Balancing Tillage And Nutrition In WA's Water Repellent Sands
Sandy soils, typical to parts of Western Australia and found in South Australia\u2019s and Victoria\u2019s mallee country, create considerable and costly grain constraints. \n\nIn WA water repellency, resulting in low nutrient use efficiency and poor crop establishment, affects around 10 million hectares. WA\u2019s annual price tag put on lost production through water repellence is estimated at $250 million. \n\nGRDC is investing in a multi-million-dollar soils and crop nutrition strategy aimed at managing nutrition after ameliorating these kinds of soil constraints. \n\nWater repellent soils in Western Australia are fairly common in the west midlands region, in the central wheat belt and also on the south coast. So the main problem with water repellence is it leads to uneven wetting of the soil and inefficient use of rainfall and ultimately lower grain yield. \n\nContact: \nDr Craig Scanlan \n0427 160 376 \ncraig.scanlan@dpird.wa.gov.au \n\nFurther Information: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/story/5975994/improved-potassium-access-bolsters-grain-yields/ https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/story/6293818/nutrient-research-guides-fertiliser-decisions/ https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-land-water/soils/managing-soils\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices