Project scientists are also carrying out several additional enhanced weathering trials.
Aim: Determine the effect of crushed basalt application on carbon dioxide capture, soil properties and crop yield in a rainfed sugarcane farming system in the Humid Tropics.
Duration: 2018-2025
Leaders: Dr Paul Nelson and Fred Holden
Funding: Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, James Cook University
Experimental design: Farm at Gordonvale. Treatments are 0, 20 or 50 t/ha of basalt applied from 2018 to 2024, plus 0 or 2.5 t/ha of lime superimposed on the 0 and 50 t/ha basalt treatments from 2022 to 2024. Four replicate plots, each 550 x 8.25 m.
Results: Results of the first 5 years are available in the paper by Holden et al. (2024). Results of the subsequent 3 years are being prepared for publication.
Aim: Determine the effect of crushed basalt application on carbon dioxide capture, soil properties and crop yield in an irrigated sugarcane farming system in the Dry Tropics.
Duration: 2018-2025
Leader: Dr Paul Nelson and Fred Holden
Funding: Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, James Cook University
Experimental design: Farm at Dimbulah. Treatments are 0, 20 or 50 t/ha of basalt applied from 2018 to 2020. Four replicate plots, each ~300 x 8.25 m.
Results: Results are being analysed.
Aim: Determine the effect of crushed basalt application and soil management practices on carbon dioxide capture, soil properties and crop yield in rainfed sugarcane in the Humid Tropics.
Duration: 2024-2026
Leader: Dr Paul Nelson and Sofonyas Dargie Tefera
Funding: UNDO, James Cook University
Experimental design: Plot trial on James Cook University Nguma bada campus in Cairns. Treatments are 0, 20 or 50 t/ha of basalt, with four different management practices imposed on the 0 and 50 t/ha treatments. Six replicate plots, each 4 x 3 m.
Results: Results are being analysed.
Aim: Determine the effect of crushed basalt application on carbon dioxide capture, soil properties and pasture growth yield in a grazed savanna in the Dry Tropics.
Duration: 2024-2027
Leaders: Dr Paul Nelson and Dr Amanda Neilen
Funding: Consolidated Pastoral Company, James Cook University
Experimental design: Plot trial on Consolidated Pastoral Company Station near Chillagoe. Treatments are 0 or 100 t/ha of basalt applied in 2024. Six replicate plots, each 6 x 6 m.
Results: Results are being analysed.
Aim: Determine the effect of sugar mill by-products (mud and ash) on carbon dioxide capture, soil properties and crop yield in rainfed sugarcane in the Humid Tropics.
Duration: 2022-2025
Leaders: Dr Paul Nelson and Hannah Green
Funding: Sugar Research Australia, James Cook University
Experimental design: Farm at Ingham. Treatments are 50 t/ha mill mud, 100 t/ha mill ash, 50 t/ha mill mud + 100 t/ha mill ash, or 0 t/ha of mill by-products, applied once in late 2022. Six replicate plots each 15 x 4.5 m.
Results: Results are being analysed.