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This 15 month project concluded December 2008.
Funded by NRM North, we assisted three groups of landholders implement changes to land management practices to have a positive effect on water quality and soil salinity in northern Tasmania. The landholder groups covered to following regions:
- Deloraine
- Pipers River
- Scottsdale
Each group initially identified their land-management issues affecting water quality and salinity in their local areas, and then developed Action Learning Plans to address them.
Activities included regular group meetings; trips to other farm enterprises; and training sessions on topics such as nutrient budgeting on dairy farms, building soil organic matter, and monitoring irrigation water quality.
A wide range of local on-ground trials and demonstrations were undertaken with participants, including:
- Building soil organic matter using waste materials
- Comparing compaction levels using different ground cultivation techniques in vegetable crops
- Assessing different nitrogen and potassium fertilisers for optimal dairy pasture growth
- Assessing different potassium sources in processing potato crops
- Comparing soil conditions of land under dryland grazing versus farm forestry
- Investigating establishment options for salt-tolerant pastures
- Monitoring nutrient leaching in processing potato crops.
What Were The Project Outcomes?
Water Quality – Improved water quality through adopting practices which reduce movement of soil, nutrients and pesticides into local waterways.
Soil Health – Implementation of practices which protect and enhance soil condition and long-term sustainability, such as maintaining soil organic matter and reducing erosion.
Salinity – Understanding of salinity management options and practices; provision of local management guidelines for land at risk of salinity.
Productivity – Increased understanding of the positive impacts that improved water quality and soil condition can have on the environmental, social and financial aspects of primary production in northern Tasmania.
Further Information
Stephen Welsh and Patrick Wadley delivered the project in close collaboration with NRM North. |
