{"id":101173,"date":"2024-08-24T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballinatimes\/?p=101173"},"modified":"2024-08-21T21:33:55","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T11:33:55","slug":"digging-deep-to-protect-the-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballinatimes\/news\/digging-deep-to-protect-the-land\/","title":{"rendered":"Digging deep to protect the land"},"content":{"rendered":"

WITH 324 dirt samples in her collection, it’s safe to say Evanna McGuinness is passionate about soil. But it is a collection with a purpose.<\/p>\n

Ms McGuinness is doing a Master of Applied Soil Science degree at Southern Cross University, studying subsoil carbon and nitrogen in grazing systems.<\/p>\n

The study of soils at the university is important work.<\/p>\n

“Soil impacts everything. It’s not just the soil ecosystem. It affects vegetation. It affects water quality. It affects crop health, nutrition and productivity,” Ms McGuinness said.<\/p>\n

It can even affect the climate.<\/p>\n

Dr John Grant, a lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at SCU, further underscores its importance.<\/p>\n

“Soil is the basis of everything in the terrestrial part of the world. Without soil, there would be no life above the seas.”<\/p>\n

Understanding soil profiles can help advise on the best way to manage land for farmers and land conservationists.<\/p>\n

What, where, and when to plant, when to burn, or when to harvest, are all questions that understanding the soil structure can answer.<\/p>\n

“Every decision should be based on the soil,” Dr Grant said.<\/p>\n

Erosion, salinity and acidification are the biggest threats to agriculture, and they need to be managed, he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Evanna McGuinness hopes to put her soil profiling skills to the test at the National Soil Judging Competition run by Soil Science Australia. Photo CATHY ADAMS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“If you lose a millimetre of soil, there goes 100 years of production. We can’t afford to lose productivity.”<\/p>\n

With climate change and a growing population, managing these issues is becoming increasingly important.<\/p>\n

Ms McGuinness said helping farmers see the benefit of soil management was key.<\/p>\n

“We can do it in a way that doesn’t impact the productivity of our landscapes if we just really think about it and do it strategically.”<\/p>\n

She is one of five students from SCU hoping to enter the annual National Soil Judging Competition run by Soil Science Australia.<\/p>\n

The competition will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand from November 28 to December 1, and allows students to learn about different soils and connect with other soil scientists.<\/p>\n

Dr Grant said they need sponsorship to help the students travel to New Zealand.<\/p>\n

“Southern Cross University is a leader in the teaching of Regenerative Agriculture at a tertiary level,” he said.<\/p>\n

“It is important that those students be supported as they finish their degrees and develop their post-graduate careers. Southern Cross has sent teams to almost all of the soil judging competitions held over the last five years.”<\/p>\n

To sponsor the students, email Dr Grant at john.grant@scu.edu.au<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WITH 324 dirt samples in her collection, it’s safe to say Evanna McGuinness is passionate about soil. But it is a collection with a purpose. Ms McGuinness is doing a Master of Applied Soil Science degree at Southern Cross University, studying subsoil carbon and nitrogen in grazing systems. The study of soils at the university […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232,"featured_media":101174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-101173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDigging deep to protect the land - Ballina Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Soil health matters for our planet & food production! 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