Bioassay of long term phosphorus trial, 80Ba6

2016
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Bill Bowden (West Midlands Group)
Chris Wilkins (West Midlands Group)
Year(s) 2016
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Badgingarra, WA
Bioassay of long term phosphorus trial, 80Ba6 locations
Aims

To determine the long term effects of 1980 P treatments on soil fertility.

Key messages

The trial was dogged by non-wetting and kangaroo grazing problems and so the bioassay of the residual effect of the original source of P treatments was poor..

Recoveries of applied phosphorus in the surface layers was poorest for the water soluble, plant available source superphosphate which had large leaching losses below 50 cm.  the less immediately available but citrate soluble source retained more P in the surface layers while the very insoluble C ore source produced poor growth but had only very low P leaching to depth.  The compromise in choice of source, between plant availability and leaching into the ground water and subsequently the waterways, is  well illustrated by this trial

As a rule, soil fertility factors (non-wetting, organic carbon, CEC, soil organic nitrogen, acidification etc were all more affected by length of pasture ley than by pasture composition and cumulated production.  Cross plot transfer of surface soil may well have affected this finding..

Lead research organisation West Midlands Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source NACC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Thanks go to the 1980 instigators of the trial: Mike Baker and Mike Bolland. Thanks also to the landowners, David Frankland, then Geoff Pearson, to the funders, NACC, and to the sponsors, the West Midlands Group and DAFWA. 


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

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

Badgingarra 2016

Sow rate or Target density 100kg/ha
Sowing machinery

Precision plot seeder with multiple runs, wheel on tyne. 

Sow date 9 May 2016
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 2.5m x 60m
Plot replication 3
Fertiliser

The nitrogen was applied by hand in 2015 (100kg Urea/ha about 4 weeks after seeding) and as a liquid (80L of UAN/ha, 3 weeks after seeding) in 2016. 

Herbicide

Pre-emergent weed control was used in both years and broadleaf spray successfully controlled late emerging capeweed and blue lupins in 2016. 

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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 Deep grey over pale yellow
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
2016 169.9mm
2015 177.3mm
2014 179.1mm
2013 206.0mm
2012 194.9mm
2011 183.2mm
2010 171.3mm
2009 197.6mm
2008 217.6mm
2007 169.9mm
2006 175.7mm
2005 220.4mm
2004 180.1mm
2003 204.7mm
2002 180.5mm
2001 168.4mm
2000 185.2mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

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

2016 trial report



Trial last modified: 23-07-2019 14:27pm AEST