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Liebe Group soil biology trial

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisation
Funding source
Liebe Group
<abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr>

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nadine Hollamby (Liebe Group)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Buntine, WA
Liebe Group soil biology trial locations
Aims

To investigate the potential of organic matter inputs to increase yield and improve soil health.

Key messages
  • Average yield increase of 0.3 t/ha or 12% where chaff was added. (Although in some seasons addition of chaff resulted in no yield benefit or a yield decline.)
  • Microbial population has doubled where chaff was added.
  • 650 kg/ha more nitrogen where chaff was added.
  • Soil now holds 8 t/ha more organic carbon where chaff was added.
Lead research organisation Liebe Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC LIE00006
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

GRDC for funding this work through LIE00006 “Improved stubble and soil management for sustainable farming systems in the Liebe area’.
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)
  • Stubble : Management
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Buntine 2012

Sow rate or Target density 3
Sow date 7 June 2012
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 80m x 10.5m
Plot replication 3
Paddock history 2009 lupin, 2010 wheat, 2011 wheat
Fertiliser

7/6/12: 40 kg/ha TSP

19/7/12: 40 L/ha Flexi-N
Herbicide

17/5/12: 1 l/ha Spray Seed

7/6/12: 1.2 L/ha Roundup Attack, 1 kg/ha Atrazine, 2.5 L/ha Trifluralin

29/6/12: 1.1 kg/ha Atrazine,

18/7/12: 500 mL/ha Clethodim

15/10/12: 1.7 L/ha Roundup Attack
Insecticide

29/6/12: 100 mL/ha Dimetholoate, 100 mL/ha Cypermethrin
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Oil (%) Organic carbon (%) Shoot biomass (t/ha) Soil ammonium (mg/kg) Soil nitrate (mg/kg) Soil phosphorous (mg/kg) Soil potassium (mg/kg) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 █ Burnt 44.3 0.78 6.3 1.67 24.3 32 96 0.78
2 █ Control 43.3 0.77 6.2 1.67 22.7 30 74 0.71
3 █ Organic matter 39.7 1.41 6.4 2.67 30 58 280 0.97
4 █ Organic matter run down 42.2 1.15 6.2 2 28 49 135 0.87
5 █ Tilled soil 42.8 0.91 6.3 1.33 18.7 27 94 0.78

Grain yield t/ha

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Oil %

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Organic carbon %

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Shoot biomass t/ha

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Soil ammonium mg/kg

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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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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 6.00 0.10
Buntine, WA 10 - 30cm Sandy loam 4.60
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
2012
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2010
2009
2008
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Climate

Buntine WA 2012

Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 162mm

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

2012 trial report