Subsoil manuring: an innovative approach to addressing subsoil problems targeting higher water use efficiency in Southern Australia

2009 - 2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) Renick Peries (DEPI)
Year(s) 2009 - 2012
Contributor Southern Farming Systems
Trial location(s) Derrinallum, VIC
Penshurst, VIC
Subsoil manuring: an innovative approach to addressing subsoil problems targeting higher water use efficiency in Southern Australia locations
Aims

To look at the technology, the resulting productivity increases and the economics of the practice of subsoil manuring. 

Key messages
  • Subsoil manuring resulted in consistent grain yield increases across the network of sites in the HRZ of Victoria. In years with drier finishes, the yield of the commercial control crop was constrained due to water deficits during grain filling, while the subsoil manured crops were able to access additional subsoil water. Thus, these crops were not constrained and significantly higher yields were achieved.
  • For further results and discussion please see the attached trial report.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments N/A
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Oilseed: Canola Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Derrinallum 2009 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 5m x 1.7m
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2009 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2010 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2010 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2011 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2011 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Derrinallum 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2009 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2009 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2010 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2010 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2011 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2011 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2012 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Penshurst 2012 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

Approximate location. Dave Watson

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Wheat growth parameters at Derrinallum in 2012

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Commercial crop 6.3 10.6
2 Deep ripped only 6.9 11.3
3 Subsoil manuring (20 t/ha 10.4 10.6
4 Subsoil manuring (10 t/ha) 8.8 11.3
5 Fertiliser nutrients (DAP/Urea) 7.9 11.9
6 1/2 Fertiliser + 10 t manure 8.8 11.3

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Trial results Wheat growth parameters at Derrinallum in 2011

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Commercial crop 5 10.3
2 Deep ripped only 5.5 11
3 Subsoil manuring (20 t/ha 7.4 11.6
4 Subsoil manuring (10 t/ha) 6.9 10.9
5 Fertiliser nutrients (DAP/Urea) 7.3 13
6 1/2 Fertiliser + 10 t manure 7.1 11.4

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Trial results Wheat growth parameters at Derrinallum in 2009

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Commercial crop 5 11.5
2 Deep ripped only 4.5 11.7
3 Subsoil manuring (20 t/ha 9.8 12.9
4 Subsoil manuring (10 t/ha) 6.8 12.1
5 Fertiliser nutrients (DAP/Urea) 6 12.7
6 1/2 Fertiliser + 10 t manure 5.7 12.7

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Trial results Wheat growth parameters at Penhurst in 2009

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Commercial crop 4.8 13.3
2 Deep ripped only 4.5 13.3
3 Subsoil manuring (20 t/ha 7.6 15.8
4 Subsoil manuring (10 t/ha) 6.8 13.6
5 Fertiliser nutrients (DAP/Urea) 6 15.8
6 1/2 Fertiliser + 10 t manure 5.7 15.7

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Trial results Wheat growth parameters at Penhurst in 2011

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) Protein (%)
1 Commercial crop 6.8 9.3
2 Deep ripped only 7.4 9.6
3 Subsoil manuring (20 t/ha 11.3 10.7
4 Subsoil manuring (10 t/ha) 10 10
5 Fertiliser nutrients (DAP/Urea) 7.7 10.6
6 1/2 Fertiliser + 10 t manure 6.8 10.8

Grain yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Derrinallum, VIC Not specified
Penshurst, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Derrinallum, VIC Sodosol
Penshurst, VIC 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 Derrinallum VIC Penshurst VIC
2012 376.7mm451.3mm
2011 419.6mm487.2mm
2010 446.2mm477.1mm
2009 403.9mm452.2mm
2008 412.6mm444.6mm
2007 385.6mm430.1mm
2006 385.1mm398.7mm
2005 414.7mm427.8mm
2004 428.1mm463.5mm
2003 424.6mm467.4mm
2002 416.3mm452.3mm
2001 390.8mm449.7mm
2000 343.0mm408.9mm
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.

Derrinallum VIC

Penshurst VIC

Derrinallum VIC

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

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 last modified: 23-10-2019 09:48am AEST