Researchers dig into new ways of recycling nutrients and water, helping growers boost sustainability

Researchers are digging into new ways of recycling nutrients and water to help growers boost sustainability.

New research from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s five-year project evaluating on-farm water and nutrient recapture in WA’s production systems is looking to use geomembranes, such as plastic sheeting laid below the root zone, and a suitable water drainage system to capture leached water and nutrients.

The goal of the project aims to capture water which can then be diverted to a dam to be recycled for irrigation use.

The project is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers with co-investment from DPIRD and contributions from the Australian Government.

The project has a planned demonstration site set to be developed after year three of the study in Peel Harvey catchment testing of the system’s feasibility. These findings will be extended to the broader industry in the final two years of the five-year project.

Previous research shows when Swan Coastal Plain production systems are poorly managed, more than 60 per cent of irrigation water and nitrogen fertiliser applied to vegetable crops leaches past the root zone.

DPIRD research scientist Valeria Almeida Lima said the new research project aimed to help growers adopt more efficient, sustainable and profitable farming systems.

“If proven successful, the project will result in considerable savings in water and fertiliser use, increasing growers’ margins,” she said.

“The proposed system could also prevent nutrients from entering waterways in environmentally sensitive areas.

“It will also build business resilience in a drying climate while supporting industry social licence, validating horticulture production as a clean, non-polluting farming system.”

Hort Innovation chief executive officer Brett Field said the project had the potential to generate far-reaching benefits for industry.

“We know that growers are facing historic highs when it comes to input costs, such as fertilisers, so a project like this that aims to help growers save will have a positive impact for the whole horticulture sector,” he said.