources from the Soil Biology in Vegetable Production Masterclass, a go-to guide on nutrition management resources and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

Soil Wealth ICP team member Carl Larsen braved the windy weather at our Koo Wee Rup demonstration site in Victoria to bring growers a short update on how things were progressing at the site.

Soil Wealth ICP team member Kelvin Montagu looks at the linkage between key soil functions and soil biology, and the interactions between plant roots and soil biology.

Watch how microwave technology is being developed to assist with integrated crop protection.

Soil pH has a profound effect on nutrient availability to plants and microorganisms, and thus soil and plant health.

This fact sheet shares the results of a field trial in north-west Tasmania using several treatments to raise pH in an acidic soil and a cost benefit analysis.

In this edition: Soil Biology in Vegetable Production webinar recording, demonstration site news from Cowra, NSW, new resources on potential changes to integrated crop protection, pest management resources and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

In this global scan we look at some of the changes affecting the integrated crop protection tools available to vegetable growers by examining what is happening elsewhere, globally and in other sectors.

In this edition: soil your undies challenge, catch up on the Potato R&D Forum 2021, demo site trial report from Richmond, Tasmania, using drones to generate farm insights, updated Biological Products Database and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

There are many things we can take for granted, and in vegetable and potato production this can be as simple as nutrition and its impact on a crop from a plant physiology perspective.

However, growers and advisers armed with a deep knowledge of nutrition and its practical application in a crop are better placed to ensure that crop achieves peak production. We spoke to our Partnership Network member Stoller Australia to find out more.

From 2018-2021, a demonstration site trial at Harvest Farms in Richmond, Tasmania explored the impact of organic soil amendments on baby leaf crop quality and yield.

Potential benefits were observed from the compost in relation to nutrients (e.g. phosphorus and potassium availability), soil carbon levels and soil moisture holding capacity. However, results should be viewed with care given the trial was not fully replicated.

Catch up on Day 2 of the Australian Potato R&D Forum 2021, which focused on soil health and disease management. Speakers and topics included:
• Promoting soil health: How can cover crops and soil amendments improve your soil health and yield? Julie Finnigan (Serve-Ag)
• PREDICTA Pt: How can you identify risks before they become a problem? Michael Rettke (SARDI)
• Update on ‘Investigating soil pH and nutrition as possible factors influencing pink rot in potatoes’: Dr Robert Tegg (TIA)
• Simplot Ag R&D disease-related projects overview: Dr Audrey Leo (Simplot)
• Update on ‘Mechanisms and manipulation of resistance to powdery scab in potato roots’: Professor Calum Wilson (TIA)
• Options and approaches for managing soil borne disease and promoting plant health (Panel session)

It’s rare to come across someone who is as passionate about soil health as Peter Wadewitz.

The founder and Managing Director of Peats Soil & Garden Supplies has dedicated the last 45 years to supplying compost, mulches and recycled organic resources to the horticulture, landscape and garden supplies industries in South Australia and interstate. The business operates on four sites across South Australia and recently expanded its presence to Darwin, South Africa and Qatar.

For Peter, it all starts with talking to growers about healthy soils, building organic matter and strengthening soil structure to produce a better crop.

AHR’s Marc Hinderager and Soilpack Services’ Ian Packer are teaming up to deliver a webinar on soil organic matter, soil biology and the challenges and complexity of estimating mineralisation rates in soils.

A video on how FOGO compost is made and why it is beneficial and safe to use in horticulture

In this edition: choosing the right lime product to manage soil acidification, EGVID2020 celebrated at industry awards, videos available from our Victorian demo sites and new resources on boosting mycorrhizal fungi in vegetable crops.

Missed our virtual farm walk via Facebook Live in May 2021? Not to worry, you can catch up on the latest updates from our Werribee South VIC demonstration site here.

Missed our virtual farm walk via Facebook Live in April 2021? Not to worry, you can catch up on the latest updates from our Koo Wee Rup VIC demonstration site here.

