Ins and Outs of Lime Incorporation in the West Midlands Stephen Davies, Chris Gazey, Anne Wilkins,...

Ins and Outs of Lime Incorporation in the West MidlandsStephen Davies, Chris Gazey, Anne Wilkins, Dave Gartner

Precision SoilTech

Bindi Bindi, Barley response 2014

1.06 t/ha 1.78 t/ha

Nil lime 1996Nil lime 1996

1.5 t/ha 2005 injected 2 t/ha lime 1996

2.00 t/ha

Data: C. Gazey; AgLime; Precision SoilTech

Incorporation or more Lime?

Esperance Downs Research Station – Repellent Duplex

D. Hall, DAFWA

2013 Badgingarra sandy gravel

Badgingarra sandy gravel

Topsoil pH less than 5.0 Subsoil pH = 4.8 or higher

Wheat grain yield 2013 season

Also:• Grain yield MBP 11%• Grain yield MBP + Lime 18%• Grain protein 1-1.5% higher• Screenings 0.5-1.0% lower• Kernel weight 1-3 mg heavier

Treatments applied once only in 2007

Barley grain yield 2014 season

Whole site deep ripped 2014

Grain yield response:• MBP or Lime 12% • MBP & Lime 38%• Paddock average 3.1 t/ha

Subsoiltarget

Topsoiltarget

• Limed once in 2007• 2 t/ha limesand• Knife point seeder 7-inch

row spacing, working 6-inches deep

Soil pH 2014

Ryegrass biomass 2014

Ryegrass biomass change:• Surface Lime 54%• Mouldboard plough 36%• MBP + Lime 75%

Openers on ripper tines

Incorporation depth = 20-26 cm

Wings on ripper tines

Incorporation depth = 20-25 cm

Grizzly deep digger

Incorporation depth = 20-25 cm

Grizzly offsets vs Spader

OFFSETS

Depth = 24-25 cm

SPADER

Depth = 28-35 cm

Modified blade plough

Incorporation Depth = 20-23 cm

Incorporation depth of other options

Regular deep ripping, standard offsets = 10-15 cm

Supporting your success

Modified One-way plough

Untreated = 6.6OWP = 3.3

MED

1) Know your pH profile to depth

2) Have a strategy top apply enough lime to fix & maintain the

pH profile

3) Assess whether the soil will be responsive to cultivation

4) Other constraints - water repellence, compaction, weeds?

5) Undecided about incorporation method? – keep liming!

6) Variable rate apply lime to major soil types if warranted

Incorporation or More Lime?

Fix the top… Line things up… Fix the bottom

GRDC Projects

DAW00204 & 244 Soil water repellence

DAW00236 Soil acidity

COGGO Project: Developing and testing innovative, practical and reliable methods for incorporating lime into acidic sandplain subsoils – West Midlands Group

NACC Projects: Demonstrating innovative practices for the amelioration of sub surface Acidity to improve soil health; 1412-05-01

Thanks to: Peter Negus; David Paish, Glen Riethmuller, Travis Hollins

Precision SoilTech