Whitlam Carbon Project 11

Whitlam Carbon Project 11 is a soil carbon project located in the Upper Southeast region of South Australia, approximately 15 kilometers southeast of the town of Coonalpyn. Registered on April 2, 2022, the project covers a land area of roughly 304 hectares. The project is situated within the Coorong District Council area, a region historically known as the "Ninety Mile Desert" before being developed into productive agricultural land in the mid-20th century.

The project operates under the 2021 Soil Carbon methodology (Measurement and Models), which credits landholders for increasing soil organic carbon stocks through changes in land management. Specific activities for this project include applying synthetic or non-synthetic fertilizers to address nutrient deficiencies, retaining crop stubble, and converting from intensive tillage to reduced or no-tillage practices. These activities are designed to minimize soil disturbance and enhance biomass production, thereby sequestering more carbon in the soil profile.

The Coonalpyn region is characterized by a semi-arid to Mediterranean climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 450mm. The landscape is dominated by mixed farming systems, including cropping (wheat, barley, canola) and livestock grazing. The soils in this area are typically sandy loams or "mallee" soils, often overlying clay or limestone (calcrete) subsoils. These sandy topsoils can be prone to water repellence and wind erosion, making the project's focus on stubble retention and reduced tillage particularly beneficial for soil health and stability.