The Karoonda Soil Modification

Project

Dr. Rebecca Tonkin

5th September 2013
Karoonda Soil Modification Project -
Background
 The sandy soils of the Mallee often have problems with water repellence
and low nutrient holding capacity. Adding a small amount of clay to the
topsoil can overcome the water repellence and increase the nutrients
held in the topsoil. Getting this right is important as clay cannot be
removed once it has been added to the sand.
 Clay spreading has been used in the Mallee with variable results. Problems
have occurred where high rates of clay have been put on, clays were
incorporated poorly, or clays with high levels of lime, salts or boron were
used. On the other hand, claying has enabled production of crops in areas
that previously would erode every year, needed to be worked several
times to overcome the non-wetting sand, and had weed problems due to
staggered germination.

Page  2
Karoonda Soil Modification Project -
Background

 Members of the Karoonda Ag Bureau wanted to trial claying and

delving in their area to overcome problems with non-wetting sands.
A project was put together with Rural Solutions SA and funding
applied for.
 The Karoonda Soil modification project began in 2010 with trials on
5 farms. 2 farms had clay spreading, 4 had delving and spading (2
trials on Loller’s property).

Page  3
Trial Set-up

 Clay spreading was done in

March 2010 using clays found in
the paddock (and tested).
 The spreading was done by
Adam Morgan using a Land
Plane.
 3 rates were used: 70 t/ha, 140
t/ha, 210 t/ha.
 Incorporation was done by the
farmer (discs) and by spading.

Page  4
Trial Set-up

 Delving was also done in March

2010, by Tim Dunstan of
DunstanAG.
 The delver used was a 4 tine
machine with 900mm spacing.
 Working depth varied with the
soil, but was generally around
30-40 cm for successfully
bringing up clay.

Page  5
Trial Set-up

 Spading was done in April 2010

to incorporate the clay on some
of the clay spread plots, and as
part of the delving/spading
trials.
 The machine used was a 4 m
wide Farmax spader owned by
Tim Dunstan.
 Working depth is 40 cm max.

Page  6
Karoonda Soil Modification Project

 The trials have had 3 harvests at 3 properties. We have measured

establishment, dry matter production, yield (where applicable),
root growth, and soil chemistry and soil biology.
 Two trial sites have been removed – one showed that delving on
deep sand is not useful, the other site has had problems with
getting results due to frost, and sand drift from the adjoining fence
line affecting the treatments.

Page  7
Karoonda Soil Modification Project – RESULTS
Wood’s Delving/Spading Trial
Crop Yields 2010-2012 KAB
 The Delve/Spade trial at 180%
Wood’s is the best set up of 160%
the trials, with 3 replicates. 140%

Yield (% of control)
 Yields are shown as % of
120%

control, and show that

100% 2010
2011
yield increases of 20-40%
80%
2012
have occurred.
60%

40%

20%

0%
Control Delve Spade Delve+Spade

Page  8
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project – RESULTS
Loller’s Delving/Spading Trial
 The Delve/Spade trial at Loller’s Yield % of control, Loller Delve/Spade, 2010-11
ran down a sand dune and out 300%

into a flat. 250%

 The sand dune was too deep for 200%

the delver, and showed no results.
150% 2010

 The delver reached clay in the 100%

2011

flat area, and showed big

differences in production, but 50%

only had 1 replicate. 0%

Control Delve Spade D+S
 The site had pasture in 2012.

Page  9
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project – RESULTS
Loller’s Delving/Spading Trial
 Dry Matter production from the Dry Matter (t/ha) on Delve/Spade trial,
Loller's 2012 (Canola/Vetch/Medic Pasture)
Loller Delve/Spade site in 2012 (a
6
canola/vetch pasture mix with
regenerated medic) showed 5

higher production on the treated 4

Dry Matter t/ha

plots.
3
 Medic regeneration on the
treated plots was also much 2

higher than on the untreated 1

plots.
0
Control Delve Spade D+S

Page  10
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project – RESULTS
Loller’s Clay Spreading Trial
 The clay spread trial has 2 Yield (% of unspaded control) Clay Spread Trial
replicates. Each clay rate has Loller 2010-11
350%
been spaded and farmer 300%
incorporated. 250%

% of control
200%
 Spading alone has an effect of 150%

increasing production at this site, 100%

2010
probably due to disease reduction 50%
2011
0%
and mixing of non-wetting sand.

