FOCUS ON : IMPROVING NUTRIENT AND IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY IN SUGARCANE
Excess nutrient runoff from cane properties reduces the quality of water flowing to the reef , and has been linked to Crown of Thorns starfish outbreaks . This year we continued supporting Burdekin cane farmers to reduce runoff through projects aimed at improving irrigation and nutrient efficiency .
Burdekin Tender pilot round growers Greg and Aaron MacElroy
BURDEKIN TENDER LEADS TO MAJOR NITROGEN REDUCTIONS
The Burdekin Tender project supports cane growers to minimise fertiliser use without reducing yield . Under the project , funded through the Australian Government ’ s Reef Trust , growers proposed trialling ways to reduce fertiliser use – and put a price on the cost of making the change . Trials included closely matching fertiliser inputs to crop requirements , and using technology to only apply fertiliser when needed .
The 51 growers involved in the tender reduced their application of nitrogen by over 586 tonnes in the 2018 season . This reduction in excess fertiliser helped prevent dissolved inorganic nitrogen from entering local waterways and the reef . Inkerman growers Greg and Aaron MacElroy were among the first to join up to the pilot project . Greg said :
“ Funding through the tender gave us the confidence to reduce our nitrogen use .”
Burdekin grower Greg MacElroy
Burdekin Tender project : Total N Reduction to date - 1,154 tonnes . This equates to a cost saving of approximately $ 1,430,960
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