Managing alkaline dispersive subsoil for improving farming productivity

2020

Research organisaton
Funding sources

Trial details

Researcher(s) David Armstrong
Naveed Aslam
Yunying Fang
Shane Hildebrand
Yan Jia
Albert Oates
Wayne Pitt
Ehsan Tavakkoli
Shihab Uddin
Qing Wei
Year(s) 2020
Contributor Department of Primary Industries NSW
Trial location(s) Rand, NSW, NSW
Further information View external link
Managing alkaline dispersive subsoil for improving farming productivity locations
Aims

This current experiment investigated the potential of using farm grown crop residues as ameliorants for alkaline dispersive subsoils in the medium rainfall region of southern NSW.

Key messages

• Crop residue deep placement in combination with chemical fertilisers and a low rate of gypsum demonstrated consistent yield improvement (27%; averaged for four successive years) in alkaline dispersive subsoil.
• Organic and inorganic amendment deep placement increased root growth, and soil water use from the deeper clay layers during the critical reproductive stages of crop development.
• Improvements in grain yield with organic and inorganic amendment deep placement were associated with a reduction in subsoil pH, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP%) and increased microbial activity, which promoted soil aggregation.

Rand, NSW NSW 2020

Randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replications

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source GRDC DAV00149
Trial funding source DPI NSW
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This experiment was part of the ‘Understanding the amelioration processes of the subsoil application of amendments in the Southern Region’ project, DAV00149, 2015–20. The project is a collaborative partnership between GRDC, Agriculture Victoria, NSW DPI, La Trobe University, University of South Australia, Southern Farming Systems, Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, South Australian Research and Development Institute and University of Tasmania.


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

Method

Crop type Cereal (Grain): Wheat
Treatment type(s)
  • Soil Improvement
Trial type Experimental
Trial design Randomised,Replicated,Blocked

Rand, NSW 2020

Sowing machinery

Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. ScepterA) was sown with an air seeder with rows spaced at 250 mm using a GPS auto-steer system

Sow date 16 May 2020
Harvest date 7 December 2020
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication 4
Plot randomisation yes
Fertiliser

• 78 kg/ha di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) (at sowing)

• Urea 150 kg/ha (top dressed on 22 May 2020)

Other trial notes

This research paper is an extract from the publication Southern NSW Research Results 2021, available at
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/broadacre-crops/guides/publications/southern-nsw-research-results

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
Rand, NSW, NSW Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Rand, NSW, NSW Sodosol
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.

Rand, NSW NSW

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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: 09-06-2023 13:54pm AEST