OPTIMISING FERTILISER USE FOR HORTICULTURISTS IN THE

PERTH REGION

Keith Pekin

Funding

This project has been developed by Perth Region NRM with funding from the Federal governments Caring for our Country program.

Additional funding for monitoring and analysis equipment at three trial sites has been provided by FruitWest.

Project aim

Address the identified threats contributing to poor or declining water quality in the Swan & Canning river systems as defined in the Swan Canning Water Quality Improvement Plan SCWQIP

Image from SCWQIP

Summary: SCWQIP

Based on predictive modelling the maximum acceptable load to the Swan and Canning rivers per year is 128 tonnes of total nitrogen and 14 tonnes of total phosphorus.Currently:• 251 tonnes of nitrogen and • 26 tonnes of phosphorus enter the system each year.

The SCWQIP plan aims to reduce the: • nitrogen load by 123 tonnes (49%) and • phosphorus load by 12 tonnes (46%) annually.

Project aim

Within the SCWQIP there are 31 sub – catchments

areas.

Each of these have there own WQIP and are

aligned with the overarching plan

Horticulture – small contributors: Data obtained from TN and TP export modelling from monitoring points within the sub-

catchments

Equipment used: Fullstop wetting front detectors

POME

STONE

WINE GRAPE

TABLE GRAPE

CITRUS Site locations and locations of Fullstop devices at citrus site

What next?

Analysis of Fullstop devices as a cost effective means to assist with managing fertiliser use.

Plant nutrition field days. Development of an industry publication – A practical guide to evaluating and

improving your orchards soil health. Develop a knowledge data base - web

site.

Knowledge data base

Develop a web site that contains all the appropriate information West Australian horticulturists require.

THANK YOU

Water planning areas