Deep placed lime increases crop yield in a dry season

2007
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stephen Davies (DAFWA)
David Gartner (DAFWA)
Chris Gazey (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2007
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Latham, WA
Deep placed lime increases crop yield in a dry season locations
Aims

To assess the capacity of surface applied and deep placed lime to improve subsoil pH and productivity of deep acid (Wodjil) sand.

Key messages
  • Deep placed lime can improve yields on acidic soils in a very dry season but significatn yield increases were only achieved when lime was place directly into the subsoil to depths of 31 or 51cm.
  • Generally, responses from deep placed lime have been recorded in either the year of application or 1-2 years after application.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Thanks to Ben Parkin (formerly Liebe Group), Emma Glasfurd (Liebe Project Coordinator) for their assistance with the trial work, Colin Bryant for being willing to host the trial, Adam Clune and Breanne Best (DAFWA) for technical asisstance.

The financial support of the GRDC is acknowledged.

  • Paper reviewed by Martin Harries.

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: Rate
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Latham 2007

Sow date 11 May 2007
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 60m x 3m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

11/5/07: 50 kg/ha DAPSZ,11/5/07: 300 mL/ha Customer Formulated Fertiliser

Herbicide

1.5 L/ha Trifluralin; 220 g/ha Diuron; 20 g/ha Logran; 500 mL/ha LVE MCPA; Logran 5 g/ha + Ally 4 g/ha� + Wetter 0.1%

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Head abundance (heads/m2) Screenings (%) 1000 grain weight (g) Grain weight (kg/ha) Head weight (g/hd) Gross margin ($/ha) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Shoot weight (kg/ha) Number of grains (grains/m2) Grain density (no./head) Harvest index (value)
1 Control (no deep ripping, no lime) 121 2.9 31.3 512 0.43 83 14 0.42 1160 1633 13.7 0.44
2 Deep ripping to 310mm 119 3.2 30.9 510 0.43 72 14 0.39 1133 1653 14 0.45
3 Deep ripping to 310mm + deep placed lime at 2.5 t/ha 122 1.9 32.7 610 0.51 108 13.5 0.49 1304 1871 15.5 0.47
4 Deep ripping to 510mm in two passes 110 3.1 30.2 493 0.46 79 13.6 0.41 1128 1622 15.1 0.44
5 Deep ripping to 510mm in two passes + deep placed lime at 2.5 t/ha each pass (5 t/ha total) 119 2.1 33.4 687 0.58 144 13.1 0.59 1531 2052 17.3 0.45
6 Lime applied to the surface at 2.5 t/ha 126 3 31.1 559 0.44 90 14.4 0.44 1262 1794 14.3 0.44
7 Lime applied to the surface at 2.5 t/ha then deep ripped to 310mm 124 2.6 31.3 571 0.46 90 14.1 0.44 1301 1836 14.8 0.44

Grain yield t/ha


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1000 grain weight g


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Grain density no./head


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Grain weight kg/ha


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Gross margin $/ha


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Harvest index value


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Head abundance heads/m2


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Head weight g/hd


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Number of grains grains/m2


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Shoot weight kg/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Latham, WA 0 - 10cm Acidic Sand
Latham, WA 10 - 30cm Acidic Sand
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Latham, WA Acidic sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Latham, WA Tenosol
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 Latham WA
2007 245.0mm
2006 288.5mm
2005 288.2mm
2004 270.1mm
2003 266.9mm
2002 237.6mm
2001 270.5mm
2000 341.5mm
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

Latham WA 2007


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 116mm

Derived climate information

Latham WA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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