Seasonal soil moisture and nitrogen availability — Rutherglen and Boorhaman regions

2017

Research organisation
Funding source

Trial details

Researcher(s) Stephen Lowe
Cassandra Schefe
Year(s) 2017
Contributor Riverine Plains
Trial location(s) Boorhaman, VIC
Boorhaman North, VIC
Carlyle, VIC
Cornishtown, VIC
Dockers Plains, VIC
East Rutherglen, VIC
Lilliput, VIC
Norong, VIC
Peechelba East, VIC
South West Rutherglen, VIC
Wahgunyah, VIC
Seasonal soil moisture and nitrogen availability — Rutherglen and Boorhaman regions locations
Aims

The aim of this project was to increase our understanding of nitrogen availability and movement across, and between seasons, and to appreciate how nitrogen availability is intimately related to soil moisture status.

Key messages
  • Soils in the Rutherglen region of Victoria are highly variable.
  • While most soils across the region increase in clay content in the subsoil, there is a vein of sandy subsoil running through the Boorhaman region.
  • While soil moisture probes are a valuable management tool, accurate interpretation requires an understanding of the soil type, including any physical and chemical constraints that may restrict root and/or water movement to depth.
  • Sampling for deep soil nitrogen (DSN) by combining all soil from 0–60cm depth does not give a clear picture of where nitrogen is located in the profile, and how readily plants can access it.
Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Trial funding source Australian Government
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments

This project was carried out in partnership with Boorhaman Landcare, with support for the soil moisture probe monitoring from the North East Catchment Management Authority (NECMA) through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. Many thanks to the many farmer co-operators for this project.


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

Method

Crop types Cereal (Grain): Wheat Oilseed: Canola Hay: Lucerne
Treatment type(s)
  • Crop : Nutrition
  • Technology : Other
Trial type Precision agriculture
Trial design Unknown

Boorhaman 2017 Wheat

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Boorhaman North 2017 Wheat

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Carlyle 2017 Canola

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Cornishtown 2017 Wheat

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Dockers Plains 2017 Lucerne

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

East Rutherglen 2017 Wheat

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Lilliput 2017 Canola

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Norong 2017 Wheat

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Peechelba East 2017 Canola

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

South West Rutherglen 2017 Wheat

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

Wahgunyah 2017 Canola

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

Please refer to the trial report for type, rate and timing of Nitrogen applied

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
Boorhaman, VIC Not specified
Boorhaman North, VIC Not specified
Carlyle, VIC Not specified
Cornishtown, VIC Not specified
Dockers Plains, VIC Not specified
East Rutherglen, VIC Not specified
Lilliput, VIC Not specified
Norong, VIC Not specified
Peechelba East, VIC Not specified
South West Rutherglen, VIC Not specified
Wahgunyah, VIC Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Boorhaman, VIC Chromosol
Boorhaman North, VIC Sodosol
Carlyle, VIC Sodosol
Cornishtown, VIC Sodosol
Dockers Plains, VIC Sodosol
East Rutherglen, VIC Sodosol
Lilliput, VIC Sodosol
Norong, VIC Sodosol
Peechelba East, VIC Chromosol
South West Rutherglen, VIC Sodosol
Wahgunyah, VIC Sodosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Boorhaman VIC Boorhaman North VIC Carlyle VIC Cornishtown VIC Dockers Plains VIC East Rutherglen VIC Lilliput VIC Norong VIC Peechelba East VIC South West Rutherglen VIC Wahgunyah VIC
2017
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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.

Boorhaman VIC

Boorhaman North VIC

Carlyle VIC

Cornishtown VIC

Dockers Plains VIC

East Rutherglen VIC

Lilliput VIC

Norong VIC

Peechelba East VIC

South West Rutherglen VIC

Wahgunyah VIC

Boorhaman VIC

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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South West Rutherglen VIC

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

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

2017 trial report



Trial last modified: 22-10-2025 18:59pm AEST