Changes in chemical properties of 48 intensively grazed, rain-fed dairy paddocks on sandy soils over 11 years of liming in south-western Australia
M. D. A. Bolland A B C and W. K. Russell A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia, PO Box 1231, Bunbury, WA 6231, Australia.
B School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Retired. Present address: 35 Casuarina Street, Eaton, WA 6232, Australia. Email: mbolland46@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Soil Research 48(8) 682-692 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR09199
Submitted: 4 November 2009 Accepted: 29 April 2010 Published: 19 November 2010
Abstract
Soil testing was conducted during 1999–2009 to determine lime and fertiliser phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) requirements of intensively grazed, rain-fed, ryegrass dairy pastures in 48 paddocks on sand to sandy loam soils in the Mediterranean-type climate of south-western Australia. The study demonstrated that tissue testing was required in conjunction with soil testing to confirm decisions based on soil testing, and to assess management decisions for elements not covered by soil testing. Soil testing for pH was reliable for indicating paddocks requiring lime to ameliorate soil acidity, and to monitor progress of liming. Soil P testing proved reliable for indicating when P fertiliser applications were required, with no P being required when soil-test P was above the critical value for that soil, and when no P was applied, tissue testing indicated that P remained adequate for ryegrass production. Soil testing could not be used to determine paddocks requiring fertiliser K and S, because both elements can leach below the root-zone, with rainfall determining the extent of leaching and magnitude of the decrease in pasture production resulting from deficiency, which cannot be predicted. The solution is to apply fertiliser K and S each year, and use tissue testing to improve fertiliser K and S management. Research has shown that, for dairy and other grazing industries in the region, laboratories need measure and report every year soil pH and soil-test P only, together with measuring every 3–5 years the P-buffering index (estimating P sorption of soil), organic carbon content, and electrical conductivity.
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