Hearns Soil Aerator Trial
Soil Aerator trials to improve soil health, moisture holding capacity and reduce reliance on chemical inputs.
Community Participation - LP021-025
The issue
The Hearn’s are regenerative, organic beef farmers who invested in a soil aerator several years ago to improve soil health, moisture holding capacity and reduce reliance on chemical inputs, and ultimately increase productivity and profitability of their native pastures. These pastures are low maintenance but fulfil the nutritional needs of his cattle, as well as access to niche higher value add market via a paddock to plate pathway. The ‘’Aerator’’ is a novel proprietary soil aerator designed to reduce soil compaction allowing water, air and nutrients to penetrate more readily to the grass root zone. This process is designed to propagate the growth and activity of aerobic bacteria which then improves soil quality, cycles nutrients, and improves water infiltration which helps develop vigorous deep root systems in plants assisting with drought resistance. Deep rooted plants also have far greater uptake of minerals and trace elements resulting in healthier livestock. To compliment soil aeration, the Hearn’s have completed cell grazing fencing infrastructure that allows crash grazing followed by a three- month rest period for pasture regeneration between grazing.
The solution
Soil aeration began in September 2021 which was a little later than anticipated because of rain delays. The project has funded dry matter data collection and testing from trial sites on the property to compare soil aeration treatments against untreated control areas to ascertain the effectiveness of the soil aerator. Murray Local Land Services (MLLS) have been providing in kind agronomic support to WMLIG in the project. Trial site samples (dry matter tests) were taken from three different times of the year. The initial cutting was on the 6th of October 2021, about 2 weeks after aeration was completed. This was followed by two other samples taken on the 22nd of December2021 and the 11th of February 2022. A YouTube video has produced.
The impact
Trial results comparing the soil aerated site to the control (untreated) site have not provided a statistically significant outcome over the seven-month trial period, which is suspected to be due to the immaturity of the trial at this stage. WMLIG believes this is a consequence of trial learnings and timing of sampling not being optimal. On one occasion sampling was conducted not long after grazing, which distorted dry matter results. Anecdotally the landholder has seen improved productivity and water infiltration across the farm. Trial data collected to date has not indicated a statistically significant difference between the treatment and control plots being monitored. Change in soil structure, soil biology, litter decomposition, improved soil carbon, moisture holding capacity and subsequent nutrient cycling takes time. WMLIG would like to continue ongoing monitoring of the soil aerator trial sites to ascertain change over the longer term, develop reports and conduct a field day to the broader community in the future.
Key facts
- Ecosystem Health
- Resilience of significant species
- Appreciation of Nature
- Change in vegetation management
- Grower Confidence in long-term viability
- Condition of soil and vegetation