SunRice: Rice

Aim: To determine the effect of basalt application on yield, soil quality and CO2 capture in a rice farming system.

Location and design

Two trials are being carried out in collaboration with rice farmers near Jerilderie in New South Wales. The climate is cold semi-arid (Köppen climate type) with surface water irrigation, and the soil is cracking clay (Vertosol).

Both trials were established in October 2025 and will run until at least March 2028.

  • One trial is a large demonstration trial with one irrigation bay as a control and the other receiving Basalt (40 tonnes per hectare in 2025)
  • The other trial is a small-plot replicated trial with three basalt treatments (0, 20 and 40 tonnes per hectare) and 4 replicates. Each plot is 115 metres long x 3 metres wide.

Monitoring

  • Yield of the rice and wheat crops will be measured.
  • Leaching of water and solutes will be measured during the wet season, using ‘drainage flux meters’ installed at 0.6 metre depth.
  • Soil properties will be measured once per year, using soil cores.

Howe Farming: Bananas

To determine the effect of basalt and limestone application on yield, soil quality and CO2 capture in irrigated bananas.

Howe Farming: Avocados

To determine the effect of basalt and limestone application on yield, soil quality and CO2 capture in irrigated avocados.

Central Queensland Smart Cropping Centre: Grains

To determine the effect of basalt application on yield, soil quality and CO2 capture in Northern Region grain crops.

Rice

Grey Farming: Cotton

To determine the effect of basalt application (in combination with synthetic or organic fertilisers) on yield, soil quality and CO2 capture in rainfed cotton.

Field Trial 6

Field Trial 7