Increased profile wettability in texture-contrast soils from clay delving: case studies in South Australia
Giacomo Betti A , Cameron Grant A B , Gordon Churchman A and Robert Murray A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Waite Research Institute, School of Agriculture Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, PMB 1 Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: cameron.grant@adelaide.edu.au
Soil Research 53(2) 125-136 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR14133
Submitted: 15 May 2014 Accepted: 14 November 2014 Published: 24 February 2015
Abstract
Clay delving is becoming a popular practice to increase productivity of texture-contrast soils in southern Australia. The practice brings subsoil clay to the surface to be mixed with the sandy topsoil, and unlike clay spreading, it combines the addition of hydrophilic material with a ripping effect that disrupts the sharp boundary between the sandy topsoil and clayey subsoil. Our objective was to evaluate the magnitude of effects caused by delving on the spatial distribution of water through the profile for three Sodosols (Stagnic Solonetz soils) in the south-east of South Australia. We also wished to evaluate the extent to which clay delving might reduce water ponding at the A–B horizon interface. We wetted both delved and undelved texture-contrast soils with a Brilliant Blue dye solution under initially dry and wet conditions (to evaluate the effect of antecedent water content), and then took digital images of the stained profiles for quantitative comparison of the wetted areas.
The stained soil profiles indicated that clay delving reduced preferential water flow (finger flow) and resulted in deeper and more uniform wetting of the A horizon, particularly under initially dry conditions. Under wet conditions (where water repellence was largely overcome), finger flow was significantly reduced regardless of delving but it still occurred to varying degrees depending on site characteristics. Delving significantly reduced ponding of water at the A–B horizon boundary and allowed greater penetration into the B horizon. At all sites, greater effects occurred directly on the delving lines and diminished with distance, implying that closer spacing of delving tines would increase uniformity of wetting throughout the profile. The effectiveness of delving on profile wetting was highly variable across the three sites, indicating that the outcome depends inter alia on the intrinsic soil characteristics and the delving equipment used in the field.
Additional keywords: duplex soil, dye tracer, soil modification, soil water, water-repellent sand.
References
Bailey G, Hughes B, Tonkin R, Dowie R, Watkins N (2010) Gross soil modification of duplex soils through delving and spading In ‘19th World Congress of Soil Science’. Brisbane, Qld. p. 4. (International Union of Soil Sciences)Bakker DM, Hamilton GJ, Hetherington R, Spann C (2010) Salinity dynamics and the potential for improvement of waterlogged and saline land in a Mediterranean climate using permanent raised beds. Soil & Tillage Research 110, 8–24.
| Salinity dynamics and the potential for improvement of waterlogged and saline land in a Mediterranean climate using permanent raised beds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barrett-Lennard EG, Nulsen RA (1989) Dryland salinity—cure, containment or catastrophe? In ‘5th Australian Agronomy Conference’. pp. 212–220. (Agronomy Society of Australia: Parkville, Vic.)
Bisdom EBA, Dekker LW, Schoute JFT (1993) Water repellency of sieve fractions from sandy soils and relationships with organic material and soil structure. Geoderma 56, 105–118.
| Water repellency of sieve fractions from sandy soils and relationships with organic material and soil structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bureau of Meteorology (2013a) Climate data online. Bureau of Meteorology. Available at: www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/
Bureau of Meteorology (2013b) Rainfal IDF data system. Bureau of Meteorology. Available at: www.bom.gov.au/hydro/has/cdirswebx/cdirswebx.shtml
Cann MA (2000) Clay spreading on water repellent sands in the south east of South Australia—promoting sustainable agriculture. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 333–341.
| Clay spreading on water repellent sands in the south east of South Australia—promoting sustainable agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chittleborough D (1992) Formation and pedology of duplex soils. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 815–825.
| Formation and pedology of duplex soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXislGntbc%3D&md5=e9fb406415c2c5328a2e843fbd6cd592CAS |
Cox JW, McFarlane DJ (1990) The causes of water logging. Western Australia Journal of Agriculture 2, 58–61.
