Soil amendments

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.

A new Soil Wealth ICP vegetable demonstration site has been confirmed in Tasmania’s Midlands.

Hosted by Simplot Australia, the Soil Wealth ICP team will work closely with Simplot agronomists and VegNET Tasmania to establish how growers can reliably produce high yielding pea crops.

Mulgowie Farming Company is back on board to host a Soil Wealth ICP vegetable demonstration site in the Lockyer Valley. Find out how the site will test the use of organic nitrogen sources as a sustainable and cost-effective solution to meet a crop's nitrogen needs.

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).

Hort Connections 2023 special edition: Soil Wealth ICP panel session at the Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar (AVIS), weed management technology set to be showcased in Queensland, rapid spread of DBM insecticide resistance, Trade Show highlights, Soil Wealth ICP collaborators celebrated at the Horticulture Awards for Excellence and upcoming events.

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 edition: Nutrition and food security starts with healthy soils, upcoming events and webinars, compost trial case study from the Adelaide Plains, understanding spatial variability in potato crops, resources for spray equipment and application, controlled traffic farming podcast and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

A demonstration site trial was held at Thorndon Park Produce on the Adelaide Plains, South Australia to showcase how the use of compost in commercial vegetable production can improve soil health, reduce the effect of saline irrigation water and decrease the use of inputs.

The compost treatments were found to improve soil health and marketable yield, while better managing salinity issues and reducing inputs such as water, fertiliser and labour costs. Thorndon Park Produce has since expanded its use of compost, trialling pelletised
compost and biological products.

The demonstration site trial identified salinity as a key issue facing vegetable growers in the Adelaide Plains region and facilitated resources to help growers manage the issue, as well as connections for industry members supporting the trial.

This fact sheet from VegNET Tasmania steps growers through the key considerations to maximise the use of your fertiliser, including establishing healthy plant roots, improving soil structure and establishing strong fertiliser practices using the 4Rs (right source, right rate, right time, right place).

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.

The HortCarbon Info web tool provides business managers with an accurate, repeatable and established methodology to quantify the level, as well as the changes to their business carbon footprint, based on current recognised Australian Greenhouse emission standards.

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 NSW Environment Protection Authority has developed Cool Compost, an online resource centre for quality commercial compost.

Through a series of videos, podcasts, fact sheets and specifications Cool Compost showcases the benefits of compost across five target audiences – graziers, vegetable growers, landscapers, councils and government agencies.

In this edition: How compost can help to tackle global challenges, new resources on area wide management of vegetable diseases, upcoming events and webinars, AVIS demo site panel discussion video, resources on vegetable and potato disease management and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

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: Happy International Day of Plant Health, long-term benefits of using compost on plant and soil health, demo site growers at the Annual Vegetable Industry Seminar, Carl Larsen recognised for services to Vic veg growers, upcoming events and webinars, demonstration site news, getting the most out of compost resources and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

This case study examines the role of phosphorus availability and uptake in a potato crop throughout the growing season. It shares the results of a trial in north-west Tasmania of a new liquid phosphorus fertiliser applied to processing potatoes in P-fixing soils.

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.

As compost is treated to kill human pathogens, it can be used freely on vegetable crops with no withholding periods. However, evidence of treatment must be provided.

Without this evidence, compost that contains manure (or other animal products) is considered “untreated”. It therefore attracts the same food safety restrictions as raw manure.

Compliant Compost is a new, simple code of practice that can be independently verified by approved auditors. The code is focused on demonstrating that the compost will not introduce human pathogens into the environment or onto food. Compost certified using the “compliant compost” program can therefore be used on farm without restriction.

After 30 years of growing vegetables in southern Queensland, Rob Hinrichsen is well placed to assess the impact of soil health on his farming operation.

Rob founded vegetable production and packing company Kalfresh with his father in the Fassifern Valley, with the operation having expanded considerably over the years to supply produce year-round.

The passion Rob brings for growing healthy, tasty, nutrient-rich food centres around healthy soils.

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.

Interest is growing around biochar as both a soil amendment and to increase carbon sequestration to soil.

This fact sheet explores what biochar is, how it can be used in vegetable production, what to consider if using biochar, and where you can get it.

While taking soil samples at our Koo Wee Rup demonstration site in Victoria recently, Soil Wealth ICP team member Carl Larsen recorded a short video about the key things to keep in mind to ensure you collect a quality soil sample for testing.

