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

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