| Researcher(s) |
Nicole Dimos (SPAA) Fiona Hart (Riverine Plains) Andrew Whitlock (Precision Agriculture) |
|---|---|
| Year(s) | 2011 |
| Contributor | Society of Precision Agriculture Australia |
| Trial location(s) |
Yarrawonga , VIC
|
To compare soil pH mapping with VERIS Soil pH Detector against EM38 zones and satellite imagery
When comparing the soil pH map against the EM38 map we found that there were some similar trends, especially in the alkaline zone in the south east of the paddock which lines up partially to the high EM38 readings (clay soil). However, the difference between the two maps is significant in terms of creating lime The greatest lime savings through the soil pH mapping approach have occurred on paddocks which are considered to be in a maintenance phase. That is, paddocks which have had a reasonable lime history and only require strategic lime applications. Savings on these paddocks tends to range between 35 – 65%. Other farmers who have previously implemented variable rate lime are also using the grid soil pH mapping service to measure how effective the variable rate application was. The subsequent map is then used to apply a maintenance rate of lime.
| Lead research organisation |
Society of Precision Agriculture Australia |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation | N/A |
| Trial funding source | GRDC SPA000010 |
| Related program | N/A |
| Acknowledgments |
This project was funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) |
| Other trial partners | Adam Inchbold (cooperating farmer) |
| Crop type | Pasture: Mixed species |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Precision agriculture |
| Trial design | Not applicable |
| Sow date | Not specified |
|---|---|
| Harvest date | Not specified |
| Plot size | Not specified |
| Plot replication | Not specified |
| Soil amelioration |
Lime |
| Other trial notes |
The project was a success in terms of demonstrating a new technology which may have a very good fit for a group of farmers who have been implementing variable rate soil ameliorants for a number of years. |
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.