Mineral mulches improve water relations and yields on sodic clay soils
Publication Date
10-3-2022
Series Number
GRDC Project Code: DAW1902-001RTX
Publisher
Grains Research & Development Corporation
City
Esperance
Abstract
Aims
To increase crop production on sodic clay soils by improving soil water infiltration and retention.
Introduction
Up to 40% of rainfall can be lost through surface evaporation in dryland farming systems in WA. Evaporation is exacerbated when a high percentage of soil water is stored near the soil surface. Sodic clay soils often have impeded water infiltration and are in environments with low rainfall and high evaporative demand. Therefore, these soils are more susceptible to water loss through soil evaporation.
Organic and mineral mulches (sand, gravel, rock) are widely used in domestic gardens and intensive horticulture to reduce soil evaporation and physically protect the surface soil structure. Sand and rock mulches have been shown to increase productivity of sodic soils in China, Oman and Pakistan. However, their use in broadscale dryland cropping in Australia has not been investigated.
This paper details the results of three farm-scale trials near Ravensthorpe, Western Australia, in 2020 and 2021, which were designed to assess the impact of gravel and sand mulches on crop production. Also explored, was the relationship between gravel mulch thickness and soil water evaporation in a glasshouse experiment in 2021.
Keywords
Mineral mulches, Water, Rainfall, Soil evaporation, Sodic clay soils, Crop production, Dryland farming
Disciplines
Agribusiness | Agricultural Science | Agronomy and Crop Sciences | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Hydrology | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Plant Biology | Soil Science | Water Resource Management
Recommended Citation
Hall, D,
Daw, P,
Burrell, L,
Parker, W,
and
Muir, R.
(2022), Mineral mulches improve water relations and yields on sodic clay soils. Grains Research & Development Corporation, Esperance. Report GRDC Project Code: DAW1902-001RTX.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/lr_researchrpts/5
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