In this edition: Soil Biology Masterclass videos, demonstration site news from the Northern Territory and Victoria, a fact sheet on the potential of biochar in vegetable production and meet the Soil Wealth ICP team.

Soil Wealth ICP team members Kelvin Montagu and Marc Hinderager discuss nitrogen availability in vegetable crops and its impact on soil biology.

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.

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)

Our demonstration site in Richmond, southern Tasmania, is hosted by Harvest Farms. In 2018, a trial was established to examine the costs and benefits of quality compost as an organic soil amendment on spinach babyleaf crop yield and quality.

Find out the soil pathogen DNA results from 2020 (year 3 of the trial) in this update. Keep an eye out for a full report on the trial results which will be released shortly.

In this edition: new weed management guides for growers, an update on Australia's agvet regulatory system review, upcoming events and webinars, demo site news from Tassie, a new guide on preventing leaf and stem diseases and more.

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.

In this edition: Soil Wealth ICP on show at Hort Connections 2021, global scan and review of remote sensing, webinar recording on soil organic matter, biology and mineralisation and a Partnership Network Profile on Peats Soil & Garden Supplies.

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.

Vegetable and potato growers across Australia will be familiar with the name E.E. Muir & Sons, a national distributor of agricultural products for crop protection and nutrition with a strong focus on horticulture and irrigated cropping sectors.

What they may not be familiar with are the discussions and collaboration that happen behind the scenes to provide the best information on agronomy, trials and product development to growers.

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.

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.

In this edition: a new weed management guide for wild radish in the vegetable industry, nominate a leader in plant health and soil management at the Hort Connections National Awards for Excellence, farm walks to go virtual in Victoria and resources on reduced tillage.

In this edition: Information on fall armyworm and serpentine leafminer, demonstration site news from NSW and new resources on oxalis, volunteer potatoes and winter cover 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.

iSQAPER has built an app for mobile devices which provides location-specific soil quality information and sustainable land use management options.

A multi-actor approach underpins the development of SQAPP - the app has been developed, tested, evaluated and improved by farmers, scientists, practitioners, agricultural service providers and policy makers.

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.

Vegetable growers in Australia can now access a comprehensive online resource to improve all aspects of soil health on-farm and increase the efficiency and profitability of their businesses.

The Good Soil Guide is a free online encyclopaedia specifically designed for growers and industry to use in the field. The resource was developed in the United Kingdom as a collaboration between Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire supply chain consultancy Future Food Solutions and soil scientist Neil Fuller.

As part of the Soil Wealth ICP project, a trial has been established at our Harvest Farms demonstration site in Richmond, southern Tasmania, to examine the costs and benefits of organic soil amendments on babyleaf crop yield and quality.

This article shares the latest updates from the trial in 2020.

In this edition: Focus topics announced for Soil Wealth ICP in 2021, demonstration site news from Richmond, Tasmania and new resources on foliar diseases, nutgrass, integrated weed management and pathogen DNA testing.

An increased awareness of the impact of some long-standing farming practices and community expectations, combined with a greater interest and understanding of alternative systems and products has contributed to the evolution of sustainable vegetable production in Australia.

According to Soil Wealth ICP Partnership Network member and Sustainable Farming Solutions General Manager Steven David, while progress has been made in Australian organic production in particular, there is still room for expansion.

A project led by the Queensland University of Technology is focusing on providing farmers, agronomists and suppliers of manures and composts with a decision support tool for integrating organic amendments into farm nutrient budgets.

The Portelli family has been growing vegetables in the north-western Sydney suburb of Maroota, NSW, for two generations. The farm is situated on a sandy loam that is characterised by low organic matter and low cation-exchange capacity.

The incorporation of recycled organic compost into the Portellis’ cropping schedule yielded a significant improvement in crop performance.

In this edition: Have your say on Soil Wealth ICP, demonstration site news from Gingin, Western Australia and a new guide to useful project resources.

This case study reflects the results of a large-scale, soil amendment demonstration trial conducted by Center West Export in the Gingin area, about 150 km north of Perth, Western Australia.

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.

Dr Kelvin Montagu summarises the potential role of cover crops in managing mycorrhizal fungi in vegetable production.

The webinar covers:

- Why mycorrhizal fungi
- Do Australian vegetable crops have mycorrhizal fungi – a survey of 50 vegetable crops
- Levels of mycorrhizae in vegetable growing soil
- Trials adding inoculant to cover crops
- Trials adding inoculant to cover crops and vegetable crops (leeks/corn)
- The webinar presents the work undertaken in the Optimising Cover Crops for the Australian

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.

