Ripper Gauge - investigating soil amelioration on the 'other' soil types

2018
CC BY 4.0

Research organisation
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Nathan Craig (West Midlands Group)
Year(s) 2018
Contributor West Midlands Group
Trial location(s) Broomehill, WA
Cascade, WA
Coomalbidgup, WA
Dalwallinu, WA
Darkan, WA
Gorge Rock, WA
Hines Hill, WA
Kadathinni, WA
Kalannie, WA
Kojaneerup, WA
Kurrenkutten, WA
Mingenew, WA
Moora, WA
Morawa, WA
Neridup, WA
Ravensthorpe, WA
Salmon Gums, WA
Tambellup, WA
Wadderin, WA
Yealering, WA
Yuna, WA
Ripper Gauge - investigating soil amelioration on the 'other' soil types locations
Aims

To evaluate the grain yield response of each soil type to a range of soil amelioration strategies available to growers in each region. 

Key messages
  • Deep ripping – to either 30 or 60 cm to loosen the soil with a straight or angled shank tyne to reduce soil compaction.
  • Mouldboard ploughing – traditional mouldboard plough to invert soil to 30 cm to bury surface soil that is severely water repellent.
  • Plozza plough – developed by farmers in the West Midlands region to provide a low-cost option to invert and bury water repellent soil, and is very effective in gravelly soil types.
  • Maximum tillage – newer tillage equipment on the market that rips and cultivates the soil to an approximate depth of 30 cm.
Lead research organisation West Midlands Group
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAW00242
Trial funding source Summit
Trial funding source Farm Weekly
Trial funding source Rabobank
Trial funding source CBH Group
Trial funding source CSBP
Trial funding source Tronox
Trial funding source Syngenta
Trial funding source Advanta Seeds
Trial funding source AFGRI
Trial funding source Bayer
Trial funding source RedMac Machinery
Trial funding source Elders
Trial funding source GrainGrowers
Trial funding source InterGrain
Trial funding source KLK Farms Pty Ltd
Trial funding source Landmark
Trial funding source Pacer Legal
Trial funding source RSM
Trial funding source WFI Insurance
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This project “9176102 – demonstrating the benefits of soil amelioration and controlled traffic practices across a broad range of soil types in Western Australia” is a GRDC Investment. This project is a collaboration between the West Midlands Group, Mingenew-Irwin Group, Liebe Group, Corrigin Farm Improvement Group, FACEY group, Southern Dirt, Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group, and South East Premium Wheat Growers Association. 


Other trial partners Mingenew-Irwin Group, Liebe Group, Corrigin Farm Improvement Group, FACEY group, Southern Dirt, Stirlings to Coast Farmers, Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group, and South East Premium Wheat Growers Association
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Pasture: Mixed species
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Broomehill 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Cascade 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Coomalbidgup 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Dalwallinu 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Darkan 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Gorge Rock 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Hines Hill 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Kadathinni 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Kalannie 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Kojaneerup 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Kurrenkutten 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Mingenew 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Moora 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Morawa 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Neridup 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Ravensthorpe 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Salmon Gums 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Tambellup 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Wadderin 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Yealering 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.

Yuna 2018

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Soil amelioration

The four standard treatments that were tested against a control include:

  • Ripping to 30 cm
  • Ripping to 60 cm
  • A combination of ripping and tillage and
  • Maximum tillage.
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
Broomehill, WA Not specified
Cascade, WA Not specified
Coomalbidgup, WA Not specified
Dalwallinu, WA Not specified
Darkan, WA Not specified
Gorge Rock, WA Not specified
Hines Hill, WA Not specified
Kadathinni, WA Not specified
Kalannie, WA Not specified
Kojaneerup, WA Not specified
Kurrenkutten, WA Not specified
Mingenew, WA Not specified
Moora, WA Not specified
Morawa, WA Not specified
Neridup, WA Not specified
Ravensthorpe, WA Not specified
Salmon Gums, WA Not specified
Tambellup, WA Not specified
Wadderin, WA Not specified
Yealering, WA Not specified
Yuna, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Broomehill, WA Hydrosol
Cascade, WA Hydrosol
Coomalbidgup, WA Sodosol
Dalwallinu, WA Kandosol
Darkan, WA Sodosol
Gorge Rock, WA Sodosol
Hines Hill, WA Sodosol
Kadathinni, WA Sodosol
Kalannie, WA Sodosol
Kojaneerup, WA Tenosol
Kurrenkutten, WA Hydrosol
Mingenew, WA Tenosol
Moora, WA Sodosol
Morawa, WA Tenosol
Neridup, WA Sodosol
Ravensthorpe, WA Sodosol
Salmon Gums, WA Calcarosol
Tambellup, WA Sodosol
Wadderin, WA Sodosol
Yealering, WA Sodosol
Yuna, WA 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 Broomehill WA Cascade WA Coomalbidgup WA Dalwallinu WA Darkan WA Gorge Rock WA Hines Hill WA Kadathinni WA Kalannie WA Kojaneerup WA Kurrenkutten WA Mingenew WA Moora WA Morawa WA Neridup WA Ravensthorpe WA Salmon Gums WA Tambellup WA Wadderin WA Yealering WA Yuna WA
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
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.

Broomehill WA

Cascade WA

Coomalbidgup WA

Dalwallinu WA

Darkan WA

Gorge Rock WA

Hines Hill WA

Kadathinni WA

Kalannie WA

Kojaneerup WA

Kurrenkutten WA

Mingenew WA

Moora WA

Morawa WA

Neridup WA

Ravensthorpe WA

Salmon Gums WA

Tambellup WA

Wadderin WA

Yealering WA

Yuna WA

Broomehill WA

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Cascade WA

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Coomalbidgup WA

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Dalwallinu WA

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Darkan WA

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Gorge Rock WA

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Hines Hill WA

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Kadathinni WA

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Kalannie WA

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Kojaneerup WA

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Kurrenkutten WA

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Mingenew WA

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Moora WA

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Morawa WA

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Neridup WA

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Ravensthorpe WA

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Salmon Gums WA

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Tambellup WA

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Wadderin WA

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Yealering WA

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Yuna 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

2018 trial report



Trial last modified: 18-01-2026 23:19pm AEST