The dirt on on-farm lime. Comparison of on-farm sources and limesand under different cultivation strategies in the paddock and utilising iLime over two years (2019/20)

2019 - 2020

Research organisation

Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s)	Ashleigh Donnison Caroline Peek Karyn Reeves Andrew Van Burgel
Contact email	caroline.peek@dpird.wa.gov.au
Year(s)	2019 - 2020
Contributor	Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
Trial location(s)	Moorine Rock, WA

The dirt on on-farm lime. Comparison of on-farm sources and limesand under different cultivation strategies in the paddock and utilising iLime over two years (2019/20) locations

Aims

To investigate the cost-effectiveness of on-farm lime for ameliorating soil acidity in Kwinana East Port Zone and to validate the iLime application (developed by DPIRD and Desiree Futures with funding from GRDC) by comparing simulations with field trial results.

Key messages

Quality of on-farm lime and distance from coastal limesand sources are important factors in determining economic advantage over coastal limesand
Cultivation of sources resulted in higher net present values after the 20 year iLime simulation, and improved return on investments at 5 and 10 years compared to when uncultivated
In 2019 cultivation consistently improved yield and the high rates of local dolerite and limesand improved yield by 0.55t/ha and 0.57t/ha respectively.
Due to the 2020 season and in season challenges there were no significant differences in yield between sources and cultivation

Lead research organisation	Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA
Host research organisation	N/A
Trial funding source	GRDC DAW00256
Trial funding source	DPIRD WA FFPJP13
Related program	Regional Research Agronomy
Acknowledgments	Thanks to the Della Bosca family for hosting, providing one of the local lime sources, seeding and in-season management of the trial. Thanks to Hugh Irving and Brad Auld for providing limes sources. Thanks to James Fisher (Desiree Futures) and Jenni Clausen (DPIRD) for assistance with iLime. Acknowledgment to Glen Riethmuller, Grace Williams, Cameron Wild and George Mwenda (DPIRD) for technical assistance throughout the trial and DPIRD’s Merredin RSU staff for harvesting the trial. Thanks to GRDC and DPIRD for co-investment in the ‘Building capacity in crop protection and crop production agronomy research and development in Western Australia’ project (DAW00256/DAW1512-001RTX)
Other trial partners	Not specified

Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop types	Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola
Treatment type(s)	Soil Improvement
Trial type	Experimental
Trial design	Randomised,Replicated

Moorine Rock 2019 Wheat

Sow date	12 May 2019
Harvest date	Unknown
Plot size	Not specified
Plot replication	Not specified

Moorine Rock 2020 Canola

Sow date	12/4/2020, reseeded 3/6/20
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
Moorine Rock, WA	Acidic sand

Derived trial site soil information

Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS

Trial site	Soil order
Moorine Rock, WA	Kandosol

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.

Moorine Rock WA

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

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