The vegetable industry has a growing interest in soil health and beneficial soil microbes, including mycorrhizal fungi. While there is a need for practices that help to boost the beneficial fungi in Australian vegetable crops, getting the benefits under commercial field conditions is not easy.

This case study examines why and how vegetable growers can boost beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in their crops. It also shares the results from a trial which looked at the potential of cover crops, together with commercial mycorrhizal inoculants and reduced soil tillage, to increase the beneficial fungi in vegetable crops.

The addition of organic soil amendments is becoming increasingly popular in vegetable production. Organic amendments provide a range of benefits to farming systems from both a production and economic perspective.

Watch this informative webinar and hear from the research team on the project’s importance and recent developments.

There are many factors that contribute to strong environmental stewardship in the vegetable industry, and improving soil management and plant health is an important component of business sustainability. But when it comes to finding evidence of the strengths and gaps of your growing operation, it can be difficult to know where to start.

This article from our Partnership Network member EnviroVeg explains how the program can help growers identify these opportunities and take action to ensure their vegetable growing business is environmentally responsible.

In this edition: The future of integrated weed management technologies, demonstration site news from NSW and Victoria, new resources on healthy soils, blackleg in potato and drone regulations podcast.

Being part of a grower group has many benefits. It helps to be on the forefront of new developments in vegetable production and talk to other growers to share successes, challenges and support each other with new ideas.

A group of young growers have joined the Warren Improvement Group in Western Australia to provide a fresh focus on improving vegetable production in the Manjimup region. This case study explains more.

Victoria’s Werribee South vegetable growing region predominately produces brassicas and leafy greens. A relatively high salt concentration in irrigation water, combined with low annual rainfall and naturally sodic soils, presents a range of production challenges for vegetable growers.

A trial at our demonstration site was developed to improve crop resilience and investigate the impact of compost, gypsum and soluble calcium on salinity, sodicity effects on crops and overall soil health in the region. Find out more in this case study.

In this edition: Good Soils Guide, seasonal outlook for February to April, demonstration site news from Manjimup, Western Australia and Werribee South, Victoria, and new resources on choosing cover crops, organic soil amendments and spray rig calibration.

Cover crops, typically grown during the wet season in the north of the Northern Territory (NT), are an essential part of best practice management where poor soil structure can be further eroded by heavy rainfall.

A demonstration site trial on cover crops for cucurbit growers was developed in 2020 at the Katherine Research Station. This article outlines more information about what was involved in the trial, the initial results and potential next steps.

In this edition: New guide to brassica biofumigant cover crops, seasonal outlook for vegetable growing areas, demonstration site findings from Manjimup, Western Australia and Koo Wee Rup, Victoria, and new resources including a poster on the ins and outs of variable rate application.

As the weather begins to warm up and we look towards the summer growing season, it’s a good time to prepare for your upcoming irrigation requirements. In this article, SWAN Systems shares some key considerations to get the best results from irrigation scheduling software over summer, as well as insights from a trial at Harvest Farms in Richmond, Tasmania.

Looking for information on cadmium in agriculture? Australian scientist Professor Mike McLaughlin has recently refreshed content including reports and best management practice guides produced by the work of the National Cadmium Minimisation Strategy between 2002 and 2006. This information is now maintained and updated by Fertilizer Australia.

Over two days, 36 vegetable growers and agronomists across Australia took part in an interactive event which built on their existing knowledge and helped to improve their crop nutrition programs on-farm, particularly during difficult growing conditions.

In this edition: Vegetable Crop Nutrition Masterclass an online success, demonstration site news from Sydney Basin and Cowra, NSW, and new resources on pink rot in potatoes.

James Fagan from Mulyan Farms, Cowra NSW discusses his experiences using compost made from recycled organics.

Recycled organics compost was applied 10 and 17 tonnes per hectare to a corn crop. James realised a very impressive yield response to his corn crop.

