Using soil, climate, and agronomy to predict soil water use by lucerne compared with soil water use by annual crops or pastures
P. R. Ward A B C , S. F. Micin A B and F. X. Dunin AA CSIRO Plant Industry, Private Bag No. 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
B CRC for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: Phil.Ward@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(3) 347-354 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04132
Submitted: 18 June 2004 Accepted: 14 February 2005 Published: 31 March 2006
Abstract
The incorporation of perennials in general, and lucerne in particular, into farming systems of southern Australia has been proposed as a possible means to slow or stop the spread of dryland salinity. In order to be effective, lucerne roots must remove substantially more water from the soil than roots produced by annual crops and pastures. The term ‘buffer’ is used here to denote the extra water storage created by lucerne in addition to that normally created by an annual crop or pasture. In trials across southern Australia, lucerne has proved variable in its ability to create a buffer. In this research, we established 3 new trials, and collated results from current and published trials across Australia, to determine the effect of various edaphic (soil pH, texture, depth, and density for A and B horizons), climatic (average and actual seasonal rainfall), and agronomic (lucerne age, plant density, dry matter production, and rooting depth) factors on buffer size created by lucerne. Data from 26 trials were analysed, representing 84 site × year comparisons. The mean lucerne buffer for all comparisons was 91 mm, and increased with lucerne age. Buffers were generally greater for heavier-textured soils, but standard deviations of the means were large. Within a broad soil type, regression equations were developed to predict buffer size from climatic, edaphic, and agronomic factors, with r2 values ranging between 0.96 and 0.84, and standard errors ranging between 40 and 44 mm. For all soil types, average summer rainfall (but not actual summer rainfall) was a significant component of the regression, suggesting that management of the lucerne stand, in terms of maintaining leaf area during summer, may have an important role in buffer development.
Additional keywords: Medicago sativa, dryland salinity, groundwater recharge, buffer, perennial pasture, drainage.
Acknowledgments
The GRDC provided funding for this project, including travel to sites around Australia. Special thanks to our farming collaborators (Geoff Bee, Wal Filmer, and Chris Brown) for their help and cooperation throughout the project. Dr Jens Berger helped enormously with the statistical analysis. We also thank the following scientists for helpful discussions and access to their data: Jeff Baldock, Tony Bernardi, Jim Cox, Graham Crocker, Roy Latta, Anita Lyons, Mark Peoples, Anna Ridley, Arjen Ryder, Jim Virgona, and Rick Young.
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