Bentonite clay and tillage to improve soil and yield

2013
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nadine Hollamby (Liebe Group)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor Liebe Group
Trial location(s) Miling, WA
Bentonite clay and tillage to improve soil and yield locations
Aims

To determine if inclusion of Bentonite clay improves crop yields on sandy soils.

Key messages
Not specified
Lead research organisation Liebe Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source AGAC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Shari Dougall and Bruce Thorpe from DAFWA Wongan Hills for conducting the mouldboard ploughing. The Seymour family for hosting the trial. This demonstration is funded by the Australian Governments Action on the Ground project.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Unreplicated

Miling 2013

Sow date 8 May 2013
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 50m x 20m
Plot replication 1
Fertiliser

75 kg/ha Mallee, 25 kg/ha MOP, 50 L/ha Flexi N,30 L/ha Flexi N

Herbicide

3 L/ha Trifluralin,125 g/ha Metribuzin

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Screenings (%) Hectolitre weight (kg/hL)
1 Bentonite Control 9.1 3.39 13 58
2 Bentonite Deep ripped 9 3.57 13 61
3 Bentonite Mouldboard 8.8 2.99 15 61
4 Bentonite Tandem Disc 9.7 3.88 10 58
5 No Bentonite Control 9.3 3.27 14 60
6 No Bentonite Deep ripped 10.7 4.04 19 60
7 No Bentonite Mouldboard 9.3 3.21 13 60
8 No Bentonite Tandem Disc 9.1 3.34 14 60

Grain yield t/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
Miling, WA 0 - 10cm Sandy loam 6.00 0.04
Miling, WA 10 - 30cm Sandy loam 4.70
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Miling, WA Sandy loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Miling, 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 Miling WA
2013 113.3mm
2012 143.4mm
2011 135.0mm
2010 117.3mm
2009 128.7mm
2008 139.8mm
2007 121.0mm
2006 123.9mm
2005 104.7mm
2004 98.3mm
2003 94.6mm
2002 57.6mm
2001 55.2mm
2000 126.6mm
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

Miling WA 2013


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 262mm

Derived climate information

Miling 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

2013 trial report