Our research projects traverse the country. If you would like to find out what farmers near you are doing, explore the map below.
Project Leader: Prof. Terry Rose, Southern Cross University
Industry Partners: Facey Group Inc
Project Description: Western Australian cropping systems typically involve a summer fallow kept free of weeds using herbicides as the growers operating with low and unreliable summer rainfall are concerned that the use of stored soil moisture by summer cover crops may impact on growth and yields of winter cash crops. The aim of this project is to conserve soil moisture over summer for subsequent winter crops by growing multi-species cover crops during the fallow. The trial established by the Facey Group near Wickepin in South West Western Australia will include single and multi-species summer cover crops compared to a typical chemical fallow. Both economic and environmental measurements, particularly soil health, will be taken throughout the trial.