Researcher(s) |
Lilly Martin (Liebe Group) |
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Year(s) | 2015 |
Contributor | West Midlands Group |
Trial location(s) |
West Wubin, WA
|
To determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth.
Prior to treatments being imposed aluminium toxicity was visually identified as a constraint by digging up plants and examining the roots. It was evident from the roots sideways growth that root pruning was occurring, affecting plant growth by limiting access to nutrients and water. Compaction was thought not to be an issue as it was possible to push a 1cm rod to a depth of 140cm by hand.
When the Grizzly treatments were being implemented it was difficult to have an even depth throughout the plot due to plot size. The discs were only achieving maximum depth (30-35cm) in the centre of the plot however; the average depth achieved within the plot was 25-30cm.
At seeding it was difficult to establish an even seed bed which led to uneven germination in both the Spaded treatments and the Grizzly treatments. This resulted in these treatments having lower plant establishment numbers over the no till (Control).
Throughout the season it was visually evident that the incorporation treatments had major effects on crop growth and health. The Grizzly and spaded treatments had better vigour and larger head sizes when compared to the control treatments. This is likely due to the lower plant numbers, leading to less competition for water and nutrients in the cultivated plots. Although this didn’t translate to significant yield increases in the first year, the second year of the trial is expected to show more as the seeding bed will have settled allowing for an even germination.
Lead research organisation |
Liebe Group |
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Host research organisation | N/A |
Trial funding source | GRDC LIE0008 |
Related program | N/A |
Acknowledgments |
Many thanks to the Barnes family or all their help and input in setting up and managing the trial. Thanks to McIntosh and Son, Wongan Hills for use of the Tiny Grizzly and to Rohan Broun, Liebe member, for his time and the use of the spader. 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, DAW00242: Subsoil constraints - understanding and management and through funding from the Wheatbelt NRM. |
Other trial partners | Not specified |
Crop type | Cereal (Grain): Wheat |
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Treatment type(s) |
|
Trial type | Experimental |
Trial design | Replicated,Blocked |
Sow rate or Target density | 62 kg/ha |
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Sow date | 1 May 2015 |
Harvest date | Not specified |
Plot size | 11.65m x 14m |
Plot replication | 4 |
Psuedoreplication | Not specified |
Fertiliser |
01/02/2015: 35kg/ha DAPSZC 16/07/2015: 40 kg/ha urea 15/08/2015: 20 L/ha UAN |
Herbicide |
01/05/2015: 2 L/ha Glyphosate 450, 2 L/ha Trifluralin 480, 0.3% SP 700 Surfactant, 200 mL/ha LV Ester 680, 200 mL/ha Chlorpyrifos 500EC 16/07/2015: 850 mL/ha Diflufenican & Bromoxynil, 400 mL/ha MCPA 570, 150 mL/ha Tebuconazole 430 |
Soil amelioration |
2009: 1 t/ha lime 2014: 1.5 t/ha lime 2015: 3.2 t/ha Lime only plots, 3.4 t/ha Dolomite only plots, 1.65 t/ha each Lime & Dolomite plots |
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) | 288mm |
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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.