Clay and Organic Matter Increases Yields on SE Sands

2014 - 2015, 2017
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) David Davenport
Claire Dennerley
Melissa Fraser
Brett Masters
Amanda Schapel
Peter Telfer
Nigel Wilhelm
Year(s) 2014 - 2015, 2017
Contributor MacKillop Farm Management Group
Trial location(s) Cadgee, SA
Clay and Organic Matter Increases Yields on SE Sands locations
Aims

To overcome the chemical, physical and biological constraints of sandy soils, with the aim of achieving long term crop productivity gains greater than 70%.

Key messages

• Incorporating clay into the sand has led to yield increases that are improving with time.
• Yield response to clay application increased with the depth of incorporation; a cumulative increase of 0.74 t/ha (23%) over the control was achieved when clay was incorporated in the top 10 cm (Fig. 1 Shallow clay), increasing to 1.41 t/ha (44%) when the clay was incorporated to 30 cm (Fig. 1 Spading + clay).
• A similar response was achieved when 10 t/ha of Lucerne hay (organic matter (OM)) was spaded in, resulting in a 1.62 t/ha (50%) increase in yield (Fig. 1 Spading + OM).
• The combination of OM plus clay gave the best grain yield result in all years, with a cumulative 2.95 t/ha (92% increase) achieved across the 2014, 2015 and 2017 seasons (Fig. 1 Spading + Clay + OM).
• Spading alone led to cumulative decreases in yield of 0.39 t/ha (-12%), which is in contrast to results on Mallee sands, where the effect of spading has remained positive over time.
• Changes in soil chemical, hydrological, physical and biological characteristics as a result of clay and OM addition are the focus of 2018 soil measurements at the site.
• The response to deep disturbance and placement of OM and nutrition, in contrast to spading, is the focus of future research conducted by PIRSA at Murlong on the Eyre Peninsula in 2018.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

• We acknowledge the assistance and contribution of the Price families, the farmer co-operators at the site.
• CSP00203 Sandy Soils is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, SA state government through Primary Industries and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc, and AgGrow Agronomy.


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Barley Cereal (Grain): Wheat Grain Legume: Lupins
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement: Application Method
  • Soil Improvement: Type
Trial type Unknown
Trial design Unknown

Cadgee 2014 Barley

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

Cadgee 2014 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
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Cadgee 2014 Lupins

Sow date Not specified
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Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Cadgee 2015 Barley

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

Cadgee 2015 Wheat

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

Cadgee 2015 Lupins

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

Cadgee 2017 Barley

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

Cadgee 2017 Wheat

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

Cadgee 2017 Lupins

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
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
Cadgee, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cadgee, 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 Cadgee SA
2017 319.0mm
2016 275.5mm
2015 226.4mm
2014 276.5mm
2013 281.0mm
2012 298.5mm
2011 368.2mm
2010 301.4mm
2009 262.0mm
2008 193.4mm
2007 209.5mm
2006 227.6mm
2005 295.5mm
2004 291.8mm
2003 242.3mm
2002 180.8mm
2001 260.2mm
2000 296.2mm
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

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Cadgee SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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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

2014 trial report

Event Date Type Effect
Bird damage

Bird damage decimated 2016 canola crop

2016 Pests 100%


Trial last modified: 23-11-2021 13:10pm AEST