Liebe Group soil biology trial

2007
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Emma Glasfurd (Liebe Group)
Year(s) 2007
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Buntine, WA
Liebe Group soil biology trial locations
Aims

To investigate the potential of biological and organic matter inputs to increase soil water storage, target long-term yield increases and soil improvement

Key messages

Management practices influence microbial activity by altering carbon availability and conditions reflecting rapid changes in the biological function of the soil, although the reserach is still in the preliminary stages this has been highlighted where increased microbial biomass and nutrient availability was associated with plots receiving high amounts of organic matter.

Lead research organisation Liebe Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC LIE00003,LIE00005
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Liebe Group would like to acknowledge GRDC for funding the project and the assistance of Dan Murphy, University of Western Australia and Fran Hoyle, Land and Water Australia.

Thank you to Scholz Rural Supplies, Syngenta, Summit Fertilizers and Wesfarmers Federation Insurance and all other supporters of the Long Term Research Site for the generous sponsorship of products, advice and support throughout the year.

Thanks also to Stuart McAlpine and staff, Mike Dodd and Rod Birch for conducting paddock operations and assisting throughout the year.

  • Paper reviewed by Fran Hoyle.

Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Method
  • Soil Improvement: Rate
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Buntine 2007

Sow rate or Target density 80 kg/ha
Sow date 27 June 2007 25/06/07- 27/06/07
Harvest date Unknown
Plot size 80m x 10.5m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

27/06/07: 100 kg/ha NPK Vigour

Herbicide

25/7/07:25 g/ha Monza,5/9/07: 300 mL/ha Lontrel, 500 mL/ha,Paragon, 1 L/ha Cheetah, 5/10/07: 2 L/ha Sprayseed

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Soil phosphorous (mg/kg) Sulphur (mg/kg) Electrical conductivity (dS/m) Organic carbon (%) Soil nitrate (mg/kg) Soil potassium (mg/kg) pH CaCl2 (pH)
1 Brown Manure 29.67 7 0.037 0.84 8.67 130.67 5.37
2 Brown Manure + Custom Compost 29.67 7.37 0.045 0.75 11.33 79.67 5.63
3 Brown Manure + Custom Compost +Humate+Microbe 33.67 8.83 0.051 0.87 6 68 5.37
4 Brown Manure + Humate 32.67 9.4 0.047 0.74 9 64.33 5.3
5 Brown Manure + Microbe 32 8.23 0.044 0.76 9 63.33 5.4
6 Burnt stubble 30.67 6.67 0.039 0.63 7 68.67 5.17
7 Control (Full Stubble Retention, Min Till) 34.67 8.5 0.047 0.76 8.33 80 5.57
8 Custom Compost 28 8.33 0.045 0.69 9 70 5.27
9 Humate 28.33 8.1 0.042 0.83 6.33 90.67 5.57
10 Humates+ Custom Compost +Microbes 31.33 8.2 0.045 0.78 7.33 98.67 5.57
11 Microbe 36.33 9.5 0.044 0.8 5.33 73.67 5.33
12 Tilled soil 27 7.93 0.037 0.68 7.67 59 5.23
13 Tilled Soil  + Organic Matter 52.83 24.62 0.121 0.95 15.67 292.83 6.1
14 Tilled Soil + Organic Matter + decomposing agent 53 20.93 0.111 1 19.33 298.67 6.07

Electrical conductivity dS/m


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Organic carbon %


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pH CaCl2 pH


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Soil nitrate mg/kg


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Soil phosphorous mg/kg


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Soil potassium mg/kg


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Sulphur mg/kg


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Buntine, WA 0 - 10cm Sandy loam
Buntine, WA 10 - 30cm Sandy loam
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Buntine, WA Sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Buntine, WA Kandosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Buntine WA
2007 156.0mm
2006 163.2mm
2005 150.1mm
2004 141.2mm
2003 146.6mm
2002 102.7mm
2001 97.9mm
2000 171.9mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Buntine WA 2007


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 127mm

Derived climate information

Buntine WA

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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2007 trial report



Trial last modified: 23-01-2023 15:07pm AEST