Control

Control
Med (140t/ha)

Med (140t/ha)
Light (70t/ha)

Heavy (210t/ha)

Light (70t/ha)

Heavy (210t/ha)
 The medium (140 t/ha) rate of clay
has shown the best increase in
production. Spaded Not Spaded

Page  11
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project – RESULTS
Loller’s Clay Spreading Trial
 Similar results were found in Dry Matter (t/ha) produced May-Sep 2012,
Canola/Vetch/Medic, Loller's CS Trial
2012 with the pasture 3.5
production. 3

2.5

Dry Matter (t/ha)

2

1.5

0.5

0
Control Light Med Heavy Control Light Med Heavy
Spaded Not Spaded

Page  12
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project – RESULTS
Pope’s Clay Spreading Trial
Pope clay spread trial yield (% of unspaded control) 2010-2012
 Pope’s clay spread trial is more 300%
of a demo site, it does not
have replication. 250%

 Spading without clay improved

200%

yield in 2 of the 3 years, but 150%

reduced it in 2011. When clay 2010

was added, spading had 100% 2011

2012
variable effects. 50%

 Claying improved yield, but the 0%

rates varied in effectiveness Control
(upper
Light
(70t/ha)
Med Heavy
(140t/ha) (210t/ha)
Control
(upper
Light
(70t/ha)
Med Heavy
(140t/ha) (210t/ha)
each year. A lighter rate is safer dune) dune)
and more economic. Spaded Not Spaded

Page  13
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project
 The soil test results show that the clay
content has increased in the treated
plots, with delved plots or spaded plots
where the spader reached clay having
clay contents more then double the
control.
 This has increased the CEC (nutrient
holding capacity) of the soil as well as
overcoming water repellency.
 Topsoil that was placed further down the
profile also contributes to increased
fertility at depth.

Page  14
 Karoonda Soil Modification Project
 The clay has altered the pH in the topsoil
– as the clay is alkaline, the topsoil is now
more alkaline and this can affect
nutrient availability, particularly of trace
elements Mn, Cu and Zn.
 Crop roots seek out clay lumps in the soil
profile and there are more roots at
depth in the treated soils.
 Organic carbon has increased at depth
where topsoil has been mixed down.

Page  15
Karoonda Soil Modification Project –
Key Points
 The trials have shown that local clays can be used to successfully
treat non-wetting sands and improve production when done
correctly.
 Delving needs to bring up clay to succeed (but not too much).
 Spading can be used instead of delving if clay is within reach, or to
deep incorporate spread clay. It has benefits, but results have been
variable.
 Combining delving and spading does not have a large increased
benefit, it is probably more economic to do one or the other.

Page  16
Karoonda Soil Modification Project –
Key Points
 Clay spreading needs to be done carefully. If in doubt, try a small
area and see what happens.
 Light rates (<150 t/ha), are more economic and have less potential
to cause harm than heavier ones.
 Test the clay so you know what you’re putting on.
 Things to watch out for are:
- texture (heavy vs light clay, the actual clay being added)
- pH, free lime (fizz) and boron

Page  17
Karoonda Soil Modification Project –
Where to Now?

 There is money to continue monitoring the existing sites.

 Where does the group want to go next?
- More demo sites?
- Look at other ways to improve deep sands?
- Improving delving/spading/claying methods to get better results?
- Look more intensively at what is happening in the existing sites?
- Something totally new?

Page  18
 Any Questions?

Page  19