‘Carbon Myth Busters’ - soil carbon seminar at Holbrook
A practical myth busting day on soil carbon is being held by Industry and Investment NSW and Holbrook Landcare at Holbrook on Wednesday 26 August.
Seminar presenter and soil scientist with Industry and Investment, David Waters, said the seminar would be valuable for a wide range of people including farmers, agronomists, industry representatives and others working in agriculture.
The seminar has been developed by leading soil scientists to help farmers manage their response to the soil carbon debate.
Issues to be covered on the day include carbon cycles, soil carbon fractions, effects of climate and soil type on soil carbon, influence of management practices on soil carbon, organic carbon amendments, whole-farm carbon dynamics, Holbrook biochar project and soil carbon and overall soil health - profiles in pits.
"There is such a deluge of information on carbon that it is very easy to get confused," Mr Waters said. "This will be a hands-on day - in the afternoon we will visit one or two soil pits on nearby properties, and relate the importance of soil carbon to overall soil health and best land management practices."
Mr Waters will also be talking about a new biochar trial site to be set up next year in the Holbrook district to complement existing biochar research work based at the EH Graham Centre at Wagga Wagga.
"It will put the Holbrook area on the map in terms of getting a local vision on a project that potentially has international significance," he said.
"We will be looking at different soil types in different geographic areas to see how the
biochar amends soil fertility."
The Holbrook seminar will be held from 9am - 3.30pm. It will start at the Holbrook Community Technology Centre (attached to the library) and in the afternoon attendees will visit a nearby farm. It costs $20 (lunch provided). Bookings are essential. RSVP by 20 August.
For bookings and information contact Chris Cumming on (02) 6036 3181 or David Waters on (02) 6938 1999 david.waters@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Further reading
Media contact: Sarah Chester on (02) 6036 2110 or 0417 207 669