Dr Kelvin Montagu (AHR) outlines some reasons why a grower might consider incorporating recycled organics into their farming such as low soil organic matter, high intensity cropping schedule or low water retention in the soil.

Liam Southam-Rogers (AHR) runs through the economic outcomes of two demonstration trails established for the project. Mulyan Farms at Cowra, NSW realised a strong economic payoff for using compost made from recycled organics. Wavertree Farms at Somersby, NSW also showed a profitable return with the use of recycled organics.

There is increasing interest in the use of different cover crop species and mixes of cover crops to improve soil health and productivity in the Australian vegetable industry.

In this video, Dr Kelvin Montagu will provide some guidance on sowing, management, and how best to terminate the cover crop.

A new series of ‘Sustainable Success Stories’ from the South Australian vegetable industry showcase how local leaders are engaging with industry-led programs to overcome farm challenges and improve their sustainability. Take a look at the five case studies below.

In this edition: Get effective R&D support in a remote setting, demonstration site news from Victoria and Bathurst, NSW, and new resources on managing salinity in potato and vegetable production.

Curious about soil amendment options for lifting potato production in saline environments? Watch this webinar discussion which covers a range of topics including compost, biologicals and biostimulants including how they work, associated costs and more.

Watch this webinar recording to find out more about hydrophobic soils and potato production, including the causes, impacts and associated costs of hydrophobicity as well as irrigation management.

Managing plant nutrition is integral to producing a healthy, profitable vegetable crop. The Soil Wealth ICP team has collated a range of informative resources to help growers, advisors and other vegetable industry service providers to better manage crop-specific nutrition.

Think you know your salts? Watch this interactive webinar recording to find out how growers can better manage salinity and potato nutrition. Topics discussed include chloride toxicity, chloride and nitrate competition, sodium, bicarbonates, pH implications, the use of Thiocal to help flush salts and improve soil condition, and SOP fertilisers vs MOPs.

In this edition: Have your say on agvet chemicals review, demonstration site news from Bathurst, NSW and Tasmania, and new resources on nutrition management support.

This webinar focused on the causes, impacts and associated costs of salinity monitoring for improved potato production, including EM mapping, soil and water monitoring and SAP testing.

Researchers at Applied Horticultural Research (AHR) have been investigating the causes of brown etch on butternut pumpkins. Dr Jenny Ekman and Dr Len Tesoriero will explain how you can predict when brown etch is likely to occur in a crop, and what you can do to control it. They also discuss the new fact sheet that is a must have guide for all pumpkin growers.

Soil sampling and testing is usually done prior to planting a crop; specific in-crop testing can be useful e.g. testing for available nitrate and ammonium.

A soil test report is only as good as the care taken in sampling. Tools and equipment should be cleaned prior to collecting each sample. Completing labels and writing on bags or containers before going out to the field can save some time and confusion.

Read this fact sheet for guidance on how to take soil samples correctly and obtain reliable information on the nutrient status of your soil.

Testing for soil nitrate is important to manage nitrogen availability in vegetable crops to ensure optimal yield and quality.

This simple and easy to use guide has been developed to show how a quick nitrate test can be conducted in the field.

Greenhouse cucumbers can be one of the most productive of all crops. However, this productivity relies on accurate control of irrigation, plant nutrition and the growing environment, as well as effective management of pests and diseases. Only healthy plants can produce a high quality, marketable and profitable crop.

This manual provides basic guidance on growing greenhouse cucumbers. The focus is on modern, controlled environment production. However, much of the included information is relevant to all cucumber growers and, indeed, greenhouse producers more generally.

Salinity issues can appear in all major vegetable production areas; they can come and go depending on weather and changes in water quality. It can occur naturally or as a result of management practices.

Watch this interactive webinar and hear from industry experts on good salinity management practices on farm, salinity thresholds for vegetables, how salinity can be identified and measured, as well as appropriate EC ranges for soils and water.

