Amelioration of sandy soils - opportunities for long term improvement

2015 - 2017

Research organisaton
Funding sources
Trengove Consulting

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stuart Sherriff (Tengrove Consulting)
Sam Trengove (Tengrove Consulting)
Year(s) 2015 - 2017
Contributor Trengove Consulting
Trial location(s) Bute, SA
Amelioration of sandy soils - opportunities for long term improvement locations
Aims

To investigate amelioration options for sands that have low water holding capacity, low organic matter, low nutrient availability, compaction, non wetting and high risk for wind erosion.

Key messages
  • Treatments combining deep ripping with surface applied nutrition (synthetic fertiliser or chicken litter) delivered the highest marginal returns, ranging from $934 - $1249/ha over three years.
  • Depending on treatment cost these delivered return on investment ranging from 142 – 521%, over three years.
  • Placement of high rates of chicken litter (20t/ha) or matched synthetic fertiliser in the subsoil did not provide any yield increase over surface application.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC TRE00002
Trial funding source SAGIT
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The research undertaken as part of this project was initiated from contributions from growers through both trial cooperation and the support of the GRDC (TRE00002), the authors would like to thank them for their support. Ongoing support has been provided by Northern and Yorke Landcare Project Community Capacity Component and SAGIT (TC116) and is gratefully acknowledged. Support is also gratefully acknowledged from Nigel Wilhelm and Peter Telfer (SARDI) and Max and Bill Trengove (cooperating land owners).


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Cereal (Grain): Barley Grain Legume: Lentils
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement
  • Soil Improvement: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Bute 2015 Wheat

Sowing machinery

sown with knife points and press wheels on 250mm row spacing

Sow date 20 May 2015
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size 10m x 2m
Plot replication 3

Bute 2015 Barley

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

Bute 2015 Lentils

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

Bute 2016 Barley

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

Bute 2016 Wheat

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

Bute 2016 Lentils

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

Bute 2017 Barley

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

Bute 2017 Wheat

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

Bute 2017 Lentils

Sowing machinery Not specified
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
Treatment 2
Treatment 3
Treatment 4
Cost ($/ha) Grain yield (t/ha)
1 0kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 0 t/ha clay No fertiliser 0 1.79
2 0kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 0 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 0 2.44
3 0kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 130 t/ha clay No fertiliser 400 2.3
4 0kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 130 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 400 2.52
5 0kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 0 t/ha clay No fertiliser 60 2.78
6 0kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 0 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 60 3.11
7 0kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 130 t/ha clay No fertiliser 460 2.39
8 0kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 130 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 460 2.54
9 5kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 0 t/ha clay No fertiliser 180 2.88
10 5kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 0 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 180 2.89
11 5kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 130 t/ha clay No fertiliser 580 2.45
12 5kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 130 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 580 2.35
13 5kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 0 t/ha clay No fertiliser 240 2.92
14 5kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 0 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 240 2.55
15 5kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 130 t/ha clay No fertiliser 640 2.96
16 5kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 130 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 640 2.4
17 20kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 0 t/ha clay No fertiliser 700 2.5
18 20kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 0 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 700 2.53
19 20kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 130 t/ha clay No fertiliser 1100 1.97
20 20kg chicken litter/ha No ripping 130 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 1100 2.15
21 20kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 0 t/ha clay No fertiliser 760 2.28
22 20kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 0 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 760 2.34
23 20kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 130 t/ha clay No fertiliser 1160 2.03
24 20kg chicken litter/ha Yes ripping 130 t/ha clay Yes fertiliesr 1160 2.26

Grain yield t/ha


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Cost $/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Bute, SA Siliceous sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Bute, SA Calcarosol
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 Bute SA
2017 531.1mm
2016 508.5mm
2015 456.4mm
2014 541.6mm
2013 531.6mm
2012 533.2mm
2011 561.4mm
2010 566.6mm
2009 521.5mm
2008 507.1mm
2007 551.7mm
2006 534.0mm
2005 505.3mm
2004 489.1mm
2003 520.5mm
2002 517.1mm
2001 555.1mm
2000 552.6mm
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.

Bute SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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: 27-08-2021 13:55pm AEST