The Soil Wealth ICP team is working with Bowen growers Jess and Luke Volker to deliver a demonstration site focused on rebuilding soil health on a historically intensive vegetable farm in North Queensland. The demo site has been continuously cropped for more than 50 years, predominantly tomatoes, followed by beans and corn. This demonstration site provides an opportunity to measure and monitor practical strategies to support that transition.
The primary objective is to improve soil nutrient balance and soil health using multi-species summer cover cropping.
The trial aims to improve soil structure, increase organic matter, enhance biological activity, suppress weeds and improve infiltration, ultimately supporting better crop performance and system resilience.
The demonstration (December 2025 – mid 2026) includes both a summer cover crop phase and a winter vegetable phase.
Summer 2025–26 cover crop phase
A multi-species cover crop mix (sorghum, sunn hemp, field radish and sunflower) was broadcast at 50 kg/ha across the trial area in December 2025 and will be terminated in late February/early March via. rolling. A fallow control strip has been retained for comparison.
The cover crop was designed to:
- Rapidly establish ahead of the wet season
- Provide strong biomass production for soil cover
- Improve aggregate stability and infiltration
- Suppress weeds such as tick weed and bullheads
- Contribute nitrogen through legumes
Winter 2026 vegetable phase
Following termination of the cover crop, reduced tillage approaches will be implemented before planting a winter vegetable crop. The aim is to retain cover crop benefits while minimising soil disturbance during bed preparation and plastic laying.
The demo site team will:
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Monitor soil condition, crop performance, and overall system function during the season.
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Test soil nutrients, biology, and physical properties (infiltration, compaction, bulk density).
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Measure cover crop biomass and assess weed pressure.
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Observe crop health, vigour, nutrient status, and disease.
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Repeat soil tests pre-harvest to assess seasonal changes.
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Assess yield and crop quality at harvest (marketable and unmarketable).
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