Carbon myth busters tackle soil science

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A series of seminars called ‘Carbon Myth Busters’ will be held to help farmers manage their response to the soil carbon debate, starting on Friday (November 21) in Tamworth. David Waters, a soil scientist with NSW Department of Primary Industries, is presenting the series developed by leading DPI soil scientists to cover issues relating to soil carbon in agriculture.

“A lot of information has been generated in relation to soil carbon and unfortunately some of it either confusing or at worst incorrect,” he said.

“We want to provide farmers with some balance and context in the debate over soil carbon and what it may mean for their farming enterprises.”

Topics to be covered in the seminars include carbon cycles, soil carbon fractions, effects of climate and soil type on soil carbon, influence of management practices on soil carbon, whole-farm carbon dynamics, organic carbon amendments and the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Mr Waters said seminars already presented at Pleasant Hills and Coleambally generated some excellent feedback from local farmers and other industry members.

“Those who attended wanted to know the best ways to manage and increase carbon in their farming systems,” he said.

“They also wanted information on how to reduce their fertiliser costs by increasing soil carbon, and what were the timeframes to achieve increases in soil carbon.

“As well, they were keen to understand how general ‘soil health’ relates to soil carbon levels, what capacity soils have to store carbon in relation to soil type, and how does organic soil carbon measure up against inorganic soil carbon.”

The Tamworth seminar is free and will be held at the Loomberah War Memorial Hall from 9am - 3pm. Lunch provided.