Soil Constraints West: a GRDC initiative to develop soil management systems for the future Bob Belford, John Even, Tony White February 2015
Aims: To develop an Initiative between four GRDC Western Region soil constraints projects - Non wetting soils ($7.5M over five years; Steve Davies) - Soil compaction ($1.4M; Paul Blackwell) - Sub-soil constraints ($4.4M; David Hall) - Soil acidity ($1.6M; Chris Gazey) Develop links to, and awareness of other soils projects (e.g. MCPN, nutrition, biology, carbon) in WA and nationally which also contribute to sustainable soil management systems Form a Steering committee of RCSN representatives, project leaders, GRDC (Western Panel and Canberra) to provide guidance and feedback to projects and GRDC
Background: Rising yield potential and understanding of WUE focuses on soil constraints as limiting factors to crop production Constraints cost WA growers money in lost production; 2009 estimates are $250M(non-wetting); $498M(acidity); $600Msubsoil constraints; and $333M (compaction) per year Substantial investments in soils by GRDC over many years, but often as single issue, short term projects looking at individual problems Many problems don t exist in isolation, and a holistic approach is needed to tackle soil constraints at farm and paddock scale Consistent with GRDC s aim to link projects to create Initiatives and add value to the investments: e.g. Precision Agriculture, Sub-soil constraints, Soil Biology, Grain and Graze, MPCN, Crown Rot, and the National Frost Initiative
Why have an initiative? a) Will allow interactions between individual constraints to be identified and quantified, and management systems defined. Subsoil constraints Managing compaction Non-wetting soils Acidity
Why have an initiative? b) Soil constraints highly ranked within GRDC themes and across RCSN regions: Alb Esp Ger Kw West Kw East Non -wetting Yes Yes Yes - Yes ph Yes (Yes) Yes Yes - Compaction Yes Yes Yes - Yes Sub-soil constraints* (Yes) (Yes) - Yes Yes * Identified as limitations to water supply Source: RCSN annual report 2012/3
Report card on sustainable natural resource use in agriculture https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/resource-assessment/report-card-conditions-and-trends
Why have an initiative? c) A partner in GRDC s National Soil Constraints initiative Growers are increasingly aware of the impacts of soil constraints from comparison of actual yield with water-limited potential yield (or target yield). Identifying the most effective way to manage these constraints is a high priority topic for many graingrowing regions. The cost-price squeeze faced by growers and the need to match expensive inputs to potential yield, as well as increasing variability and risk due to climate, emphasises the importance of this issue. Source: GRDC Investment Plan 2015-6
GRDC s National Soil Constraints Initiative * * Linked to projects/staff in Soil Constraints - West * * * *
Why have an initiative? d)2015 is the FAO International Year of Soils (IYS) Healthy soils for a healthy life to create awareness about the fundamental roles of soils for human life; to recognisethe contributions of soils to food security and nutrition, climate change adaptation and mitigation, essential ecosystem services, poverty alleviation and sustainable development; to promote policies and actions for the sustainable management and protection of soil resources; to sensitize decision-makers about the need for investment in sustainable soil management activities, to ensure healthy soils for different land users and population groups; to enhance capacities and systems for soil information collection and monitoring at all levels (global, regional and national). http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/en/
Sandy duplex Gravels Soils in WA Non-cracking clays Alkaline shallow duplex Deep sands Clays and shallow loamy duplex https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/mysoil
Project 1. Delivering enhanced agronomic strategies for improved crop performance on water repellent soils (Steve Davies, DAFWA, with CSIRO and UM) Nearly 3.3M hectares of Western Australia's agricultural soils are at high risk of soil water repellence with a further 6.9M hectares at moderate risk. Soil water repellence results in poor, patchy and delayed crop and pasture emergence. The key aims are: To increase knowledge of soil water repellence in WA cropping systems and develop strategies to manage soil water repellence. An extension strategy for growers, consultants and agronomists to select the best management options for water repellent soils on WA farms. Build and retain soils research capacity in the West through appointment and training of PhD students, a post-doctoral fellow and regionally based graduates.
Project 2. Soil Acidity is limiting grain yield -coordinating the improved management of soil acidity in Western Australia and the Southern Region (Chris Gazey and Liam Ryan, DAFWA) Acidity is severe and widespread, and a major risk to production; it is estimated that soil acidity costs WA growers $498 million per year in lost productivity. Factors contributing to soil acidification are understood, as are the best practice management systems. The disconnect is limited adoption of soil testing to depth to determine ph and develop appropriate management plans, which must include application of lime where ph is less than the recommended targets. This project aims to double agricultural lime use in WA from the 2010 base. Awhole of industry approach is required through an industry wide working group, with on-going education, extension and training of key advisors/consultants to support growers into the future.
