This Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) factsheet discusses deep ripping in sandy soils to improve grain yields. Deep ripping can boost grain yields on sandy soils by breaking compacted layers and improving root access to deeper moisture, but it only works well when compaction is the main constraint. Subsoil acidity, soil toxicities and water repellency must also be diagnosed and treated or yield gains will be limited. Water repellency generally requires mixing, deep ploughing or clay addition rather than ripping alone. Good timing, correct machinery setup and, where needed, topsoil inclusion plates help improve results. After ripping, trafficability and erosion risks need managing, and crops will need higher nutrition to match their increased yield potential. While this research was conducted in broadacre cropping areas in WA and SA, it may also apply to other regions with similar soils and constraints. #
Topics:
Identifying layers
Subsoil acidity
Water repellency
Timing and moisture
Machinery set-up
Inclusion plate research
Safety, hitching and machinery protection
Assessment and post-ripping
Crop nutrition