Spreading sand on heavy soils

2009
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Michael Bennet (SARDI)
Dean Willmott (farmer)
Year(s) 2009
Contributor Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Research Foundation
Trial location(s) Koongawa, SA
Spreading sand on heavy soils locations
Aims

To test the concept of spreading sand on transient salinity “magnesia” patches to see if could be equally effective in improving the performance of heavy soils.

Key messages
  • Spreading sand on heavy flats resulted in a yield increase of up to 0.7 t/ha in 2009.
Lead research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC SA-EP-080906
Trial funding source Caring for our Country
Related program Eyre Peninsula Farming Systems
Acknowledgments

Thanks to Ray Willmott for coming up with the idea and giving it a go; Dean Willmott for following the concept through and designing an excellent replicated trial; EP Clay Spreaders for their work; Willie Shoobridge and Brenton Spriggs.


Other trial partners SANTFA
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Replicated

Koongawa 2009

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
Koongawa, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Koongawa, SA Tenosol
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 Koongawa SA
2009 335.9mm
2008 311.6mm
2007 328.6mm
2006 336.5mm
2005 323.0mm
2004 313.5mm
2003 315.2mm
2002 313.0mm
2001 346.3mm
2000 390.8mm
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.

Koongawa 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

2009 trial report



Trial last modified: 04-06-2019 15:40pm AEST