Phosphorus (P) is a major element (macronutrient) that plays a number of important roles in plants, such as productivity, crop quality, increased root growth, and earlier crop maturity. It is necessary for proper cell division and formation of new cells. It's important that soil P is managed correctly for crop nutrition.

This fact sheet covers the common characteristics of soil P and its availability for uptake by plants such as pH, mobility and microbial activity, and provides practical management tips and tools in line with the ‘4Rs’ - right source at the right rate, right time, right place.

Salinity issues can appear in all major vegetable production areas; they can come and go depending on weather and changes in water quality. It can occur naturally or as a result of management practices.

Read this fact sheet to find out more about good salinity management practices on farm, salinity thresholds for vegetables, how salinity can be identified and measured, as well as appropriate EC ranges for soils and water.

Calcium cyanamide (Ca(CN)2) fertiliser was tested for efficacy against Pythium sulcatum and P. violae in a grower led demonstration trial in a commercial carrot crop in Western Australia. The wax coated fertiliser was applied according to manufacturer’s instructions at 300 kg/ha and 500 kg/ha of fertiliser to one full length carrot bed each. An untreated bed adjacent to each treated bed was used as control. All standard commercial crop management inputs were applied consistently to treated and control beds. This included nitrogen fertilisers.

This report presents findings from a grower led, on-farm demonstration trial. Grower led pilot trials provide preliminary feasibility assessments of new practices. They can lead to on-farm adaptation of practices and/or replicated research trials to rigorously test assumptions made because of initial findings.

Calcium cyanamide Fertiliser, also known as nitrolime, has been used in Germany as a slow release nitrogen and calcium fertiliser with liming effect for over 100 years.

This fact sheet documents the findings from a grower-led demonstration where calcium cyanamide (CaCN2) was applied as a wax coated fertiliser prior to a carrot crop in Western Australia in 2017.

The series, produced by Greater Sydney Local Land Services, Applied Horticultural Research and VegNET NSW helps growers explore how to implement protected cropping on their growing operations.

Recycled organics (compost) is a commercially viable source of composted organic matter that does not contain animal manures, and is now being used successfully on vegetable farms in NSW.

Rob Niccol from Australian Native Landscapes and Dr Kelvin Montagu from AHR discuss the value proposition of recycled organics and explain how the compost can be successfully integrated into vegetable farming in Australia.

This project is supported by the NSW Environment Protection Authority as part of Waste Less, Recycle More, funded from the waste levy.

Hear from industry experts on how strip-till will save you fuel and time, increase soil organic matter, reduce erosion and compaction, and how fertilisers can be banded at multiple depths.

Listen to this podcast of the webinar recording with with Bruce Scott & Dr Doris Blaesing.

Soil acidification, the drop in soil pH, is due to several factors including leaching of nitrate nitrogen, nutrient uptake by crops and root exudates, build-up of soil organic matter and use of nitrogenous fertilisers containing ammonium and urea.

Choosing the right lime product and applying it at the correct rate is important in managing soil acidification and the subsequent impact on vegetable crops.

Read this useful fact sheet to find out more about the causes and effects of soil acidification, how liming increases soil pH differently depending on your soil type, different products, as well as managing paddock variability.

Phosphorus is one of the most common elements found in plants, usually ranking 8th after carbon, oxygen, hydrogen (which combined make up around 95% of plant dry matter), nitrogen, potassium, silicon and calcium. Unlike these other 7 elements, phosphorus is almost universally deficient in unfertilised soils in south-eastern parts of Australia.

Read this excellent concise literature review by Glenn Bailey to learn more about how phosphorus behaves in the soil, including fixing reactions, buffer capacity, available phosphorus, soil reserves, plant requirements and leaching.

Watch this webinar recording to learn about the latest techniques in managing the soilborne disease Fusarium wilt in vegetable crops including solanaceous, legumes, cucurbits and sweet potatoes and to understand the latest ways of managing this disease to keep your plants in production for longer and improve yield and pack out rates.

