Waterlogging: what have we learnt to date

2014

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Lyn Dohle (Rural Solutions SA)
Year(s) 2014
Contributor Agriculture Kangaroo Island Incorporated
Trial location(s) Kangaroo Island, SA
Waterlogging: what have we learnt to date locations
Aims

To summarise the current knowledge about waterlogging on Kangaroo Island.

Key messages

Engineering solutions:

  • On flat waterlogged land, raised beds provided the best yield result but they do have some management issues.
  • Gravel slots and moles also worked well but the slots are expensive for broad acre use.
  • Conventional moles are prone to collapse with Kangaroo Island’s sodic clays.
  • The nature of many of our clays (sodic and poor draining) results in poor water movement from the soil into a slotted agricultural pipe.


Agronomic solutions:

  • The adverse effects of waterlogging are primarily due to anoxic conditions in the soil, rather than element toxicities or deficiencies, except perhaps for aluminium.
  • Liming acidic soils will reduce al toxicity.
  • In waterlogged soils the application of poultry manure doesn’t appear to improve yields. But the application of lime may increase yield.
  • Waterlogging may cause nitrogen (N) deficiency but high rates of N will not turn a waterlogged crop into a good crop.
  • There may be some potential for varietal difference to waterlogging in wheat.
  • Broad beans: improve nodulation through a combination of liming and application of molybdenum. Liming will also reduce inherent nutritional problems of low soil pH. Early tissue testing and nutrient correction with foliar applications help overcome some soil ph deficiencies
Lead research organisation Agriculture Kangaroo Island Incorporated
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Thanks to the trial sponsors:

  • GRDC
  • Federal Landcare Programs
  • Woolworths
  • KI NRM Board
  • KI Pure Grain
  • plus numerous KI farmers who provided all the trial sites.

Other trial partners Rural Solutions SA
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Broad beans Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Adverse Effects Management: Waterlogging
Trial type
Trial design

Kangaroo Island 2014 Broad beans

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

Kangaroo Island 2014 Wheat

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
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
Kangaroo Island, SA 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 Kangaroo Island SA
2014 531.4mm
2013 521.7mm
2012 519.8mm
2011 514.9mm
2010 515.4mm
2009 513.6mm
2008 471.8mm
2007 460.6mm
2006 505.5mm
2005 500.0mm
2004 513.6mm
2003 541.7mm
2002 507.7mm
2001 516.7mm
2000 508.2mm
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.

Kangaroo Island SA

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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

2014 trial report



Trial last modified: 15-12-2021 09:23am AEST