Davenport D, Hughes B, Davies S, Hall D (2011) ‘Spread, Delve, Spade, Invert: A Best Practice Guide to the Addition of Clay to Sandy Soils.’ Rural Solution SA, Agricultural Bureau of South Australia, Caring for our Country, Grains Research Development Corporation. Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), No. 9781921779275. (GRDC: Kingston, ACT)
Dekker LW, Ritsema CJ (1994) How water moves in a water repellent sandy soil. 1. Potential and actual water repellency. Water Resources Research 30, 2507–2517.
| How water moves in a water repellent sandy soil. 1. Potential and actual water repellency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dekker LW, Oostindie K, Ritsema CJ (2005) Exponential increase of publications related to soil water repellency. Soil Research 43, 403–441.
| Exponential increase of publications related to soil water repellency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dekker LW, Ritsema CJ, Oostindie K, Moore D, Wesseling JG (2009) Methods for determining soil water repellency on field-moist samples. Water Resources Research 45, W00D33
| Methods for determining soil water repellency on field-moist samples.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Desbiolles JMA, Fielke JM, Chaplin P (1997) An application of tine configuration to obtain subsoil delving for the management of non-wetting sands. In ‘Third International Conference on Soil Dynamics (ICSD III)’. Tiberias, Israel. pp. 201–210. (Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology: Haifa)
Doerr SH, Shakesby RA, Walsh RPD (2000) Soil water repellency: its causes, characteristics and hydro-geomorphological significance. Earth-Science Reviews 51, 33–65.
| Soil water repellency: its causes, characteristics and hydro-geomorphological significance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edwards I (1992) Farming duplex soils: a farmer’s perspective. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 811–814.
| Farming duplex soils: a farmer’s perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Erickson AJ, Weiss PT, Gulliver JS (2013) Water budget measurement. In ‘Optimizing stormwater treatment practices: A handbook of assessment and maintenance’. (Eds AJ Erickson, PT Weiss, JS Gulliver) pp. 137–162. (Springer: New York)
Flury M, Flühler H (1994) Brilliant Blue FCF as a dye tracer for solute transport studies—a toxicological overview. Journal of Environmental Quality 23, 1108–1112.
| Brilliant Blue FCF as a dye tracer for solute transport studies—a toxicological overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXlvFOksb4%3D&md5=041c78add4e9503419cfee88ba9e94a7CAS |
Franco CMM, Clarke PJ, Tate ME, Oades JM (2000) Hydrophobic properties and chemical characterisation of natural water repellent materials in Australian sands. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 47–58.
| Hydrophobic properties and chemical characterisation of natural water repellent materials in Australian sands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hall DJM, Jones HR, Crabtree WL, Daniels TL (2010) Claying and deep ripping can increase crop yields and profits on water repellent sands with marginal fertility in southern Western Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 48, 178–187.
| Claying and deep ripping can increase crop yields and profits on water repellent sands with marginal fertility in southern Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hardie MA, Cotching WE, Doyle RB, Holz G, Lisson S, Mattern K (2011) Effect of antecedent soil moisture on preferential flow in a texture-contrast soil. Journal of Hydrology 398, 191–201.
| Effect of antecedent soil moisture on preferential flow in a texture-contrast soil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhslGgtb8%3D&md5=ef0cb1e26b4a9cdadf12738c0e04bcc6CAS |
Hardie M, Deurer M, Doyle R, Lisson S, Cotching WE, Mattern K (2012) Development of unstable flow and reduced hydraulic conductivity due to water repellence and restricted drainage. Vadose Zone 11,
| Development of unstable flow and reduced hydraulic conductivity due to water repellence and restricted drainage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXnsFShsw%3D%3D&md5=fad24f1abc70d0c8c6da3dc883990afeCAS |
Imeson AC, Verstraten JM, van Mulligen EJ, Sevink J (1992) The effects of fire and water repellency on infiltration and runoff under Mediterranean type forest. Catena 19, 345–361.
| The effects of fire and water repellency on infiltration and runoff under Mediterranean type forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Isbell R (2002) ‘The Australian Soil Classification.’ Revised edn (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Lampurlanés J, Angás P, Cantero-Martínez C (2001) Root growth, soil water content and yield of barley under different tillage systems on two soils in semiarid conditions. Field Crops Research 69, 27–40.