This guide summarises useful information developed by the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) Phase 1 projects from 2014-2017, and where to find it. These resources are relevant to all major vegetable growing regions in Australia. The resources developed includes fact sheets (51), case studies (12), videos and apps (36), e-newsletters (32 editions), as well as demonstration site information. The main topics covered by these resources include crop management, pest and disease management, and soil, nutrition and compost.

All the resources in this guide can be found on this project website.

Healthy soil and correct nutrition management is essential to a productive vegetable business and protecting the natural environment.

Watch this webinar recording to get the latest updates on managing vegetable soils and nutrition with a focus on nitrogen as the most mobile nutrient prone to losses via waterways and air, as well as the new industry-owned EnviroVeg program.

The Soil Wealth ICP team sat down with InfoVeg TV to chat about the project and its aim to communicate information about soil management and plant health to Australian vegetable growers to help the industry grow sustainably using healthy soils.

This presentation provides a great overview of the role of phosphorus in soil biology by Dr Cassandra Schefe, from Monash University and Schefe Consulting.

Calcium Cyanamide Fertiliser, also known as nitrolime, has been used in Germany as a slow release nitrogen and calcium fertiliser with liming e ect for over 100 years. It was introduced into Australia by the German manufacturer Alzchemie AG Germany (www.alzchem.com) in 1996.

Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth, development and reproduction, so it’s important to ensure your crops have enough!

Read this fact sheet to find out more about the steps to providing the right amount of nitrogen, managing and monitoring N, and how nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) data can be interpreted.

This webinar with Nematode specialist Dr Sarah Collins from Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA focused on the pest nematode, outlining the life cycles of the root-knot and root-lesion nematodes and how this can be used to target control measures.

The webinar also covered beneficial free living nematodes and how these can be managed and used as soil health indicators.

Members of the Soil Wealth and ICP team were recently interviewed for the Potatoes Australia magazine. The key message? Many of the soil health and plant protection practices relevant to vegetables, also apply to potatoes.

Click through to read the article.

The Vegetable SOILpak manual was developed by NSW Department of Primary Industries to provide soil information relevant to irrigated vegetable production in New South Wales. The manual aims to provide decision support for landholders and advisers, helping to maintain or improve productivity over both the short and long term.

The Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects provide R&D extension services, products and communication on improved soil management and plant health to the Australian vegetable industry.

From 2014 to 2017, RMCG and AHR have delivered the projects for Horticulture Innovation Australia. Phase 1 of the projects have now been completed. So, what’s been achieved?

The purpose of this guide is to help growers and agronomists interpret conventional ‘chemical’ soil tests and identify soil chemical constraints for commercial vegetable production in Australia.

This resource can be used to guide site specific decisions on nutrition management. It does NOT provide prescriptive information on how much of a certain nutrient or fertiliser to apply to various vegetable crops. A recipe approach is not recommended because results in crop performance would be unreliable.

A soil test, combined with a visual soil assessment, and knowledge about paddock history and production plans, provides a sound basis for a nutrition program. A conventional soil test can provide some information about biological and physical soil properties. While a complete soil condition assessment covers physical, biological and chemical soil properties of the topsoil and subsoil.

A webinar on nutrition management and plant disease presented by Dr Len Tesoriero as part of the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection projects.

Anhydrous ammonia has long been used as a preplant and side dressing fertiliser in the cotton and grain industries. It results in a high retention of nitrogen in the soil, reduced leaching of nitrates through the soil and yield increases in various crops. However, it needs to be treated with care as it can cause injury to farm workers.

Anhydrous ammonia has beneficial effects on soil microbes, nitrifying bacteria and worms. It is more suited to row crops rather than babyleaf crops, where even distribution nitrogen in the soil is required.

This webinar series aims to provide evidence based knowledge to make good decisions on site-specific nutrient management of vegetable crops using soil and plant testing and the 4R principles (right source, right rate, right time and right place).

