Variable rate cane grub control for improved pesticide management
By Rob Sluggett
Plane Creek, Mackay Whitsunday
Rocky Dam Creek Sub-catchment
What was the problem?
- Grub damage impacting on crop yields
- Control methods can be expensive
- Damage not uniform across farm
Solution?
- Identify link between grub damage and soil types/elevation
- EM Mapping and ground truthing
Result
- Identified high risk areas had link to soil/location
- New application method based on prevision planning and available variable rate technology
Economic analysis
- Low capital costs – $ for mapping
- Scale – small
- Pesticide costs reduced by a third
- Proved to be a good investment decision
Expected benefits and outcomes
- Reduced cane grub damage in high risk areas meaning improved yields and productivity
- Reduction in total pesticide applied and time/labour in application means improved economic performance
Expected water quality outcomes
Reduced risk of sediment and pesticide losses in storm-water run off from
- Controlled traffic farming reducing run-off by 18% and sediment loss by 23%
- Reduction in pesticide application and using weather forecasting to avoid heavy rainfall within 7 days of application may greatly reduce herbicide losses in runoff water