Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Soil Research Soil Research Society
Soil, land care and environmental research
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SR > SR03118
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 43(5)

The effect of raised beds on soil structure, waterlogging, and productivity on duplex soils in Western Australia

D. M. Bakker A E , G. J. Hamilton B , D. J. Houlbrooke C and C. Spann D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Agriculture, 444 Albany Highway, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.

B Department of Agriculture, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6330, Australia.

C AgResearch, Private Bag 11, Dunedin, New Zealand.

D Department of Agriculture, Mount Barker Research Station, Mount Barker, WA 6324, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: dbakker@agric.wa.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(5) 575-585 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR03118
Submitted: 1 August 2003  Accepted: 21 March 2005   Published: 8 August 2005

Abstract

Waterlogging and poor soil structure in the root-zone of duplex soils in Western Australia has long been recognised as a major constraint to the production of agricultural crops and pastures. The effect of raised beds on waterlogging, soil structure, and productivity of duplex soils was investigated. Five experimental sites were established, monitored, and operated over 5 years as well as 3 larger scale demonstration sites which were operated over 4 or 3 years. Treatments consisted of raised beds and a normal no-till seed bed as the control. The beds were made with a bed former after the soil had been deep cultivated. Bulk density and steady-state infiltration rate observations indicated significant and lasting improvements in soil structure in the beds. The incidence of waterlogging in raised beds was reduced and this was accompanied by an increase in runoff from the raised beds. The average grain yield increase from the beds was 18% for a variety of crops across a range of climatic conditions and duplex soils. Seven years after the introduction of raised beds for broad-acre farming in Western Australia, more than an estimated 30 000 ha of crops is now grown on raised beds.

Additional keywords: Mediterranean climate.


Acknowledgment

This work has been partly funded by the GRDC. The assistance of Peter Tipping in the field work and data collection is gratefully acknowledged. The contribution of the growers: H. Morrell, R. Thomson, M. Addis, W. Armstrong, T. Shenton, N. Flugge, M. Adams, L. White, and Mr. Doug Rowe (Department of Agriculture WA) and the staff of the Esperance Downs Research Station and manufacturers Gessners Industries (Toowoomba), Walkers (formerly Merredin), and Simplicity Australia (Dalby) is greatly appreciated.


References


Bakker DM, Hamilton GJ, Houlbrooke DJ, Spann C (2001) Improved soil management and cropping systems for waterlog-prone soils. Results of the 1999 season. Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Resource Management Technical Report No. 194, South Perth, W. Aust.

Bakker DM, Hamilton GJ, Houlbrooke DJ, Spann C (2001) Improved soil management and cropping systems for waterlog-prone soils. Results of the 2000 season. Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Resource Management Technical Report No. 201, South Perth, W. Aust.

Barrett-Lennard EG, Leighton PD, MacFarlane IR, Setter T, Greenway H (1986) Methods to experimentally control waterlogging and measure soil oxygen in field trials. Australian Journal of Soil Research 24, 477–483.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Belford RK, Dracup M, Tennant D (1992) Limitations to growth and yield of cereal and lupin crops on duplex soils. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 929–945.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Bligh, K (1989). ‘Soil conservation earthworks design manual.’ (Department of Agriculture Western Australia: South Perth, W. Aust)

Cox JW (1988) Seepage interceptor drainage of duplex soils in south-western Australia. PhD thesis, Geology Department, The University of Western Australia, Perth.

Cox JW, McFarlane DJ (1995) The causes of waterlogging in shallow soils and their drainage in southwestern Australia. Journal of Hydrology 167, 175–194.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

CSIRO (1996). ‘Pyelab TDR System. User’s guide.’ (CSIRO Centre for Environmental Mechanics: Canberra)

Dalton FN (1990) Development of time domain reflectometry for measuring soil water content and bulk soil electrical conductivity. ‘Proceedings of a Symposium on Advances in Measurement of Soil Physical Properties: Bringing Theory into Practise’. Special Publication No. 30. (Ed.  GC Topp , WD Reynolds , RE Green ) pp. 143–168. (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)


