Soil pH Benchmarking 2020-21

2020 - 2021

Research organisaton
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) N/A
Year(s) 2020 - 2021
Contributor Agriculture Kangaroo Island Incorporated
Trial location(s) Kangaroo Island, SA
Soil pH Benchmarking 2020-21 locations
Aims

Ten paired monitoring sites were selected across the Island with consideration of rainfall, soil type and land use (perennial pasture (Kikuyu) and continuous no-till stubble retention cropping) compared to annual pasture (clover and annual grasses). Soil pH was monitored down to 50 cm.

Key messages

• The majority of sites had a soil pH less than pH 5.0 (CaCl2) which will reduce crop and pasture productivity and reduce profitability.
• Soils should be sampled at 0-5 and 5-10 cm rather than 0-10 cm. There is often an ‘acid throttle’ that is missed if sampling at 0-10 cm.
• Soils that have been limed will acidify over time. An application of lime every 5-6 years may be necessary to keep the soil pH above pH 5.0 (CaCl2).
• Deep rooted perennial grass dominant pastures can be less acidifying than annual pastures.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source Australian Government
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

Funding/Sponsors
Department of Environment and Water
Kangaroo Island farmers who provided sites for monitoring


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: Type
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Unknown

Kangaroo Island 2020

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

Kangaroo Island 2021

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
Kangaroo Island, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
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.

Kangaroo Island 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



Trial last modified: 03-02-2023 15:03pm AEST