Johnstone Nitrogen Use Efficiency Project #4

The JOHNSTONE NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY PROJECT #4 is located within the boundary of the JOHNSTONE Great Barrier Reef Catchment and aims to generate Reef Credits under the METHOD FOR ACCOUNTING REDUCTION IN NUTRIENT RUNOFF THROUGH MANAGED FERTILISER APPLICATION VERSION 1.1. This Project focuses on improving soil health, reducing disturbance, and increasing input efficiency through best-practice sugarcane farming. Key actions include retaining the green cane trash blanket throughout the crop cycle, maintaining controlled traffic farming with GPS guidance to keep at least 60% of the block untrafficked, and using wide row spacings of 1.8-2.0 metres. All fallow land is planted to legumes or alternative crops without prior tillage, while cultivation is limited to zonal tillage affecting no more than 60% of the cane area. Nutrient management follows the Six Easy Steps framework for phosphorus, accounting for other phosphorus sources, with no application of mill mud or ash. Weed management relies on residual herbicides across plant and ratoon cane, with a preference for knockdown herbicides in ratoon crops.