LEADA Soil Modification on Lower Eyre Peninsula Improving Access to Soil Moisture
Summary
There are an estimated 160,000ha of soils on Lower Eyre Peninsula that have known soil constraints that negatively impact on agricultural production that can be addressed through current soil modification techniques. These include soils with poorly structured subsoils and sandy soils with low water holding capacity and poor fertility.
In the past 2 or 3 decades research organisations and farmers have conducted trials and have applied various soil modification techniques in an attempt to address these constraints. There has been limited review of the success or otherwise of these operations in the long term. As a result there is little understanding of the benefit of treatments or of their longevity. Responding to increasing levels of interest in soil modification by group members the Lower Eyre Peninsula Agricultural Development Association (LEADA) developed a project to undertake a review of soil modification in the district. The outcome was to develop some guidelines to support farmers in making decisions on which soils can be modified, the best treatments and likely benefits. Funding was obtained from the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resource Management Board to assist in this work.
Summary of results and key messages:
- The soils most at risk of a changing climate also offer the greatest opportunity to increase agricultural production through better use of the available soil moisture and this can be increased through soil specific modifications
- Current crop water use efficiency is the greatest indicator of the likely response to implementation of soil modification treatments – crops with low water use efficiency are more likely to provide the greatest response
- The greatest benefits to production have resulted where amelioration of the major constraint in the subsoil has been achieved
- The deep incorporation of organic matter accelerates changes to soil properties following claying of sandy soils
- Shallow mixing of ameliorants delivers some benefits only where constraints are also shallow
- Clay application increased soil pH and exchangeable cation exchange capacity
- Spading delivers mixed results depending on the nature of the soil and the amount of mixing of soil horizons involved in the spading process. Changes to soil chemical properties may not persist and the major constraints and the depth of influence needs to be understood prior to implementing spading programs. However, spading is a cheap option to mix soil horizons addressing low soil carbon in bleached A2 layers and potentially water repellence in the short term.
Share this project:
You Might Also Like
Retaining soil water in farming systems using strip & disc machinery 2024
This project has enabled one demonstration site to be conducted in 2024 in a low rainfall farming system at Buckleboo to enable extension of past EP demonstration site results and…
Learn MoreFurther tactics to minimise frost damage on the Eyre Peninsula
Previous frost work on the EP has been well received and has assisted in filling key agronomic knowledge gaps around frost mitigation in crop, however, it has been identified that…
Learn MoreSilicon: a novel solution to reduce water use and pest damage in wheat
Quantify how silicon fertilisation increases water use efficiency and pest resistance in wheat at the field scale with agronomic practices in place, including farm settings with contrasting agricultural landscapes.…
Learn MoreA needs analysis for the barriers to adoption of strip and disc systems on Eyre Peninsula
Identify the risks and opportunities (including a cost benefit analysis) faced by growers using Strip and Disc systems to determine any gaps in knowledge to be addressed for this practice…
Learn MoreDelivery of the Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF)
The Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator (SAF) is a designated central contact point for farmers, landholders, industry, and community groups and will aim to support sustainable agriculture practices in Eyre Peninsula. The…
Learn MoreVirtual Fencing for improved climate resilience on South Australian farms
This project will continue the work of initial trials to look at the use of virtual fencing technology in a new field site on the Eyre Peninsula to look at…
Learn MoreSA Young Farmer – Facilitated Peer to Peer Learning
To share innovative ways to build drought resilience and build local leadership, networks, and social support In Ceduna and Cleve locations AIR EP will offer four field events for young…
Learn MoreSA Eyre Peninsula Coordination FRRR Community Impacts Grants
To strengthen drought preparedness and drive local action in the Eyre Peninsula region through the coordination of Community Impact Program activities and evaluation administration. Bi-monthly meetings between key delivery partners,…
Learn MoreImproving the climate resilience of the Australian Sheep Flock
Project activities include • Demonstration of practical strategies which improve the fertility of sheep joined during summer • Collation and communication of results from management trials • Demonstration of the…
Learn MoreBuilding farming systems resilience and future proofing the impacts of drought through accelerating the adoption of proven cost-effective and yield responsive soil and fertiliser management practices by farmers across southern Australia
The project focuses on accelerating adoption of proven soil resource management practices offering significant opportunity to build farming systems drought resilience, reduce yield variability, increase sustainability and profitability. On Eyre…
Learn More