Evaluation of spading vs. deep ripping vs. mouldboard ploughing

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stephen Davies (DAFWA)
Clare Johnston (Liebe Group)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Marchagee, WA
Evaluation of spading vs. deep ripping vs. mouldboard ploughing locations
Aims

To compare the effects of mouldboard ploughing, spading and deep ripping on yellow non-wetting sand.

Key messages

Removal of subsoil compaction by deep ripping resulted in a 370 kg/ha (45%) yield benefit with spading giving an additional benefit of 12% (100 kg/ha) and mouldboard ploughing 39% (320 kg/ha) compared with the deep ripping treatment. Higher biomass and increased head density in the cultivation treatments are indicative of improved nutrient access and effcient use of available water through the season. Water use efficiency was 4.9 kg/ha/mm of growing season rainfall for the control treatment compared with 7.1 kg/ha/mm for ripped, 7.6 kg/ha/mm for spaded and 8.9 kg/ha/mm for mouldboard ploughing. Recent research is showing that nutrient availability is improved when top soil is buried by spading or mouldboard 
ploughing because nutrients become concentrated in the rootzone and less suscpetible to soil drying from evaporation, which can be the case when majority of the nutrients are on the soil surface, (Davies et al, 2012).

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00204
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Thank you to Michael O’Callaghan for conducting the trial and the Department of Agriculture & Food, WA for the use of the plough and assistance with trial measurements. The Cail Family for the use of their tractor. Steve Davies involvement is supported by DAFWA and GRDC through the “Delivering agronomic strategies for water repellent soils in WA; DAW00204” research project.


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: Type
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Replicated

Marchagee 2012

Sow rate or Target density 100
Sow date 10 June 2012
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 2200m x 18m
Plot replication Not specified
Paddock history 2009 canola, 2010 wheat, 2011 canola
Fertiliser

Soil amelioration - March 2012: 3 t/ha lime

10/6/12: 110 kg/ha Agras 

11/8/12: 20 L/ha Nachurs K-Focus

Herbicide

10/6/12: 25 g/ha Logran, 1.2 L/ha Treflan

23/8/12: 1 L/ha Ester

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Fuel use (L/ha) Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Fuel cost ($/ha) Protein (%)
1 Control 6.1 76.77 3.57 0.83 8.54 13.5
2 Mouldboard 7.6 78.74 1.14 1.52 10.64 12.3
3 Ripped 6.9 78.33 0.83 1.2 9.66 13.5
4 Spader 6.5 77.51 1.38 1.3 9.1 13.1

Grain yield t/ha


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Fuel cost $/ha


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Fuel use L/ha


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Marchagee, WA 0 - 10cm Sandy loam 5.80 0.10
Marchagee, WA 10 - 30cm Sandy loam 5.20
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Marchagee, WA Sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Marchagee, WA Sodosol
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 Marchagee WA
2012 249.8mm
2011 265.3mm
2010 224.1mm
2009 244.8mm
2008 262.5mm
2007 209.8mm
2006 226.0mm
2005 252.0mm
2004 248.3mm
2003 226.3mm
2002 191.4mm
2001 193.6mm
2000 253.5mm
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

Marchagee WA 2012


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 170mm

Derived climate information

Marchagee 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