Soil management strategies for improving pH on red loam

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Aims

Investigate the impact of soil management techniques and the application of different rates of lime over a five year period on soil pH.

Key messages
  • As in 2014, there was a significant difference in yield, in response to the cultivation treatments but not between the lime treatments.
  • Screenings in 2015 were much higher in the mouldboard and spaded plots than any other treatments. The percentage of screenings in these treatments increased with the increasing rate of lime.
Lead research organisation Liebe Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC LIE00008
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Many thanks to:

  • Steve Rowe for the trial site and assistance. Many thanks to the following growers and industry for supply of the machinery, lime and dolomite used in this trial:
  • McIntosh & Son for supplying the Tiny 36 inch Grizzly offset disc and Deep Digger.
  • AFGRI for supply of the mouldboard plough.
  • The Mills family for supply of the one-way plough.
  • The Broad family for supply of the spader.
  • Chris Leigh-Fairbank for the donation and cartage of lime.

This trial is supported by GRDC funding through LIE00008: Working together to deliver multiple benefit messages to growers through a whole systems approach to soil management.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Properties: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Wongoondy, Mullewa 2015

Sow rate or Target density 50 kg/ha Corack Wheat
Sow date 21 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 30m x 40m
Plot replication 4
Paddock history 2010 lupin, 2011 wheat, 2012 wheat, 2013 lupin, 2014 wheat
Fertiliser

Pre seeding: 50 kg/ha Amsul            

21/05/2015: 50 kg/ha DAPSCZ                                                                        

17/06/2015: 40 kg/ha Urea

Herbicide

Knockdown: 1.5 L/ha RoundUp, 100 mL/ha Ecopar, 100 mL/ha Garlon, 0.25% wetter, 1% Amsul

Pre-emergent: 2 L/ha RoundUp, 1.6 L/ha Treflan, 35 g/ha Logran, 6 g/ha Ally, 1% Amsul, 0.2% wetter

Post emergent: 750 mL/ha Jaguar, 600 mL/ha MCPA LVE

 

Insecticide

Post emergent: 100 mL/ha Lorsban

Other trial notes

Further reading: Soil acidity management, Liebe Lime Calculator and the full report on “Soil acidity management strategies throughout Western Australia”. http://www.mig.org.au/lime-calculator/

 

Paper reviewed by: Lilly Martin, Liebe Group.

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Hectolitre weight (kg/hL) Screenings (%) Treatment Cost ($/ha) 2015 Returns ($/ha) Average Lime Yield (t/ha) Cultivation Yield (t/ha) Protein (%) Interaction Yield (t/ha) 2014 Returns ($/ha) Total Net Return ($/ha)
1 0 t/ha Lime 1.68
2 3 t/ha Lime 1.57
3 6 t/ha Lime 1.68
4 12 t/ha Lime 1.68
5 No Cultivation 1.81
6 Offset Disc 1.54
7 Mouldboard 1.22
8 One way Plough 1.88
9 Spader 1.4
10 Deep Digger 1.96
11 0 t/ha Lime No Cultivation 74.9 7.97 0 474 11.4 1.74 401 875
12 0 t/ha Lime Offset Disc 74.8 8.28 45 477 12.2 1.75 453 885
13 0 t/ha Lime Mouldboard 68.4 18.6 120 327 13.6 1.31 433 640
14 0 t/ha Lime One way Plough 77.9 5.09 45 541 10.5 1.81 498 994
15 0 t/ha Lime Spader 73.6 11.5 150 381 11.9 1.53 452 683
16 0 t/ha Lime Deep Digger 76.5 7.97 60 518 11.1 1.9 480 938
17 3 t/ha Lime No Cultivation 73.9 10 63 432 13.2 1.74 398 767
18 3 t/ha Lime Offset Disc 71 15.5 108 355 13.9 1.42 412 659
19 3 t/ha Lime Mouldboard 64.2 28 183 221 16.1 1 428 466
20 3 t/ha Lime One way Plough 74.9 8.56 108 533 12.1 1.96 512 937
21 3 t/ha Lime Spader 70.8 22.9 213 334 13.9 1.34 495 616
22 3 t/ha Lime Deep Digger 75.6 7.66 123 537 11.8 1.97 509 923
23 6 t/ha Lime No Cultivation 74 8.59 126 534 13 1.96 471 879
24 6 t/ha Lime Offset Disc 73 12.1 171 356 12.5 1.43 431 616
25 6 t/ha Lime Mouldboard 68.2 22.4 246 296 14.8 1.19 404 454
26 6 t/ha Lime One way Plough 77.3 5.11 171 647 11.7 2.17 521 997
27 6 t/ha Lime Spader 68.9 21 276 346 14.4 1.39 489 559
28 6 t/ha Lime Deep Digger 74.3 9.81 186 521 12.2 1.92 495 830
29 12 t/ha Lime No Cultivation 74.3 9.83 252 507 11.9 1.86 397 652
30 12 t/ha Lime Offset Disc 73.9 9.67 297 415 11.8 1.53 454 572
31 12 t/ha Lime Mouldboard 72.3 12.6 372 365 12.9 1.47 422 415
32 12 t/ha Lime One way Plough 73 12.1 297 420 12.6 1.69 504 627
33 12 t/ha Lime Spader 68.5 25.2 402 353 14.3 1.42 536 487
34 12 t/ha Lime Deep Digger 76.5 6.84 312 579 12.1 2.13 477 744

2014 Returns $/ha


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2015 Returns $/ha


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Average Lime Yield t/ha


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Cultivation Yield t/ha


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Hectolitre weight kg/hL


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Interaction Yield t/ha


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Protein %


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Screenings %


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Total Net Return $/ha


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Treatment Cost $/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Wongoondy, Mullewa, WA 0 - 10cm Red Loam 4.40
Wongoondy, Mullewa, WA 10 - 20cm Red Loam 4.40
Wongoondy, Mullewa, WA 20 - 30cm Red Loam 4.60
Wongoondy, Mullewa, WA 30 - 40cm Red Loam 4.80
Wongoondy, Mullewa, WA 40 - 50cm Red Loam 5.00
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Wongoondy, Mullewa, WA Red loam
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Wongoondy, Mullewa, 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 Wongoondy, Mullewa WA
2015 291.7mm
2014 249.0mm
2013 249.6mm
2012 264.3mm
2011 321.7mm
2010 247.9mm
2009 254.6mm
2008 313.0mm
2007 227.4mm
2006 256.3mm
2005 285.1mm
2004 251.5mm
2003 255.6mm
2002 228.7mm
2001 219.7mm
2000 288.2mm
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

Wongoondy, Mullewa WA 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial total (mm) 299mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 172mm

Derived climate information

Wongoondy, Mullewa 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

2015 trial report



Trial last modified: 01-11-2017 19:23pm AEST