SDG Detail

Jaramas Foundation Landcare Grant funds soil moisture probe network to benefit farmers and land managers

Case study

Project description

In 2020, a Jaramas Foundation Landcare Grant provided funding for the Harden Murrumburrah Landcare Group (HMLG) to commence its Under the Fence Line project in the Hilltops Region of NSW. The moisture probe network provides data on water content, stacked water content, plant available water, stored water, changes in stored water, soil electrical conductivity, soil temperature, soil depths and rainfall. The probes are connected by underground cable to a solar-powered data logger located at the fence line. The sensors take measurements every 30 minutes, which are transmitted in real time that, along with the availability of historical data, enables the prediction of water use patterns at critical times of the growing season, as well as the prediction of likely crop yield outcomes and pasture growth.

Year 2020

Location Australia

Organization Landcarer Australia

Project aims

The aim of the project was to expand the Group�s ability to provide technology for measuring drainage that enables growers to understand the impacts of their land management practices on deep drainage and dryland salinity; and make adjustments accordingly.

Project outcome

Uptake of new technology is continually improving the management and monitoring of soil fertility, development of livestock feed rations and predicting pasture growth. There is potential for this data to improve sustainable land management across 250,000ha in the Harden Murrumburrah catchment.