Research update for the long-term subsoil acidity experiment at Cootamundra, NSW

2017

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Helen Burns (NSW DPI)
Jason Condon (NSW DPI)
Richard Hayes (NSW DPI)
Guangdi Li (NSW DPI)
Adam Lowrie (NSW DPI)
Richard Lowrie (NSW DPI)
Sergio Moroni (NSW DPI)
Albert Oates (NSW DPI)
Graeme Poile (NSW DPI)
Andrew Price (NSW DPI)
Ehsan Tavakkoli (NSW DPI)
Alek Zander (NSW DPI)
Year(s) 2017
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Cootamundra, NSW
Further information View external link
Research update for the long-term subsoil acidity experiment at Cootamundra, NSW locations
Aims

1. Manage subsoil acidity through innovative amelioration methods that will increase productivity, profitability and sustainability

2. Study soil processes, such as the changes in soil chemical, physical and biological properties under vigorous soil amelioration techniques over the longer term.
 

Key messages

• Deep placement of organic amendments (e.g. lucerne pellets) did not increase soil pH as high as measured in laboratory/glasshouse experiments, but it did reduce exchangeable aluminium (Al) significantly at 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm, indicating that the organic amendment would relieve Al toxicity by combining Al3+ to form insoluble compounds, hence reducing toxicity to plant growth.

• There was a large crop yield response to deep organic amendments in year 1 due to extra nutrients supplied from the lucerne pellets, but no crop response was detected in year 2, partly due to lack of soil moisture during the crop growing season. To date, soil treatments have had little effect on soil water.

• Soil chemical, physical and biological properties will continue to be monitored to understand the soil–plant interactions, the factors driving the differences in crop response to the various treatments, and the residual value of the amendments over the long-term.
 

Cootamundra NSW 2017 Barley

Crop rotation

Phase 1 EGA GregoryA wheat
Phase 2 Hyola® 559TT canola
Phase 3 La TrobeA barley
Phase 4 MorganA field pea (2016), PBA SamiraA faba bean (2017)

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAN00206
Trial funding source DPI NSW
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This experiment was part of the ‘Innovative approaches to managing subsoil acidity in the southern grain region’ project, DAN00206, 2015–20, with joint investment by NSW DPI and GRDC. Our thanks extend to the property manager, Tony Flanery, and land owner, Ian Friend, Dirnaseer, west of Cootamundra, NSW for their ongoing cooperation since 2016.


Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola Grain Legume: Faba beans Grain Legume: Field peas
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop: Type
  • Soil Improvement: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement: Rate
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Replicated

Cootamundra 2017 Barley

Sow date Not applicable
Harvest date Not applicable
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser

Starter fertiliser: 75 kg/ha di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) – 14% nitrogen (N), 15% phosphorus (P), 1% sulfur (S) for all crops
Top-dressing fertiliser: 50–100 kg N/ha as urea for wheat, canola and barley, depending on   the season
 

Soil amelioration

Ripping machine: 3-D Ripper (5 tynes), designed and fabricated by NSW DPI
Ripping width and depth:  50 cm between rip lines; to 30 cm depth

ID Treatment Treatment description

1: No amendment No amendment, representing the ‘do nothing’ approach.

2: Surface liming Lime was applied at 4.0 t/ha, incorporated into 0–10 cm depth, to achieve an average pHCa of 5.5 over 8 years.

3: Deep ripping only Soil was ripped down to 30 cm to quantify the physical effect of ripping. No amendment was applied below 10 cm, but lime was applied at 2.5 t/ha at the surface, incorporated into 0–10 cm depth after plots were ripped, to achieve an average pHCa of 5.0 over 8 years.

4: Deep liming Lime was placed at three depths (surface, 10–20 cm a

Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2018, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Cootamundra 2017 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2018, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Cootamundra 2017 Canola

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2018, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Cootamundra 2017 Faba beans

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2018, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

Cootamundra 2017 Field peas

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Fertiliser Not specified
Soil amelioration Not specified
Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2018, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

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
Cootamundra, NSW Red chromosol
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cootamundra, NSW Kandosol
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 Cootamundra NSW
2017 559.7mm
2016 586.5mm
2015 549.1mm
2014 517.4mm
2013 509.4mm
2012 571.2mm
2011 578.7mm
2010 597.1mm
2009 549.2mm
2008 537.5mm
2007 471.1mm
2006 494.3mm
2005 565.8mm
2004 514.1mm
2003 484.1mm
2002 507.6mm
2001 540.8mm
2000 470.5mm
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

Cootamundra NSW 2017


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg gsr (mm) 347mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 269mm

Derived climate information

Cootamundra NSW

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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

2017 trial report



Trial last modified: 08-06-2023 15:56pm AEST