Tumulla is located in the Upper Slopes region of the Riverina, in south-west NSW. The property extends from the alluvial plains and terraces of Muttama Creek to the steeper (up to 20% gradient) slopes of the more elevated volcanic country to the west. 

The deep, well-drained alluvial soils associated with the creek plains and terraces reflect periods of deposition and minimal soil development. These soils are fertile, however the well-drained, structured red soils of the mid and upper slopes are also considered productive. Lower in the landscape, the texture-contrast soils feature, with minor occurrences of the sodic version of these soils where drainage is poor.

Most of the native vegetation has been extensively cleared for agriculture, with remnant pockets of red gum and yellow box occurring on the lower slopes, and white box and the occasional white cypress pine found on the steeper slopes higher in the landscape. The understorey consists of tussock grasses and forbs, including common wheatgrass, soft brome, wallaby grass, and red grass.

Land use in the local region is mostly sheep and cattle grazing on improved pastures, fodder production, or winter cropping of cereals and oilseeds on the more productive soils. Major limitations to production include soil erosion on the steeper country and minor rill and sheet erosion on the lower country, particularly on the cultivated areas, and soil salinity. Very high salinity levels have been recorded in associated tributaries of Muttama Creek.

Image 2. A view of the Upper Slopes region of the Riverina, including parts of Tumulla. Source: Grow Love Project.

There are delicate soils across many areas of the farm. Anthony has worked with an agronomist to conduct soil tests several times, and he is learning more about how he can monitor his soils through the Riverina Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes project. He describes the property as having ‘varied soil types with some heavy, red country and some lighter pipeclay,’ with differences between soil types in terms of their water retention, acidity, salinity and erosion. 

As Anthony notes, the heavier red country is ‘a lot more susceptible to cracking up, especially when it’s dry … but in the wetter years, it definitely holds a lot more water, and has got a lot better retention.’ In other paddocks across Tumulla, ‘the water will just lay on that.’ During the last couple of years when there has been much more water in the landscape, Anthony has noticed how these soils ‘lose their structure pretty easily.’ One of their blocks has quite a serious erosion issue, ‘washing away easily.’ 

The Nicholls’ current goals for improving soil health include increasing their own understanding of how their ‘soils are travelling.’ They see the Riverina project as an opportunity to support them in this goal. They are also looking at how they can alter their management plan to reduce the amount of superphosphate they apply each year. With the rising cost of inputs and the potential damage they can have on soil over the long term, the Nicholls are actively looking for alternatives. 

Image 3. Anthony Nicholls monitoring his soil at Tumulla. Source: Grow Love Project.

Image 4. Anthony Nicholls monitoring his soil at Tumulla. Source: Grow Love Project.

Anthony is interested to learn what he can do to improve soil health by implementing new grazing management, growing different pastures and adjusting rest periods. In recent years, the Nicholls have been planting trees, gullies and ‘establishing pastures’ to help to hold up the soil and prevent erosion. 

‘Managing our steep country, which is really susceptible to being washed [is a priority]. We’ve really got to maintain our ground cover. Ground cover is key. You can see with the recovery, how much quicker it comes back by maintaining that.’ – Anthony Nicholls

The Nicholls have put a lot of work into their perennial pastures and want to see them managed properly through drought ‘so they come out the other end in good condition.’ Other management goals include experimenting with multispecies crops to increase diversity in the soil microbiology and encourage nutrient cycling.

In collaboration with Riverina Local Land Services (LLS), the Nicholls also implemented dam enhancements at Tumulla, completed in Winter/Spring 2021. Anthony has been enjoying observing the benefits of fencing off the dam area, as it has improved water management for livestock with better overall water quality. Additional benefits include, ‘the slowing down of water flow through the dam which is helping to regenerate the grasses in the eroded parts of the creek below the dam.’ Anthony also notes that ‘the water quality in the creek below the dam has improved, and ‘hopefully has increased the amount of biodiversity in areas where the new trees have been planted and the stock have been excluded.’ 

Image 5. An aerial view of the dam enhancement at Tumulla, installed in Winter/Spring 2021. Source: Grow Love Project.

Anthony has just recently put in a stock management area (SMA), which he’s positioned close to a 25-year old shelterbelt on the lower slopes of a steep, rugged hill to maximise shade potential, drainage and to minimise flood risk. The SMA has five pens (35 x 65 m2), and can hold 400 ewes, providing roughly 4-5 m2 per ewe. Check back in early 2024 for more of the Nicholls’ story as they share with us how they have progressed in implementing the SMA and monitoring their soils.

To read more about SMAs explore our project partner resources Riverina LLS free training and a recent publication produced by MLA.

Image 6. The stock management area (SMA) at Tumulla, installed in Spring 2023. Source: Grow Love Project.

Image 7. The stock management area (SMA) at Tumulla, installed in Spring 2023. Source: Grow Love Project.