Managing Climate Variability
Trash Blankets and Climate Predictions

 

Bill, Betty and Paul Atkinson
Proserpine, Queensland

  • 1,500mm average rainfall
  • 150 hectares
  • Producing sugar cane

The Atkinsons knew they had a problem when the soil on their cane farm degraded to a white powder that blew away in the wind.

They changed to harvesting the cane when green and leaving the stubble trash on the soil as mulch, saving up to two waterings a year. Their soil has improved dramatically.

Before the new season, they gather as much information as they can to help them predict whether they will get average, above average or below average rainfall. They then decide on their strategies for the season which can be different each year.

Using the Southern Oscillation Index as a guide, not as gospel, they may plant early to make the most use of available soil moisture if the indication is for a dry year.

Bill and Betty Atkinson in one of their cane fields


Climate Management Tools Used

  • Trash blankets (retained stubble) used to keep water in the soil.
  • Assessing climate outlook at the start of the season and setting strategies accordingly.
  • Adjusting the timing and order of harvest to ensure crops are successfully cut, even in wet conditions.
  • Making advance orders on additional irrigation water if the outlook is dry.
  • Burning cane on heavy soils if the outlook is wet.
  • Leaving land with heavier soils out of production in wet years.

Complete 2004 Story (pdf 138 Kb)

Complete 1999 Story