Ripper Gauge Demonstration Sites Esperance Port Zone

2018 - 2020
CC BY 4.0

Research organisatons
Funding sources
<abbr title='Grains Research and Development Corporation'>GRDC</abbr> Trial Host

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Contact email eo@sepwa.org.au
Contact phone 0409562003
Year(s) 2018 - 2020
Contributor South East Premium Wheat Growers Association
Trial location(s) Cascade, WA
Coomalbidgup, WA
Neridup, WA
Ravensthorpe, WA
Salmon Gums, WA
Ripper Gauge Demonstration Sites Esperance Port Zone locations
Aims

This project aims to establish 4 demonstration sites in the Esperance Port Zone that are used by growers to increase their knowledge and adoption of deep ripping and controlled traffic farming to alleviate non-wetting soils, compaction and waterlogging on different soil types in the port zone to improve crop production.

To do so the project will measure the grain yield and gross margin outcome of each soil ameliorant treatment at each site.

Key messages

2018 Season

  • Deep ripping to alleviate compaction and allow better water absorption has improved crop yields at 4 of the 5 EPZ Ripper Gauge demonstration sites in 2018.
  • Not all ripping responsive soils required ripping to the same depth.
  • While early season dry conditions were challenging and total growing season rainfall was low at the Dunn Rock demonstration site, the deep tillage treatments applied to the site’s sandy gravel over clay soil were a profitable means of increasing barley yield.
  • Early season conditions were dry at the Cascade demonstration site. The results collected suggest deep tillage to 300mm or 600mm in the heavy sodic soils present at this site did not improve wheat yield. The rip to 600mm strip achieved an operating gross margin of less than half of both the control strips and the rip to 300mm treatment.
  • While the mixing effect of the TopDown achieved a gain of 0.28t/ha when compared to the control, gains in yield were not as large as the effects of deep ripping, spading or a combination on the gravelly sand over clay soil type present at the Coomalbidgup site. The latter tillage treatments improved wheat crop yield by 0.51t/ha to 0.78t/ha when compared to the control strip average of 3.75t/ha, equating to a gross margin increase of between $54/ha and $174/ha.
  • The loamy clay to circle valley sand over clay soils present at the Salmon Gums site showed an increase in crop yield of almost 0.91t/ha from ripping to 450-540mm depth. While both the control and shallow deep ripping (ie to 300mm depth) treatments yielded 2.5t/ha of wheat, the deepest tillage treatment yielded approximately 3.4t, equating to a gross margin increase of $316/ha.
  • Tillage of the Neridup site’s sandy gravel over clay soils to 300mm increased canola yield compared to the control by 0.41t/ha which equated to a gross margin increase of $179/ha. Tillage to 600mm reduced canola crop yield by 0.35t/ha when just ripped and by 0.9t/ha when exposed to ripping to 600mm combined with a Topdown.

2019 Season

  • Tillage treatments applied in 2018 to alleviate compaction and allow better water absorption (ranging in ripping depth from 100mm to 600mm) did not significantly affect crop yield when compared to site controls, regardless of the predominant soil type present at the site or the ripping equipment used. This is likely due to the much dryer than average rainfall conditions that prevailed at all sites in 2019 and the impact of severe frost at two of the demonstration sites (Salmon Gums and Cascade).
  • Although the ripping treatments did not significantly improve or reduce crop yield at any of the Ripper Gauge demonstration sites in 2019, gross margin analysis did indicate tillage to 600mm depth plus use of a Topdown slightly improved operating profit at the Neridup site, when compared to the site control. Ripping to 540mm depth also improved financial performance at the Salmon Gums site when compared to the control.
  • Ripping to 300mm and 600m depth reduced financial performance at the Coomalbidgup and Cascade Demonstration Sites, compared to the site controls. Two of the tillage treatments also reduced operating profit at the Neridup site compared to the site control.
Lead research organisation South East Premium Wheat Growers Association
Host research organisation Grains Research and Development Corporation
Trial funding source GRDC 9176166
Trial funding source Trial Host
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

SEPWA would like to thank the following,

  • DPIRD 
  • Loyd Burrell
  • George Carmody
  • Greg Curnow
  • Laurie Starcevich
  • Ash Reichstein

Without their generous contribution and support the trials would not have taken place. 


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

Method

Crop type None: No crop specified
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Properties: Compaction
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated

Cascade 2018

Sow rate or Target density Wheat was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Cascade 2019

Sow rate or Target density Barley was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Cascade 2020

Sow rate or Target density Canola was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Coomalbidgup 2018

Sow rate or Target density Wheat was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with press wheels

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Coomalbidgup 2019

Sow rate or Target density Lupins were sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Coomalbidgup 2020

Sow rate or Target density Wheat was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Neridup 2018

Sow rate or Target density Canola was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Neridup 2019

Sow rate or Target density Barley was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Neridup 2020

Sow rate or Target density Lupins were sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Ravensthorpe 2018

Sow rate or Target density Barley was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Beaumont: 2018-05-06,Beaumont: 2018-05-06,Beaumont: 2018-05-06,Beaumont: 2018-05-06
Harvest date Unknown
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Ravensthorpe 2019

