The trial aims to explore management options for non-wetting soils in the Albany port zone.

Conventional methods of managing non-wetting soils involve mechanical disturbance to mix non-wetting particles with wettable particles. This trial explores the best options for placement of wetters, and wetter types for managing non-wetting soils.

Eleven treatments of differing placements and rates, as well as three seed placements were explored and analysed in this trial.

Two market available wetting agents were tested in this trial, SECOA’s SE14 and BASF Devine.

• Placement of soil wetter in the seed contact zone behind the seed boot was the most effective for improving germination and early biomass growth.
• Seeding on or near last year’s furrow significantly increased early biomass growth compared to off-row. 
• There is a high variability in expression or water repellence across paddocks and soil types along with response to soil wetters. 
• Canola plants can compensate for low plant densities and significant difference in grain yields are hard to detect. 
• Placement of SE14 into the seed contact zone behind the was the only treatment to have a significant increase in plants per m2.
• Increasing rates of SE14 from 2 to 4 L/ha, the most effective placement (behind the seed boot), did not result in a significant increase of plants per m2.
• Applying SE14 on the seed or behind the press wheel resulted in no significant difference compared to the untreated control.
• When SE14 was applied in combination both behind the press wheel as well and behind the seed boot reduced the effectiveness compared to being applied exclusively behind the seed boot.
• High rates of SE14 directly on the seed resulted in the seed sticking together which lead to lower plant establishment then the control.