CCC Research Update & Farm Walk - 12 May 2022

Thursday 12 May, 2022

group of men and women laughing in berry bushes under shade cloth

The Clean Coastal Catchments (CCC) project held a fertiliser stewardship research update forum at Woolgoolga (north of Coffs Harbour) in May 2022 focusing on blueberry and protected cropping industries on the NSW north coast.

Morning presentations at the C.Ex Woolgoolga were followed by a farm walk at a commercial blueberry farm at Corindi.

woman with microphone speaking to seated group of people with screen showing powerpoint presentation in a hall

The morning forum presented the latest findings from CCC blueberry nutrition and irrigation recycling research. DPI Blueberry Industry Development Officer Melinda Simpson, DPI Senior Research Scientist Dr Sophie Parks, and Soil Scientist Justine Cox, presented the latest CCC research on best practice fertiliser management and irrigation recycling, and the impact of soil type on infiltration and nutrition.

Angus Ferguson from NSW Estuaries and Catchments Science and Shaun Morris from North Coast LLS added insights about coastal water quality monitoring and the effectiveness of nitrogen removal bioreactors as a tool for reducing nutrient losses in farm waste water.

Unfortunately Shane White from Southern Cross University was hit by a lurgy and couldn’t attend, but Justine Cox stepped in to the breach to provide a brief summary of Shane’s rainfall simulation research.  Shane will publish detailed findings later this year on the impact of rainfall on nutrient absorption by plants and nutrient losses in heavy rainfall events.

During the afternoon farm walk, participants saw a state of the art fertigation system in operation with CCC research partner and OzGroup Co-op berry grower, Aman Lehl. Aman hosts CCC farm research trials on irrigation recycling and reducing fertiliser waste.

berries in black pots growing in rows with irrigation hosesThe rain cleared just in time for a bus load of growers, agronomists and other industry stakeholders to take a tour through the berry tunnels as Aman shared his extensive production knowledge and observations on the practical implications of evolving water recycling technology and design.

Irrigation recycling can result in significant water and fertiliser cost saving for farmers. There are also substantial benefits for the environment if waste water nutrients are captured before they can escape into coastal water ways.

However getting a complex system to operate as required has not been easy. Aman was joined on the farm walk by Melinda Simpson and Dr Sophie Parks from the CCC team, to discuss the many hurdles they have had to tackle in capturing nutrient rich irrigation run off water, and safely recycling it back on to Aman's berry crops.

Aman generously shared the lessons he has learnt in the process of fine tuning the recycling system, prompting an engaging discussion on profitability, sustainability, and adaptation in a changing climate.

For Aman, the benefits to recycling fertiliser are two-fold, “one, it's great for the environment and two, we are reducing our water and fertiliser input cost.”

group of people on berry farm in front of berry bushes under white protective arched domes“It's good to be able to talk about what’s working and what's not with other growers. Some of them have ideas, so it is great to be able to share our knowledge and come up with solutions together."

Matt Plunkett, Chair of Protected Cropping Australia and Senior Land Services Officer (Horticulture) with NSW Local Land Services, attended the morning research update forum, and then took part in the afternoon farm walk at Corindi.

“It was a terrific day, with great discussion on the challenges around sustainability within the industry and being adaptable in a changing climate,’ said Mr Plunkett.

The CCC team's research at Aman's farm is ongoing, in conjunction with lab and greenhouse trials at the Department of Primary Industries' Ourimbah and Wollongbar sites.

We look forward to continuing to roll out new research findings on best practice fertiliser and irrigation management for growers of berries and other horticultural crops.

The CCC project is funded through the NSW Government’s Marine Estate Management Strategy to keep sediment and nutrients on farm and out of coastal waterways, while supporting profitable and sustainable agriculture.

Berry grower, Aman Lehl, is seated at a computer in a shed containing fertigation equipment, with CCC Development Officer, Melinda Simpson and Technical Officer, Diana Unsworth, looking on.