The third webinar in the series focuses on developing a fertilizer program and features well-respected specialists Bruce Scott (E.E. Muir & Sons) and Dr Doris Blaesing.

Soil health refers to the fitness of the soil to achieve its potential, within natural or managed limitations, and be productive under
the intended land use. Healthy soils have physical, chemical and biological properties that sustain biological functioning, maintain environmental quality and promote plant, animal and human health.

This practical fact sheet outlines the importance of healthy soil, its characteristics and how to get there, as well as the main soil health issues and potential solutions.

Nitrogen is a key input into vegetable production. Applying high levels of nitrogen, either as fertiliser, compost or amendments is necessary to achieve high yields, but it can also result in nitrous oxide gas being released into the atmosphere.

This fact sheet provides useful information on the loss of plant available nitrogen, reducing nitrous oxide emissions, nitrogen management (the 4 R's) and keeping informed through soil testing.

View the leaf and sap testing for vegetable crops webinar broadcast on the 27th September 2016 by Bruce Scott, Doris Blaesing and Gordon Rogers from the Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection team and E.E. Muir & Sons.

Crop sensing is allowing the adoption of variable rate management to address yield variability, improve management of inputs and maximise productivity.

The Soils in Schools program started in 2015, the UN declared International Year of Soils. It is an initiative of Soil Science Australia.

This programs vision is to communicate and educate school children on the relevance of soils in everyday life and to encourage a wider interest in our soil resources.

Doris Blaesing and Gordon Rogers from the Soil Wealth team, presented a webinar on how to get the most from soil testing for vegetable crops.

If you missed this popular webinar, you can view the recording and download the presentation from here.

The Soil Wealth and ICP projects have managed a demonstration site at Kalfresh since early 2015.

The results from the demonstration site confirm that by following four principles in managing vegetable cropping soils, both soil condition and financial returns can be maximised. It’s a true win:win situation.

Plant nutrients are commonly split into two categories:

• Major elements (macronutrients) that are required in relatively large quantities by plants, and
• Trace elements (micronutrients) that are essential for plant growth, but are only required in small amounts.

All elements must be available in a form that is useable by the plant, and in balanced concentrations that allow optimum plant growth.

Download this great summary of what the plant nutrients do, and how they need to be applied for the plant to make best use of your investment in fertilisers.

This summary provides Australian vegetable growers with an understanding of available and emerging irrigation practices and technologies that could improve profitability and encourage the uptake of more efficient water practices.

Silicon is an available nutrient for all plants grown in soil, with its content in plant tissue ranging from 0.1%-10%. Although it is not currently classified as an essential nutrient for plant growth, recent research suggests that silicon may have a significant role to play in plant health.

Read this fact sheet to learn more about the benefits of silicon on crop health and subsequent production, including improved nutrient availability, plant resistance to pest and disease pressure, and improved resilience to environmental stress. Guidance on how to choose a silicon product is also provided.

Transplant shock is a check in growth that can occur when seedlings are transplanted from the seedling tray into the field. Stresses due to root damage, changed environment or water stress can all contribute to transplant shock. Significant transplant shock can result in poor plant stands and a lower percentage cut of good quality lettuce.

This fact sheet provides guidance on the ideal age of transplants and tips for avoiding transplant shock.

Maintaining or increasing soil carbon makes good sense – for the environment and for soil productivity. While climate scientists talk about soil carbon, you will know it better as soil organic matter. And the productivity benefits of soil organic matter are legendary:

• Providing a slow release supply of nutrients
• Improving cation exchange capacity and nutrient- holding ability
• Buffering against soil acidity
• Improving soil structure and aggregate stability
• Improving soil water holding capacity
• Reducing erosion risk.

This fact sheet summaries the opportunities and management options for mitigating or sequestering soil carbon in vegetable soils.

