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296 results found
  • Time for fertiliser calculation reboot
    Soil and Nutrition, 30 Nov 2020
    Time for fertiliser calculation reboot

    A switch to no-till farming means relatively immobile nutrients such as phosphorus and potassium are often restricted to the top few centimetres. Existing soil testing guidelines may not be adequate to reflect the limited ability of roots to access these nutrients under dry conditions.

  • Declining phosphorus and potassium reserves provide top-up alert
    Soil and Nutrition, 29 Nov 2020
    Declining phosphorus and potassium reserves provide top-up alert

    Reserves and availability of phosphorus and potassium vary widely in soils of the northern grains region. This is not easily predicted based on the soil type, landscape position or cropping history, yet these reserves can be an important early warning system to guide decisions.

  • Overcoming constraints on highly calcareous soils
    Soil and Nutrition, 28 Nov 2020
    Overcoming constraints on highly calcareous soils

    Highly calcareous soils are difficult to farm and the keys to improving their productivity are far from clear. New research is targeting issues ranging from low phosphorus status and water-holding capacity, to fertiliser toxicity, Rhizoctonia and subsoil constraints.

  • Above-average season a test for sodic soils
    Soil and Nutrition, 25 Nov 2020
    Above-average season a test for sodic soils

    Highly alkaline sodic and dispersive subsoils are a significant production constraint for Peter and Robert Allen, but trials exploring the deep placement of amendments are finally starting to show promise as a tactic to improve crop water use and grain yields

  • Comparing lime sources
    Soil and Nutrition, 10 Oct 2020
    Comparing lime sources

    From a return on investment (ROI) point of view, the ‘best’ lime is the cheapest one that achieves a given increase in soil pH. It is important to work out the best lime for your situation by considering lime effectiveness and costs (product, transport and application), because they vary considerably.

  • Solving sodic soils
    Soil and Nutrition, 09 Oct 2020
    Solving sodic soils

    Having responsive soils the key to gypsum success.

  • Widespread acidic soils impede legume potential
    Soil and Nutrition, 29 Sep 2020
    Widespread acidic soils impede legume potential

    A survey of 300 commercial paddocks in the northern region has shown that acidic soils may be affecting potential legume production

  • Existing soil-landscape data can predict PAWC
    Soil and Nutrition, 24 Sep 2020
    Existing soil-landscape data can predict PAWC

    Researchers are working to correlate readily available soil-landscape data to plant-available water capacity, creating a way for growers to use that information to inform cropping and management decisions.

  • Nitrogen fix worth the inoculant investment
    Soil and Nutrition, 08 Sep 2020
    Nitrogen fix worth the inoculant investment

    For Yorke Peninsula grower John Davey and sons Matthew and James, nitrogen fixation from pulse crops represents an important strategy on their 1600-hectare enterprise at Clinton Centre.

  • DNA research to improve inoculation decisions
    Soil and Nutrition, 06 Sep 2020
    DNA research to improve inoculation decisions

    A South Australian project will save southern region grain growers time and money when it comes to inoculating their legume crops. The project involved scientists developing an innovative method of quantifying rhizobia in soil using a high-throughput DNA test.

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