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Ray & Anne WIlliams won Carbon Cocky of the Plains 2007. In this presentation Anne reveals the relentless pursuit of innovation and knowledge that typifies the Carbon Farmer. She explains many new techniques.
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The Year That was
Anne Williams
2007Carbon Cockies Plains of NSW
• No-till farmers near Coonamble
Benefits on “Magomadine” from No-till farming
No-till since 1996
Environmental benefitsless erosion
Increased yields and profits
More water stored in the soil profile
Improved soil structure
Increasing level of soil nutrients
Ability to double crop
Carbon benefits
• 60% reduction in fuel
• Carbon rose from 0.7-1.2% in 7 years
• Why?
• Increased biomass
• No hay
• No N fertiliser
Biology Workshop
• Questioned our effect on soil biology
• Can we improve our soil biota?
Compost trial“Cotton Paddock”
• 2t/ha June 2007
• 6 replicated plots
Compost Trials
• No rain from end of July until harvest
• No visible difference
but…..
Measurements?
Yield increase
• An average of 20% increase in yield
Compost trials
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
Control compost 2t/ha compost 2t/ha+extra
compost 2t/ha+ tea
Treatment
yie
ld (
tota
l h
ead
) t/
ha
Compost Windrow
Compost tea
• Sowing 2008:
• Dribble tea down behind the sowing tyne
• Places microbes in moist soil with the seed.
Front WestPaddock
Total Carbon In Front West Paddock
April 2008
0
0.5
1
1.5
Uncropped No-till No-till + Compost
Location
To
tal C
arb
on
(%
)
Nematode population in Front West Paddock
April 2008
0
10
20
30
40
Uncropped No-till No-till + Compost
Site
Ne
ma
tod
es
pe
r g
ram
of
so
il
Masters ResearchUNE Armidale
GRDC Scholarship• Investigate:
Biological properties and soil amendments in the no-till cropping system.
Initial Farm Survey
• 20 Farms across the Central West
• Aim: To compare paired sites to find any significant changes.
• Soil tests– Physical, chemical and – Biological– Summary of farm – practices
Field Trial
• Comparing different organic and other possible amendments
• Trial set up in May 08
• 08 – long fallow
• 09- wheat crop
Where to next?
• All sowing with compost tea
• Continue to make compost
• Continue with studies
Thankyou!
– Jan 08