Deep ripping sandy soils on upper and eastern Eyre Peninsula

2022 - 2023

Research organisation
Funding sources
Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula

Trial details

Researcher(s) Amanda Cook
Contact email eo@airep.com.au
Year(s) 2022 - 2023
Contributor Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Trial location(s) Arno Bay, SA
Minnipa, SA
Mount Damper, SA
Streaky Bay, SA
Further information View external link
Deep ripping sandy soils on upper and eastern Eyre Peninsula locations
Aims

Sandy soils account for a significant proportion of Eyre Peninsula’s agricultural soils (with approximately 20% consisting of either deep siliceous sands or sand over clays and another 30% as calcareous sands or loamy sands). Sandy soils have multiple constraints which can result in large differences between water limiting potential and actual crop yields. Recent trial work on the Eyre Peninsula conducted under the GRDC sands research and impacts programs has indicated that production constraints on sandy soils can be overcome with strategic deep tillage and the application of soil amendments. However, the response varies for different crops and seasons. For details of past trial results, see the articles in the 2019, 2020, 2021 EPFS Summaries (EPFS Summary 2019, p. 99-104; Validating research outcomes to treat production constraints on sandy soils of Eyre Peninsula and EPFS Summary 2020, p. 84-87; Treating production constraints on the sandy soils of upper and lower Eyre Peninsula - Year 2; EPFS Summary 2021 p. 39-43; Treating production constraints on the sandy soils of upper and lower Eyre Peninsula - Year 3).In 2022 the impact of deep ripping and other treatments on crop growth and yield was assessed 
on several Eyre Peninsula demonstration sites established on sandy soils. Monitoring was conducted under an AIR EP project funded by the Australian Government’s ‘Future Drought Fund’ (FDF). Given that deep tillage boosted crop growth and yield three years after implementation on three out of four GRDC sandy soil impacts amelioration sites on Eyre Peninsula (EPFS Summary 2021 p. 39-43), it was decided that deep ripping treatments should be the basis for the selection of monitoring sites. 
These trials aimed to: 
• Compare the production of deep ripped soil to unmodified controls on different sandy soils on upper and eastern Eyre Peninsula.
• Identify if the addition of manures or other organic material provided additional benefits.
 

Key messages
Not specified
Lead research organisation Agricultural Innovation & Research Eyre Peninsula
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source Future Drought Fund: Drought resilient soils
Trial funding source GRDC
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

• Production constraints on sandy soils can be overcome with strategic deep tillage and the application of soil amendments, however, the response varies for different crops and seasons.
• Ripping at Arno Bay and Minnipa provided higher grain yield than the unripped controls, but not at Mt Damper or on a calcareous sand at Streaky Bay in 2022. 
• Knowledge of soil constraints and the depth at which they are present in the soil profile is key for choosing the most appropriate soil modification strategy for each site. 


Other trial partners GRDC, Frontier Farming Systems, MSF, MFMG, NSS, Soil Function Consulting, Trengove Consulting

Method

Crop types Grain Legume: Field peas Cereal (Grain): Wheat Cereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
  • Management systems : Tillage
Trial type Demonstration
Trial design Replicated,Unreplicated

Arno Bay 2022 Field peas

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Arno Bay 2022 Wheat

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Arno Bay 2022 Barley

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Arno Bay 2023 Barley

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Arno Bay 2023 Wheat

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Arno Bay 2023 Field peas

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Minnipa 2022 Field peas

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Minnipa 2022 Wheat

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Minnipa 2022 Barley

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Minnipa 2023 Barley

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Minnipa 2023 Field peas

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Minnipa 2023 Wheat

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Mount Damper 2022 Barley

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Mount Damper 2022 Wheat

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Mount Damper 2022 Field peas

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Mount Damper 2023 Field peas

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Mount Damper 2023 Wheat

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Mount Damper 2023 Barley

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Streaky Bay 2022 Wheat

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Streaky Bay 2022 Barley

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Streaky Bay 2022 Field peas

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Streaky Bay 2023 Field peas

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Streaky Bay 2023 Wheat

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Streaky Bay 2023 Barley

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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
Arno Bay, SA Not specified
Minnipa, SA Not specified
Mount Damper, SA Not specified
Streaky Bay, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Arno Bay, SA Sodosol
Minnipa, SA Calcarosol
Mount Damper, SA Calcarosol
Streaky Bay, SA

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.

Arno Bay SA

Minnipa SA

Mount Damper SA

Streaky Bay SA

Arno Bay SA

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

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Mount Damper SA

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

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


No trial reports or attachments found


Trial last modified: 22-07-2026 14:25pm AEST