Project 3. Subsoil constraints understanding and management (David Hall, DAFWA, with Yvette Oliver, CSIRO) Subsoil constraints (SSC) cost WA growers more than $600 M pa in lost production. Constraints include subsoil acidity, nutrient deficiencies/toxicities, compaction, sodicity/waterlogging and alkalinity/boron/transient salinity. These constraints reduce root depth and function; water and nutrient levels are insufficient to sustain production near the rainfall limited yield potential. Diagnostics are often insufficient for growers to identify and manage constraints. This is important as many farmers are experiencing reduced margins due to drying climates and increasing costs relative to returns. This project will increase profitability through improved subsoil management. This may be through amelioration but may also be mitigation where the constraints cannot be profitably rectified. Outputs will result in improved yields, reduced costs and enhanced confidence by growers and their advisors in managing SSC. This work builds on other GRDC projects including those in the Soil Constraints West Initiative, plus Focus paddocks (DAW00213), the Water-use Efficiency initiative (DAW00193), and Measuring and managing soil water (CSP00170).
Project 4. Minimising the impact of soil compaction on crop yield (Paul Blackwell and Doug Abrecht, DAFWA) Soil compaction is widespread, with the annual cost of compaction estimated as $333M. The project will improve knowledge of profitable options to better manage subsoil compaction in WA. Subsoil compaction holds back crop growth by restricting root growth and increasing the risk of waterlogging in the soil profile. This can reduce grain yield and increase costs. Previous R&D has provided management options for better control of compaction. These include deep cultivation (20 30% grain yield increase), and controlled traffic systems (10% more grain yield). Declining terms of trade and poor seasons have led to an increase in size, capacity and loaded weight of machinery. This increases the depth and severity of subsoil compaction, e.g. to 500mm rather than 300mm depth. Optimum management strategies now involve both traffic control and removal of deep subsoil compaction. CTF may double farm profit, but many growers have found difficulty matching machinery and are reluctant to compromise efficiencies. This project will evaluate the financial and environmental benefits of CTF, and the transitions growers can adopt to capture the benefits.
Steering committee and management of the initiative: RCSN members Craig Topham (Ger), Quentin Knight (Esp), Mark Pearce (Alb), Bob Nixon (Kw East), Tony White (Kw West) Project leaders Steve Davies, David Hall, Paul Blackwell, Chris Gazey (DAFWA) GRDC John Even (Western Panel), Martin Blumenthal (Canberra) Chair Bob Belford AND Collaborating project staff, other soils experts, GRDC representatives, industry specialists (will vary with nature and location of meeting) Minimum of two formal meetings per year, with at least one to include a field visit
Challenges facing the Steering committee Integration and value adding often mentioned, but how? Shared field sites, field days, presentations, outputs, planning activities and investment strategy and an independent Steering Committee Extension strategies: - grower groups/learning groups and modules - consultants and advisors - approaches (GRDC s bakers dozen ) - extension expertise within and outside projects - case studies - benchmarking Decision support tools value to, and demand from industry? Economics not usually the main focus of research projects; however, an essential component of projects for end-users, and analysis at farm scale rather than gross margin analysis in a paddock Complexity many interactions within and between projects in Soil Constraints West, and with other soils projects (WA and National)
In summary: A five year commitment by GRDC, $6.5M p.a. An evolving part of GRDC s National approach to soil management, recognising regional differences Value adding by sharing sites, activities and information and actively planning future investments Strong links to industry, including a Steering Committee to assess progress and provide feedback Active participation of grower and industry groups to help set direction participate in trials and research, and deliver outcomes Focussed, consistent and timely communication to all communicators, media and stakeholders
A word from our sponsors..
Three key messages: A $33M Western region investment over five years into major soil constraints and their interactions soil acidity, compaction, non-wetting soils and subsoil constraints to develop sustainable soil management systems for the future. Input from GRDC and research agencies in WA (DAFWA, Murdoch Uni, CSIRO), grower and industry groups, and linked to other soil investments in WA, under the guidance of a Steering Committee. A component of a new GRDC National Soil Constraints Initiative starting in 2015, to maximise returns to industry from research $$ invested.
Questions? robert.belford@bigpond.com.au john.even@bigpond.com tony@bfwhiteandco.com.au