In this section:
Horticulture
SARDI Horticulture has expertise in a range of disciplines pertaining to the protection, production and postharvest handling of temperate fruit and vegetable crops.
Expertise and R&D experience includes:
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Nutrient budgeting tools and management strategies for the efficient use of fertilisers to maximise crop production and minimise adverse environmental impacts.
- Soil, water and salinity interactions for the sustainable irrigation of crops.
- Evaluation of chemical treatments and the development of integrated management programs for the control of pests and diseases for the pre-harvest and postharvest protection of horticultural crops.
- Disease diagnosis on horticultural crops, including fruit, vegetables, nuts, grapes, ornamentals and post harvest produce.
- Intensive greenhouse production systems for vegetable crops.
- Postharvest handling and market access facilitation support for packers and exporters of horticultural products.
- Cold chain handling and supply chain logistics for perishable products.
- Tree crop breeding, particularly with Prunus species including molecular studies.
- Development and commercial application of improved spray application technologies.
- Horticultural crops for nutrient removal from bio-digested waste products.
Main areas of horticultural expertise and outcomes
- Horticultural crop improvement (breeding and genetic resources)
- Pest and disease management control
- Sustainable production and crop nutrition
- Postharvest handling, storage and transport including cold chain logistics
- Irrigation and soil salinity management and water use efficiency
- Spray application technologies
- Temperate/sub/tropical fruit and vegetable production management and systems
Resources and collaborations
SARDI Horticulture has offices, laboratories and access to extensive scientific and applied R&D resources at the Plant Research Centre on the Waite Campus, Adelaide. This is available from within SARDI resources or as part of the collaborative linkages with the co-location research providers like CSIRO Plant Industries, University of Adelaide, Australian Wine Research Institute and SA Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity. SARDI also continues to develop strategic collaborations with other national and international research organisations. SARDI also manages three horticulture focused Research Centres at Lenswood (cool climate), Nuriootpa (viticulture) and Loxton (irrigated hot arid) providing crops and resources for field experimentation.
