Measuring Impact

Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

Soil Management and Crop Nutrition

Research Program Manager: Dr Gamini Keerthisinghe
email: keerthisinghe@aciar.gov.au

ACIAR's Soil Management and Crop Nutrition program focuses on projects designed in the context of a systems approach to conservation agriculture. This requires research on the adaptation to local conditions of established interventions in tillage and water management, nutrient management, and choice of crop rotations. Many projects are designed as short time to impact projects by inclusion of NGOs as partners, the integration of socio-economic skills in project teams, and where possible, alignment with government extension and implementation programs. In better endowed regions the emphasis is on reducing costs of production and minimising environmental impact through more efficient use of water and other inputs. In more marginal regions the emphasis will be on improving livelihoods through raising yields and the development of labour efficient production systems.

Current Projects

SMCN/2000/046 - Overcoming magnesium deficiency in oil palm crops on volcanic ash soils of Papua New Guinea

SMCN/2002/015 - Managing groundwater access in Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Vietnam

SMCN/2002/033 - Seasonal climate forecasting for better irrigation system management in Lombok

SMCN/2002/073 - Efficient nutrient use in rice production in Vietnam achieved using inoculant biofertilisers

SMCN/2003/006 - Enhancing agricultural production in the Philippines by sustainable use of shallow groundwater

SMCN/2003/010 - Farmer evaluation and multiplication of sweet potato varieties on the North Coast of PNG

SMCN/2003/035 - Improving the utilisation of water and soil resources for tree crop production in coastal areas of Vietnam and New South Wales

SMCN/2004/041 - Productivity and marketing enhancement for peanut in Papua New Guinea and Australia

SMCN/2004/067 - Soil fertility management in the PNG highlands for sweet potato based cropping systems

SMCN/2004/069 - Minimising agricultural pollution to enhance water quality in Laguna de Bay (Philippines) and Mt Lofty Ranges (Australia)

SMCN/2004/071 - Reducing pest and disease impact on yield in selected PNG sweet potato production systems

SMCN/2004/078 - Evaluation and adoption of improved farming practices on soil and water resources, Bohol Island, the Philippines

SMCN/2005/075 - Integrated soil and crop management for rehabilitation of vegetable production in the tsunami-affected areas of NAD Province, Indonesia

SMCN/2006/013 - Increasing food security and farmer livelihoods through enhanced legume cultivation in the Central Dry Zone of Burma