Subsoil amelioration on clay soils in south-eastern Australia: where will it succeed? GRDC – NSW, VIC, TAS, SA (Webpage)
This Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) webpage outlines a study that addresses the issue that many subsoils in the medium and high rainfall zones of south-eastern Australia contain multiple soil constraints that restrict the growth of crops by limiting the ability of the roots to extract water and nutrients from the subsoil. It found that ameliorating dense clay subsoils with organic or inorganic amendments can significantly boost crop yields – but results vary widely. Success depends on soil type, water availability, and depth of constraints. A decision support tree (DST) has been developed to help growers predict where amelioration is likely to succeed, based on soil and environmental factors. Effective paddock zoning, detailed soil sampling, and economic analysis are essential. Targeted amelioration in responsive zones improves the chances of profitable outcomes. This paper is available as a downloadable PDF [227 KB, 8 pages]. While the study was conducted in southern Australia, it may be relevant to other Australian regions.#
Author/Editor: R Armstrong, N Wilhelm, E Tavakkoli, B Das, W Pitt, S Uddin, D Hendrie, C Beverly, B Hughes, K Stot, M Moldovan, J Jin, P Sale and K Dunsford
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