Manna Grove

Clay tells only part of the story. Slope, soil structure- there are different types of clay which hold water to various degrees, vegetation and what lies beneath the surface all influence where water moves and where it stays.

At Manna Grove we’re mapping wet areas, runoff and drainage through the seasons and making amendments and plans to best water management and the plant needs. See this resource for more info. https://soilhealth.ccmaknowledgebase.vic.gov.au/vro_archive/statewide/pages/hort_vic_soils-chromosols.html

Pasture needs change with the season. Rainfall, pasture growth, recovery time and grazing pressure all affect how much feed is actually available.

At Manna Grove we’re using rotational grazing to give the steers regular access to fresh pasture while allowing grazed areas time to rest and recover. By moving the cattle rather than leaving them in one paddock, we hope to improve pasture utilisation, reduce selective overgrazing and trampling, spread manure more evenly and build healthier, more resilient soil and pasture over time.

The wet forest creates its own growing conditions. Shade, moisture, slope, leaf litter and competition from established trees all influence what can thrive beneath the canopy.

At Manna Grove we’re observing these different forest layers and testing plants and crops that may suit each microclimate.

Weeds can be clues as well as problems. Their presence may reflect soil structure, moisture, nutrient availability, grazing pressure and disturbance — as well as changes happening below ground.

Roots, bacteria, fungi, mycorrhizae and other microscopic soil life interact with plants and influence nutrient cycling, soil aggregation and organic matter. At the same time, the plants growing above ground can change those microbial communities through their roots and residues.

At Manna Grove we’re learning which weeds need controlling, which may be temporary indicators, and what both the weeds and the soil beneath them can tell us about what amendments the land needs.