TULLY RESEARCH PROVIDES GOOD NEWS FOR BANANA FARMERS AND FOR THE REEF

Scientists and farmers in the Tully catchment are working together to secure banana yields and ensure the safety of the Great Barrier Reef.

Minister for Natural Resources and Water (NRW) Craig Wallace said new research showed banana farmers could achieve the same crop yields while using less fertiliser.

“Around 85 per cent of Australia’s banana industry is located on Queensland’s wet tropical coast, and the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser through run-off and seepage is considered to be a serious threat to the reef,” Mr Wallace said.

"The good news is that new research conducted by NRW in association with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and farmers shows lower application rates of these fertilisers will not decrease banana crop yields.”

NRW north region principal scientist Dr John Armour said a study on phosphorus fertiliser management in the North Queensland banana industry had started in 2006.

“We worked with five growers with small on-farm demonstration plots, comparing banana growth and leaf phosphorus status of crops grown by standard practices with those grown with nil phosphorus application,” Dr Armour said.

“The cooperating growers represented a range of soil types, fertiliser practices and soil phosphorus concentrations.

“At the moment we are waiting for the final bunches to be harvested, but so far we have not observed any differences in the growth of banana plants where phosphorus was not applied.

"In addition, the results do not indicate any consistent differences in the concentrations measured in the leaf samples.’’

Mr Wallace said the preliminary findings were great news for farmers and the reef.

“Not only will this save farmers money, while still producing the same yields, but it will also help maintain water quality for our Great Barrier Reef,’’ he said.

Mr Wallace said the current project built on earlier successful research into the nitrogen requirements of bananas.

“Those results helped the industry reduce rates of fertiliser nitrogen from 525 kilograms per hectare in 1995 to 310 kilograms per hectare in 2006. This is a reduction of 42 per cent,” he said.

“This dramatic reduction was achieved by maximising productivity while minimising losses of nitrogen to the environment."

Media contact: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654 or Caroline Kaurila on 0414 213 954.