The Kojonup Soils Centre

Background

The Kojonup Soils Centre is an incorporated body comprising representatives from regional farming communities, the University of Western Australia, Department of Agriculture and the Australian Soils Club.

Some years ago two local farmers identified shortcomings in the management of soils and in conjunction with the Kojonup Shire Council proceeded to undertake a feasibility study to establish a Centre of soils excellence. The results of the feasibility study confirmed that there was a need for such a facility and that farmers were looking for an independent body to provide independent support and research in relation to soils management.

Our new Centre will focus upon research, education and extension aimed at improving the understanding and management of Australia’s soils.

The Kojonup Soils Centre links university expertise with local farming interests and the Department of Agriculture to satisfy the growing needs of farmers to know more about their soils. Farmers currently feel a degree of frustration with the level of understanding of and support for soil science in their local communities and our research has confirmed the desire for farmers to better understand soil, as their basic resource. Strong community support has been shown for seminars that examine a range of approaches to

soils management.

Kojonup is well placed within the cropping, grazing and horticultural areas of the State. It is a stable area and the town of Kojonup is located on the main transport corridor from Perth to Albany. The Kojonup Shire Council has established a reputation as an innovative supporter of business opportunities.

The University of Western Australia and Department of Agriculture will form a joint research team with the capacity to address a comprehensive range of issues relevant to the health and sustainability of soils. This research base of the Centre will be largely located at the University in Perth, while the Kojonup base will provide regional research, assist with the testing of soil health parameters and provide the vital communication link with the farming community.

Research will target the understanding of the importance of biological activity in the soil to the soil’s function and growth of plants in the soil. The Centre will provide education and training services to its university students and the wider community. Senior researchers associated with the universities have been successful in winning many research grants in the last five years demonstrating their capacity to guarantee the sustainability of research with the Centre. Seminars and conferences conducted at Kojonup have been overwhelming with participants coming from all over the State, proving the need for information and genuine interest in soil health if farming is to be a sustainable industry in the long term.

Outputs from the centre will include a new soil test that characterises the health of the soils, new technologies for the management of soils, research graduates from Universities and research publications.

Longer term outcomes will include improved soil management, changes to soil conservation policy at a local, regional, state and national level, and new planning standards for soil management. Graduates or research output will introduce new techniques for addressing local and national soil management problems thus leading to improved natural resource management.

These benefits will flow to the broad state, national and in many cases, overseas communities through packaging of information, in publications, a broad range of Internet services and through consultancies. New approaches to and success with soil management are anticipated.