One of the key issues with babyleaf spinach is how to deliver this popular leafy vegetable to consumers in good condition. For this to happen, growers must first produce high quality spinach, and this quality must be maintained throughout the supply chain until it’s used by the consumer.

This fact sheet explores the three most significant pre-harvest factors that affect spinach post-harvest quality and shelf-life. These are growth rate of crop, variety, and minimum night temperature during the growing period.

Lettuce is an important horticultural crop in Australia, with an annual production over 160 million tonnes and a total gross value of $140 million. Lettuce is regularly purchased by 80% of consumers in Australia.

The key quality attributes for whole and fresh-cut lettuce are moisture loss, shrivelling, colour (browning, bleaching of the green colour), off-odours, and off-flavour formation, breakdown and microbiological contamination.

This fact sheet will assist you to address these key quality attributes through important pre-harvest crop management such as developing a crop planting schedule, mineral nutrition, tip burn management, deficit irrigation, floating row covers and light.

The Soil Wealth and ICP project team set up a “cover crop” trial there as a real farm demonstration to help growers adopt sustainable practices, and, importantly, improve their bottom line. The trial, near Cowra, in the Central West region of NSW.

All the cover crops resulted in higher yields than the fallow control. The highest yields in this trial were obtained with clover (+48%) and field peas (+36%), but ryegrass alone and compost were also effective in increasing yields compared to bare fallow.

Check out how precision farming techniques are being adapted to vegetable production.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a gas which under certain soil and environmental conditions is produced from both soil mineralised and fertiliser nitrogen (N) by de-nitrifying bacteria. For the farmer this represents a loss of soil fertility and/or loss of applied fertiliser. Additionally, when in the atmosphere N2O is a potent greenhouse gas. This is why it is important to minimise the loss of valuable soil and fertiliser N to the atmosphere through these processes. This BMP fact sheet sets out how this can be achieved by farmers producing vegetables.

There has been a renewed focus to better understand the role and function of soil carbon in Australian agricultural situations. This summary provides a snapshot of current knowledge and signposts the key messages and reports coming from recent research and investigations across Australia. It includes:
• An introduction to soil carbon and its role
• An overview of recent research and implications for land management practices
• Useful links to key information sources.

Hear from Tasmanian lettuce grower Colin Houston about the exciting demonstrations being run on his new farm aimed at improving profitability and sustainability.

This 5 minute video clip describes how nitrous oxide emissions from soils and nitrogen fertiliser can be managed using right source (product), rate, time and place principles.

A seven minute overview of soil carbon in agriculture.

A summary of the importance of soil, soil science and good soil management from a Victorian perspective.

This presentation by Patrick Brown from the University of California provides an outline of the principles of plant nutrition including nutrient function and mobility in plants, soil and leaf testing, nutrient management, and plant nutrient uptake and response to fertiliser.

This book by Gary Zimmer, a farmer in the United States, provides support for farmers who would like to reduce chemical inputs and use natural processes within their farming systems.

This publication from ATTRA (National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service) in the United States provides information on improving disease suppression within soil.

Soil salinity can cause salt burn, affect crop quality and reduce yield. Incorrect soil nitrate levels affect crop growth, quality and yield and excessive nitrogen applications are wasteful and can result in contamination of water tables and waterways. It is essential that soil salinity and nitrate levels be monitored throughout the crop cycle to ensure optimum crop growth.

Soil solution extraction and analysis can inexpensively monitor both salt and nitrate throughout the growing season to ensure optimum crop growth.

To find out more please refer to this fact sheet developed by Steven Falivene from the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

This website contains a series of documents to guide you through the successful prodution of lettuce.

This website contains a series of documents to guide you through the successful prodution of Brassica crops.

This website contains a series of documents to guide you through the successful prodution of sweet corn.

This fact sheet covers the Sources of nitrogen on farm, Fertiliser use - what to do and what to avoid and a Quick guide to the main nitrogen sources in fertilisers.