Re-engineering the subsoil of pale, deep sand

Publication Date

28-2-2020

Series Number

GRDC Project Code Number: DAW1902-003RTX

Publisher

Grains Research & Development Corporation

City

Perth

Abstract

Aims

· Determine if deep tillage improves root growth and yield of crops on pale, deep sand that has been previously ameliorated with the incorporation of clay-rich subsoil to a depth of 300mm.

· Assess the effect of tillage and nutritional treatments implemented separately and in combination on root growth.

· Evaluate methodologies and technology designed to incorporate amendments deep into the subsoil (>400mm).

Introduction

Crop production on sandy soil (defined as less than 5% clay content) in the Western Australian wheatbelt is commonly constrained by a combination of soil water-repellence, subsoil compaction, acidity and low water and nutrient holding capacity (van Gool 2016). Several field trials have demonstrated that spreading clay and mixing it through the top 300mm with a rotary spader can simultaneously ameliorate these constraints and dramatically increase crop production (Hall et al 2010, Roper et al 2015). However, Davies et al (2019) identified that only half of the reported spaded sites on pale, deep sand continued to show a yield increase after two years and that the benefit was modest compared with sites with more clay in the subsoil or a shallower texture change.

Number of Pages

8

Keywords

Amelioration, Soil water repellence, Subsoil fertility

Disciplines

Agribusiness | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Hydrology | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Organic Chemistry | Plant Biology | Soil Science | Water Resource Management

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