Understanding strategic tillage practices on crop performance and soil properties for a shallow sandy duplex at York

2018
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Joel Andrew (Map IQ)
Tim Boyes (AgVivo)
Charlie Boyle (DPIRD)
Stephen Davies (DPIRD)
Year(s) 2018
Contributor agVivo
Trial location(s) York, WA
Understanding strategic tillage practices on crop performance and soil properties for a shallow sandy duplex at York locations
Aims

To compare and showcase a range of strategic tillage options for amelioration of shallow sandy duplex soils (Sand over clay/gravel) and to assess their effectiveness at overcoming a range of soil constraints including topsoil water repellence and Compaction and increasing crop productivity over a period of 4-5 years.

Key messages
  1. Inversion ploughing of water repellent sands can significantly reduce repellence and increase critical components of grain yield.
  2. Deep ripping in the presence of problem background ryegrass can stimulate ryegrass emergence and worsen weed competition with the crop.
  3. The strength of the subsoil resource (i.e. clay component) appears important in sustaining the crop production potential and realisation of grain yield improvement.
Lead research organisation agVivo
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC AVP00003
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

The research undertaken as part of this project is made possible by the significant contributions of growers through both trial cooperation and Primaries WA investment, the author would like to thank them for their continued support. The authors acknowledge the Boyle family for hosting, implementing and assisting with the management of the research site. The GRDC funded and DPIRD led DAW00244 soil water repellence project is acknowledged for supporting selected soil and crop assessments.


Other trial partners Map IQ
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Properties: Compaction
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Blocked

York 2018

Sowing machinery

Machines used for the tillage treatments included a Bednar Terraland deep ripper, Farmax rotary spader, Kverneland reversible mouldboard plough, a modified Shearer 5GP Plozza system one-way plough and a Grizzly Tiny off-set disc. All of the tillage treatments were applied prior to seeding.

Sow date 26 May 2018
Harvest date Unknown
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information

Download results

Trial results Table 1: Barley plant establishment counts in 2018

# Treatment 1
Establishment plants (plants/m2)
1 Control 103
2 Deep Rip 108
3 Deep Rip + Spade 95
4 Deep Rip + MBP 113
5 Deep Rip + Offset Disc 116
6 Deep Rip + Plozza Plough 119
7 Plozza Plough 125
8 MBP 126

Establishment plants plants/m2


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Trial results Table 2: Tiller counts in September 2018

# Treatment 1
Cereal tillers (tillers/m2)
1 Control 436
2 Deep Rip 432
3 Deep Rip + Spade 507
4 Deep Rip + MBP 621
5 Deep Rip + Offset Disc 513
6 Deep Rip + Plozza Plough 604
7 Plozza Plough 656
8 MBP 587

Cereal tillers tillers/m2


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Trial results Table 3

# Treatment 1
Grain yield (t/ha)
1 Control 3.59
2 Deep Rip 4.26
3 Deep Rip + Spade 4.8
4 Deep Rip + MBP 4.47
5 Deep Rip + Offset Disc 4.63
6 Deep Rip + Plozza Plough 4.78
7 Plozza Plough 4.94
8 MBP 4.47

Grain yield t/ha


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Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
York, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
York, WA Hydrosol
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 York WA
2018 179.5mm
2017 197.8mm
2016 172.4mm
2015 152.4mm
2014 168.0mm
2013 187.6mm
2012 180.4mm
2011 168.9mm
2010 151.1mm
2009 200.3mm
2008 172.6mm
2007 168.5mm
2006 195.9mm
2005 154.3mm
2004 154.3mm
2003 173.5mm
2002 150.7mm
2001 169.1mm
2000 230.3mm
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.

York 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

Project Final Report

2018 trial report



Trial last modified: 15-12-2022 09:57am AEST