GRDC Podcast

Inspired by what he saw a neighbouring doing and with GRDC's investment in the Soils Constraints West project & DPIRD support, Corrigin based grain grower Simon Wallwork bought a mouldboard plough from the UK and began a soil amelioration program that is resulting in improved water penetration and better grain yields.

Note: related GRDC project codes - DAW00244

Soil Water Repellence and AVP00003-A (RCSN) projects DAW00252, DAW00236

Further information: Simon Wallwork email: [email protected] https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils

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Hydrophobic, or water-repellent soils are soils coated in organic compounds, which prevent water from properly infiltrating the soil. Usually affecting sandy soils, these compounds can come from plant wax and oils, or microorganisms in the soil, causing patchy and staggered crop establishment for grain growers.

In this podcast, Dr Stephen Davies from WA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development talks to Lucinda Jose about outcomes from the Soil Constraints West project that can help growers better manage water-repellent soils.

Further information:

Dr Stephen Davies

Soil Constraints West Initiative

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

20 Gregory St., Geraldton WA 6530

m: 0408 439 497

email: [email protected]

Resources:

AGRIC Managing soils > ROSA: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/managing-soils/ranking-options-soil-amendments-tool

AGRIC Managing soils > water repellence: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/soil-constraints/water-repellence

AGRIC Managing soils > soil compaction: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils/soil-compaction

AGRIC Managing soils > soil acidity: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils/soil-acidity

GRDC Initiatives > Non-wetting soils: https://grdc.com.au/research/trials,-programs-and-initiatives/non-wetting-soils

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When used strategically, soil amelioration can help grain growers overcome a suite of soil and agronomic constraints, including acidity, water repellence and high weed populations.

In this podcast the focus is on crop establishment challenges after soil amelioration, including the use of pre-emergent herbicides.

Tom Edwards, a research officer from Western Australia’s Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development has been part of the statewide Soil Constraints West project an investment by GRDC and DPIRD to help improve soil constraints and lift yields and grain grower returns.

Further information:

Tom Edwards

Research officer Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

3 Melijinup Rd Esperance WA 6450

0427 849 393 P - (08) 9083 1151

[email protected]

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils

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Soil is made up of organic and mineral particles and in between these particles are tiny air pockets containing water, soil microbes and fauna. These are essential components for healthy soil and root and crop development.

When soil is compacted, the air pockets are squeezed out, compressing the particles closer together making it firmer and more difficult to penetrate. This in turn creates a hostile environment for roots and soil fauna.

In this podcast, Wayne Parker, from Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Soil Compaction project leader, talks to Lucinda Jose about the causes of soil compaction and the outcomes from the Soil Constraints West project that growers can adopt to improve their soils.

Contact information:

Wayne Parker

Leader of the Soil Compaction Project Soil Constraints West Initiative

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

20 Gregory St., Geraldton WA 6530

m: 0429 080 074

email: [email protected]

More info: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils

Useful Resources AGRIC Managing soils > water repellence: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/soil-constraints/water-repellence

AGRIC Managing soils > soil compaction: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils/soil-compaction

AGRIC Managing soils > soil acidity: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils/soil-acidity

GRDC Initiatives > Non-wetting soils: https://grdc.com.au/research/trials,-programs-and-initiatives/non-wetting-soils

http://www.ctfcalculator.org

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As part of the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s investment in the Soil Constraints West project, water harvesting on sodic soils is one of the many facets of research this 5 year project has focussed on.

In this podcast Dana Mulvany, a research officer from Western Australia’s Dept of Primary Industries and Regional Development, talks about her work researching sodic soils in low rainfall environments and the impact of water harvesting on crop yields.

Further information:

Dana Mulvany

Soils Research officer

Grains Research and Innovation Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

1 Mitchell Street, Merredin WA 6415

m +61 (0)476 842 063 | w dpird.wa.gov.au

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils

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In frost-prone areas, it is important to have a comprehensive frost management strategy as part of annual farm planning. In this podcast, Dr Ben Biddulph from Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) shares his considerations and pre-seeding checklist for grain growers.

