Demo site update - Bolwarrah, VIC

EM38 (0-0.75 m) map of the Bolwarrah demonstration site, 30th April 2021

Processing potato grower, Neville Quinlan, is growing potatoes on virgin land, which used to be a blue gum plantation zone. Agronomist, Stuart Grigg, is managing the site in terms of crop quality and soil improvement. The aim is to improve soil health by growing potatoes in a (short) rotation schedule with vegetable crops, bridged by cover crops over winter. Input of biologicals (e.g., mycorrhizal inoculants) might support the soil improvement process.

The region gets 900 mm rain per year (winter and spring dominant).

The soil has been sampled (0 – 20 cm cores) and scanned (EM38) showing some variability (see Fig 11) similar to Ballarat soils. The soil colour texture varies from brown clay to grey loam. Soils are also being sampled to screen initial levels of mycorrhizal fungi (DNA testing) and commercial mycorrhizal inoculants have been applied. Additionally, some sap and soil testing will be done to assist with nutrition management in crop and to compare the mycorrhizal impregnated vs non-impregnated areas, especially interested in P uptake & crop response.