By improving soil carbon, it is anticipated there will be improvements in soil health, namely improved soil structure through the development of stable soil aggregates.
The maize crop grown in 2019/19 demonstrated variable vegetative growth in response to inconsistent soil moisture levels due to the development of patches of non-wetting soil. The demonstration site was expanded in an adjacent paddock to include treatments to overcome non-wetting behaviour.
Improvements in soil health will be measured via crop performance and soil analysis.
The treatments include:
- Stubble (10 t/ha) applied to the soil surface
- Stubble(10 t/ha) and fertiliser (58 kg N/ha + 22 kg P/ha) applied to the soil surface
- Stubble(10 t/ha) applied and incorporated
- Stubble (10 t/ha) and fertiliser (58 kg N/ha + 22 kg P/ha) applied and incorporated
- Manure (10 t/ha) applied to the soil surface
- Manure (10 t/ha) applied and incorporated
- Cultivation only
Soil Wetter Demonstration
- Applied September 9th in crop (faba beans)
- Aquasil at 30 and 60 l/ha
- Supawet at 30 and 60 l/ha
- PAM at 5 and 10 kg/ha