| Root growth, soil water content and yield of barley under different tillage systems on two soils in semiarid conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Letey J, Carrillo MLK, Pang XP (2000) Approaches to characterize the degree of water repellency. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 61–65.
| Approaches to characterize the degree of water repellency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ma’shum M, Oades J, Tate M (1989) The use of dispersible clays to reduce water repellency of sandy soils. Soil Research 27, 797–806.
| The use of dispersible clays to reduce water repellency of sandy soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
May R, South Australian Research Development Institute, Rural Solutions S. A., Grains Research & Development Corporation (2006) ‘Clay spreading and delving on Eyre Peninsula: a broadacre clay application manual for farmers, contractors and advisors.’ (South Australian Research and Development Institute: Adelaide, S. Aust.)
McBeath TM, Grant CD, Murray RS, Chittleborough DJ (2010) Effects of subsoil amendments on soil physical properties, crop response, and soil water quality in a dry year. Soil Research 48, 140–149.
| Effects of subsoil amendments on soil physical properties, crop response, and soil water quality in a dry year.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXktVShu7s%3D&md5=39b6edaf45b7b6a2d80e5d34888b97b8CAS |
McFarlane D, Cox J (1992) Management of excess water in duplex soils. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 32, 857–864.
| Management of excess water in duplex soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGuinness S (1991) ‘Soil structure assessment kit: a guide to assessing the structure of red duplex soil.’ (Department of Conservation and Environment: Bendigo, Vic.)
McKissock I, Walker EL, Gilkes RJ, Carter DJ (2000) The influence of clay type on reduction of water repellency by applied clays: a review of some West Australian work. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 323–332.
| The influence of clay type on reduction of water repellency by applied clays: a review of some West Australian work.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Müller K, Deurer M (2011) Review of the remediation strategies for soil water repellency. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 144, 208–221.
| Review of the remediation strategies for soil water repellency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
National Committee on Soil and Terrain (2009) ‘Australian soil and land survey field handbook.’ 3rd edn (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Northcote KH (1979) ‘A factual key for the recognition of Australian soils.’ 4th edn (Rellim Technical Publications: Adelaide, S. Aust.)
Ogawa S, Baveye P, Boast CW, Parlange J-Y, Steenhuis T (2000) Surface fractal characteristics of preferential flow patterns in field soils: evaluation and effect of image processing. In ‘Developments in soil science’. Vol. 27. (Eds Y Pachepsky, JW Crawford, WJ Rawls) pp. 19–46. (Elsevier: Amsterdam)
Rebbeck M, Lynch C, Hayman PT, Sadras VO (2007) Delving of sandy surfaced soils reduces frost damage in wheat crops. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 105–112.
| Delving of sandy surfaced soils reduces frost damage in wheat crops.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reynolds WD, Elrick DE (1990) Ponded infiltration from a single ring: I. Analysis of steady flow. Soil Science Society of America Journal 54, 1233–1241.
| Ponded infiltration from a single ring: I. Analysis of steady flow.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ritsema CJ, Dekker LW (2000) Preferential flow in water repellent sandy soils: principles and modeling implications. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 308–319.
| Preferential flow in water repellent sandy soils: principles and modeling implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith LH, Tiller KG (1977) ‘A modified procedure for the more rapid determination of the clay content of soils.’ (CSIRO Division of Soils: Melbourne)
Tennant D, Scholz 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.
| Physical and chemical characteristics of duplex soils and their distribution in the south-west of Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXot1Skug%3D%3D&md5=713e29695f7bb39161e9c6ed5b22435cCAS |
Vogeler I, Magesan GN (2000) The breakdown of water repellency and solute transport through a hydrophobic soil. Journal of Hydrology 231–232, 255–264.
Wallach R, Jortzick C (2008) Unstable finger-like flow in water-repellent soils during wetting and redistribution – The case of a point water source. Journal of Hydrology 351, 26–41.
| Unstable finger-like flow in water-repellent soils during wetting and redistribution – The case of a point water source.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
WRB (2007) ‘World Reference Base for Soil Resources 2006.’ First update 2007. (FAO: Rome) Available at: www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-classification/world-reference-base/en/
