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.
Grain Legume: Field peasCereal (Grain): WheatCereal (Grain): Barley
Treatment type(s)
Management systems : Tillage
Trial type
Demonstration
Trial design
Replicated,Unreplicated
Arno Bay 2022 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Arno Bay 2022 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Arno Bay 2022 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Arno Bay 2023 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Arno Bay 2023 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Arno Bay 2023 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Minnipa 2022 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Minnipa 2022 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Minnipa 2022 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Minnipa 2023 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Minnipa 2023 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Minnipa 2023 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Mount Damper 2022 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Mount Damper 2022 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Mount Damper 2022 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Mount Damper 2023 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Mount Damper 2023 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Mount Damper 2023 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Streaky Bay 2022 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Streaky Bay 2022 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Streaky Bay 2022 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Streaky Bay 2023 Field peas
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Streaky Bay 2023 Wheat
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Streaky Bay 2023 Barley
Sow date
Not specified
Harvest date
Not specified
Plot size
Not specified
Plot replication
Not specified
Trial source data and summary not available Check the trial
report PDF for trial results.
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
Minnipa SA
Mount Damper SA
NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
Streaky Bay SA
NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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.