Combatting non-wetting soils A tour of on-farm research in Western Australia - 2014

Authors

Niki Curtis, South East Premium Wheat Growers’ Association’s (SEPWA)
Steve Davies, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western AustraliaFollow
David Hall, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western AustraliaFollow
Derk Bakker, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Dr Margaret Roper, CSIRO

Publication Date

2014

Publisher

Grains Research and Development Corporation

City

Canberra

Abstract

This book outlines some of the options that Western Australian farmers have adopted to manage non-wetting soils on their properties. The top three research, development and extension priorities for the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) Western Region are frost, weeds and non-wetting soils. GRDC has committed significant investment in these priorities on behalf of growers.

GRDC invested in the Regional Cropping Solutions Network (RCSN) in 2011 with the primary aim to identify local research, development and extension priorities. There are five RCSN’s across the Western Region, which have been divided on a port zone basis with two in Kwinana (Kwinana East and Kwinana West). The RCSN consists of a mix of over 70 growers and industry professionals who meet formally twice per year to discuss research, development and extension priorities.

Non-wetting has been identified by the RCSN’s as having a significant impact on productivity. The RCSN members have recognised that non-wetting is limiting yield and it is increasing in extent and/or severity across many of the grain growing regions of WA.

In particular, Kwinana West and Albany Port Zone RCSNs are keen to increase farmer knowledge on methods to address non-wetting soils, and want to see extension of these methods to farmers in WA. To help achieve this, two non-wetting bus tours, and this booklet were initiated.

Number of Pages

64

Keywords

Non-wetting soils, Soil water repellence, Western Australia, Furrow sowing, Spading

Disciplines

Agribusiness | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Education | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Climate | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Hydrology | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Soil Science | Sustainability | Water Resource Management

Recommended Citation

Curtis, N, Davies, S, Hall, D, Bakker, D, and Roper, D. (2014), Combatting non-wetting soils A tour of on-farm research in Western Australia - 2014. Grains Research and Development Corporation, Canberra. Report.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/lr_publishedrpts/45

Maps

Maps are not included as part of the complete document download. If this report contains a map, it will be available in the individual parts list below.