| Researcher(s) |
Louise Barton Louise Fisk Deirdre Gleeson Linda Maccarone Daniel Murphy Yoshi Sawada |
|---|---|
| Year(s) | 2012 |
| Contributor | SoilsWest |
| Trial location(s) |
Buntine, WA
|
| Related trials |
To determine the soil depth that microbes responsible for nitrification (conversion of ammonium to nitrate) are located.
Nitrifying archaea and bacteria live at different soil depths, with nitrifying bacteria inhabiting the surface soil and nitrifying archaeal populations inhabiting the sub-soil (10-90 cm). Nitrifying bacteria are the most numerous overall when compared to the nitrifying archaea, and their decline in abundance with soil depth matches the decline in soil nitrification rates. In these soils, nitrification rates are low, suggesting the amount of NH4+ is low, leaving little available for nitrification. Understanding the ecology of these microbes and their role in soil nitrification rates, may lead to improved management strategies to decrease N losses from the soil and improve N use efficiency.
| Lead research organisation | N/A |
|---|---|
| Host research organisation |
Liebe Group |
| Trial funding source | GRDC UWA00139 |
| Related program |
Soil Biology Initiative |
| Acknowledgments |
The authors would like to thank all members of the Soil Biology group who helped with sampling and soil analysis and would also like to thank the Liebe Group for allowing us to use their long term field site at Buntine. This research was funded by the GRDC as part of the Soil Biology Initiative II. |
| Other trial partners | DAFWA |
| Crop type | None: No crop specified |
|---|---|
| Treatment type(s) |
|
| Trial type | Experimental |
| Trial design | Replicated,Blocked |
| Sow rate or Target density | NA |
|---|---|
| Sowing machinery |
Sampled out of season. |
| Sow date | Not applicable |
| Harvest date | Not applicable |
| Plot size | 11m x 80m |
| Plot replication | 3 |
| Fertiliser |
Sampled out of season. |
| Soil amelioration |
Field organic matter treatments: tilled soil, tilled soil loaded with organic! matter at 20 t/ha every three years since 2003. |
| Tillage | Offset discs. |
| Rainfall trial gsr (mm) | 162.5mm |
|---|
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.
