Deep ripping sandy soils on upper and eastern Eyre Peninsula

Full description

Sandy soils account for a significant proportion of Eyre Peninsula’s agricultural soils (with approximately 20% consisting of either deep siliceous sands or sand over clays and another 30% as calcareous sands or loamy sands). Sandy soils have multiple constraints which can result in large differences between water limiting potential and actual crop yields. Recent trial work on the Eyre Peninsula conducted under the GRDC sands research and impacts programs has indicated that production constraints on sandy soils can be overcome with strategic deep tillage and the application of soil amendments. However, the response varies for different crops and seasons. For details of past trial results, see the articles in the 2019, 2020, 2021 EPFS Summaries (EPFS Summary 2019, p. 99-104; Validating research outcomes to treat production constraints on sandy soils of Eyre Peninsula and EPFS Summary 2020, p. 84-87; Treating production constraints on the sandy soils of upper and lower Eyre Peninsula - Year 2; EPFS Summary 2021 p. 39-43; Treating production constraints on the sandy soils of upper and lower Eyre Peninsula - Year 3).In 2022 the impact of deep ripping and other treatments on crop growth and yield was assessed
on several Eyre Peninsula demonstration sites established on sandy soils. Monitoring was conducted under an AIR EP project funded by the Australian Government’s ‘Future Drought Fund’ (FDF). Given that deep tillage boosted crop growth and yield three years after implementation on three out of four GRDC sandy soil impacts amelioration sites on Eyre Peninsula (EPFS Summary 2021 p. 39-43), it was decided that deep ripping treatments should be the basis for the selection of monitoring sites.
These trials aimed to:
• Compare the production of deep ripped soil to unmodified controls on different sandy soils on upper and eastern Eyre Peninsula.
• Identify if the addition of manures or other organic material provided additional benefits.