Herbicide runoff reduced to Great Barrier Reef

In the lower Burdekin region of northern Australia, scientists from CSIRO's Water for a Healthy Country Flagship trialled a new technique for applying herbicides to raised beds of furrow irrigated sugar cane by using a specially adapted shielded sprayer. The technique minimises the likelihood of herbicides such as diuron, atrazine, ametryn and hexazinone coming into contact with irrigation water. Many of the herbicides used in the region are PSII herbicides that are known to negatively impact reef ecosystems. These waters discharge into the internationally recognised Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and subsequently into the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Improved farming techniques such as the shielded sprayer help keep herbicides on-farm have potential to have a significant and positive impact on water quality in the GBR. Read more:http://bit.ly/1iUmwRs

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Taxonomy

• Sugar Cane Crops
• Irrigation Management
• Water Management
• Watershed Management