The project’s research has developed a new system of soil management. Eight fruitgrowers have set up fruit trees in commercial areas using the system.

Extensive work on soil structure by researcher Dr Bruce Cockroft from Northern Victoria has brought the maintenance of soil structure into the spotlight as a promising area for irrigators to work on to improve their y

This project was undertaken in response to concerns raised by the NSW goverrrrnent

Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC, formerly EPA) regarding the

Cotton growers began to realise in the late 1970's that compaction of clay soils may have been a cause of declining yields. Research over the last 10 years has confirmed those suspicions.

Farmers in Australia apply between 80 and 200 kg N ba-1 to cotton, but only part of this nitrogen is taken up and used by the crop, and the remainder is lost :from the plantsoil system.