trials

To provide growers and advisers with a better understanding of the benefits of deep ripping and in particular depth of deep ripping required to optimise crop yield and profit.

To provide growers and advisers with a better understanding of the benefits of deep ripping and in particular depth of deep ripping required to optimise crop yield and profit.

• To investigate an agronomic solution to waterlogging through the use of Agpipe.

• To investigate the use of slotted drainpipe (Agpipe) for removal of water from waterlogged crops.

• To test the performance of a range of subsoil amendments.

This was the second year in a three-year project that is focusing on building resilient farm businesses and strengthening farm decision making.

to explore how biological approaches to restoring soil health and holistic grazing practices lead to improved soil health, increased soil carbon, increased soil water holding capacity, improved plant health, improved production, increased on farm diversity and a reduced need for synthetic inputs.

To investigate whether kikuyu improve soil organic carbon levels on Kangaroo Island.

To look at grinding our local limesands to see if it made them more effective.

To look at the effectiveness of grinding our local limesands and comparing the changes in soil pH against unground lime.

• To investigate the impacts burying organic matter at depth.

To investigate the question of 'what if there was a simple way to improve the topsoil depth to
encourage plants to grow deeper root systems?'

To investigate the impacts burying at depth organic matter (using a Neutrog product Bounce Back) and gypsum using the Sub Soiler machine.

To investigate the impacts burying at depth organic matter (using a Neutrog product Bounce Back) and gypsum using the subsoiler machine.

To monitor how quickly the lime would change the pH down the profile.

To look at the effectiveness of placing lime at depth.

From 2019 to 2021 Agriculture Kangaroo Island (AgKI) received funding and support from the Australian Government National Landcare Program, ‘Smart Farms Small Grants’ (through the KI Landscape Board) and PIRSA, to assist landholders to undertake soil testing on their properties and provide interpretation of soil test results.

To report on the 2016/17 Agriculture Kangaroo Island (AgKI) funding supported through Natural Resources Kangaroo Island and PIRSA to assist landholders to undertake soil testing on their properties and provide interpretation of soil test results.

A three-year research trial aims to investigate the impact of precision lime application rate, placement and product on cropping land and will evaluate cost effective ways to ameliorate subsoil acidity.

To report on Simon Veitch's liming program.

To test the efficacy of a new product on the market - liquid lime.

To support grower groups to identify and demonstrate the establishment and management of suitable multi species cover crops across a range of environments and assess the impacts of cover cropping on soil health, nutrient cycling, organic carbon, invertebrate populations and soil moisture.

1. To evaluate the effectiveness of raised beds in increasing grazing productivity on saline land.
2. To determine if raised beds improve productivity sufficiently enough to justify the cost.
3. To determine if raised beds significantly impede day-to-day management.

• To investigate the role of a range of nutrients applied both on the surface and at depth, on crops grown on sandy soils.

To have paddocks re-tested for soil pH post liming and results were compared to the pH level prior to liming.

To use six different labs (Soil Food Web, CSBP, APAL, AgPath, Microbwise and Solvita) to analyse soil microbiology on six different properties across Kangaroo Island.

Ten paired monitoring sites were selected to measure soil carbon to 50 cm at strategic locations across the Island with consideration of rainfall, soil type and land use (perennial pasture and continuous no-till stubble retention cropping) compared to annual pasture. Common soil carbon tests were analysed to establish guides for the soils in the region.

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.

Farmers usually collect top-soil (0-10cm) samples when determining if they need to lime, but soil pH can be quite variable down the soil profile. Will a single sampling depth show up this inherent variability?

To report on the Stanton's “current strategy to set up a rotation of liming approximately one fifth of the total land base or about 300ha per year to assist in budgeting".

• To test the ability of a range of drainage treatments to improve crop yields in soil prone to waterlogging.

• To test the ability of a range of drainage treatments to improve crop yields in soil prone to waterlogging.

• To look at some agronomic solutions to waterlogging.

• To investigate nitrogen management strategies in waterlogged soils.

• To investigate the effect of some common trace elements on wheat yields in waterlogged soils. zinc, copper and manganese were used in the trial as they are micronutrient deficiencies known to occur in southern Australia.

• To determine how much genetic variation there is in the tolerance of wheat to waterlogging on Kangaroo Island.

To summarise the current knowledge about waterlogging on Kangaroo Island.

To report on Alan’s aim to lime 20% of the farm each year and reprot that now, five years later, that aim is just about achieved. 

To assess the impact of deep ripping and spading on crop yield across three different soil types near Quairading, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield over a two year period in the To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield over a two year period in the eastern wheatbelt

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield in a gravelly loam soil type near Muradup, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield across varying sites on a farm near Nyabing, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on crop yield in different soil types and production zones near Beverley, WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on barley and canola yield on sand over gravel and deep sand soil types in the South Stirling area of WA.

To assess the impact of deep ripping on wheat yield in a sand over gravel soil type near Northam, WA.

To compare and showcase a range of strategic tillage options for amelioration of shallow sandy duplex soils (Sand over clay/gravel) and to assess their effectiveness at overcoming a range of soil constraints including topsoil water repellence and Compaction and increasing crop productivity over a period of 4-5 years.

To compare and showcase the broad range of strategic tillage options for amelioration of yellow sandplain soils and to assess their effectiveness at overcoming a range of soil constraints including non-wetting soil surface, compaction and subsoil acidity and increasing crop productivity.

To assess the yield response in barley, canola and lupins to deep ripping over a three year period (2015 – 2017) near Broomehill, WA.