Crops

Identifying Eastern Gangetic Plains soil constraints

Image
Eastern Gangetic Plains
Project code
CROP/2018/210
Program
Budget
AUD 250,000
Research program manager
Dr Eric Huttner
Project leader
Professor Neal Menzies, University of Queensland
Commissioned organisation
The University of Queensland
Duration:
DEC 2018
JUN 2021
Project status
Concluded
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Overview

This project aimed to determine if zinc deficiency is limiting rice growth, and if alleviating this deficiency results in increased yield

The external supplemental review of the sustainable and resilient farming systems intensification project (CSE/2011/077) identified soil health as an area of concern, with soil pH and associated toxicities, trace element deficiencies (zinc, copper, boron), low organic carbon levels, and soil structural problems identified as key issues. This project will provide additional information to allow the validity of these future research needs to be determined.

This project is part of the DFAT and ACIAR-funded Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio program. 

Project outcomes

  • Evaluating the extent of soil acidification, and risk/rate of acidification.
  • Evaluating the zinc status of rice crops, and the potential for a yield response to zinc fertiliser application.
  • Evaluating the soil structural benefits of conservation agriculture.
  • Calculating preliminary partial nutrient budgets.
Key partners
Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, India
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