Bulletin 4357 - Fertilisers for pastures on sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain

Authors

K. W. Angell, Agriculture Western Australia

Files

Publication Date

3-1999

Series Number

4357

Abstract

When newly cleared for agriculture, the sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain were acutely deficient in phosphorus (P), nitrogen (N), and the trace elements copper ( Cu) and zinc (Zn) and sometimes molybdenum (Mo). Phosphorus deficiency was overcome by applying single superphosphate. Trace element deficiencies were overcome by adding Cu, Zn and Mo to superphosphate during manufacture, allowing P, Cu, Zn and Mo to be applied to the pasture in the one operation.

It was subsequently found that low sulphur (S) and potassium (K) were limiting production and persistence of subterranean clover-based pastures on the sandy soils of the coastal plain. There is about 11 % S in single superphosphate. Superphosphate was originally applied to supply P but it also provided S. Sulphur deficiency in subterranean clover usually occurs after August, when pasture growth is peaking, but superphosphate is applied at the start of the growing season. Sufficient S was supplied by the superphosphate, and from the breakdown of organic matter, to meet the demand of the pasture plants early in the growing season but the S applied near the start of the growing season is readily leached by heavy winter rainfall, leaving insufficient to supply plant demand in the spring. Consequently a strategy had to be devised to apply S to meet the demand. Lake gypsum, which is mined from salt lakes in the wheat belt, such as near Wyalkatchem and Newdegate, is an alternative source of S, and it was found that this could be applied in spring to over come the S deficiency.

Number of Pages

12

ISSN

1326 - 415X

Publisher

Agriculture Western Australia

City

Perth

Keywords

Fertilisers, Sandy soils, Soil management, Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia

Disciplines

Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Organic Chemistry | Soil Science

Comments

Sustainable Rural Development Program

Recommended Citation

Angell, K W. (1999), Bulletin 4357 - Fertilisers for pastures on sandy soils of the Swan Coastal Plain. Agriculture Western Australia, Perth. Bulletin 4357.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/bulletins/343

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