Case studies: Improved drought resilience through optimal management of soils and available water

OPTIMAL SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT INCREASES DROUGHT RESILIENCE — FROM THE PLOT TO THE PADDOCK

Drought is an inevitable part of farming in Australia, and outcomes from the Improved drought resilience through optimal management of soils and available water project are equipping farmers with a host of additional strategies with which they can prepare for the inevitable. 

Numerous small-scale field trials across southern NSW have shown that early sowing of slower-maturing crops, diverse legume rotations and nitrogen banking can all increase profitability and productivity by increasing soil moisture availability and preventing carbon and nutrient loss under drought conditions. But proving these practices are profitable on a paddock scale is key to ensuring grower adoption.

As part of this project, Riverine Plains and our project partners spoke to a number of farmers currently using these strategies in their farming systems. See their insights and learnings in the following written case studies and videos! 

Farmer	Case Study (written)	Video
Diverse legumes (pulse) rotations - Howlong farmer  Tim Trevethan, shares insights into their use of pulses, including their effect on soil nitrogen, soil moisture and subsequent crop yield.
Early sowing of longer-season varieties - Lawson Thomas from Mulwala shares his experiences with dual purpose varieties and the benefits of sowing early.
Earlier sowing of longer-season varieties  - Sam Kellock, Mulwala, discusses early sowing as a risk management strategy, and how a better understanding of  agronomics has refined decision-making on variety and paddock selection.
Diverse legume (pulse) rotations - Grant Kitto from Tallimba, NSW. shares his experiences using vetch as a source of feed, flexibility, free nitrogen and added resilience.		Video not available
N Banking  - Duncan Stewart from Harden shares how he is incorporating nitrogen banking to better manage seasonal fluctuations and improve profitability in his operation.
N Banking and faba beans - Jake Platfuss, from Finely NSW, shares his experiences with soil testing and topdressing faba beans, to improve outcomes for the following wheat crop.
Diverse legumes (pulse) rotations - Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga farm manager, James Stephens, talks about the benefits and challenges of faba beans and the value-add to livestock enterprises.		Video not available
Early sowing of dual-purpose crops - Simon and James Finlay, Cookardinia, NSW share their experiences with using early sown dual-purpose wheat and canola crops to prevent the winter feed deficit.		Video not available
Early sowing options - Eurongilly farmer James Brady  & James Holding from FarmLink Research discuss early sowing options to utilise dual purpose varieities and maximise profitability.	Written case study not available
Diverse legumes (pulse) rotations - Condobolin farmer & agronomist Chris Baker discusses how he is using crop diversity, including legumes, in the rotation to optimise his soils and available water to improve drought resilience.	Written case study not available
Early sowing of longer-season varieties - Condobolin grower Roger Todd & agronomist Chris Baker, Baker Ag Advantage, discuss early sowing as a technique to help optimise their soils and available water.	Written case study not available