Subsoil testing required to detect the rundown of soil potassium to deficient levels for wheat production on loam-textured soils

Craig A. Scanlan; Richard Bell; Miaomiao Cheng; Tim Boyes

doi:10.1071/CP24195

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Subsoil testing required to detect the rundown of soil potassium to deficient levels for wheat production on loam-textured soils

Craig A. Scanlan

^A ^B ^C ^* , Richard Bell

^B ^C , Miaomiao Cheng ^B ^C and Tim Boyes ^D

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Northam, WA, Australia.

^B Centre for Sustainable Farming System, Food Futures Food Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.

^C SoilsWest, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.

^D agVivo, Guardian Agronomy Pty Ltd, Stoneville, WA, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: craig.scanlan@dpird.wa.gov.au

Handling Editor: Victor Sadras

Crop & Pasture Science 75, CP24195 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP24195

Submitted: 21 June 2024 Accepted: 8 October 2024 Published: 22 October 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Context

Long-term negative potassium (K) balances in crop production have depleted soil K levels in Western Australia (WA). Previous research has focussed on sand-textured soils, but recently, monitoring of crops grown on loam-textured soils has shown deficient or marginal shoot K concentrations where Colwell K 0–10 cm is above current critical levels.

Aims

The aims were to examine whether grain yield responses to fertiliser K can be detected on loam-textured soils and if soil test calibration curves can be identified for these soils.

Methods

Eight field trials were conducted with wheat on loam-textured soils. The same experimental design was used at all sites; six levels of K applied at sowing, from 0 to 200 kg K ha⁻¹ with one treatment including a split application. Soil and plant test calibration curves were modelled using measurements from the trials.

Key results

Grain yield responses of 0.69 to 1.37 t ha⁻¹ to fertiliser K (P < 0.05) occurred in 4 of 8 trials. Relative yield was closely related to soil exchangeable K and the goodness of fit of the soil test calibration curves increased as the depth of sampling increased. The best soil test calibration curve was for sampling 0–40 cm.

Conclusions

This research confirms that on some loam-textured soils, yield loss is occurring to K deficiency if no K fertiliser is applied.

Implications

As soil K reserves are run down, soil sampling at 0–40 cm on loam-textured soils will provide the most accurate monitoring of soil K deficiency for wheat production.

Keywords: exchangeable potassium, plant analysis, potassium, soil analysis, soil test calibration, wheat.

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