Productive crops and pastures
Sustainable cropping: Meeting the continuing pressures for increased grain yield in sustainable cropping systems is an important focus of our researchers. The best yielding triticale varieties in eastern Australia, with superior disease resistance, have been the result, with a dryland grain yield of 10 t/ha having been recently achieved. Researchers within Sustainable Farming also have interests in understanding organic farming and environmental restoration research.
Sustainable pastures: Deep rooted, fertiliser-responsive, perennial pastures have been found to be the key to sustainable systems in the ‘high rainfall’ zone due to their capacity for utilising water and nitrogen deep in the soil profile. We have explored the interactions between inputs of sown pastures and fertiliser together with grazing management leading to a greater understanding of what comprises a sustainable and profitable grazing enterprise.
Integrated crop-livestock farming: Mixed farming systems offer the opportunity for more integrated, diverse, robust, synergistic and symbiotic systems which are more highly buffered against shocks.
