Improving the tolerance of lucerne to soil acidity

2010

Research organisation

Agriculture Kangaroo Island Incorporated

Trial details

Researcher(s)	Alan Humphries (SARDI)
Year(s)	2010
Contributor	Agriculture Kangaroo Island Incorporated
Trial location(s)	Cygnet RIver, Kersbrook, SA McLaren Flat, SA Mount Gambier, SA Barnawatha, VIC Boorhaman, VIC

Improving the tolerance of lucerne to soil acidity locations

Aims

To report on the development of a rhizobium strain which is able to nodulate with lucerne at lower pH.

Key messages

The research aims to find rhizobia that will support lucerne growth on acidic soils.
Good levels of nodulation found on acidic sand at Kingscote, despite soil acidity, pHCa 4.6
Lucerne is highly recommended for KI soils that do not receive lengthy periods of water logging or have high levels of aluminum.
Purchase freshly coated seed as background levels of lucerne rhizobia are low.

Lead research organisation	Agriculture Kangaroo Island Incorporated
Host research organisation	N/A
Related program	CRC Future Farm Industries
Acknowledgments	Thanks to the trial sponsor CRC Future Farm Industries. A special thanks to Greg Johnsson for his assistance with this trial – very much appreciated!
Other trial partners	SARDI

Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type	Hay: Lucerne
Treatment type(s)	Crop : Type Crop : Nutrition
Trial type	Experimental
Trial design	Unknown

Cygnet RIver 2010

Sow date	Not specified
Harvest date	Not specified
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

Kersbrook 2010

Sow date	Not specified
Harvest date	Not specified
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

McLaren Flat 2010

Sow date	Not specified
Harvest date	Not specified
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

Mount Gambier 2010

Sow date	Not specified
Harvest date	Not specified
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

Barnawatha 2010

Sow date	Not specified
Harvest date	Not specified
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

Boorhaman 2010

Sow date	Not specified
Harvest date	Not specified
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1

#	Treatment 1	Nodulation (nodules/plant)	Root nodulation score (%)
1	█ No rhizobia	2.4	29
2	█ RRI128	9.1	89
3	█ RRI128 + lime	6.4	89
4	█ SRDI291	13	87
5	█ SRDI672	6.6	87
6	█ Poorest strain	4.4	70

Nodulation nodules/plant

Root nodulation score %

Observed trial site soil information

Trial site soil testing

Not specified

Soil conditions

Trial site	Soil texture
Cygnet RIver,	Not specified
Kersbrook, SA	Not specified
McLaren Flat, SA	Not specified
Mount Gambier, SA	Not specified
Barnawatha, VIC	Not specified
Boorhaman, VIC	Not specified

Derived trial site soil information

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	Cygnet RIver	Kersbrook SA	McLaren Flat SA	Mount Gambier SA	Barnawatha VIC	Boorhaman VIC
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000

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.

Cygnet RIver VIC

Kersbrook VIC

McLaren Flat VIC

Mount Gambier VIC

Barnawatha VIC

Boorhaman VIC

Cygnet RIver VIC

Kersbrook VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate

McLaren Flat VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate

Mount Gambier VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate

Barnawatha VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate

Boorhaman VIC

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate

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

2010 trial report

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Trial last modified: 15-12-2021 10:26am AEST