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.

Watch this webinar recording to learn from key researchers about the latest findings of several Hort Innovation Vegetable Levy Funded Projects.

A farm demonstration trial was set up for a preliminary assessment of the effect of soil amendment, Brassica carinata pellets (BioFence), on root health and crop growth of greenhouse capsicums in the Northern Adelaide Plains by the Hort Innovation soilborne diseases project (VG15010).

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.

The Soils in Action project was run by AUSVEG SA from early to mid 2019 on the Northern Adelaide Plains. The objective was to establish two demonstration trial sites to showcase compost use in commercial vegetable production to improve soil health and reduce the use of inputs e.g. of fertilisers and irrigation water.

Read this case study to find out more about the trial results and the benefits the two growers realised in a field and greenhouse system.

The rising cost of fertiliser inputs and a greater understanding of the importance of soil health has prompted interest in the use of composts as a soil ameliorant. What exactly are composts and why would you use them in a vegetable production system?

This fact sheet provides a summary ‘breakdown’ on the current knowledge of the benefits and risks of composts, with links to further information available.

The Soil Wealth ICP project follows the implementation of a compost trial for vegetable growers in Virginia SA.

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.

Organic amendments are mostly applied pre-planting of cash or cover crops, and always contain carbon and all major nutrients (N, P, S and K).

Read this global scan and review, the first in a series, that covers what organic soil amendments are, why and how to use them, the effects on soils and crops, as well as other specific considerations. Further research, development and extension needs are also identified for future guidance.

Demonstration site report prepared for VG15010 A Multi-faceted approach to soilborne disease management by Francis Tedesco, Center West Exports, Justin Wolfgang, C-Wise, Doris Blaesing, RMCG

A large-scale compost trial was conducted with Center West Export (CWE) and C-Wise in the Gingin area of Western Australia (WA).

This report presents the methodology, key findings and recommendations from the trial, including an in-depth desktop review of the main Pythium species affecting carrots in Australia identified as P. sulcatum (in most cases) and P. violae (in some cases).

The Soils Network of Knowledge (SNoK) faciliatated a webinar on replicated small plot field experiments with Steve Morris from NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Watch this webianr to find out more about the complexities of field research design and the logical case for undertaking field research in a structured manner.

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.

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 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.

Hear from Rob Hinrichsen of Kalfresh in QLD about using compost in commercial vegetable production systems. This video captures Rob's experiences in soil biology, short and long-term compost, the financial implications of using compost, and advice for starting out.

This case study outlines the economic considerations when using compost in vegetable production systems. It is based on lessons learned from several Soil Wealth and Integrated Crop Protection (ICP) demonstration sites, during the period 2014 to 2016.

The costs of compost are largely driven by the type and quality of the compost; freight costs depends on distance; and spreading/incorporation costs depend on application rates, type of compost, machinery required, travelling time and the scale of the work.

The benefits will depend on the individual farm as well as the objectives for using compost, for example increase organic matter or prevent be collapse. The main benefits of using compost are increased organic matter, adding nutrients to the soil, increased water holding capacity of the soil, and disease suppression. It is important to consider other practices that may need to change in conjunction with compost application, such as tillage, irrigation and crop protection requirements.

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?

Watch this webinar recording from 21 March 2017 to find out more about the good, the bad and the ugly of compost use in vegetable production with Dr Doris Blaesing from RMCG.

Over the past four years, the effect of pyrethrum marc on vegetable crops has been compared with biochar, oaten chaff and conventional fertilisers at a trial site in Tasmania.

Pyrethrum marc can offer benefits as a soil conditioner and also as a source of nutrients for crops. Amendments can provide benefits for one or more years after application. Therefore, soil testing and monitoring combined with a fertiliser program is important for making the most of the economic benefits. Based on the crops grown and yields achieved in this trial, if pyrethrum marc was $60-65/t delivered, it would provide at least similar returns to conventional fertiliser.

Read this fact sheet to learn more about the trial, crops grown, treatments, and results.

Did someone say popcorn? This is just one of the crops involved in the Soil Wealth extension project at the Cowra site. Along with chickpeas at Kalbar, eggplant in Darwin, carrots in Gingin, coloured lettuce in Gippsland, and 8-kilo cabbages in Bathurst – these various projects look at tillage, soil structure, cover crops, and the resulting healthy soil using compost.

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.

