Soil modification effects on soil properties and crop growth
R. E. Tonkin, D. Davenport, A. Schapel
Introduction
There are 3.2 M ha of sandy soils under
agricultural production in SA. Issues include
water repellence, low fertility, low water
holding capacity and low organic carbon
levels. They also have high erosion risk.
Adding clay to these soils has resulted in
improved growth of crops or pastures.
Delving and spading are two methods of
bringing clay up from lower layers into the
topsoil.
Figure 1: Delver Figure 2: Spader
Aim
A trial was established in the South Australian
Mallee to look at the effects that delving
and spading had on the soil properties and
crop growth of a typical shallow sand over
clay soil.
Method
A replicated trial was set up in February 2010
comparing delving, spading, and delved +
spaded treatments with a control.
The crops were monitored throughout the
2010 and 2011 seasons.
Soil samples were taken in March 2011 and
analysed for changes in soil properties.
Samples were taken randomly through all
plots. In addition, samples were taken along
delve lines (Delve-In) and in between delve
lines (Delve-Out) to see if there were
differences in soil properties in the two
areas.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by grants from the State Natural Resources
Management Program and the Woolworths Landcare Sustainable
Farming Program in partnership with Rural Solutions SA and the
Agricultural Bureau of South Australia.
Rural Solutions SA
Results
Soil properties were greatly changed by soil There were significant increases in dry matter
modification treatments. Clay content in the and yields on the modified soils.
upper 20 cm of soil was doubled by delving
and/or spading.
This resulted in improvements to soil
properties such as cation exchange
capacity, water holding capacity and
fertility. Water repellence was overcome
and erosion potential was reduced.
Organic carbon levels in the soil also
changed. Lower levels of organic carbon
were seen in the 0-10 cm soil after soil
modification, but increased levels were
found in the 10-20 cm soil. The increases in production were probably
due to the changes in the soil profile
allowing greater water infiltration and
increased root growth, resulting in increased
water use efficiency.
Conclusions
Modifying sand over clay soils using delving
or spading can greatly alter the soil
properties and improve productivity of
crops. More work needs to be done to
establish how long this effect will last and
what other changes will happen in the soil
system.
For more information please contact
Rebecca Tonkin Rural Solutions SA
rebecca.tonkin@sa.gov.au
PO Box 469 Murray Bridge SA 5255