Claying benefits on water repellent sands sustained when clay rate is matched to incorporation method

2013
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stephen Davies (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Badgingarra, WA
Claying benefits on water repellent sands sustained when clay rate is matched to incorporation method locations
Aims

To assess the impact of the rate of application of clay-rich subsoil to water repellent sand on grain yield and the interaction with incorporation method.

Key messages
  • This trial clearly demonstrates the importance of matching clay application rate and incorporation method when clay spreading for water repellence. For subsoils with a clay content of about 30% using a rate of 100-150 t subsoil/ha incorporated with offsets to a depth of 120-150 mm was sufficient to overcome the repellence and given wheat yield increases of 11-18%.
  • Alternatively subsoil application rates of 250-350 t/ha are probably required if the clay is to be incorporated to 250-300 mm with a rotary spader and this gave similar yield increases of 11-14% on what is a better soil type with higher inherent yield potential.
  • The main benefit of higher clay application rates and deeper incorporation seemed to be in the canola year, although more seasons with canola need to be assessed to confirm the validity of this finding.
Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation West Midlands Group
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00204
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Particular thanks to McIntosh & Son (Moora) for seeding the trial with the Contour Drill demo bar. Thanks to Andrew Kenny for paddock management and 5 seasons of patience! Thanks to Trevor Bell, Greg Brown, Gavin Sarre and Daron Malinowski (all DAFWA) for harvest and technical support… and patience! Research funded by DAFWA & GRDC through the “Delivering agronomic strategies for water repellent soils in WA – DAW00204” project with support from the West Midlands Group.


Other trial partners Not specified
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Method

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

Badgingarra 2013

Sow rate or Target density 100kg/ha
Sow date 21 August 2013
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 5m x 20m
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Sown with 100 kg/ha MacroPro; 100 kg/ha NS51 applied 25 July and 50 L/ha Flexi-N in 3rd week of August.

Soil amelioration

Clay spreading and incorporation was undertaken in 2009 (see Trial Layout).

 

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Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Badgingarra, WA Pale deep 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
2013 180.2mm
2012 171.2mm
2011 167.7mm
2010 147.5mm
2009 176.1mm
2008 192.9mm
2007 135.2mm
2006 142.1mm
2005 169.7mm
2004 128.0mm
2003 144.9mm
2002 140.2mm
2001 128.6mm
2000 161.9mm
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

Badgingarra WA 2013


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 446mm

Derived climate information

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

2013 trial report



Trial last modified: 09-07-2019 15:50pm AEST