Management of Soil Fertility in the Cicerone Farmlets

The Cicerone Project includes a study of 3 farmlets each with management systems contrasting in inputs (levels of fertilisers and pastures) and grazing management. Farmlet A has soil fertility targets of 60 mg/kg phosphorus (P) and 10 mg/kg sulfur (S), whilst farmlets B and C have targets of 20 mg/kg P and 6.5 mg/kg S. All three farmlets have been managed appropriately and are within acceptable limits with respect to soil P and S status. Soil tests in 2003 were influenced by mineralisation of organic matter following the breaking of the 2002 drought in 2003, resulting in significantly elevated P and S levels. Other indices of soil fertility are within acceptable limits for plant growth. Assessment of the Cicerone project farmlets using a newly developed Farm Nutrient Loss index revealed the risk of environmental loss of nutrients to be low.