Future Pathways for Sustainable Horticulture
The future pathways project is supported by the Commonwealth of Australia acting through the Department of Agriculture. The project began on the 1st of April 2014 and will continue until 31st of March 2016.
Project Managers: Bryan Robertson, and Dr Steve Coventry
Project Managers: Bryan Robertson, and Dr Steve Coventry
Project ObjectivesThis project aims to increase the adoption within the Virginia Horticulture Area, South Australia, of a range of innovative grower practices that will improve the sustainable use of natural resources and increase capacity to adapt to changing climatic conditions. Through a farm scale approach the project will focuses on key areas of farm management, including fertigation to combat the increasing issues of soil sodicity and improve plant nutrient management. Soil fumigation to help control nematodes and other pathogens in such an intensively cropped system. Improved infrastructure, such as the use of fans for increased airflow to reduce the impact of plant disease and pests pressure in closed greenhouses. The project will also utilise a website based "virtual demonstration farm" concept that is linked to seasonal activities arranged around practical, hands on, training experiences through field days at a number of demonstration farms.
Project deliveries
Please Note: Case studies, fact sheets and videos on fertigation, fumigation and climate control will be added to this project page as the project progresses!
Chemical Fumigation VideosPre-plant fumigants (e.g., chloropicrin, or metham sodium) are often highly successful in reducing soilborne inoculum, though their use is expensive and strictly regulated. HortEx Alliance has been investigating through demo trials with AGas Rural the effect of these treatments on nematodes and soilborne diseases. The use of these chemicals is very dangerous and needs proper application. The below videos by AGas Rural highlight how to properly apply these chemicals when licensed by AGas Rural.
Below fumigation videos are translated into Vietnamese
Others doing good workHortEx Alliance Board member and grower Vandy Yon and RD&E Manager Steve Coventry went along to a Soilborne Disease Master Class given by AHR and RMCG Consulting. Their project funded by Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited using the vegetable industry levy and funds from the Australian Government has regionally based demonstration sites with a focus on biofumigation / cover crops, biology / managing soil carbon, reduced tillage, nutrition management, and soil borne diseases. HortEx Alliance members enjoyed working with the group, and others involved in the industry and research bodies. The discussion and general overview of the vegetable industry and its soil health and the all around understanding of soil health and its complexities was a value to all. The work they are doing goes hand in hand with what HortEx is trying to achieve through the project trials.
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FactsheetsOther ArticlesField Day/ WorkshopsHortEx has held multiple field days and workshops related to the future pathways project. These highlighted to the growers the new innovative practices and management methods they can implement on their farms.
The videos below relate to the powerpoint presentation slides given on the on the 22-5-15. There is no sound or voice associated with these videos, but they highlight what has been observed in the field and some of the new technologies used for traditional greenhouse structures.
Video 1: Greenhouse – Eggplants growing after Fumigator Sorghum
Video 2: Greenhouse - Tomatoes growing after Fumigator Sorghum
Video 3: Greenhouse - Eggplants growing after using Perlka
Video 4: Scheduled irrigation and fertigation system used in soil greenhouses
Video 5: Plant growth from scheduled irrigation and fertigation system used in soil greenhouses
Video 6: Climate control - Temperature and Humidity
Video 7: Row orientation to maximize plant exposure to the sun
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