Dracup M, Belford RK, Gregory PJ (1992) Constraints to root growth of wheat and lupin crops in duplex soils. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 947–961.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Edminster TW (1957) Engineering aspects of land drainage. ‘Drainage of agricultural land’. Monograph No. 7. (Ed. JN Luthin) pp. 287–371. (American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI)

Evans RO, Fausey RN (1999) Effects of inadequate drainage on crop growth and yield. ‘Agricultural drainage’. (Eds RW Skaggs, J vanSchilfgaarde, RE Green) pp. 13–54. (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)

Hamilton GJ (1995) Raised beds in dry-land farming in a Mediterranean climate. ‘Proceedings National Controlled Traffic Conference’. (Ed.  J Tullberg , D Yule , RE Green ) pp. 10–20. (Capricorn International Resort: Rockhampton, Queensland)


Hamza MA, Anderson WK (2003) Responses of soil properties and grain yields to deep ripping and gypsum application in a compacted loamy sand soil contrasted with a sandy clay loam soil in Western Australia. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 54, 273–282.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Hulme P (1987) An evaluation of seedbed preparation methods for growing irrigated cotton in Grey Clays. PhD thesis, University of New England, Armidale, Australia.

Maynard M, Muir J (1984) Multiple cropping using direct drilling on permanent beds. ‘Proceedings of Symposium on Root Zone Limitations to Crop Productions in Clays Soils’. (Ed.  WA Muirhead , E Humphreys , RE Green ) pp. 175–178. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)


McFarlane DJ, Barrett-Lennard EG, Setter TL (1989) Waterlogging: A hidden constraint to crop and pasture production in southern regions of Australia. ‘Proceedings of the 5th Australian Agronomy Conference’. (The Australian Society of Agronomy: Carlton, Vic.)


McFarlane DJ, Cox J (1992) Management of excess water in duplex soils. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 857–864.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McGarry D, Chan KY (1984) Preliminary investigation of clay soils behaviour under furrow irrigated cotton. Australian Journal of Soil Research 22, 899–908.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

McKenzie DC, Abbott TS, Anthony DT, Hulme PJ, Higginson FR (1984) Soil management strategies for improving the yields in irrigated crops in the Macquarry Valley. ‘Proceedings of Symposium on Root Zone Limitations to Crop Productions in Clays Soils’. (Ed.  WA Muirhead , E Humphreys , RE Green ) pp. 149–162. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood, Vic.)


Schwab, GO , Fangmeier, DD , Elliot, WJ ,  and  Frevert, RK (1993). ‘Soil and water conservation engineering.’ 4th edn . (John Wiley and Sons, Inc.: New York)

Tennant D, Scholtz G, Dixon J, Purdie B (1992) Physical and chemical characteristics of duplex soils and their distribution in the south-west of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 827–843.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tisdall JM, Adem HH (1988) An example of custom prescribed tillage in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 40, 23–32.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Tisdall JM, Hodgson AS (1990) Ridge tillage in Australia: a review. Soil and Tillage Research 18, 127–144.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | open url image1

Vepraskas MJ (1988) Bulk density values diagnostic of restricted root growth in coarse-textured soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 52, 1117–1121. open url image1

Wesseling J (1974) Crop growth and wet soils. ‘Drainage of agricultural land’. Monograph No. 7. (Ed. JN Luthin) pp. 7–37. (American Society of Agronomy: Madison, WI)

White IM, Sully J, Perroux KM (1990) Measurement of surface-soil hydraulic properties: Disk permeameters, tension infiltrometers and other techniques. ‘Proceedings of a Symposium on Advances in Measurement of Soil Physical properties: Bringing Theory into Practise’. Special Publication No. 30. (Ed.  GC Topp , WD Reynolds , RE Green ) pp. 69–104. (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)


Youngs EG (1999) Non-steady flow to drains. ‘Agricultural drainage’. (Eds RW Skaggs, J vanSchilfgaarde, RE Green) pp. 265–296. (Soil Science Society of America: Madison, WI)