Publication Date
8-2024
Series Number
DPIRD-165
Publisher
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
City
Perth
Abstract
One-off soil inversion results in the burial of the water repellent topsoil in a layer that is typically a depth of 15 to 35 cm and brings to the surface a layer of wettable subsoil.
Other benefits include burial of herbicide resistant weed seeds, removal of compaction, improved access to nutrients, reduced disease risk, and incorporation of soil amendments such as lime.
Soil inversion should always be done when the soil is wet to more than the depth of inversion, and a crop or cover can be sown to reduce the risk of wind erosion.
Caution - Deep cultivation can increase the risk of wind and water erosion. Inversion tillage can also increase the efficacy and residual damage of some herbicides, resulting in crop damage.
Deep soil mixing and soil inversion using rotary spaders, large offset discs, mouldboards, and one-way ploughs typically removes all soil cover and completely loosens the soil to the depth of operation. This results in a high risk of wind and water erosion, especially when the soil is dry.
Number of Pages
7
Keywords
soil science, soil inversion, water repellence, claying, non-wetting soil
Disciplines
Agricultural Science | Soil Science
Recommended Citation
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.
(2024), Soil inversion to ameliorate soil water repellence. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Factsheet DPIRD-165.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/nrm_factsheets/21
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