Contact:

Dr Ben Biddulph DPIRD

[email protected]

More information:

Frost Damaged Crop Salvage Options And Seed Retention podcast: https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/audio/podcast/frost-damaged-crop-salvage-options-and-seed-retention Identifying

Frost Damage & Options Post Frost video: https://youtu.be/_V1l06xDLTw

Frost Identification Guide: https://grdc.com.au/CerealFrostIDGuide Frost resources are also available on the DPIRD website at: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/frost/frost-tools-and-support and https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/frost/management-options-frosted-crop

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Western Australian grain growers face a lot of constraints when it comes to the soils they work to grow the grain we demand.In this podcast we’ll look back at the recently concluded Soil Constraints West project, a GRDC 5 year investment to improve soil structure and health, thereby lifting productivity and growers’ profitability.

Leader of the Subsoil constraints component of the project is David Hall from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Esperance office.

Further information:

David Hall, Senior Research Officer (Soil Management)

0447 914 013

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In this two-part podcast Matt Gardner form AMPS Research discusses sowing strategies, site elevation and crop monitoring tools and how these variables can help manager frost risk without unnecessarily sacrificing yield. At Matt’s early sowing trial site near Premer on the NSW Liverpool Plains the paddock has a 50-metre variation in elevation.

In part two of this podcast Matt moves to the top end of the slope and compares the difference in crop performance and frost risk and discusses what that means for a sowing strategy.

And grain grower Tom Simpson who has been involved in the trials tells of his experience on a broad acre scale.

Further information:

Matt Gardner – AMPS Research

AMPS Agribusiness

46 Dampier Street, Tamworth NSW 2340

PO Box 3493

West Tamworth NSW 2340

Ph: 02 6762 2677

e: [email protected]

Resources: https://grdc.com.au/frost-faq https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/groundcover/ground-cover-issue-126-january-february-2017/site-elevation-broadens-the-yield-frost-equation

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For some grain growers the potential risk of a frost event damaging their cereal crop can result in a conservative sowing strategy. But sowing late to avoid frost damage can result in less than optimal grain yields at the end of the season.

In this two-part podcast Matt Gardner form AMPS Research discusses sowing strategies, site elevation and crop monitoring tools and how these variables can help manager frost risk without unnecessarily sacrificing yield.

And in part-one Matt deals with frost risk versus heat stress.

Further information:

Matt Gardner – AMPS Research

AMPS Agribusiness

46 Dampier Street, Tamworth NSW 2340

PO Box 3493

West Tamworth NSW 2340

Ph: 02 6762 2677

e: [email protected]

Resources: https://grdc.com.au/frost-faq https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/groundcover/ground-cover-issue-126-january-february-2017/site-elevation-broadens-the-yield-frost-equation

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Researchers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) are in the final stages of identifying a new commercial acid tolerant rhizobia strain for Group F. This strain will offer new hope to southern growers looking to enhance nitrogen fixation of pea, bean and lentil crops in low pH soils.

In this podcast, SARDI Senior Research Officer Liz Farquharson takes us through the latest rhizobia strain research and related management options available for southern growers. While commercial release of the strain may seem like a while away, there is still plenty that growers can do to promote nodulation of winter pulse crops.

Contact:

Liz Farquharson SARD

[email protected]

More information:

Improving The Performance Of Rhizobial Inoculants In Suboptimal Conditions: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/grdc-update-papers/tab-content/grdc-update-papers/2019/02/fixing-more-n-improving-the-performance-of-rhizobial-inoculants-in-suboptimal-conditions

Inoculating legumes: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/bookshop/2015/07/inoculating-legumes

Legumes and nitrogen fixation: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/factsheets/2017/06/tips-and-tactics-legumes-and-nitrogen-fixation

Nitrogen fixation in field pea: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2018/nitrogen-fixation-in-field-pea

Legumes In Acidic Soils - maximising production potential: https://grdc.com.au/resources-and-publications/all-publications/publications/2018/legumes-in-acidic-soils

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