Can suboil constraints be combated economically?

2015
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Lilly Martin (Liebe Group)
Year(s) 2015
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) West Wubin, WA
Can suboil constraints be combated economically? locations
Aims

To determine which ameliorant practice is the most effective and economic in remediating subsoil acidity at depth.

Key messages

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
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
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Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Farm operations: Economics
  • Soil Improvement
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated,Blocked

West Wubin 2015

Sow rate or Target density 62 kg/ha
Sow date 1 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 11.65m x 14m
Plot replication 4
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

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
West Wubin, WA Yellow sands
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
West Wubin, WA Sodosol
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 West Wubin WA
2015 321.4mm
2014 341.2mm
2013 404.2mm
2012 416.7mm
2011 361.1mm
2010 378.8mm
2009 372.9mm
2008 399.7mm
2007 390.1mm
2006 430.0mm
2005 368.1mm
2004 357.8mm
2003 382.9mm
2002 362.3mm
2001 359.6mm
2000 469.2mm
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

West Wubin WA 2015


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 288mm

Derived climate information

West Wubin 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: 23-07-2019 11:52am AEST