BGWA information session - Improving soil health

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1 BGWA information session - Improving soil health Belinda Rawnsley South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) Tuesday 27 May 2014

2 Outline What is soil health and importance of soil biology How to sample for soil health Soils in Barossa Valley Improving soil condition

3 What is soil health? Biological, chemical and physical properties of a soil and its capacity to function and sustain life

4 Improve soil structure Water holding capacity Water use efficiency Increase soil biology Role of soil health Increase yield Increase reliable production Increase profitability Decrease fertiliser and inputs Increase soil resilience and long term sustainability

5 Soil biology Require carbon as an energy source to break down organic matter Release nutrients into plant available forms BAM!

6 Soil biology Require carbon as an energy source to break down organic matter Release nutrients into plant available forms Improve and maintain soil structure

7

8 Soil biology Require carbon as an energy source to break down organic matter Release nutrients into plant available forms Improve and maintain soil structure Suppress soil borne disease

9

10 Soil biology Require carbon as an energy source to break down organic matter Release nutrients into plant available forms Improve and maintain soil structure Suppress soil borne diseases Degrade chemicals Soil Organic Carbon is slow to change. Soil microbes respond to soil management

11 Fungi and bacteria Fungi associated with decomposition and soil structure stability High carbon requirement Bacteria regulate nutrient supply Associated with green material Transform nitrogen into a useable form

12 Nematodes Majority are free-living (saprophytic) nematodes which feed on bacteria and fungi influence decomposition of organic matter and making nutrients available to plants Build soil structure make tunnels, creating aerobic conditions in the soil Parasitic nematodes feed on plant roots

13 How to sample for soil biological health Majority of organisms live in top 5-10 cm soil Microbes feed on exudates of new feeder roots, so want to sample in the rootzone Coincide soil sampling with periods of peak root growth Root growth commences 3 weeks AFTER budburst 20 cm 40 cm

14 How to sample for soil biological health Sample 40 cm away from vine trunk, 20 cm out to midrow Depth to 20 cm Random sample of 20 cores bulked to give representative sample Send as soon as possible Midrow cover crops influence soil microbial population

15 Total microbial biomass 2009/ HIGH 35 Total microbial biomass (ugc/g) Nov Feb March 2010 MODERATE 5 0 Cultivated Biodynamic Permanent sward Mulch Grazing land

16 Microbial activity at depth B -glucosidase enzyme activity (mg p -Nitrophenol/kg soil/h) Rhizosphere soil Soil depth (cm) (Rawnsley, 2008)

17 Just add microbes? 7,000 If current practices have low microbial Nov 2009 populations, 6,000 additions of new microbes Feb 2010 Mar 2010 or organisms are unlikely to thrive and 5,000 persist no. free-living nematodes/200 g soil 4,000 Products stimulate organisms already in soil3,000 Manage 2,000 existing soil biology by feeding the microbes 1,000 0 Conventional cultivation Biodynamic Permanent sward Undervine mulch

18 GWRDC - Benchmarking soil health Aim to benchmark soil quality Defined set of tests to be used by industry chemical, physical and biological 50 vineyards chosen to represent Barossa soil types Sampled soil undervine, midrow and native vegetation

19 Greenock Marananga Gomersal Rowland Flat Northern Central Foothills/Vine Vale Lyndoch Eden Valley

20

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22 Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon in Barossa Valley

23 Ideal levels of soil carbon dependent on soil type Soil organic carbon (%) in different soil types in SA Sand Sandy/loam Loam Clay loam/clay Low Moderate High >1.0 >1.4 >1.8 >2.0 (modified from Baldock and Skjemstad 1999). Benchmark against others in your region

24 Barossa soil type and organic carbon

25 Regional differences - Labile organic C

26 Soil management - Marananga

27 Soil structure Affects water infiltration, root growth, nutrient use Organic matter holds the soil together Slaking - Soil aggregate falls apart when placed in water Indicates poor structure Prone to crusting, run off and erosion

28 Soil structure Dispersed soils breakdown separate particles Restricts air movement, root growth, water-logging Permanent Sward - Midrow Bare soil - Undervine

29 Improved water infiltration = $ savings Season Water Use MegL/Ha Yield Soil management 07/ Clover and medic midrow 08/ Compost applied / / /

30 Soil water infiltration test it yourself Measure the rate a fixed volume of water soaks into the soil 150 mm diameter PVC pipe cut to 11 cm length and push 2 cm down into the soil Add 500 ml water and record absorption time o Poor >7 mins o Fair 3-7 mins o Good under 3 mins

31 How can you improve soil condition? Avoid bare soil

32 Lower structural stability Lower nutrient availability Lower biological activity = Degraded soil

33 How can you improve soil condition? Avoid bare soil Maintain ground cover Minimise compaction Apply soil organic amendments/compost Control rates of decomposition by continually adding organic material

34 How can you increase soil biology? Feed the microbes! Organic matter must be continually supplied

35 Adding organic matter - Long term benefits

36 Do I till or herbicide the covercrop? Cultivation causes the greatest loss of soil organic carbon Why? Makes organic matter readily available to microbes and increases aeration so breakdown is faster Better to mow to maintain organic matter and slow degradation Regulates soil moisture under cover crops Depending on crop type, herbicide use also minimises soil disruption

37 Novel methods Dick s crimper

38

39 Benefits of Compost Reduces evaporation = improves water use efficiency and water savings Reduces soil temperature Improves soil fertility and structure Adds organic matter and slow release nutrients Weed control, decreases need for herbicides Disease suppression less root disease

40 What type of compost should I use? Australian Quality Standard AS4454 Fine compost mulch Decays quickly Gives quick improvement to soil structure Can impede water infiltration Coarse textured Large woody particles Allows water penetration Multi-particle Reduces evaporation Slow release nutrients

41 What is the best way to improve sandy soils if I don t use compost? No tillage is essential little carbon in sandy soil already Maintain covercrop/crop residues Provide adequate nutrients to improve crop growth = organic matter Add a source organic material

42 Take home message Healthy soils are resilient, more productive and provide consistency Good soil structure improves water infiltration, root growth and plant access to nutrients Build up soil biology to increase nutrient availability > less inputs Monitor soils

43 More web information Soil Quality soilquality.org.au Soil health factsheets Victorian Resources online > soil health vro.dpi.vic.gov.au Soil biology basics NSW DPI agric.nsw.gov.au

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