Managing hostile subsoils: what are the options?

2005

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Roger Armstrong (DPI)
James Nuttall (DPI)
Year(s) 2005
Contributor Birchip Cropping Group
Trial location(s) Birchip, VIC
Brim, VIC
Donald, VIC
Jung, VIC
Nhill, VIC
Rupanyup, VIC
Warracknabeal, VIC
Managing hostile subsoils: what are the options? locations
Aims

To investigate options for managing hostile subsoils.

Key messages

Hostile subsoils can significantly constrain crop growth and water use in the Mallee and Wimmera. Although the subsoil constraints are effectively fixed, the impact they have on grain yields can vary markedly with crop type and seasonal conditions (particularly the pattern of rainfall). Electromagnetic survey (EM) techniques offer the potential to assess the distribution and extent of subsoil constraints within a paddock. Management options however are currently limited and the most financially viable strategy may be to ‘live with the problem’ where inputs such as N fertiliser are limited and crop selection restricted to more tolerant types and varieties.

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

We would like to thank the many farmer collaborators who have assisted with our paddock survey over the past 3 years and the GRDC for co-funding this project. In particular, we would like to acknowledge the technical contributions of Roger Perris, Graham Price, Mel Baker and Janine Fitzpatrick (DPI, Horsham) and Kellie Matthews (BCG). 


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Cereal (Grain): Wheat Grain Legume: Chickpeas Grain Legume: Field peas Grain Legume: Lentils
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
Trial type
Trial design

Birchip 2005 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Birchip 2005 Wheat

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Birchip 2005 Chickpeas

Sow date Not specified
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Birchip 2005 Field peas

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Birchip 2005 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
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Brim 2005 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Brim 2005 Wheat

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Brim 2005 Chickpeas

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Brim 2005 Field peas

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Brim 2005 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
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Donald 2005 Barley

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Donald 2005 Wheat

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Donald 2005 Chickpeas

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Donald 2005 Field peas

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Donald 2005 Lentils

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Jung 2005 Barley

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Jung 2005 Wheat

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Jung 2005 Chickpeas

Sow date Not specified
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Jung 2005 Field peas

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Jung 2005 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
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Nhill 2005 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Nhill 2005 Wheat

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Nhill 2005 Chickpeas

Sow date Not specified
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Nhill 2005 Field peas

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Nhill 2005 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
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Rupanyup 2005 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
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Rupanyup 2005 Chickpeas

Sow date Not specified
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Rupanyup 2005 Field peas

Sow date Not specified
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Rupanyup 2005 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
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Rupanyup 2005 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Warracknabeal 2005 Barley

Sow date Not specified
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Warracknabeal 2005 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
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Warracknabeal 2005 Chickpeas

Sow date Not specified
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Plot size Not specified
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Warracknabeal 2005 Field peas

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
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Warracknabeal 2005 Lentils

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Birchip, VIC Not specified
Brim, VIC Not specified
Donald, VIC Not specified
Jung, VIC Not specified
Nhill, VIC Not specified
Rupanyup, VIC Not specified
Warracknabeal, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Birchip, VIC Vertosol
Brim, VIC Calcarosol
Donald, VIC Vertosol
Jung, VIC Vertosol
Nhill, VIC Sodosol
Rupanyup, VIC Vertosol
Warracknabeal, VIC Vertosol
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 Birchip VIC Brim VIC Donald VIC Jung VIC Nhill VIC Rupanyup VIC Warracknabeal VIC
2005 316.0mm682.3mm530.0mm343.0mm711.5mm316.0mm689.9mm
2004 281.0mm655.0mm480.1mm383.6mm704.6mm281.0mm621.6mm
2003 275.8mm648.2mm475.3mm474.0mm737.9mm275.8mm618.3mm
2002 240.1mm566.5mm423.9mm484.1mm694.1mm240.1mm547.5mm
2001 285.1mm596.6mm450.4mm555.1mm689.8mm285.1mm559.2mm
2000 290.6mm581.8mm435.7mm631.2mm602.0mm290.6mm545.7mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Birchip VIC

Brim VIC

Donald VIC

Jung VIC

Nhill VIC

Rupanyup VIC

Warracknabeal VIC

Birchip VIC

CAUTION: Trial site locality unknown; Climate data sourced from Birchip Cropping Group office location
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Brim VIC

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Donald VIC

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Jung VIC

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Nhill VIC

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

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Warracknabeal VIC

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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

2005 trial report



Trial last modified: 25-11-2019 10:00am AEST