Compost is a mixture of recycled organic materials that have been processed by natural organisms, breaking down the original materials into a usable form. Compost has many benefits for soil. It can feed plants, stimulate beneficial microbes, improve soil structure and help the soil retain nutrients, water and warmth.

This guide describes how fresh produce growers can use compost without affecting their food safety assurance program.

Compost is a mixture of recycled organic materials that have been processed by natural organisms, breaking down the original materials into a usable form. Compost has many benefits for soil. It can feed plants, stimulate beneficial microbes, improve soil structure and help the soil retain nutrients, water and warmth.

This guide describes how producers of recycled organic products can ensure that the composts they supply meet the requirements of food safety programs such as Freshcare.

This case study provides a unique long-term grower perspective on using compost on a commercial vegetable farm.

Have you ever wondered what the potential benefits to soil and plant health are from using compost? Thinking about using compost? Need to know the questions to ask a supplier of compost?

Learn more from Sam Calameri of Baldivis Farms in Western Australia who started trialling compost on-farm more than 10 years ago.

The Werribee demonstration site held its first farm walk on 2 September 2016, hosted by Andrew Fragapane. After three lettuce crops over 10 months it was time to have a look at how the crops and soils were measuring up under the conventional-, reduced- and minimum-tillage practices. With the number of cultivations at 23, 6 and 2, respectively, some big difference could be expected.

Despite the hard setting soils the reduced-till practice was coming out as a clear winner, maintaining yields and reducing tractor, fuel and labour costs, and allowing the soil biology to do some of the heavy lifting in building a more stable soil structure which the crop roots seems to be enjoying.

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.

The objective of this Standard is to provide manufacturers, suppliers, customers and government bodies with the minimum requirements for the physical, chemical and biological properties of composts, soil conditioners, mulches and vermicast, as well as labelling and marking, in order to facilitate the beneficial recycling and use of compostable organic materials with minimal adverse impact on environmental and public health, by avoiding biosecurity and phytotoxicity risks associated with inappropriate product.

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.

A healthy topsoil is a great asset to have, as this layer of soil contains the highest concentration of organic matter, micro-organisms, nutrients and biological activity. Lost topsoil can’t be replaced in a human’s lifespan. Therefore erosion, probably the biggest culprit in the loss of topsoil, should be effectively managed.

This fact sheet provides essential information on managing soil erosion, including reducing the impact of wind and water. The easy to read publication also guides decision-making on managing your irrigation system, controlling run-off water, covering exposed soil areas, improving soil structure and increasing cohesion between soil particles.

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

Vegetable growers and advisors talk about how implementing integrated crop protection and new soil management practices has changed their business.

This book is a practical guide to ecological soil management that provides background information as well as details of soil-improving practices. It is meant to give the reader an appreciation of the importance of soil health and to suggest ecologically sound practices that help to develop and maintain healthy soils.

This article by Bob Shaffer discusses the need for curing, techniques and the potential benefits of curing compost.

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.

This scientific review provides insight and data on:
- the types of organic amendments available for use in Australian agriculture
- the purported benefits of applying different groups of organic amendments to plant-soil systems
- why adoption of organic amendments in Australia has been relatively slow
- why organic amendments will become increasingly important in Australian agricultural systems.

This is the first fact sheet in a series for vegetable growers. These sheets provide information about composting, compost products and how to best use them to suit your needs.

This is the second fact sheet in a series for vegetable growers. These sheets provide information about composting, compost products and how to best use them to suit your needs.

This is the third fact sheet in a series for vegetable growers. These sheets provide information about composting, compost products and how to best use them to suit your needs.

This is the fourth fact sheet in a series for vegetable growers. These sheets provide information about composting, compost products and how to best use them to suit your needs.

This is the fifth fact sheet in a series for vegetable growers. These sheets provide information about composting, compost products and how to best use them to suit your needs.

This fact sheet developed by NSW Agriculture provides a good overview of composting, its benefits and how to create good compost.

“SOIL health to create wealth” was the motto at an AusVeg farm tour last week as the tour visited the Soil Wealth Kalbar.

Compost for Soils is a free, independent source of information about the use of compost in agricultural systems.

The site has a range of fact sheets and case studies focused on commerical use of compost in vegetables, vines, tree horticulture and broad acre crops.

A reduced till system on this Cowra vegetable farm delivered soil, cost and crop benefits.

NSW farmers, Ed and James Fagan explain how they developed a reduced tillage vegetable farming operation in Cowra, NSW.