Changing root density of cereal crops in a modified texture contrast soil in the

South Australian Mallee

Tonkin, R.E.1

1 Rural Solutions SA, PO Box 469 Murray Bridge, SA 5253, Rebecca.tonkin@sa.gov.au

Abstract
The sandy soils of the South Australian Mallee region are typically water repellent and low in fertility
(McCord 1995). In some areas, the sand lies over a layer of clay at a depth that is suitable for delving or
spading to bring clay up through the sandy top layers to increase nutrient holding capacity and water
infiltration. This is known to affect soil properties and crop dry matter production and yields (Tonkin,
Schapel et al. 2012)). This paper reports on the effects that soil modification has on the growth of roots in
modified soils. DNA analysis techniques as published byHaling, Simpson et al. (2011) were used to measure
the amount of root DNA in the soil as an indicator of the numbers of roots present at different depths.
Adding clay to the soil increased root density in the sandy soil layers compared to the control consistently
over a 3 year period from 2011 to 2013. Spading had the strongest effect, either alone or in conjunction with
delving. These were the treatments that brought up the most clay and mixed it evenly through the sandy
topsoil. The delving had a more variable effect due to the uneven nature of the soil modification.

Keywords
Soil modification, clay, sand, root growth, root density, delving, spading, DNA.

Materials and Methods

The soil samples were collected from a trial established near Karoonda, South Australia (-35.045246
S,140.090618 E) in 2010. Soil type was a coarse, sandy topsoil with a bleached sandy A2 horizon to
approximately 30 cm, changing abruptly to a sandy clay B horizon. (Australian soil type Bleached-Mottled
Calcic Brown Chromosol; medium, non-gravelly, sandy/clay loamy, deep (Isbell 2002).) The paddock has a
history of cereal crop/legume pasture rotations.
The experiment was a randomised block design with 4 treatments (control, delved only, spaded only, and
delved + spaded) and 3 replicates. Each plot measured 12m by 100m, with buffers between treatments and
replicates. Delving for the delve only and delve + spade treatments was undertaken on Feb 24, 2010. The
delved treatment used a purpose built delving machine with four delver tines at 90cm spacing, with the
delving depth adjusted to approximately 50 cm (working depth varies with the clay depth). Spading for the
spade only and delve + spade treatments was undertaken on the 26th March 2010. The spaded treatments
used a 4m wide Farmax spading machine, working to approximately 30-40 cm. The site was then planted to
a wheat crop as per district practice and the crop monitored throughout the season.
Sampling took place in October at peak crop biomass in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The crops in those years were
barley, wheat, and barley respectively. Ten samples were collected randomly throughout each plot using a
trailer mounted soil corer to a depth of 40 cm. The soil was collected from the 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm
fractions, and bulked to give a single sample from each depth in each plot. The soil was placed in a drying
oven that day at 40°C for 48 hours to stabilise the samples and prevent breakdown of the DNA. The samples
were then delivered to the SARDI Pathology Laboratory for analysis as per the method used in Haling,
Simpson et al. (2011).
The results (pg root DNA per gram of soil sample) were analysed using a Split-Plot analysis of a
Randomised Complete Block Design in Genstat.

Results and Discussion

2011
The amount of root DNA found in the soil samples from 2011 indicated an interaction between delving,
spading and the soil depth. There was also a large amount of variation throughout the measurements.
Table 1: Barley root density 2011
Depth Control Spade Delve D+S
0-10 1280 3800 3357 3729
10-20 2832 3425 2901 6653
20-30 2709 11535 3992 2436
LSD value is 5209, except when comparing values with the same level of Control, Delve or Spade (LSD
3052) or D+S (LSD 4317)

Figure 1: Barley root density 2011.

2012
The wheat root densities were generally higher in 2012 than the barley in 2011, and the only significant
effect seen was caused by depth.
Table 2: Wheat root density 2012
Depth Control Spade Delve D+S
0-10 6327 12207 7220 7657
10-20 3760 6200 6102 4062
20-30 5801 8750 5254 2936
LSD value is 5692, except when comparing values with the same level of Control, Delve or Spade (LSD
4366) or D+S (LSD 6174).

Figure 2: Wheat root density 2012.

2013
Barley root densities in 2013 were higher again than in previous years, particularly in the 0-10 cm layer, and
again showed an interaction of delving, spading and soil depth.
Table 3: Barley root density 2013
Depth Control Spade Delve D+S
0-10 3323 16060 15815 11758
10-20 1649 2769 2194 367
20-30 2597 3038 2176 2533
LSD value is 2849, except when comparing values with the same level of Control, Delve or Spade (LSD
2264) or D+S (LSD 3202).

Figure 3: Barley root density 2013.

Overall Discussion
Increases in root density over the control were particularly pronounced in the sandy 0-10 cm surface layer in
all years. When clay was added to the sandy soil, roots proliferated, particularly where organic matter and
nutrition were also present. Seasonal conditions and fertiliser applications may also have had an effect, but
the strong increase in surface roots is consistent through 2011-2013
Also of interest is the increase in root density from year to year. Although different crops (wheat and barley)
were present in different years, the modified soils show a tendency to increase the amounts of roots present
over time compared to the control.
The delved soils have less clay evenly spread over the topsoil, which explains the lower amounts of roots
present in the delved only plots.
Conclusions
Modifying the sandy soil at this site by delving or spading up clay into the surface layers resulted in
increases in root density in the treated plots compared to the control. This was mostly seen in the surface (0-
10 cm) sandy layer. Increased root density is likely to lead to better uptake of nutrition by the crop, and
higher water use efficiency. However, a strong concentration of roots in the surface soil with few in deeper
layers may lead to haying off of crops when moisture is all used from the topsoil. In this study, more roots
were also found deeper in the soil profile in treated plots, indicating that the crops would have access to
deeper soil moisture later in the season.
There is also the possibility that modified soils may increase in root density over time, as organic matter
builds up in the subsoil due to better root penetration.

Acknowledgements
The author would like to acknowledge Mr Nick Wood for allowing this trial to take place on his land, the
Karoonda and Districts Agricultural Bureau for project support, the Government of South Australia
Department of Environment and Natural Resources for funding support, Woolworths Landcare for funding
support, John Field Statistical Consulting for statistical assistance, Mr Tim Dunstan of DUNSTANag for
assistance with delving and spading and Mr Roger Groocock for technical advice.

References
Haling RE, Simpson RJ, et al. (2011) Direct measurement of roots in soil for single and mixed species using
a quantitative DNA-based method. Plant and Soil 348(1-2), 123-137. [In English]
Isbell RF (2002) 'The Australia Soil Classification.' Revised Edition edn. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood)
152
McCord A (1995) 'A description of land in the southern Mallee of South Australia.' (Primary Industries
(South Australia): Adelaide)
Tonkin RE, Schapel A, Davenport D Soil modification effects on clay, CEC and organic carbon content
using delving and spading on a sandy texture-contrast soil in the South Australian Mallee. In '5th Joint
Australian and New Zealand Soil Science Conference: Soil solutions for diverse landscapes.', 2012, Hobart.
(Eds LL Burkett and LK Sparrow), pp. 534-537