Lime incorporation into acidic sandplain soils in the West Midlands

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Aims

To improve understanding of the range of tillage implements and techniques available to incorporate lime into acidic soils, their respective costs and benefits.

Key messages
  • Surface applied lime can take many years to ameliorate subsoil acidity.
  • Ongoing acidification has resulted in lower subsoil pH’s and the depth of the acidic layer is increasing.
  • This has generated renewed interest in one-off lime incorporation using strategic tillage to reduce the time required to ameliorate the subsoil acidity and to get a more rapid return on investment from applying lime.
  • Effective amelioration of subsoil acidity requires the creation of continuous pathways of pH corrected soil from the soil surface through the acidic subsoil layer.
Lead research organisation Liebe Group
Host research organisation West Midlands Group
Trial funding source GRDC LIE00008
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Dennis Martin, Stephan Davies, DAFWA, Aglime and Soiltech


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Fertiliser: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Badgingarra 2015

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha) 10 - 20cm pH (pH) 0 - 10cm pH (pH) 20 - 30cm pH (pH)
1 No treatment 0.9 4.8 4.8 4.8
2 Offsets 0.8 5 4.9 4.8
3 Offset + rip 1.3 4.9 4.8 4.8
4 3t lime 0.7 5.4 6.2 4.9
5 3t lime + offsets 0.8 5.2 5.7 4.8
6 3t lime + offset + rip 1.1 5.4 6 4.8

Grain yield t/ha


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0 - 10cm pH pH


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10 - 20cm pH pH


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20 - 30cm pH pH


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Badgingarra, WA Gravelly sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Badgingarra, WA Chromosol
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 Badgingarra WA
2015 385.5mm
2014 387.6mm
2013 405.7mm
2012 397.0mm
2011 340.8mm
2010 328.6mm
2009 338.4mm
2008 309.1mm
2007 260.6mm
2006 305.7mm
2005 289.2mm
2004 261.2mm
2003 282.9mm
2002 256.9mm
2001 301.6mm
2000 394.0mm
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.

Badgingarra WA

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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: 07-05-2019 19:06pm AEST