Tully growers trial the SIX EASY STEPS® Toolbox guidance for their late-season ratoons and a final-ratoon crop

SIX EASY STEPS® is a comprehensive, science-based program, promoting the importance of balanced nutrition to optimize productivity, profitability and minimize off-site effects. STEPS 1-4 (Knowing and understanding soils; Understanding and managing nutrient processes and losses; Soil testing regularly; and Adopting soil specific nutrient management guidelines) have been generally well adopted. STEPS 5 (Checking on the adequacy of nutrient inputs) and 6 (Modifying nutrient inputs where and when necessary) provide the basis for continuous improvement. This allows the SIX EASY STEPS guidelines to be refined for specific circumstances and also allows new information to be incorporated as it becomes available. The concept of a SIX EASY STEPS Toolbox was first introduced in 2018 to support greater adoption of the full SIX EASY STEPS approach to sustainable on-farm nutrient management. The Toolbox is a repository of all the tools that support or add value to the SIX EASY STEPS nutrient management program. Guidance for refining nutrient inputs in specific circumstances is also provided in the Toolbox. Over the 2020/21 growing season, three growers in the Tully district evaluated the guidance for late-season ratoons and final ratoon crops. A small reduction in nutrient inputs in two late-season crops resulted in similar productivity but improved profitability. In a poor-performing final ratoon, reducing the N rate by 30% had very little impact on cane and sugar yield compared to the grower standard. Additional trials are required at this site before implementing the guidance for poor-performing final ratoons more broadly.