Improving crop establishment in a non-wetting sand with soil wetting agents

2018

Research organisatons
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) David Davenport (Rural Solutions SA)
Jack Desbiolles (University of SA)
Melissa Fraser (Rural Solutions SA)
Lynne Macdonald (CSIRO)
Brett Masters (Rural Solutions SA)
Nigel Wilhelm (SARDI)
Year(s) 2018
Contributor SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial location(s) Murlong, SA
Related trials
Improving crop establishment in a non-wetting sand with soil wetting agents locations
Aims

To investigate water repellence mitigation options at seeding. The trial aims to identify the driving chemistries (surfactants vs humectants) and application techniques (furrow surface, vs seed zone) that are better able to lift crop responses under local sowing conditions. This article reports on the Year 1 data, with more work being planned for the 2019-20 seasons.

Key messages
  • The impact of 13 different soil wetter treatments ranged from none to more than a doubling of wheat establishment.
  • Grain yield benefits ranged from zero to 21% (or 0.22 t/ha).
  • While higher grain yield generally correlated with better crop establishment, some treatments with low crop establishment were able to generate substantial yield responses, suggesting specific chemistries may promote later season effects.
  • Combinations of some soil wetters interacted positively to maximize grain yield response.
Lead research organisation Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Host research organisation SARDI Minnipa Agricultural Centre
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00203
Related program Sandy soils in low and medium rainfall areas
Acknowledgments

Funding from the GRDC (CSP00203), technical assistance from Dean Thiele (UniSA) and Ian Richter (SARDI) with trial implementation and data sampling, the collaboration and support from the soil wetter suppliers listed in Table 1 are all gratefully acknowledged. Thank you also to Syngenta Australia, Nufarm/CropCare, Incitec Pivot Fertilisers and Wengfu Fertilisers for some in-kind support.

 


Other trial partners University of South Australia, the SA state government through Primary Industries and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc. and AgGrow Agronomy.
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement: Rate
  • Soil Improvement: Timing
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Murlong 2018

Sow rate or Target density Wheat CL Razor wheat sown at 63.2 kg/ha targeting 155 plants/m2 at 80% establishment, Targeted seeding depth: 30-35 ±5 mm
Sowing machinery

Seeding system: knife point double shoot combined with twin seeding discs with press wheels (row spacing = 0.28 m), sowing speed: 5 km/h, sowing date: 21-23 June 2018

Sow date 22 June 2018
Harvest date 3 December 2018
Plot size 25m x 1.68m
Plot replication 4
Fertiliser
  • Fertiliser: 20 N+4.3 S as 2:1 Urea:SoA mix at 54 kg/ha deep banded at full furrow depth (100 mm), and 6 N+11P+2S+0.5Zn as Granulock Z at 50 kg/ha shallow banded 20 mm below seeding depth
  • Liquids: Fungicides applied at furrow depth: Uniform 400 ml/ha and Intake HiLoad Gold 250 ml/ha applied in 80 L/ha
  • Trace elements: Zn @ 2 L, Cu @ 1 L and Mn @ 3 L/ha applied as a foliar spray at late tillering
Herbicide

Weed control: Agrityne 750 @ 1.5 L/ha at late tillering

Soil amelioration
  • Soil wetter treatments: applied in 100 L/ha volume with foam suppressant at 0.05%
Seed treatment Rancona C + Imidacloprid 600.
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
Murlong, SA Deep sand over clay sand
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Murlong, SA Sodosol
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 Murlong SA
2018 249.3mm
2017 238.8mm
2016 250.8mm
2015 241.9mm
2014 296.9mm
2013 247.7mm
2012 253.4mm
2011 282.7mm
2010 277.5mm
2009 219.4mm
2008 190.5mm
2007 222.3mm
2006 254.3mm
2005 227.7mm
2004 205.1mm
2003 224.9mm
2002 226.4mm
2001 266.8mm
2000 313.2mm
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

Murlong SA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 332mm
Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 249mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 220mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 167mm

Derived climate information

Murlong 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

2018 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-10-2019 12:09pm AEST