Amelioration of subsoil acidity using inorganic amendments

2015 - 2017

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) Helen Burns
Jason Condon
Richard Hayes
Guangdi Li
Sergio Moroni
Ehsan Tavakkoli
Year(s) 2015 - 2017
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Holbrook, NSW
Further information View external link
Amelioration of subsoil acidity using inorganic amendments locations
Aims

A three year deep ripping experiment was conducted on a highly acidic soil to test how effective a range of inorganic soil amendments were to ameliorate subsoil acidity and improve crop growth and yield. A novel product, MgSi (a blend of 70% Doonba dunite and 30% F70 superfine lime), was tested in the field for the first time.

Key messages

• Deep ripping had an adverse effect on crop establishment and crop yield in the establishment year.

• Both lime and magnesium silicate (a blended product of 70% Doonba dunite and 30% F70 lime) were capable of increasing soil pH and decreasing exchangeable aluminium (Al) at the 20–30 cm depth where the soil amendment was applied.

• Deep placement of gypsum had no effect on soil acidity and did not improve grain yield.
 

Holbrook NSW 2017

Crop sequence

2015 Hyola® 970CL canola
2016 EGA WedgetailA wheat
2017 EGA WedgetailA wheat

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

The project ‘Innovative approaches to managing subsoil acidity in the southern grain region’, DAN00206, 2015–20, is a joint investment by NSW DPI and GRDC. MgSi product was sourced from PW English & Associates P/L at Armidale NSW. Richard Lowrie, Adam Lowrie, Graeme Poile, Albert Oates, Binbin Xu, Andrew Price and Yan Jia (NSW DPI, Wagga Wagga), Alek Zander, Matt Dunn and Kerry Schirmer (Charles Sturt University) provided quality technical support. Our thanks extend to land owner Tony Geddes for his ongoing cooperation during the experiment.


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

Method

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

Holbrook 2015

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

Holbrook 2016

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

Holbrook 2017

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

Fertiliser at sowing:  60 kg/ha mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) – 11% nitrogen (N),
                                  22.7% phosphorus (P), 2% sulfur (S) annually

Top-dressing fertiliser (urea): 

2015 (130 kg N/ha)
2016 (60 kg N/ha)
2017 (50 kg N/ha)


 

Soil amelioration

There were nine treatments (Table 1) with four treatment contrasts:

• Surface vs. deep application

• Lime vs. MgSi (blend with 30% of lime) vs. gypsum

• Surface application of urea vs calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] under deep ripping

• Deep liming with ripping width of 50 cm vs. 80 cm.
 

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
Holbrook, NSW Chromosol
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Holbrook, NSW 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 Holbrook NSW
2017 482.7mm
2016 512.0mm
2015 434.1mm
2014 450.7mm
2013 474.6mm
2012 521.8mm
2011 558.8mm
2010 531.5mm
2009 403.8mm
2008 412.6mm
2007 394.1mm
2006 415.9mm
2005 498.0mm
2004 425.6mm
2003 353.9mm
2002 330.5mm
2001 389.9mm
2000 389.4mm
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

Holbrook NSW 2017


Observed climate information

Rainfall trial total (mm) 590mm
Rainfall trial gsr (mm) 337mm

Derived climate information

Holbrook 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 12:31pm AEST