Sow rate or Target density Fallow
Sowing machinery Not specified
Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage N/A

Ravensthorpe 2020

Sow rate or Target density Canola was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Salmon Gums 2018

Sow rate or Target density Wheat was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Salmon Gums 2019

Sow rate or Target density Wheat was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels 

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding

Salmon Gums 2020

Sow rate or Target density Wheat was sown
Sowing machinery

Air seeder with knife points and press wheels

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Seed treatment N/A
Inoculant N/A
Tillage Only at seeding
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
Site Depth Type pH EC P K N A OC CAT
Ravensthorpe, WA 0 - 10cm 4.90 0.05 24.00 50.00 17.00 2.00 1.33
Cascade, WA 0 - 10cm 7.70 0.16 17.00 321.00 15.00 0.00 1.34
Coomalbidgup, WA 0 - 10cm 6.20 0.23 59.00 102.00 30.00 1.00 1.63
Salmon Gums, WA 0 - 10cm 6.10 0.09 27.00 112.00 22.00 0.00 0.48
Neridup, WA 0 - 10cm 5.90 0.10 33.00 59.00 23.00 0.00 1.02
Ravensthorpe, WA 10 - 20cm 6.10 0.03 10.00 45.00 4.00 1.00 0.44
Cascade, WA 10 - 20cm 8.00 0.12 3.00 447.00 5.00 2.00 0.63
Coomalbidgup, WA 10 - 20cm 6.30 0.12 34.00 189.00 3.00 1.00 0.43
Salmon Gums, WA 10 - 20cm 8.50 0.40 21.00 455.00 9.00 0.00 0.19
Neridup, WA 10 - 20cm 6.60 0.05 27.00 44.00 4.00 0.00 0.28
Ravensthorpe, WA 20 - 30cm 6.20 0.03 9.00 44.00 3.00 0.00 0.30
Cascade, WA 20 - 30cm 8.20 0.19 4.00 435.00 5.00 1.00 0.51
Coomalbidgup, WA 20 - 30cm 6.40 0.07 3.00 119.00 1.00 0.00 0.16
Salmon Gums, WA 20 - 30cm 8.80 0.55 5.00 614.00 12.00 0.00 0.18
Neridup, WA 20 - 30cm 7.30 0.06 13.00 87.00 1.00 0.00 0.17
Ravensthorpe, WA 30 - 40cm 8.30 0.22 1.00 407.00 1.00 1.00 0.13
Cascade, WA 30 - 40cm 8.50 0.28 4.00 436.00 4.00 1.00 0.56
Coomalbidgup, WA 30 - 40cm 6.50 0.07 1.00 96.00 0.00 0.00 0.18
Salmon Gums, WA 30 - 40cm 8.90 0.66 1.00 586.00 9.00 0.00 0.32
Neridup, WA 30 - 40cm 7.40 0.08 3.00 134.00 2.00 0.00 0.14
Ravensthorpe, WA 40 - 50cm 8.20 0.18 1.00 444.00 1.00 0.00 0.10
Cascade, WA 40 - 50cm 8.80 0.46 3.00 463.00 2.00 0.00 0.33
Coomalbidgup, WA 40 - 50cm 6.50 0.11 1.00 96.00 0.00 0.00 0.23
Salmon Gums, WA 40 - 50cm 8.90 0.85 1.00 617.00 7.00 0.00 0.19
Neridup, WA 40 - 50cm 7.50 0.11 2.00 159.00 2.00 1.00 0.18
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Cascade, WA Not specified
Coomalbidgup, WA Not specified
Neridup, WA Not specified
Ravensthorpe, WA Sandy gravel
Salmon Gums, WA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Cascade, WA Hydrosol
Coomalbidgup, WA Sodosol
Neridup, WA Sodosol
Ravensthorpe, WA Sodosol
Salmon Gums, WA Calcarosol
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

Cascade WA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 386mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 364.8mm

Cascade WA 2019


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 386mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 172.4mm

Cascade WA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 386mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 282.1mm

Coomalbidgup WA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 494.3mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 508.8mm

Coomalbidgup WA 2019


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 494.3mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 325.1mm

Coomalbidgup WA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 494.3mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 514.7mm

Neridup WA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 498.2mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 595.5mm

Neridup WA 2019


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 498.2mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 497.7mm

Neridup WA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 498.2mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 451.1mm

Ravensthorpe WA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 350.6mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 246.6mm

Ravensthorpe WA 2019


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 350.6mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 183.3mm

Ravensthorpe WA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 350.6mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 303mm

Salmon Gums WA 2018


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 321mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 318mm

Salmon Gums WA 2019


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 321mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 194mm

Salmon Gums WA 2020


Observed climate information

Rainfall avg ann (mm) 321mm
Rainfall trial total (mm) 266.6mm

Derived climate information

Cascade WA

Coomalbidgup WA

Neridup WA

Ravensthorpe WA

Salmon Gums WA

Cascade WA

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Coomalbidgup WA

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Neridup WA

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Ravensthorpe WA

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Salmon Gums 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

2020 Ripper Gauge Report

2019 Ripper Gauge Report



Trial last modified: 03-01-2023 15:39pm AEST