Online Resource | ‘Spade n Sow’ Case Study
New case study: A practical ‘spade and sow’ approach to sandy soil amelioration
AIR EP have launched a new case study detailing how the Polkinghorne family of Kingara Farms, near Lock, are tackling sandy soil constraints using a practical ‘spade and sow’ approach.
Developed through the Sustainable Agriculture EP project, the case study provides a practical understanding of how Tim Polkinghorne is managing water repellent sands, high soil strength and variable depth-to-clay across his broadacre cropping program. The ‘spade and sow’ approach combines deep ripping, spading and sowing in one pass, helping establish cover quickly after amelioration and reducing the time fragile sands are exposed to wind erosion risk.
A key feature of the system is flexibility. Rather than treating whole paddocks the same way, Tim has used careful paddock planning to target the weakest-performing areas first, choosing the most suitable treatment based on soil type, depth to clay and likely return.
The case study highlights several practical benefits for growers considering similar work, including improved crop establishment and weed control in problem areas, more timely sowing after amelioration, and the value of getting cover established quickly on treated sands. It also outlines some of the challenges Tim has experienced along the way, including slower sowing speeds, trafficability after spading, machinery logistics and the need for an experienced operator.
The Spade and Sow Case Study is now available on the Sustainable Agriculture project page under Project 2: Effective Crop Establishment in a Changing Climate – “Spade and Sow Case Study”.
Learn more about the Sustainable Agriculture project
Sustainable Agriculture: Driving growth through innovation and climate responsive practices.
Acknowledgement
This article is brought to you by the EP Landscape Board’s Sustainable Agriculture Program, funded by the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust under the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program.
