Amelioration strategies for non-wetting gravel soils in a high rainfall area

2012
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Derk Bakker (DAFWA)
Michelle Gooding (Shire of West Arthur)
Ray Harrington (Cordering)
Tim Harrington (Shire of West Arthur)
Katie Hulse (ex- Shire of West Arthur)
Year(s) 2012
Contributor Shire of West Arthur
Trial location(s) Cordering, WA
Amelioration strategies for non-wetting gravel soils in a high rainfall area locations
Aims

To trial a range of non-wetting treatments on non-wetting forest gravel soils in the south west, in a high rainfall area, to determine which, if any, will increase water penetration and what soil characteristics have altered as a result of the treatment.

Key messages

Most treatments that altered the wetting properties of the soil improved the grain yield also. The mould board ploughing treatment was an exception due to the introduction and inter-locking gravel in the topsoil which might have impeded the germination. Once established the crop on the ploughed plots did very well. None of the treaments were able to economically improve the yield because the Control plots yielded exceptionally well.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC SDI00006
Related program Regional Cropping Solutions Network
Acknowledgments N/A
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 Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Cordering 2012

Sow date 24 May 2012
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 70m x 13.5m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

120kg/ha Gusto TSP and 50kg/ha Urea IBS

Herbicide

Balance

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

@T1: @T2: @T3: @T4:
# Variety
Treatment 1
Soil moisture between the rows (%) Protein (%) Grain yield (t/ha) Soil moisture in the row (%) Plant density (plants/m2) Screenings (%) NDVI (.) NDVI (.) NDVI (.) NDVI (.)
1 Vlamingh Lure 15L/Ha 16.9 10.5 4.73 16.3 25.5 5.5 0.2 0.36 0.48 29
1 Vlamingh Precision wetter 2.5L/Ha 14.5 10.7 4.32 15.6 18.5 3.9 0.18 0.32 0.42 46
1 Vlamingh Lure & Precision wetter 18.8 10.8 4.68 20.9 26.8 4.3 0.2 0.36 0.46 31
1 Vlamingh Lime 15.3 10.8 4.18 13.9 21.1 4.5 0.17 0.31 0.38 80
1 Vlamingh Mould board Ploughing 13.1 11.1 4.43 12.3 13.9 2.9 0.14 0.21 0.33 100
2 Vlamingh Lime & Mould board Ploughing 12.1 11.9 4.02 13.1 10.8 3.9 0.14 0.2 0.35 81
2 Vlamingh Balance 60kg/ha 16.5 11.2 4.12 15.5 25.6 5.4 0.18 0.26 0.44 59
2 Vlamingh Compost 2T/Ha 15.5 10.7 4.67 14.4 18.4 4.3 0.19 0.32 0.42 31
2 Vlamingh Bentonite 1% 17 10.8 4.96 19.6 24.8 5.7 0.18 0.34 0.5 27
2 Vlamingh Bentonite 3% 19.5 11.4 4.86 20.8 21.1 7.5 0.18 0.34 0.51 37
3 Vlamingh Scarifying only 8.5 11.5 4.42 9.8 18.5 4.6 0.18 0.31 0.43 61
3 Vlamingh Control 16.8 10.9 4.66 16.2 21.2 5.3 0.19 0.34 0.46 38
3 Vlamingh
3 Vlamingh
3 Vlamingh
4 Vlamingh
4 Vlamingh
4 Vlamingh
4 Vlamingh
4 Vlamingh
5 Vlamingh
5 Vlamingh
5 Vlamingh
5 Vlamingh
5 Vlamingh
6 Vlamingh
6 Vlamingh
6 Vlamingh
6 Vlamingh
6 Vlamingh
7 Vlamingh
7 Vlamingh
7 Vlamingh
7 Vlamingh
7 Vlamingh
8 Vlamingh
8 Vlamingh
8 Vlamingh
8 Vlamingh
8 Vlamingh
9 Vlamingh
9 Vlamingh
9 Vlamingh
9 Vlamingh
9 Vlamingh
10 Vlamingh
10 Vlamingh
10 Vlamingh
10 Vlamingh
10 Vlamingh
11 Vlamingh
11 Vlamingh
11 Vlamingh
11 Vlamingh
11 Vlamingh
12 Vlamingh
12 Vlamingh
12 Vlamingh
12 Vlamingh
12 Vlamingh

Grain yield t/ha


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NDVI .


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Plant density plants/m2


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Soil moisture between the rows %


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Soil moisture in the row %


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Cordering, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cordering, WA Tenosol
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 Cordering WA
2012 500.9mm
2011 490.6mm
2010 433.3mm
2009 475.4mm
2008 484.2mm
2007 467.6mm
2006 445.6mm
2005 491.8mm
2004 493.6mm
2003 490.7mm
2002 466.2mm
2001 411.9mm
2000 476.6mm
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

Cordering WA 2012


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 405mm

Derived climate information

Cordering WA

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 report and links

2012 trial report



Trial last modified: 22-05-2019 11:00am AEST