Treating production constraints on the sandy soils of upper and lower Eyre Peninsula

2020 - 2022

Research organisatons
Funding source
Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula CSIRO - Agriculture and Food

Trial details

Researcher(s) Brett Masters
Contact email brett.masters@gov.sa.au
Year(s) 2020 - 2022
Contributor Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial location(s) Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA, SA
Treating production constraints on the sandy soils of upper and lower Eyre Peninsula locations
Aims

Why do the trial? 
There are around 5 million hectares of sandy soils under agricultural production in the low to medium rainfall areas of south-eastern Australia. These soils have multiple constraints limiting production including water repellence, soil acidity, compaction and low organic carbon levels leading to poor biological cycling and nitrogen mineralisation. Estimates of the yield gap (the difference between water limiting potential and average actual crop yield) are between 1.8 and 2.1 t/ha on Upper Eyre Peninsula and as much as 2.3 t/ha on Lower Eyre Peninsula (http://yieldgapaustralia.com .au/ maps/). 
In 2016, GRDC invested in a research program to help grain growers identify and overcome the primary constraints to poor crop water-use on sandy soils in the low-medium rainfall environment (CSP00203). The 'Sands Impacts' component of this project enables grower groups to test outcomes from the research component by applying targeted mitigation and amelioration interventions to overcome production constraints. 

Key messages

•    Production constraints on sandy soils can be overcome by mechanical intervention and the application of soil amendments, however, the response can vary between sites and years.
•    Knowledge of soil characteristics throughout the profile is vital for identifying key production constraints and determining an appropriate and effective management strategy.

Lead research organisation CSIRO - Agriculture and Food
Host research organisation Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial funding source GRDC CSP00203
Related program Sandy soils in low and medium rainfall areas
Acknowledgments

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils project (CSP00203) is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industries and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. The author would also like to thank the landholders involved in this project; Graeme and Heather and Tristan and Lisa Baldock, Matt and Rhianna Foster, Nigel Oswald, Reece Modra and Scott and Mary-Anne Mickan as well as AIR EP and the Buckleboo Farm Improvement Group (Big FIG) for their support of these trials. 


Other trial partners Rural Solutions SA; PIRSA; SARDI; Buckleboo Farm Improvement Group;
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

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

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA 2020 Barley

Sow date Unknown
Harvest date Unknown
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils Project is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industrues and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farmin Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. 

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA 2020 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils Project is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industrues and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farmin Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. 

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA 2021 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils Project is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industrues and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farmin Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. 

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA 2021 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils Project is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industrues and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farmin Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. 

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA 2022 Barley

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils Project is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industrues and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farmin Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. 

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA 2022 Wheat

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Other trial notes

The GRDC funded Sandy Soils Project is a collaboration between CSIRO, University of South Australia, Primary Industrues and Regions SA, Mallee Sustainable Farmin Inc, AgGrow Agronomy and Trengove Consulting. 

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
Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA, SA 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

Derived climate information

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

Multiple Site, Eyre Peninsula, SA SA

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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 trial report

2020 trial report

2020 trial report



Trial last modified: 01-06-2023 14:25pm AEST