Field assessment of new root traits for improved acid soil tolerance in wheat

2013
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stephen Davies (CSIRO)
Manny Delhaize (CSIRO)
Richard James (CSIRO)
Christine Zaicou-Kunesch (DAFWA)
Year(s) 2013
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Regans Ford, WA
Field assessment of new root traits for improved acid soil tolerance in wheat locations
Aims

Assess the value of several traits that aim to improve the acid-soil tolerance of wheat under field conditions.

Key messages

Many wheat varieties grown in WA already have the major gene for acid soil tolerance. In this trial several other acid tolerance traits are being assessed under field conditions to determine if they confer growth and yield advantages in addition to the major gene. If the traits do prove useful they can then be back-crossed into current well-adapted WA wheat varieties and ultimately become available for growers to use. In addition to these field trials, the project aims to identify molecular markers to facilitate the breeding process. The traits are likely to be beneficial in situations where soils are being limed to correct soil acidity but are not likely to help in highly Al toxic soils in the absence of liming. This trial and others like it will help determine under what soil acidity levels the traits are likely to be beneficial.

Acid soil tolerance in wheat is not a stand-alone solution for managing acid soils, rather it complements a liming program to ameliorate subsoil acidity. Subsoil at the site is acidic to a depth of at least 40 cm as demonstrated by the indicative site soil pH (CaCl2): 0-10 cm = 5.4; 10-20 cm =  4.2; 20-30 cm = 4.3; 30-40 cm = 4.3. Prior to the site being seeded 1.5 t/ha limesand was spread and this has lifted the topsoil pH to ~5.4 on average. More lime will need to be applied to the site to lift the low subsoil pH values.

Lead research organisation Department of Agriculture and Food WA
Host research organisation West Midlands Group
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00165
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

GRDC project CSP00165 More Profit from Crop Nutrition II- Phosphorus use efficiency: Rhizosheath project (Delhaize et al.). Thanks to Trevor Bell, Steve Cosh, Anne Smith, Joanne Walker (DAFWA technical services) for trial preparation, seeding and 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 Improvement
  • Technology: Other
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Regans Ford 2013

Sow rate or Target density 60-77 kg/ha
Sowing machinery

Sown with DAFWA cone seeder

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 1.5m x 20m
Plot replication 4
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
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
Regans Ford, WA Deep yellow sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Regans Ford, WA Tenosol
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 Regans Ford WA
2013 151.9mm
2012 138.2mm
2011 136.9mm
2010 129.1mm
2009 142.1mm
2008 151.9mm
2007 107.9mm
2006 103.7mm
2005 142.2mm
2004 124.4mm
2003 142.9mm
2002 113.0mm
2001 115.0mm
2000 134.4mm
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

Regans Ford WA 2013


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 440mm

Derived climate information

Regans Ford 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 15:52pm AEST