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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(9)

Subsoil constraints in Vertosols: crop water use, nutrient concentration, and grain yields of bread wheat, durum wheat, barley, chickpea, and canola

Y. P. Dang A F , R. Routley B C , M. McDonald D , R. C. Dalal E , D. K. Singh B , D. Orange A and M. Mann B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.

B Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Roma, Qld 4445, Australia.

C Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Emerald, Qld 4720, Australia.

D Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Goondiwindi, Qld 4390, Australia.

E Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water, Indooroopilly, Qld 4068, Australia.

F Corresponding author. Email: Yash.Dang@nrm.qld.gov.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 57(9) 983-998 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR05268
Submitted: 21 July 2005  Accepted: 5 May 2006   Published: 30 August 2006

Abstract

Single or multiple factors implicated in subsoil constraints including salinity, sodicity, and phytotoxic concentrations of chloride (Cl) are present in many Vertosols including those occurring in Queensland, Australia. The variable distribution and the complex interactions that exist between these constraints limit the agronomic or management options available to manage the soil with these subsoil constraints. The identification of crops and cultivars adapted to these adverse subsoil conditions and/or able to exploit subsoil water may be an option to maintain productivity of these soils. We evaluated relative performance of 5 winter crop species, in terms of grain yields, nutrient concentration, and ability to extract soil water, grown on soils with various levels and combinations of subsoil constraints in 19 field experiments over 2 years. Subsoil constraints were measured by levels of soil Cl, electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECse), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Increasing levels of subsoil constraints significantly decreased maximum depth of water extraction, grain yield, and plant-available water capacity for all the 5 crops and more so for chickpea and durum wheat than bread wheat, barley, or canola. Increasing soil Cl levels had a greater restricting effect on water availability than did ECse and ESP. We developed empirical relationships between soil Cl, ECse, and ESP and crop lower limit (CLL) for estimating subsoil water extraction by 5 winter crops. However, the presence of gypsum influenced the ability to predict CLL based on the levels of ECse. Stronger relationships between apparent unused plant-available water (CLL – LL15; LL15 is lower limit at –1.5 MPa) and soil Cl concentrations than ESP or ECse suggested that the presence of high Cl in these soils most likely inhibited the subsoil water extraction by the crops. This was supported by increased sodium (Na) and Cl concentration with a corresponding decrease in calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) in young mature leaf of bread wheat, durum wheat, and chickpea with increasing levels of subsoil constraints. Of the 2 ions, Na and Cl, the latter appears to be more damaging than the former, resulting in plant dieback and reduced grain yields.

Additional keywords: salinity, sodicity, chloride toxicity, crop lower limit, plant-available water capacity.


Acknowledgments

The Grains Research&Development Corporation funded this research. The generous support of our collaborative growers and their families in providing sites and managing the trials is greatly appreciated. Thanks are also due to Dr David Mayer, Biometrician, for suggestions, Vanessa Alsemgeest and David Cooper for helping with data collection, Dave Lyons for plant analysis, Dr Brian Bridge, Dr Zvi Hochman, Dr Neal Menzies, Mr George Rayment, Dr Daniel Rodriguez, and Dr Roger Armstrong, and two anonymous reviewers for comments and valuable suggestions.


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